- The Local Element West Michigan
The ULTIMATE Guide To Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a city you don’t want to miss getting to know in the greater West Michigan area! It’s full of history and is also a great place to plant roots and embrace local living.
Keep reading for the best things to do in Kalamazoo —from things to do to food and drink to shopping, there’s so much to love!
Things To Do
1. The Kalamazoo Air Zoo
An aircraft museum and indoor amusement park with over 100 aircraft artifacts! Located in Portage, just outside of Kalamazoo, this historic museum is a MUST.
2. The Gilmore Car Museum
The Gilmore Car Museum is North America’s largest car museum. The grounds span over 90 acres, they have over 100 vintage cars on site, you can get Model T driving lessons, take a ride in a vintage car, and so much more! Be sure to check out the events they hold by visiting their website!
3. Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park
The giraffes are the highlight at Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park, but they also have so many other great animals to see! Boulder Ridge is committed to quality of life for the animals and is home to over 1,300 individual animals and 180 species!
4. Kalamazoo Nature Center
The Kalamazoo Nature Center is a non-profit nature preserve with over 14-miles of hiking trails, changing exhibits, and programs for all ages!
5. Watch the Kalamazoo Growlers
The Growlers are Kalamazoo’s baseball team that is a part of the Northwoods League. Their season goes from Memorial Day to the second week in August and is a great fan experience!
6. Vicksburg Historic Village
Journey back in time at the Vicksburg Historic Village and Union Depot Museum (and admission is free!) in Vicksburg, MI! Find 11 historic building replicas, community history, and so much more when you visit!
Food and Drink
1. Factory Coffee
Factory Coffee is a local roaster and coffee shop with a few different locations in the Kalamazoo area, find them here:
📍 213 E. Frank St. Kalamazoo Michigan
📍 205 W. Lovell St. Kalamazoo, Michigan
📍 3019 Oakland Dr. Kalamazoo, Michigan
📍 2747 S 11th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
2. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
Yes, you heard that right, THE Bell’s Brewery is out of Kalamazoo, Michigan and they have their own cafe right in the city.
They have an outdoor music venue where they host events as well as a beautiful outdoor patio and indoor seating space.
3. Totally Brewed Cafe
We have officially found the BEST sloppy joe in Kalamazoo, and it’s at Totally Brewed Cafe!
This corner cafe in Downtown Kalamazoo is the perfect quick lunch stop with plenty of great options on the menu!
4. The Greenhouse Cafe
Perhaps one of the coolest cafes and eateries in Kalamazoo, The Greenhouse Cafe is a breakfast and brunch spot with farm-to-table features on the menu that you’ll love.
Plus, the space is so aesthetic and the perfect place to meet your favorite people over a meal!
5. LFG Gaming Bar
More than just a bar and eatery, LFG is full of fun and games – quite literally!
It’s a video game bar with all of your favorites, from Mario Kart to Galaga to arcade games to pinball and more!
6. Brick and Brine
A nice night out is calling your name at Brick and Brine! The fried chicken and cocktails are menu highlights and this upscale restaurant in the heart of Downtown Kalamazoo will not disappoint.
7. Principle Food and Drink
Elevated cocktails and grub in an elegant space perfect for a night out! Stop in for dinner, dessert, drinks, or all of the above at Principle in the Kalamazoo Mall area.
8. The Old Goat Tavern
Potentially one of the more popular spots with the Western Michigan University community. This casual American eatery and sports bar also features fun events like karaoke and themed nights.
9. The Grazing Table
A restaurant, charcuterie shop, and place where people can gather on a cozy corner in Kalamazoo! The Grazing Table is full of artisan favorites from sandwiches to brunch to pizza to dip platters, and more!
10. Cairo’s Kitchen
A taste of Egypt in the heart of Kalamazoo! This classy downtown restaurant is a must-visit for all of your mediterranean dish favorites! From Shawarma to falafel to hummus and more!
11. Apoptosis Brewing Company
Get an eclectic and unique beer flight paired with your favorite pub grub at Apoptosis Brewing Co. They host fun events and watch parties in the taproom as well.
Shopping
1. The Mason Jar Plant Shop
We love everything about the Mason Jar Plant Shop. Not only do they sell your favorite house plants and unique plants, but they also have a terrarium bar where you can build your own terrarium!
2. Bee Joyful Shop
Michigan’s first zero-waste shop and refillery in an adorably setup shop in the Kalamazoo Mall.
3. Satellite Records
We asked our followers what their favorite local shops are in Kalamazoo, and Satellite Records was one of the recommendations. If you love vintage good and music, this is the perfect shop for you.
4. Cherri’s Chocol’art
As you can guess from the name, this is a shop full of treats from artisan chocolate to caramels to shakes to coffee and more!
5. Kalamazoo Candle Company
The cooler months are the perfect time to find little touches of cozy to your home, and one way to do it is to find a new candle that you love. The Kalamazoo Candle Company is the perfect place to do that and support local while you’re at it!
Learn more about kalamazoo living
Kalamazoo Schools
Kalamazoo schools come with great opportunity. Kalamazoo Public Schools is the main district, serving about 12,000-13,000 students across 31 schools, but there are also private options to explore.
The Kalamazoo Real Estate Market
Kalamazoo’s housing market remains active, though with signs of easing from peak frenzy. The median home price in Kalamazoo County is hovering around $269,000 to $293,000, reflecting yearly gains of 3–5 % in many sectors. Inventory is growing: more homes are coming on the market, driving a modest shift toward balance between buyers and sellers. In short: it’s still a seller-leaning market, but with more breathing room for buyers who do their research and move decisively.