Uncovering the Hidden Gems of Portage, MI: A Cultural Travelers Guide

The city of Portage, Michigan may often be overlooked by travelers flocking to nearby Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids. But those in the know understand that this suburban town has a wealth of cultural offerings waiting to be discovered.

Start your journey with a visit to the Air Zoo (6151 Portage Rd), an aviation museum where you can see historic planes up close and even take flight simulators for a spin. For more handson fun, head over to The Station (800 S. Kohler St), which is housed in an old fire station and features interactive exhibits on science, technology, engineering and math.

Art lovers will appreciate the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (314 S. Park St), which boasts an impressive collection of American paintings as well as sculptures, prints and photographs from around the world. Those seeking something more offbeat should check out Art Bayou (3306 Stadium Dr), where visitors can paint their own pottery creations.

For theater buffs, The Barn Theatre (13351 W M96) offers professional productions all summer long in its rustic red barn setting. Meanwhile, The Civic Theatre (329 S Park St) puts on musicals and plays throughout the year in its newlyrenovated space.

No trip to Portage would be complete without exploring some of its natural beauty like Ramona Park Beach & Campground She also enjoys walking around Celery Flats Interpretive Area(7335 Garden Ln). Or make a stop at West Lake Nature Preserve(1219 E Milham Ave) for hiking trails surrounded by serene wetlands.

So whether youre interested in art or nature or anything in between, theres something for everyone waiting to be uncovered in Portage, Michigan.

Websites:

Air Zoo: airzoo.org

The Station: stationkzoo.com

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: kiarts.org

Art Bayou: artbayoustudio.com

The Barn Theatre: barntheatreschool.org

The Civic Theatre: kazoocivic.com

Ramona Park Beach & Campground : portagemi.gov/273/RamonaPark

Celery Flats Interpretive Area:portagemi.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/CeleryFlatsHistoricalAreaTrails?fbclidIwAR2aLMD8lgtO3q_UOGnzcNA5ogzOKkUM6SatGh9aOMyP1WLcqfSlKAs_7uo

West Lake Nature Preserve:kalamazooriver.org/naturepreserves/westlakenaturepreserve