travel: kalamazoo | michigan

I’ve traveled through Michigan numerous times, but never had the opportunity to stop and explore.

They say good things come to those who wait. Well... a few weeks ago when I was presented with the opportunity to visit the city of Kalamazoo, I packed my bags, my family and headed to KZoo as they call it.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly, end-of-summer trip before the kids get back to school, I strongly suggest Kalamazoo.

Less than a 3-hour drive from Chicago, IL the city offers tons of entertainment for the family, great food and the people are incredibly friendly.

See below for the Betts Guide on what to do while in KZOO.

Where to stay: The Hilton Garden Inn

The Hilton Garden Inn is located downtown, and less than a mile from local shops and restaurants. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, room service and an indoor pool. The room was clean and the hotel was newly opened in the fall of 2020.

Where to go for all things fun:

Our stay was filled to the brim and jam packed with activities for our family. Take a look below:

Colors & Cocktails

We kicked off our KZoo adventures with Colors & Cocktails where we painted to our heart’s content! The paint shop is located within the Kalamazoo Mall, and offers art classes and boutique shopping where I bought my new favorite shirt. Kayla, our art instructor, taught us that art is an expression of self and helped us create beautiful masterpieces. View a video of our experience here.

Air Zoo

The girls and I had a blast at “Air Zoo,” a highly-charged, multi-sensory aviation and science museum that goes beyond anything you’ve ever seen. The museum was filled with fun activities with several exhibits.

Our favorite exhibit was “Black Wings: American Dreams of Flights,” which chronicles African-Americans substantial contributions to aerospace and aviation.

Major Perk: Getting a tour of the facility by Troy Thrash CEO of Air Zoo.

Check out a behind the scenes look here

Air Way Fun Center

Two words: Go Carts! There was no shortage of fun things to do at the Air Way Fun Center.

We opted for go carts and arcade games, but the Airway Fun Center offers a plethora of family-friendly activities, from sprawling mini golf course to escape rooms and bowling. They’ve got fun covered.

The Aroma Labs

Let’s talk about The Aroma Labs! A concept created by entrepreneur Tanya Thompson located in downtown Kalamazoo, we had the opportunity to mix and create our own fragrances. The experience was a memorable one, and a great bonding experience for the girls and I. Do not leave Kalamazoo without experiencing The Aroma Labs.

Where to Eat:

There is no shortage of delicious foods in Kalamazoo. If you’re looking for great eats, great ambiance and wonderful service head to the following restaurants:

Food Dance

Handcrafted food and locally-sourced deliciousness at its best. Food Dance offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and some of the most decadent cakes my taste buds have ever encountered.

600 Kitchen + Bar

The staff at 600 Kitchen + Bar care about food and it shows! It’s all about real food by real people, with ingredients sourced from Michigan farmers and artisans. My suggestion: the 600 Ramen… you’re welcome.

Cove Lake Bistro

Close your eyes, now imagine eating seafood by the water in Cape Cod… but you’re actually in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lunch by the water at the Cove Lake Bistro was quite an experience. Calamari, Shrimp and cocktails made to perfection? Yes please!

All in all, my experience in Kalamazoo was beautiful! Not only was I able to enjoy some much-needed time away, but I got to do so in a beautiful city with beautiful people. Kalamazoo owes me nothing.

travel: kalamazoo | michigan

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