Leaf-Peeping Weekends in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo sits at the tail end of Michigan's color season, with its maples and beeches turning in late October and early November.
From watching birds in the treetops to enjoying fresh-pressed cider to country roads that tunnel over with gold colors, there's a full weekend of activities as the foliage drifts into the lower part of the state.
Bird-Watching and Big Views at the Kalamazoo Nature Center
Just north of the city, the Kalamazoo Nature Center spreads 14 miles of trails across woods, wetlands and grasslands. This variety of habitats makes it a perfect spot for some fall birding. The Interpretive Center features interactive exhibits, bird banding demonstrations, an indoor tropical forest and more.
The area is packed with preserves worth exploring. Markin Glen Park sets a mature beech-maple forest atop one of the highest points in Kalamazoo, with panoramic views of downtown. South of the city near Portage's center, the 110-acre West Lake Nature Preserve runs a boardwalk out across an open wetland bog. Find more spots to explore here.
Cider, Doughnuts and a Zip Line at VerHage Fruit Farms
VerHage Fruit Farms & Cider Mill has pressed cider since 1962, when Nancy VerHage crafted a secret blend of tree-ripened apples the family still uses. Watch cider run off the press while cake doughnuts come out of the fryer – then head outside for apple picking, a corn maze, a hayride through the orchard and forest trail, or ride the longest zip line in the region at 850 feet.
Northeast in Richland, Gull Meadow Farms offers a different version of apple picking – one that is geared toward kids with wagon rides, a petting farm, apple cannons, pig races and many more fun fall activities.
A Pint at Kalamazoo’s Oldest Brewery
Warm up downtown at Bell's Eccentric Café, home of a brewery with deep roots in Kalamazoo that started in 1985 with a 15-gallon soup kettle. More than 20 beers are offered here, including small-batch releases – and seasonal fall pours – you won't find anywhere else. Take a seat in the dog-friendly beer garden while the weather holds, or move inside for the full-service restaurant and live music.
On the Road
Cruise around the rolling hills of Kalamazoo and soak up some fall color. The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County maps out three fall color routes fanning out from the city, with turn-by-turn directions posted online.
Find more weekend getaways to soak up as much Michigan fall color as possible this season. To see predictions of where and when fall color will peak throughout our two peninsulas, check out our interactive fall color map.