I came for a quick hike on an icy cold afternoon with my friend. The Park is composed of a…read moreHistorical Area, hiking trails and a kayak launch into the creek. In May, the Park was hit by a tornado that destroyed many of the trees and damaged several structures. It is amazing how Mother Mature can change the face of the land so quickly. The Park is named Celery Flats, because the region has been popular for growing celery with its sandy soil. The Historic Area of the Park is decorated for the holidays with trees and lights. Historic buildings include a grain elevator, a one room school house and Stuart Manor. Stuart Manor as moved to the park in 1994 and was one of the first homes built in Portage. Hayloft Theater is a restored barn turned theater. The barn was damaged by the tornado and is awaiting repair. There is also an amphitheater in the Park that is perfect for summer concerts. The buildings were not open for touring during our visit, but they appear to be open during events. The Historic Area is a perfect place to bring the kids to learn about history. The hiking trail through the Park is part of the trail system that meanders through Portage and Kalamazoo. There are picturesque bridges along the trail with a canoe/kayak launch over Portage Creek. The trails are a perfect place to watch birds. We saw a flock of mallards in the creek during our visit. The trail offered something I had not seen before. There was a solar phone charging station near a bench for those who need to stay connected. The Park has a really nice pavilion that was decorated for Christmas. I could see this as a perfect place to take family pictures or visit with Santa. The parking lot is large with handicapped spaces close to the pavilion. The trails are paved and easily accessible. I will return to see how the forest recovers from the tornado. The Park has a lot to offer.

This is a very popular spot, very clean and beautiful it was recommended by a friend when we asked…read morewhat's a good walking trail. We are from Battle Creek and she told us this spot county zoo.

They're down to a splinter staff and most people are working from home, but the person I spoke with…read moretoday said they were waiving late fees for water bills so if you turn yours in late or you brought it in today but they weren't in the office to accept it, it sounds like you don't have to wait about a late fee being charged. That said ... They assessed huge increases in property values this year that undoubtedly will be completely incorrect for the market we will be facing come July when taxes are due. Hoping they'll make some adjustments there.

Went to SkyWarn weather spotter training here…read more The chamber was well appointed, and the presentation was very good. Very nice building and well kept up. Nice to see a community resource such as the city counsel chamber open and used for the community betterment, not just meetings. https://www.skywarn.org/local-classes/michigan/

**Presidential Brewing** has a cool vibe and a fun presidential theme, with all the beers named…read moreafter presidents. The inside space is nice, featuring a mix of four- to six-seat tables and communal-style seating. It was very cold when we visited, but the outdoor area looks amazing--they have a stage and fire pits. They also offer a great-looking menu. We split a flight. **Calvin Creamridge** is an easy-drinking, refreshing ale. **Michigan Fake Brews**, a coffee blonde, is one of my husband's favorites--he's always excited when breweries offer this style. If you like coffee, you'll enjoy this one. **Shandrew Jackson** is a sherbet-like sour shandy that's very good, not too sour, and nicely balanced with lemonade. **Crancy Reagan** is a cider made with cranberry, pomegranate, and apple.

Stopped in here on a whim after a school event for our kids with some friends. The atmosphere was…read moregreat, the kids were able to do minigolf the whole time we were there, and the food and service were great. Definitely worth a look.

Once again, the courtesy at the air zoo can't be beat…read more We went with a medium sized homeschool group, and everyone was very kind and helpful and pleasant. I love how knowledgeable the staff was and how accommodating people were when we had a variety of ages of children. We always love coming to the zoo and I can rest easy that the staff is always very helpful and accommodating. My only criticism would be that we have some significant in anaphylactic allergens and the staff at Kitty Hawk Café didn't seem to be very knowledgeable about allergens and cross contamination, so we didn't feel safe at all getting any food there. I highly recommend bringing a cooler and leaving it in your car if you have allergies.

Lots of interactive areas for kids!…read more We spent about 3 hours here but could have easily spent the whole day. The place closed before we were able to explore the back building. Large parking lot and friendly staff when purchasing tickets. Right away the kids gravitated toward the rides. Although there were lots of planes to view they had a lot of great interactive areas for the kids to explore relating to extreme sports, airplane simulators, rides, model ships, women during the war. Lots of great exhibits! The cafe overlooks the area also seemed to have great prices and selection although it was closed so we did not get to try.

