2025 is Grand Rapids' third year of Christkindl Markt.  I'd thought about going last year, but I wasn't free on the days it was open, so this was my first visit.  The Detroit News wrote about the growth of Christmas markets in Michigan.

The Grand Rapids market is much more lively than Holland's Kerstmarkt, with many more booths and many more people.

Seasonal drinks seemed to be the best-seller on a Saturday afternoon when I visited.  A good percentage of the crowd was either drinking from souvenir mugs or waiting in line to buy some.

There were a good variety of food choices... sausages, melted Raclette cheese on bread, pirogi, schnitzel on a stick, Bosnian pastries, and churros.

 

Other huts offered Christmas ornaments, cutting boards, and assorted gifts.

The weather was overcast and cool when I visited, but not really cold.  The middle aisle of the market is a covered drinking hall, for those looking to escape the weather.  The Christkindl Markt is connected to the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, which offered more food and drinks inside its heated building, as well as restrooms.

 

Christkindl Markt
435 Ionia Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI
49503 

Winter 2024-5 Events near Kalamazoo

 While it feels like Kalamazoo is deep into Winter, with plenty of snow and Thanksgiving long over, we still have a few days before its official start.  It's the season for skiing and sledding, and skating, as well as local festivities to celebrate.

Winter Events near Kalamazoo

December 31, 2024 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 31- February 2, 2025  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 1-8 2025 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

February 15-16, 2025 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 22, 2025 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 1, 2025 Quiet Adventures Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events
          Kerstmarkt Fridays and Saturdays (11/23 to 12/21/2024) Holland

          Christkindl Markt Wednesday-Sunday (11/15 to 12/23/2024) Grand Rapids

          Christmas Bird Count


See also

Kzoo Kids: Christmas Activities in Downtown Kalamazoo

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

11 Unforgettable Winter Places in Michigan

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Events calendar from Pure Michigan

Sarrett Nature Center's Event calendar  Benton Harbor

 

Winter Events 2023-4

 

With Thanksgiving over and Kalamazoo's first snow cover, it's feeling like Winter is here.  We'll need more snow for skiing and sledding, and some colder temperatures for outdoor skating but local festivities celebrate the season regardless of weather.

Winter Events near Kalamazoo

December 2, 2023 Tree Lighting & Traditional Holiday celebration Celery Flats, Portage 

          December 2, 2023 Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo 

December 18, 2023 December to Remember Bronson Park Kalamazoo

December 31, 2023 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 12-24 2024 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

February 2-4, 2024  Icebreaker  South Haven 

February 17-18, 2024 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 24, 2024 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 2, 2024 Quiet Adventures Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events
          Kerstmarkt Fridays and Saturdays (11/18 to 12/16/2023) Holland

          Christkindl Markt Wednesday-Sunday (11/17 to 12/23/2023) Grand Rapids

          Christmas Bird Count


See also

OptOutside  An alternative to hitting the malls on Black Friday

Kzoo Kids: Christmas Activities in Downtown Kalamazoo

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

11 Unforgettable Winter Places in Michigan

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

Events calendar from Pure Michigan 

 

Maple Sugar Season 2020

Michigan's recent weather, with warm sunny days and cold, below-freezing nights, is perfect for maple sugaring.  The temperature changes make the sap flow and a strategically driven spile can divert some into a bucket.  Heating the sap concentrates the sweetness, as water transforms into clouds of steam.

Maple Syrup Festivals near Kalamazoo

March 7-8 and 14-15 Maple Sugar Time Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Chesterton, Indiana 

March 7, 15 Maple Sugar Madness Sarett Nature Center Benton Harbor

March 7-8 Maple Sugar Festival Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo

March 21-22 Sugar Camp Days Bendix Woods County Park, New Carlisle, IN

March 21  50th Annual Sugarbush Festival  Blandford Nature Center  Grand Rapids

April 24-26 Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival, Wakarusa, Indiana

April 24-26  79th Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival Vermontville

Also consider

Michigan MapleWeekends

Michigan Maple Syrup Events 2020 in Oakland County and Southeast Michigan
 
Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival

Chicago-area Maple Syrup Events

Holland's Kerstmarkt

I'd been interested in visiting the Kerstmarkt in Holland, Michigan for several years and this season I finally made it on the last day it was open.  The Kerstmarkt is the Dutch version of the outdoor Christmas markets that are popular throughout Europe.

Holland's market featured over a dozen booths selling crafts, plus a few offering food and drinks, and warming hut.

