10 Places to Inspire Winter Adventures in Kalamazoo, MI
The holidays are just around the corner, and the forecast calling for snowfall is too! Whether you welcome the fresh powder with open arms, or retreat to warmer and cozier spaces, we’re confident these snowy moments of Kalamazoo’s past will get you a little excited for the snow! After all, you’re free to enjoy the winter landscape by frolicking in it or admiring it from indoors.
Kalamazoo Nature Center
The energy and excitement that kids have for simple things like the snow always seems to lift our spirits! If you’re a little kid at heart, grab your snow shoes and head to the Kalamazoo Nature Center to wander the trails this winter.
Kalamazoo Mall
There’s just something magical about fresh snow falling over twinkling lights! Wander down the Kalamazoo Mall this season to admire the both the holiday lights and the hanging Italian lights. A nice amenity about the Kalamazoo Mall and sidewalks downtown? They’re heated! If you’re not one to sport a pair of trusty snow boots, this is an ideal spot for you!
Echo Valley
Kalamazoo’s Echo Valley provides tubing and tobogganing fun for the whole family! For more winter activities, check out our Winter (269) Guide!
Soil Friends
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Candy Cane Lane
We couldn’t feature snowy Kalamazoo moments without mentioning Candy Cane Lane in Bronson Park. No matter your age, walking on a snowy path under bigger-than-life-sized candy canes will bring even the most hard-core Scrooge a little bit of joy!
MSU W.K. Kellogg Experiential Forest
The W.K. Kellogg Experiential Forest is a 716-acre forest that is open to the public for biking, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing, and has several interpretive trails.
Winter Wonderland – A Holiday Lights Spectacular at the Gilmore Car Museum
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Guests can expect to drive their cars through the winding roadways within the museum’s picturesque campus, to be dazzled by more than 25 individual themed light displays, lighted historic barns, and decorated vintage-era car dealerships. When the drive ends, the experience continues inside the museum – with the Gilmore’s Festival of Trees displayed among hundreds of spectacular classic cars, a special Christmas Through The Decades exhibit, a visit with Santa Claus, reindeer games for the kids, and available holiday food & beverage items.
Lillian Anderson Arboretum Trails
One of the most popular nature spots for not only hiking, but also some pretty epic photo opportunities, is the Lillian Anderson Arboretum! Kalamazoo College’s Lillian Anderson Arboretum comprises 140 acres of marsh, meadow, pine plantation and second-growth deciduous forest in Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Leash pets are always welcome!
Factory Coffee – Cozy Up at a Coffee Shop and Admire the Snow From Indoors
Kalamazoo is home to a number of amazing and locally-owned coffee shops! Factory Coffee is a small family owned Coffee Roastery and Cafe located on Kalamazoo’s Northside in the Rivers Edge District. Stop by this winter and try one of their seasonal holiday specials! Choose from drinks like a classic Peppermint Mocha or a Sugar Cookie Latte. If you’re looking to really warm your soul, order the Hotter Chocolate – a spicy twist on your favorite classic. Add an espresso shot for an extra kick!
Whether coffee is your jam, or you’re more of a tea and/or hot cocoa person, you can’t deny that a snowy winter day just screams, “find your nearest coffee shop and cozy up with a hot beverage”. Check out our downtown Kalamazoo Coffee Crawl post for some coffee shop inspo. A number of the spots on our list are open seven days a week!
Bell’s Brewery – Warm Up at a Local Brewery
Ok, so this is a totally different type of beverage that you can easily warm up with…but, with Kalamazoo being home to Two Hearted Ale – the number one beer in the nation – we couldn’t leave out a snowy Bell’s Brewery Beer Garden photo! Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week occurs in January, and each year, no matter how much snow is on the ground, Bell’s Brewery’s famous Snow Jog is one of the first events to completely sell out!