Kalamazoo is known for its beautiful, vibrant, “art deco” downtown that offers the best arts and entertainment in all of Southwest Michigan. The downtown area is home to world class museums and theatres, where nature, history, education and “top-notch” art can be seen. Downtown Kalamazoo is host to a variety of ethnic festivals with unique culinary flavors and entertainment. For the outdoor enthusiasts, the City of Kalamazoo has plenty of outdoor recreational activities for those who would like to participate. And for those who would rather watch, Kalamazoo has a full schedule of amateur, collegiate and professional athletics.
- Kalamazoo Air Zoo was voted the “Best Place to Spend a Day with Your Family”; It is an aviation exhibit that details the history of aviation from the Wright Brothers to Neil Armstrong
- Gilmore Car Museum, started in 1963 by Donald Gilmore, is a collection of restored automobiles, hood ornaments and historic barns
- The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is located at 220 North Rose St. It is a “hands-on” museum with a wide variety of historical and technological exhibits
- Miller Auditorium is located on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and is the premier performing arts venue in west Michigan
- Downtown Kalamazoo Arts has five Live Stage Theaters; The Epic Center, a performing arts center in the heart of downtown, is home to the arts and culture in the greater Kalamazoo area and Southwest Michigan; The All Ears Theatre provides performances of comedies and dramas in front of a live audience for later radio broadcast
- For the outdoor enthusiasts, there are walking paths, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, lakes for swimming and fishing, and canoeing on the Kalamazoo River
- The City Of Kalamazoo Golf Courses are Milham Park Golf Club, voted ”Best Place to Play” by Golf Digest in 2008 and 2009; Eastern Hills Golf Club and Red Arrow Golf Club
- Parks and Outdoor Recreations of the City Of Kalamazoo offer a variety of programs for their active adults (55+) residents
- Kalamazoo is home to the Kalamazoo Wings, an ice hockey team of the United Hockey League, whose games are played at the Wings Stadium
- Kalamazoo has a variety of shopping options at numerous shopping venues including surrounding malls, retail outlets and antique shops; The Crossroads and the Kalamazoo Mall are two of the largest
- Some of the best bars, clubs and nightlife in Michigan are located in Kalamazoo
- With over 450 restaurants in Kalamazoo there is a place for everyone’s cravings to fit all budgets
- Kalamazoo is home to numerous breweries, wineries and distilleries
- The Kalamazoo Public Library serves about 120,000 people through five locations; It has an extensive collection of books, movies, and music and provides year-round programming for all ages.
- Kalamazoo is home to five Historic Neighborhoods which includes 2075 properties