My Day In Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo. A city whose name is far more quirky than its inhabitants and history.

To my surprise, Kalamazoo has their own airport. It was a brisk 45 degrees out, so I cloaked myself in a fleece jacket and waved down a checker taxi. Within 20 minutes I arrived at my lodgings for the next three nights. A friend had recommended the Henderson Castle Inn for its breathtaking architecture and hospitable environment, but her descriptions did the monument no justice. My suitcase struggled up the cobblestone pathway where I was greeted and immediately ushered to my medieval-esque suite. While I could’ve reveled in its beauty all day, there was a city to be explored.

An outdoor mall sounded too good to be true, but alas, I arrived at the Kalamazoo Mall. As the first outdoor pedestrian shopping mall in the United States, this establishment was incredible for being the first of its kind. The stores were rife with history and you could tell some of the merchants had made a name for themselves on those streets. A bagel shop owner recommended the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, so I paid a modest fee of $1.99 for my poppy seed bagel and fled.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum was wonderful. Between the free admission, hands on activities, and historic exhibits, the experience was enlightening. Fortunately I overheard a family discussing the Air Zoo and I knew instantly I couldn’t pass that up. The Air Zoo did not disappoint. Aviation models danced atop the ceilings while space crafts and factoids consumed the rest of the museum.

The next couple days consisted of park walks, brewery trips, theatre visits and the occasional stop by the Castle Inn to remind myself of its beauty.

Kalamazoo is a gorgeous city and an extraordinary addition to the Midwest.