Kalamazoo [1] is a city in Southwestern Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 77,145, with a metropolitan area of 452,851, which includes neighboring Battle Creek. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County.

The city has a strong higher education presence, being home to Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Much of the city's economy was tied to the Upjohn Pharmacutical Corporation. The company merged with Swedish Pharmacia in the 1990's, with Kalamazoo remaining the center of the conglomerate's operations, before being recently bought out by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, headquartered in New Jersey. Many elements of the old Upjohn company are still present, however.

Get in

Plane

The Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport serves the area. Major connections include Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

Car

Kalamazoo lies on I-94, a major east-west Interstate Highway that connects the city with Detroit to the east, and Chicago to the west. United States Highway 131 connects the city with Grand Rapids to the north.

Train

The city sits on the Chicago-Toronto Amtrak route. A train ride to Chicago is about 2.5 hours.

Bus

The downtown train station also acts as a bus station. Major destinations include Grand Rapids, Chicago and Detroit.

Get around

See

• Western Michigan University
• Kalamazoo College
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College
• State Theater popular concert venue
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• Kalamazoo Valley Museum
• Theatre Kalamazoo
• Kalamazoo Nature Center

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

• Bell's Brewery / Eccentric Café & Beer Garden, +1-269-382-2338 [2] Local brews, live music. Bell's was one of the first "micro-breweries" east of the Rockies in the 1980s, and their popular line of ales and stouts are also available in many local bars.

• Kraftbrau Brewery, [3] Provides craft beers and entertainment with a wide variety of acts both international and local.

Sleep

• Clarion Kalamazoo Hotel 3600 E. Cork St. Tel: (269) 385-3922. Fax: (269) 385-2747. Upscale six-story facility with 156 deluxeguest rooms - located halfway between Detroit and Chicago, on I-94 at exit 80 and just minutes from US-131. Secure Online Reservations.
• Comfort Inn Kalamazoo Hotel 3820 Sprinkle Rd. Tel: (269) 381-7000. Fax: (269) 381-5334. Conveniently located off of I-94 @ exit 80 - 1/4 mile south of I-94 on Sprinkle Road next to McDonald's. Near several restaurants, malls, museums and recreational facilities as well as most area businesses.
• Hawthorn Suites Kalamazoo 2575 S. 11th Street. Tel: (269) 353-2547. Located 1 mile from Western Michigan University, 2 miles from downtown Kalamazoo, and 7 miles from both Bronson Regional Hospital and Borgess Medical Center.
• Radisson Plaza Hotel Kalamazoo 100 West Michigan Ave. Reservations: (800) 333-3333 Telephone: (269) 343-3333 Fax: (269) 381-1560. With a prime downtown Kalamazoo location close to shopping, theater and museums, the Radisson Plaza Hotel Kalamazoo offers the kind of warm hospitality, inviting atmosphere and topnotch services sure to please business and leisure travelers alike. At the Radisson Plaza Hotel Kalamazoo, our highest priority is the genuine care and comfort of our guests. Our mission is to provide the finest personalized service and facilities, ensuring a memorable experience.

Get out