Appearance
Portage is in Kalamazoo County in West Central Michigan. The population was 46,292 in the 2010 census. It is adjacent to Kalamazoo. Portage has miles of paths connecting its numerous parks.
Portage once known for its production of celery continues to be a producer of various goods sitting at the intersection of US 131 and I-94 roughly halfway between Chicago and Detroit and a short drive to Grand Rapids and South Bend.
Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport (AZO IATA). Serving Kalamazoo and the surrounding area, offers multiple daily flights to Chicago (on American Eagle) and Detroit (on Delta Connection).
By car
[edit]Portage lies on Interstate 94 roughly mid-way between Chicago and Detroit and along US Highway 131 just south of Kalamazoo.
By train
[edit]- 2 Kalamazoo Transportation Center. Amtrak offers service to Chicago and Ann Arbor/Detroit several times daily on the Wolverine Service as well as to East Lansing, Flint, and Port Huron on the Blue Water Service. You will need to catch a bus, taxi, or car to Portage from the train station.
By bus
[edit]The Kalamazoo downtown train station acts as the main regional bus station where you can change to the Kalamazoo Metro bus service to get to Portage.
Get around
[edit]- Metro Transit. Bus service is provided throughout Portage and its neighboring towns.
See
[edit]- 1 Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 382-6555, toll-free: +1 866-524-7966. An Aerospace museum with a large collection of rare historical planes.
- 2 Celebration Cinema Crossroads, 6600 Ring Rd, ☏ +1 269 324-7469.
Parks
[edit]- 3 Bishop's Bog Preserve, 9920 S Westnedge Ave.
- 4 Celery Flats Historic Area (Celery Flats), 7335 Garden Lane. 8AM-Dusk. Explore the history of Portage, Michigan. In this location a historical garden, small museum, house, Hayloft Theatre, barn, and church are available to tour. Free to walk around, check the City website for tour hours. $0.00.
- 5 Central Park, 7800 Shaver Rd.
- 6 Eliason Nature Reserve, 1614 W Osterhout.
- 7 Harbors West Park, 3458 Summersong Path.
- 8 Haverhill Park, 6577 Hampton St.
- 9 Lakeview Park, 9345 Portage Rd.
- 10 Lexington Green Park, 4750 Pittsford St.
- 11 Liberty Park, 7647 S Westnedge.
- 12 Millennium Park, 280 Romence Rd.
- 13 Oakland Drive Park, 7650 Oakland Dr.
- 14 Portage Creek Bicentennial Park, 910 E Milham Ave.
- 15 Ramona Park & Beach, 8600 S Sprinkle Rd.
- 16 Schrier Park, 850 W Osterhout Rd.
- 17 South Westnedge Park, 9010 S Westnedge.
- 18 Veterans Memorial Park, 300 Library Ln.
- 19 West Lake Nature Preserve, 9001 S Westnedge.
- 20 Westfield Park, 4500 W Milham Ave.
Do
[edit]- Escapology, 5600 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 488-3175, Portage@escapology.com. A puzzle based escape room.
- 1 Ice Rink at Millennium Park, 280 Romence Rd. Go ice skating Between December and March, but check the website for changes.
- 2 Airway Fun Center, 5626 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 327-7061. Bowling, laser tag, go-carts, high ropes, arcade and more for all ages.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Crossroads Mall, 6650 South Westnedge Ave (Take I-94 to Exit 78 Southbound. Continue down Westnedge, go through many sets of lights, turn right when you see signs for THE CROSSROADS), ☏ +1 269 327-3500.
- 2 Southland Mall, Corner of Westnedge and Milham (From I-94, take exit 78 southbound, head south until you hit Milham Ave., mall is on right.).
- 3 Portage Farmers Market, 7900 South Westnedge Ave. May to October at City Hall.
Eat
[edit]- Erbellis, 8342 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 327-0200.
- Fieldstone Grill, 3970 West Centre Ave, ☏ +1 269 321-8480.
- 1 Brann’s, 700 M L King Dr, ☏ +1 269 321-8852.
- 2 West Lake Drive-In, 9183 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 327-5985.
- 3 Kitty Hawk Cafe (Kitty Hawk Cafe @ the Air Zoo), 6151 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 382-6555.
- 4 COVE Lakeside Bistro, 9110 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 350-5380.
Grocery
[edit]- 5 Meijer, 5121 S Westnedge Ave, ☏ +1 269 381-3465.
- 6 Meijer, 8850 Shaver Rd, ☏ +1 269 321-4300.
- 7 Aldi, 6291 S. Westnedge.
- 8 Harding's, 3750 W. Centre St, ☏ +1 269 329-3041.
- 9 Harding's, 6330 S. Westnedge, ☏ +1 269 327-6733.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Latitude 42 Brewing Company, 7842 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 459-4242.
- Presidential Brewing Company, 8302 Portage Rd, ☏ +1 269 468-9765, info@presidentialbrewing.com.
- Centre Street Tap House, 3251 Centre St, ☏ +1 269 492-3500.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Courtyard Kalamazoo Portage, 400 Trade Center Way, ☏ +1 269 382-5808.
- 2 Homewood Suites by Hilton Kalamazoo-Portage, 500 Trade Centre Way, ☏ +1 269 382-5817.
- 3 Holiday Motel, 5540 S Westnedge Ave.
Connect
[edit]- 1 Portage District Library, 300 Library Ln, ☏ +1 269 329-4544, Answerline@portagelibrary.info.