5 Father’s Day Activities to Celebrate in Southwest Michigan
As anyone with two kiddos knows, things can get extremely chaotic so this year for Father’s Day we decided that we would go minimal on gifts. Instead, we decided to plan a fun day of Father’s Day Activities around Southwest Michigan that focused on spending quality time together. Read on to see how we’re planning to spend our day and get ideas for your own celebrations!
Watching my husband become a father is still one of the most amazing things I’ve been fortunate to see and something that has strengthened our relationship; He is patient, neutering, and kind. With our son, I watched him navigate the stress and fear of being a new parent and figuring out how to be a role model to our new little boy. The minute our daughter was born this year it was a completely different story. He was no longer cautious or hesitant, he was confident and their bond was clear. She has her daddy wrapped around her finger, and watching their relationship grow has been amazing. Celebrating who he is as a Father and person is something I am definitely looking forward to!
There are so many fun things to do around Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan to include in our Father’s Day activities, especially during the warm months. We knew we wanted to take advantage of the summer weather and get outside. Here’s a short list of things we’re planning on doing to celebrate Father’s Day this year!
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Enjoy Brunch as a Family
What better way to start off a day than with brunch?! This is one of our favorite weekend activities, but for Father's Day we choose some place special. We decided on Bird Dog.
Bird Dog has a small, shaded patio where we can enjoy the weather and their food is DELICIOUS! The chef trained in New Orleans (one of our favorite spots for local food) and they make a mean Bloody Mary. If you go, make sure you order a Dutch Baby Pancake for the table.
If you're looking for other great brunch options around Southwest Michigan try one of our other favorite options:
- Crow's Nest
- Louie's Corner Bar
- Rykse & Co - Closed on Sundays, but if you want to have brunch at home you can pick up some of their Cinnamon Rolls for Father's Day morning. They're incredible!
Spend Some Time in Nature
One of our favorite things to do as a family is enjoy the beautiful nature in Southwest Michigan. We're very fortunate to be surrounded by parks and hiking/walking trails. We plan on heading to the Kalamazoo Nature Center where they have beautiful shaded trails of varying difficulty, so E can walk along while we carry baby Rea in our Ergo carrier.
Note: Kalamazoo Nature Center does require a membership or a small fee to enter, if you're looking for something local that is FREE try the West Lake Nature Preserve. They have floating docks that allow you to walk out over the preserve and it's great for spotting birds and fish!
Enjoy a Picnic on the Beach
After hiking at the Nature Center I am sure that we will have worked up a healthy appetite, so I have planned ahead and will make a picnic lunch for us to enjoy. One of our favorite places to enjoy a packed lunch is on the beach at Ramona Park.
I love having a beach so close to home! Being able to eat our lunch on the beach and then jump in the lake to cool off is one of our favorite ways to spend time together. The park has shaded picnic tables and a playground to keep E entertained.
If you're willing to make a little bit more of a drive it's worth checking out some of the beaches on Lake Michigan. Try some of our other favorites within an hour of Kalamazoo:
Catch a Growlers Game
If you have not been to a Kalamazoo Growlers. baseball game, stop right now and go buy tickets! Whether you're a baseball fan or not, it is such a fun way to spend an evening as a family. They have ball park snacks and beer, a playground and kids area for the little ones, and lots of entertainment between innings. Unfortunately, this year the Growlers are "away" on Father's Day, but we bought tickets for the next week as a Father's Day gift.
End Your Father’s Day Activities With a Nightcap
My husband loves gin, so the perfect end to a day spent together is a stop at one of our favorite distilleries for a cocktail. Green Door makes their own gin, whiskey, vodka and liquors. If you don't have time to sit in the tasting room for one of their delicious hand crafted cocktails, or mocktails, you can get a bottle to take home as a Father's Day gift.
If the Dad in your life is more of a beer drinker, check out one of the MANY local breweries. We of course love Bells Brewery (Oberon is our favorite this time of year). If you're looking for something new check out Brewery Outre (their Rose sour is one of my favorite beers on tap right now).
If wine is the drink of choice there is only one place to go. The Stamped Robin has the best vibe of any bar around. It's small, cozy, with an quaint patio tucked away along the side of the building. On top of that, their wine selection is great!
If you’re local to Kalamazoo, Portage, or South West Michigan I highly recommend taking advantage of some quality family time at some of these places or making an entire day of celebrating the Fathers in your life. If you’re looking for gifts for the new Dads in your life check out our post from last year for ideas.
What are some of your favorite Father’s Day activities?
