6 Fun Ways To Get Outdoors In Kalamazoo, MI

By Francine Fluetsch on July 18, 2016

Campus Court at Knollwood is proud to partner with the Salvation Army to collect clothing, furniture, household goods, and appliances for donation to benefit our community. All proceeds are used to fund the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers.

Students attending Western Michigan University, this article is for you! Studies have shown that sitting around at school, work, and at home for leisure time is almost like our new form of cancer, so it’s important to get out there and get active.

Sure you get a bit of walking in if you live off campus, especially at the gorgeous properties at Campus Court at Knollwood, but planning activities to keep you outside and on your feet instead of in a chair will keep you healthy and happy.

Whether you are new to Kalamazoo or have been there for a while, it is sometimes hard to come up with new ways to get up off your butt and go exploring, so here are some ideas to get you started!

1. Biking

Kalamazoo has tons of great biking trails that you can try out and explore. You can go on a leisurely one with some friends and take pictures along the way, challenge yourself and go on a 22-mile biking trail, or take a pit stop at a brewery as you bike along all of the interconnecting trails. Biking is a great form of exercise that is also a lot of fun.

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Since there are so many trails to choose from, why not make it your goal to hit up as many as you can before you graduate? Maybe you can set aside one or two days a week that are designated for biking, so you’ll see all of the sites, get outside, and end up with some killer legs at the end of it.

2. Water sports

Water sports offer tons of great ways for you to get active, and the ability to change it up every time. Maybe one weekend you feel more like getting a swim in, and the next it’s time for a canoeing session, and then maybe the next, you want to go on a crazy guided tour adventure. Water sports are great to enjoy with friends, and you usually get a good story out of them.

Doing things like canoeing or paddle boarding are great ways to also get a killer workout in. You might not be able to feel your arms the next morning, but it will be worth it! Why not try out a variety and see which is your favorite?

3. Brewery & history walking tour

If getting out of the house and getting active isn’t really your thing, why not do something that will give you a reward for getting up and going out? A beer and history walking tour allows you to walk around and learn the histories of the breweries, sample tons of beers, and get souvenir pint glasses out of it.

Seems like a pretty good motivator to get out there and walk. Each tour allows for a different experience, so who is to say that you can only do the tour once?

4. Skate park

Skate parks are a great way to get active without even realizing that you are since you are having so much fun. From novice to advanced, skate parks are accepting of skaters and bladers of all kinds, and are great places to meet new people. They have rentals so you don’t have to commit to actually buying your own stuff, but if you love it enough, why not?

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5. Snow sports

In the winter, why not take advantage of some fun snow sports to get you out of the house when all you really want to do is sit bundled up at home, drinking hot chocolate? If you’ve never been skiing or snowboarding, don’t let it deter you from the wonders of snow sports. You can always have a friend teach you, or even take a class.

Both skiing and snowboarding are wonderful workouts and will give you a day packed full of adventure, so by the time you get home, you’ll be ready to crash. You can also get a group of friends together and rent a cabin to allow yourself a few days of snow sport fun.

6. A new sport

Many of the local public parks offer sports and walking/running opportunities, so you have plenty of chances to take up a new sport just for fun, or improve your fast walking or running time as you explore all of the parks. Sports aren’t for everyone, but there is a huge variety to choose from, so why not pick a few that look interesting and give them a shot?

You could even try your hand at disc golf at Knollwood Disc Golf Park! This is a beginner course, so you don’t have to worry about it being your first time, and it goes through the woods to give you a nice scenic backdrop as you play. Who knows? This might be your sport!

These are just a few ideas to help you get outside and have a blast while staying active. Check out this page for more ideas!

Campus Court at Knollwood [phone: 269-342-9776is proud to partner with the Salvation Army to collect clothing, furniture, household goods, and appliances for donation to benefit our community. All proceeds are used to fund the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers, where beneficiaries find help, hope, and a second chance at life through work therapy, education, counseling and spiritual development. 

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