Free or Cheap Things to Do in South West Michigan

Poratge District Library has a great children's area! They also have themed backpacks you can check out, just ask about them!

My kids like that museum downtown. It's called Kalamazoo Valley museum or something like that. It's on Rose St, turn left off of Michigan and it's right next to the Radisson. The museum is free and there's always something going on.

2 blocks behind the museum is a fun summer park. Have the kids wear their swim suits. There's one of those int eh ground fountains that squirts jets of water from one to the other, made for the kids to play in. Also, walk out on the bridge over the dirty river, there's a ton of huge fish in there to watch!

There's a park on Ousterhout that has nice nature trails as well as walking paths. I think it's called Schrier Park. It's between Westnedge and Portage Rds.

We go to lots of parks in the summer and spend time at the lakes playing, swimming and fishing.

The kids also like going to garage sales, especially the large neighborhood ones. Woodbridge Hills has one coming up I think. A couple of bucks and some good exercise and a few treasures rounds out the day.

That's all I can think of right now. I'll let you know if I think of anything else. What do you already do?

I have things that I do with my 4 yr old.

www.kresa.org/greatstart, if you go to this website there are FREE playgroups that you can sign your kids up to join, my son has a blast at them!!

www.Trainbarn.com is another attraction in the area.

The nature center is also really cool for kids www.naturecenter.org

Full Blast in Battle Creek is also really neat! It doesn't cost much, I think its $7.00 per person and you get to play all day. www.fullblast.org

Milham Park is another good location, it's at Milham and Kilgore in Kalamazoo. The kids can play in the really shallow water and on the playgrounds or feed the geese.

www.piratesisland.com this place isn't open yet, the last time I talked to them they said it might be another 5 months or so, but it looks really neat.

And finally if you go to www.kalamazoomi.com and click the first link after Living in Kalamazoo, there is a hugh list of places in K-zoo to do things, they also list stuff like the Taste of Kalamazoo and the Island Fest which are also good fun for families.

I wish you lots of luck, I know how boring it can be sitting at home with nothing to do. Have fun!

The Kalamazoo Valley Musuem downtown has lots of fun things and is free. Some extra programs there cost alittle. Check it out online. Ft. Custer State Park is between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, great beaches in the summer, great hiking trails too. One day car pass is $6, one year pass is $24. Celery Flats in Portage has nice trails too.

I know all the library's offer story times and puppet shows. Honestly , Mcdonalds playland is great to find play dates. I hope this helps out.