Category — Kalamazoo

There is absolutely no shame in wanting to check out the shopping opportunities that a new city has to offer.  When I travel, I love to search out stores that I can’t find at home and check out the fashions that might vary from region to region.  With that said, Kalamazoo will not disappoint the discriminating shopper in the least.

Whatever it is you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find it.  There are mixed-use developments with chain stores mixed in with boutiques that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.  Add that to the Main Street, USA, feel that you get when walking the landscaped sidewalks, and it’s a shopping experience that you will never forget.

For the more traditional shopper, there are several shopping malls to choose from.  These upscale centers offer the finest in fashion, such as Ann Taylor Loft, Macy’s, Banana Republic, GUESS, and Louis Vuitton.  Some of these shopping centers even offer valet parking, for the height of pampering.

Perhaps you’re not in the mood at all for a day of chasing down the latest fashions.  If this is the case, then there are several antique stores that you can choose from.  Some of these are located in the city, but you’ll be able to find many antique fairs throughout the area that are in quaint rural settings.  This can only add to the exciting shopping experience.  You can pick up a complete list from the Kalamazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, or you can start with a short list here that will lead you in the right direction.  The better known stores in the area include Emporium, Heritage Architectural Salvage and Supply, JP’s Coin Collection, Kalamazoo Antiques Market, Kilgore Designs, Potpourri Gallery, and Weisman’s Relics.

Whatever your desires, Kalamazoo will have a shop that’s just right for you.

If you’re visiting Kalamazoo for any amount of time, chances are that you’ll want to relax in one of the many bars and nightclubs that the city has to offer.  Almost every one of the most notable nightclubs in the area host live music of an excellent caliber.  If you’re planning a trip, make note of the bars and nightclubs so that you can check their most recent additions to the performance calendars.

Some of the more popular local haunts include Arie’s London Grill Bombay, Monaco Bay, Main Street Grille, the Firehouse, Wayside West, the Union Cabaret and Grill, Cheek to Cheek, Bell’s Eccentric Café, O’Duffy’s Pub, and Pappy’s Place.  They’re all known for the cover bands and independent artists that take the stage weekly, and the entertainment options vary widely.

If you’re really searching for and excellent local brewery or microbrewery, then Kalamazoo has you covered there, too.  Michigan takes some serious pride in the crafting of their beers, and you can reap the benefits in places like Bell’s Brewery, Bilbo’s Pizza, and Olde Peninsula Brewpub and Restaurant.

The wineries in the area also offer excellent vintages, as well as exciting events and concerts on the grounds.  Be sure to check the calendars for the Lawton Ridge Winery, Peterson and Sons Winery, St. Julian Winery, Tempo Vino Winery, and Warner Vineyards.  Michigan is well known for their wines, so you’d be remiss if you passed up a chance to taste them all.

On the first Friday of each month, many of the art galleries open their door for the Art Hop.  This is a chance to view some beautiful work by local and nationally known artists while enjoying a glass of wine or champagne with good friends.  It’s definitely something different to do on a Friday night, and beats a movie any day of the week.

If you are looking for the land of golf, then Kalamazoo is seriously the place for you.  The city and surrounding area are home to more than ten four-star rated golf courses.  You’ll want to pull out a map so that you can plan the best way to enjoy every last one of them.

The rolling hills and plentiful trees make Michigan an excellent place for challenging and beautiful courses.  Many of these are located among some of the most breathtaking nature than America has to offer, and include natural water features.  Several courses are within view of lakes and streams, as well as woodlands that offer up tricky shots, as well as lovely scenery.

Some of the more notable places to while away the afternoon include Island Hills Golf Course in Centreville, Lake Doster Golf Club in Plainwell, The Lynx Golf Course in Otsego, Gulf Lake View’s Bedford Valley in Battle Creek, Gulf Lake View East and West in Augusta, Thornapple Creek Golf Club in Kalamazoo, Heritage Glen Golf Club in Paw Paw, and Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Galesburg.

Many of these can charge expensive greens fees, so don’t be afraid to check around with a few different courses before planning your day.  There are several public golf courses that will have lower greens fees, and the courses are just as challenging and beautiful as the elite clubs of the area.

After a rousing round of golf, you and your buddies should check out some of the local breweries and wineries in the area.  Michigan takes serious pride in the vineyards and microbreweries that are on offer, and these will be proof positive that Michigan is more than an amazing golf course, and you’ll also be assured a night of good drink, excellent entertainment, and fellowship with close friends.

With all that Kalamazoo has to offer already, is it any wonder that there is also a host of cultural activities?  From visual, musical, and performing arts, there is something in the city for everyone to enjoy.  The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo was formed in 1966, and is dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts in Kalamazoo and the surrounding area.  The Arts Council sponsors the monthly Art Hop, as well as the All Ears Theatre, and the summer concert series in the parks.

The All Ears Theater presents radio-style performances each season, and the performances are free to concertgoers.  You can enjoy comedies and dramas, while also feeling the nostalgia of a simpler time, before time constraints and television.

There are several summer stock theaters and playhouses in the area.  One of the oldest in the state is the Barn Theatre in Augusta.  The Barn Theatre is so well known that it often features guest performers from Broadway and television.  Visitors and residents also enjoy the Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College, the Farmers Alley Theatre, the Hayloft Theatre, and the Whole Art Theatre for the quality productions and intimate audience settings.

For choral, chamber, and orchestral music, there are several auditoriums that are constantly offering music of a very high caliber.  The Western Michigan University School of Music is always offering concerts, as well as the Vicksburg Performing Arts Center, the Fontana Chamber Arts, the Kalamazoo Concert Band, and the Epic Center at Kalamazoo Mall.

Then, of course, there are the giant venues that offer epic rock, pop, rap, and country concerts or Broadway touring shows.  These usually take place at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo or the Miller Auditorium in Kalamazoo.  Both venues have drawn some huge names and wildly popular Broadway musicals.  There is music for absolutely everyone in Kalamazoo.