Hotels in Kalamazoo, Michigan

A little about Kalamazoo...

Kalamazoo is a city in the southwest area of the U.S. state of Michigan, and the largest city of that region. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 77,145. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County.

Kalamazoo is home to Western Michigan University, a nationally recognized research institution that has benefited from the local presence of Pfizer, Eaton Corporation and Stryker Corporation. This has enabled the school to offer strong programs in both its College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Haworth College of Business.

The city is also home to Kalamazoo College (often referred to as "K College"), a prestigious liberal arts school located adjacent to WMU's campus.

Largely due to its college-town influence, Kalamazoo has always been notable as a center for the arts. Celebrating local artists, the city's Arts Council holds an Art Hop every first Friday of the month, circulating among many local businesses in the downtown area. Big-name stars and groups often perform at the State Theatre, Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University, and Wings Stadium. There are a number of art galleries, the most prominent being the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. The city is also home to the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. In addition, the city also hosts the annual Keyboard and Bach Festivals, renowned in the area.

An annual event is "Eccentric Day" at Bell's Eccentric Cafe which celebrates the brewery's Eccentric Ale. The celebration is in December on the Friday marking the end of finals at Western Michigan University.

The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum—generally called the Air Zoo—is located at the airport. It is the first museum of its kind in the world with its "museum-meets-indoor-amusement-park" theme. It boasts many historical and rare aircraft, including the world's only remaining SR-71B Blackbird. Many of its antique planes are airworthy.

Downtown is the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, a "hands-on" museum aimed largely at children which also has a planetarium and a nationally recognized Challenger Learning Center.

Adjacent to Milham Park is the Milham Park golf course, which is rated among the best municipal golf courses in the country. Completed in 1936, the 18-hole, par 72 course features a pro-shop and restaurant, and is located entirely within the city limits of Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo has four popular local breweries and brewpubs producing a variety of beer styles, from light bodied wheat ales to stouts and barley wines.