Two-hundred-sixty-nine is not just the area code for Kalamazoo County. It is also the starting number of unique, off-the-map activities that people can explore in southwest Michigan! 269 COOL THINGS TO269 DO COOL IN THINGS AREA TO DOCODE IN AREA 269 CODE ®269 ® Acorn Theatre Arcadia Brewing Company Bell’s Brewery + Bittersweet Ski Resort Three Oaks Kalamazoo Eccentric Café Otsego 1 269.756.3879 8 269.276.0458 15 Kalamazoo 19 269.694.2032 269.382.2332 It’s great to have a ski resort so close. If the Air Zoo Art on the Mall Oberon Day! Oberon in general! – Brian C. weather cooperates I can be there in no time Portage Kalamazoo flat. – Harry 2 269.382.6555 9 269.342.5059 Benton Harbor Arts District The Air Zoo is THE BEST all-weather For over 33 years this two-day show features Benton Harbor Black Owl Café entertainment for families in Southwest Michigan. more than 75 local and regional artists who 16 269.926.1926 Kalamazoo sell their original art and fine crafts on the This is a great up-and-coming arts community 20 269.459.1334 Airway Lanes + Fun Center downtown Kalamazoo walking mall! putting on such events as The Fall Festival of Portage the Arts, the New Territory Arts Association Blacksmith Course at Park 3 269.327.7061 Arts and Eats Tour Mural Project and the Benton Harbor City Trades Center Hastings Market. 21 Kalamazoo All Ears Theatre 10 269.945.2002 269.569.1741 Kalamazoo Arts and Eats rural back roads art, food, and Binder Park Zoo If you’re interested in blacksmithing, one of 4 269.342.5059 farm tour the third weekend in October each Battle Creek the coolest things to do in the area is to take See radio come to life. year. Visit artists in their home studios, specialty 17 269.979.1351 a course from Jon Reeves at the Park Trades crop farms, and eateries that serve locally- Feeding the giraffes at Binder Park Zoo. Center. It’s a great experience and Jon is a Allegan County sourced food. www.ArtsAndEats.org – Nicki V. friendly, cool guy! Heritage Trail 5 Allegan Austin Lake Catamaran Big Dipper Ice Cream 269.425.5342 Regatta Schoolcraft Lots of beautiful scenery (including Lake 11 Portage 22 269.679.4525 Michigan) historic landmarks and unique little portagemi.gov stops along the way. – Ann K. Catamaran regatta every Tuesday from May to September. Altitude Endeavors Battle Creek Barn Theatre 6 269.969.1328 Augusta Plan an unforgettable experience and take a 12 269.731.4121 private balloon flight over Southwest Michigan. Be sure to go to the cabaret show after the performance. Barodafest Baroda 13 269.422.1779 Barodafest held annually the Saturday after Labor Day features a full day of family-friendly activities in this Berrien County village kicked Bishop’s Bog Preserve off by a pancake breakfast. A small-town Portage 18 269.329.4522 Blue Coast Artists Tour homey festival. PC: Altitude Endeavors One of the coolest things in the world is South Haven to Saugatuck going out to Bishop’s Bog and walking the 23 269. 236.9260 Battle Creek Caribbean Antique & Thrift Stores Festival boardwalk. – Kathy J. A behind-the-scenes look into the lifestyles Throughout area code 269 14 Battle Creek of professional artists situated throughout the 7 rural countryside. Visit u-pick farm markets We love to shop and browse through antique 269.271.5219 and wineries along the way. Unwind and stores. My wife and I have seen hundreds of Celebrate the vibrant culture of the Caribbean enjoy the beautiful countryside while enjoying these type of businesses but nothing compares in downtown Battle Creek, MI. A day and to our favorite, Burgess Antique Center, in evening of outstanding music, Caribbean people who choose a live/work lifestyle in a Galesburg. This antique store is enormous with inspired cuisine, drinks and crafts. The Reggae profession they love. – Kelly C. so many alcoves and hallways that it’s like a music line-up runs all day and ranges from well- “Everything within walking distance treasure hunt and always a new adventure. known regional to national headliners presented downtown [Kalamazoo]; farmer’s markets Blueberry Festival We’ve found lots of old clocks - our passion - outdoors under blue skies, beautiful sunshine breweries and restaurants!” – @VeggieLoves South Haven as well as other fun antiques that have found all the way until the evening playing irie tunes 24 269. 