I had my bike stolen yesterday and called Kzoo Swift to keep an eye out for it coming by their…read moreshop. They noticed it outside a gas station downtown, called us, and I got my bike back in less than 24 hours! They were also kind enough to fix the rear derailleur that was bent during the heist. Thanks again Kzoo Swift!

I just bought a custom built Surly bike during a pandemic. Not only did I get to pick out all…read morecomponents of my bike, the team was very mindful of social distancing and offered me appointments every step of the way. You can't find a crew that loves bikes more. They were so helpful to explain each piece of the bike and how it could be customized. I went from a department store bike to a supreme ride and they didn't talk down to me or make fun of my lack of knowledge. I got to see them treat a $60 fix with the same respect as my high-end build. Good people and good bikes. Whatever your price point or biking prowess, Kzoo Swift is the place for you.

This is an easily walkable/bikeable sometimes-shaded, bucolic trail created as a "rail trail" on a…read moreformer railroad bed from the 1870's. It is all asphalt, flat, & winds alongside bodies of water, sometimes busy main roads and with lots of wildflowers growing alongside (also flies...so, bring bug spray). It is 33.5 miles long, has a campground, Kal Haven Outpost, on the South Haven end of it, as well as a water fountain, bike tools & rest rooms. There are covered bridges & overpasses to go under and through, nice views alongside & benches to rest on. We started on the trail midday and, interestingly enough, barricades, closing down the trail, were put up sometime during our walk. We are lucky that we got in our walk before this happened.

I live around the corner and walk the trail daily. I take various directions but my favorite is the…read moretrailhead at 10th to F. The scenery is beautiful in every direction. I've had deer & coyote's jump in front of me on the trail. Maybe one day I'll walk from Kalamazoo to South Haven!

This free venue bring community. Local fund raising venders and neighbors enjoying lawn shows…read more Bring a chair and enjoy a show, two offered each night. Handicap parking available and carts to assist as needed. Restrooms close by. Beautiful place for the young and old.

We are so fortunate to live so close to this wonderful park!…read more It's a great place for the kids to play on the playgrounds, walk the dog, go sledding in the winter, enjoy the festival, plays and concerts in the summer.

Overall, Climb Kalamazoo is a fantastic climbing gym. There are a ton of types of routes and all…read moresorts of technical climbs to challenge a climber in a variety of ways. The gear for sale and for rent is really convenient, and the online waiver process is a snap. The only thing holding the stars back to 5 is that a couple of the staff have been pretty grumpy when the gym is busy. Most of the staff have been great, but it would be nice for all staff to make guests feel welcomed joyfully.

History is marked by the greats who climbed mountains. Whether we are religious or not, we can…read morewatch Charlton Heston climb a mountain in The Ten Commandments. We can watch those with physical limitations, over come them through the tenacity of clever problem solving skills when climbing mountains. Even Reba McEntire used it as a symbol of overcoming great odds. In 2020, I sought to make this destination I frequented regularly. This was early in the year, before everything shut down and mountains were too dangerous again. However, I'll always have the good times forged climbing multicolored stones. This has been a place of enlightenment, of humbling, and a rebirth of capabilities. This enormous location, is an endless playground. There are all the challenges that excite nearly every kind of climber. Nearly any age can participate. Then the cherry on top, of a mountain of cream, is that the trainers/leaders are eager to encourage excitement in first time climbers. That is what separates this location from others, the kindness and willingness to teach others to be a good belay. It's clear that they want to spread the excitement over such a transformative hobby. It was so affective, I married the last person I took there on our first official date. It was a Covid wedding in 2021, but that only added to the excitement of climbing this mountain, we call marriage. Thank you for this location and its people.

This is such an important local community service/ non-profit and a great place to volunteer your…read moretime or your money. They provide important victim services, empowering programs and a super crucial safe space. They also provide affordable child care and Great Start programs for children from birth until entering kindergarten.

Halfway through a long ride, i had some chain issues that i knew i'd need a pro for. On the way out…read moreof the parking lot, we saw a van with the word "mechanic" hanging on the back door. We stopped by on a whim and got to meet Bicycle Bob. He and his Cabbage Bros van were able to help right away so we didn't have to wait till Monday. Not only did Bob take care of the issue quickly with his pop-up style bike shop, he is a great personality, fun to talk to, super helpful and loves his work. Plus, it sounds like he rents quality bikes right out of his van! If you're looking to rent, or need repairs, Cabbage Brothers is your answer!

I stopped here for a bit to destress in the green. This is a very pretty park that has been set…read moreaside though it isn't completely isolated from the noises of the buses and trucks that pass by. Still, pretty, green, refreshing. Great walking and jogging and biking trails, picnic benches, covered areas, grills, fishing areas, permanent structures with restrooms. This park has everything. Over 200 acress and connected by a 3.5 mile trail. [Review 11230 overall, 1006 of 2019.]

Nothing beats a nice stroll in the park. No matter the season! The beautiful green now has a slap…read moreshot of other colors bringing the fall features to life! But as lovers of spring and summer. Green was our calling card for sure. Very beautiful park!

I'm blown away by the talent and commitment of this extraordinary musical arts organization! With…read more42 music teachers and a wide variety of classes offered for all abilities, ages, and instruments, Crescendo Academy is one of the biggest treasures in Kalamazoo. Our daughter takes voice lessons with excellent voice teacher Shannon Scoles (she's also on the faculty at WMU). I never imagined that Lillie would connect so well with her teacher, and learn so much in such a relatively short time. She looks forward to her lessons each week, and has strengthened her voice, learned new styles, and progress with her passion for singing. Crescendo Academy has deeply impacted our family. Beyond that, I am always in awe of this non-profit organization. There are scholarships for students, a plethora of options for private instruction, group ensembles, and even music classes for littles. You'll find that the faculty is highly regarded, and boasts many musicians you'll recognize from the KSO and other musical organizations. April, who is the operations manager, is a connector, a genius at matching students with faculty, and planning all kinds of events (like art hop!). Even seeing her will bring a smile to your face - she's the epitome of a friendly face of a beloved organization. Take your kids to Crescendo. Get yourself involved. You'll be glad you did!