The unique and fragile ecosystem located in this park is even more amazing when you consider it's…read moreat the heart of the city of Portage. Some of the first stops along the sanctuary's trail are viewing platforms overlooking a marshy area, which, though enjoyable, still require you to press on to reach the five-star attraction -- a wetland bog featuring carnivorous pitcher plants, sphagnum moss, and tamarack trees. You will have to walk awhile on paths through the woods before you reach the actual bog, which must be traversed on a floating boardwalk. Choose to wear shoes that will keep your feet dry. (At certain times of the year the boardwalk may even be flooded and inaccessible.) Mosquito spray and drinking water are also must-haves. Autumn is a particularly beautiful time to visit; the colors are spectacular. The trek ends with a glorious view of West Lake. You can sit on benches on the viewing platform before the trip back to the parking lot. Your wetland adventure will take 45 minutes or more depending on your pace and frequency of stops. Also, beware of poison sumac growing along the trail through the bog; the risk of getting a rash is a great deterrent to picking any pretty plants along the way.

Yet another Portage Park that has elevated walkways over the bogs. Be aware both that when you walk…read moreover these rubber walkways, water will squirt up through the holes so you're likely to get damp (not a huge deal on a hot summer day, but pretty intense when you're going on a run in the late fall or early spring). Also, despite being a fairly neutral looking gray, these elevated walkways get incredibly hot. I noticed my chihuahua was lifting his paws so I reached down and touch the surface and it was scalding, so we carried the dogs for those stretches of the paths. We saw lots of butterflies, birds and a gorgeous turtle on our recent visit. Our cousin had a hard time finding the geocaches that were supposed to be on our route, though. There's a beautiful West Lake view at the end of one of the elevated platforms and lots of yummy wild blackberries to forage if you happen to be at the park in early July. We're always on the hunt for great spots to take our dogs for a nice afternoon hike, and this will be becoming one of our go-to spots.

Built on the former site of the Comstock Fire Department's Central Fire Station which was…read moreconstructed in 1950 and served for 60 years. The memorial at this site is a tribute to and a reminder of the service and sacrifice made by members of the Comstock Township Fire Department past and present. Right now, a flag pole and a plaque on a reasonably-sized boulder. The charity is also taking additional donations that will be used to expand and enhance the site. [Review 11209 overall, 985 of 2019.]

Recently took there new bus tour. It was great. The bus is a bit bumpy on brick roads but the…read morehistory and stories make it well worth it.

My wife and I went to see the Chicago show here and had a fantastic time. The seats were…read morecomfortable and the staff were all friendly and helpful. Overall we had a great time.

I've spent the last several years seeing shows at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids and I have…read moreto say I think we're a bit spoiled. They've done some renovations which have made the experience there better. Miller Auditorium could definitely use some polishing! It's a bit drab inside and feels like a high school auditorium to me. We recently attended Cats the musical there and enjoyed the performance, but there's room for improvement at the theatre. The main lobby/concourse area is super crowded and packed. Everything is on top of each other - bathroom lines, concession counter lines, coat check lines, merchandise counter lines, and box office lines - all squished into one narrow space. It has terrible flow and makes for a cramped experience. The women's restroom line was very long even when they announced the other bathroom upstairs. The restroom also has a big carpeted lounge area that seems like wasted space. There were also zero security measures in place - they weren't even checking tickets at the main entrance doors (they did check them right before you entered the actual auditorium). No metal detectors or checking of bags - something I'm just so used to at DeVos. It would be more secure and feel a bit safer to me with those measures in place. Our seats were off to the aisle side of the orchestra level. We had a pretty decent viewpoint, but I was very distracted by the ushers who were playing phone police and intercepting anyone taking photos or videos during the performance. That's totally understandable, but it was annoying when one of them rushed down our row in front of us to the middle of the section right during one of the quiet ballads. I think there should be a clearer announcement at the beginning of the performance, rather than being disruptive to other guests during the show. I would come back in the future if there's a show that I really want to see that's not in GR, but it's not the best theatre experience I've had.