637.1572 their way to our home. Burgess Antiques is under the moon and stars. Great family fun. You can enjoy lots and lots of our ‘go to’ place to visit when we have guests blueberries! – Mary R. from out of town, and they love it, too! 2 269 COOL THINGS TO DO IN AREA CODE 269 ® Bittersweet Ski Resort Blueberry picking at Central City Tap House Otsego Brookside Farms Kalamazoo 19 269.694.2032 25 Paw Paw 35 269.492.0100 It’s great to have a ski resort so close. If the 269.657.3500 weather cooperates I can be there in no time Centreville Antique Fair flat. – Harry Blush Salon + Spa Centreville Kalamazoo 36 715.526.9769 Black Owl Café 26 269.567.7675 Be prepared to be overwhelmed! Wear Kalamazoo I love to stop by Blush Salon + Spa for a blowout comfortable shoes and sunscreen; you’ll be 20 269.459.1334 before a night downtown. Nothing is more there all day. – Pam K. relaxing than sipping champagne while someone Blacksmith Course at Park else washes and styles your hair for you! I always Chili Cook-Off Trades Center feel like a rock star the rest of the weekend! Kalamazoo 21 Kalamazoo 37 269.344.0795 269.569.1741 Boatyard Brewing Yummy samples! If you’re interested in blacksmithing, one of Kalamazoo the coolest things to do in the area is to take 27 269.226.0300 Chinn Chinn a course from Jon Reeves at the Park Trades Mattawan Center. It’s a great experience and Jon is a Bookbug/This is a 38 269.668.7667 friendly, cool guy! Bookstore 28 Kalamazoo Chocolate Garden Big Dipper Ice Cream 269.385.2847 Coloma Schoolcraft Take the kids to Bookbug a quirky and innovative 39 269.468.YUMM 22 269.679.4525 independent bookstore especially for kids but The phone number says it all. – Sally T. every grown-up seems to love it too. – Joanna P. Civic Theatre BraVo! Restaurant Kalamazoo and Café 40 269.343.1313 29 Portage Theatre! There are so many wonderful local 269.344.7700 theatres in southwest Michigan. Even high Try brunch or take a cooking class at BraVo! school theatre is amazing here! – Amanda M. Restaurant and Cafe! Brickyard Vintage Bicycle Show 30 Kalamazoo Candy Cane Hunt Downtown Kalamazoo PC: Big Dipper Ice Cream 31 269.337.8191 Blue Coast Artists Tour Carnegie Center South Haven to Saugatuck for the Arts 23 269. 236.9260 32 Three Rivers A behind-the-scenes look into the lifestyles 269.273.8882 of professional artists situated throughout the Climb Kalamazoo rural countryside. Visit u-pick farm markets Caruso’s Candy Kitchen Kalamazoo and wineries along the way. Unwind and 41 269.385.9891 Dowagiac enjoy the beautiful countryside while enjoying 33 269.782.6001 An indoor climbing gym - climb on your lunch people who choose a live/work lifestyle in a It’s a step back in time with its tin ceiling soda hour! profession they love. – Kelly C. fountain and candy counter. All the chocolates and candies are homemade. – Kathleen P. Cody Kresta Vineyard Blueberry Festival & Winery South Haven 42 Mattawan Celery Flats 24 269. 637.1572 Portage 269.668.3800 Great family fun. You can enjoy lots and lots of 34 269.329.4518 blueberries! – Mary R. 3 269 COOL THINGS TO269 DO COOL IN THINGS AREA TO DOCODE IN AREA 269 CODE ®269 ® Cold Brook Park Disc Golf Conrad Kaufman Murals Crow’s Nest Restaurant Climax Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 43 269.746.4270 50 269.488.9000 57 269.978.0490 “Crow’s Nest Banana Bread French Toast. Colon Magic Festival It’s so good it’s the only thing I order there.” – Colon Casey K. 44 269.432.3235 One of the coolest things to do in southwest Curious Kids Museum Michigan. – Keith J. St. Joseph 58 269.983.2543 PC: Wendell Brezina The children’s museum in St. Joseph has great activities for kids and adults alike! – Sam N. D’nicio’s Parlour Kalamazoo 59 269.353.8600 Dairy Center Kellogg Biological Station 60 Hickory Corners Comensoli’s Restaurant 269.671.2510 Kalamazoo Watch the cows get milked by robots - and 45 269.345.6755 Continental Baseball Club love it (both you and the cows)! – Mason M. Kalamazoo 51 Community Gardens Donut and Beer Festival They play baseball as it would have been Throughout area code 269 Kalamazoo played in the 1860’s…half historical 46 61 269.337.8191 reenactment half competitive sport. – Chris F. Concerts in the Park Over 30,000 donut samples were tasted Kalamazoo along with a number of extremely unique 47 269.342.5059 Cooper Café donuts including an ice cream donut, Oberon I love to grab a blanket, some snacks and Kalamazoo donut, maple bacon donut and much more. 52 269.383.2960 make an afternoon of relaxing in the park. There were even ballpark inspired donut food – Michelle R. items like donut hotdogs, bear claw burgers Cornwell’s Turkeyville USA and even a donut salad. Coney Island Marshall 53 269.781.4293 Kalamazoo Dowagiac Area 48 269.375.2105 Full turkey dinners and great dinner theatre.