 

On Saturday's the Holland Farmer's Market sells fresh produce, baked goods, and chocolates which doubles the size of the market.

It also offered a dogsled demo on the day I visited.

The Kerstmarkt was a pleasant, low-key experience.  It was no where near the size of Chicago's Christkindlmarket but it did make a list of the Top 50 Christmas Markets worldwide.  On its own, I'm not sure it justifies the drive from Kalamazoo but it does make a good excuse to visit downtown Holland during December.

The Kerstmarkt right at the edge of Holland's 8th Street shopping district, which is West Michigan's best "Main Street." My favorite place for lunch in Holland, New Holland Brewing, is just a few blocks from the market. Along the way, The Outpost is great shop for camping, SUPs, and outdoor clothing.  8th Street also has branches of regional favorites like Gazelle Sports and Kilwins chocolates and a newly opened Hopcat.

Holland Kerstmarkt
8th Street Market Place
150 W. 8th Street
Holland, Michigan

Winter Events 2019-2020

While we had snow earlier this year, December is the traditional start to Winter.  Get ready for a season of skiing, sledding, and skating.  Plenty of local festivals celebrate the season.

Winter Events near Kalamazoo

December 7, 2019 Tree Lighting & Traditional Holiday celebration Celery Flats, Portage 

December 7, 2019 13th annual Candy Cane Hunt Mayors Riverfront Park Kalamazoo

December 7, 2019 Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo 

December 31, 2019 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 11-18 2020 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

January 23-26, 2020 Winterfest Grand Haven

January 31- February 3, 2020  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 14 -17,  2020  Great Backyard Bird Count

February 15-16, 2020 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 22, 2020 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

February 29, 2020 Quietwater Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events

International Festival of Lights Battle Creek November -December 

Zoo Lights Binder Park Zoo Battle Creek

          Dutch Winterfest Holland

Millennium Park Skate Rink opens December 8, 2019, or when weather permits Portage

          Christmas Bird Count


See also

OptOutside  An alternative to hitting the malls on Black Friday

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

11 Unforgettable Winter Places in Michigan

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

The DNR has calendars of events for State Parks and Recreation Areas.

Events from Pure Michigan  

Winter Events 2018-19

While the winter solstice doesn't happen until December 21, it's already looking a lot like winter in Kalamazoo.  (Perhaps the meteorological definition of the season makes more sense.)  Right now, it looks like weather for skiing, sledding, or skating is about here.  Whatever your preferred definition, a variety of local festivals celebrate the season.

Winter Events near Kalamazoo

December 1, 2018 Traditional Holiday celebration Celery Flats, Portage 

December 8, 2018 13th annual Candy Cane Hunt Mayors Riverfront Park Kalamazoo

December 8, 2018 Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo 

December 1-23, 2018 (weekends) Zoo Lights Binder Park Zoo Battle Creek

December 31, 2018 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 11-20 2019 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

January 24-27, 2019 Winterfest Grand Haven

February 1-3, 2019  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 15 -18,  2019  Great Backyard Bird Count

February 16-17, 2019 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 22-23, 2019 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 2, 2019 Quietwater Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events

International Festival of Lights Battle Creek November -December

          Dutch Winterfest Holland

Millennium Park Skate Rink opens when weather permits Portage

          Christmas Bird Count


See also

OptOutside  An alternative to hitting the malls on Black Friday

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

11 Unforgettable Winter Places in Michigan

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

The DNR has calendars of events for State Parks and Recreation Areas.

Events from Pure Michigan  

Winter Events 2017-18

After a wet November in Kalamazoo, it's hard to predict what December will bring.  Will there be enough snow for skiing, sledding, and skating? Whatever the weather, a variety of local festivals celebrate the season.

Winter Events near Kalamazoo

November 24, 2017 Tree Lighting, 5 pm -7:30 pm Bronson Park Kalamazoo

December 2, 2017 Tree Lighting Portage 

December 9, 2017 12th annual Candy Cane Hunt Mayors Riverfront Park Kalamazoo

December 9, 2017 Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo 

December 15-23, 2017 Zoo Lights Binder Park Zoo Battle Creek

December 31, 2017 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 13-21 2018 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

January 25 - 28, 2018 Winterfest 2018 Grand Haven

February 2-4, 2018  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 16 -19,  2018  Great Backyard Bird Count

February 17-18, 2018 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 23-24, 2018 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 3, 2018 Quietwater Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events

International Festival of Lights Battle Creek November -December

          Dutch Winterfest Holland

Millennium Park Skate Rink opens December 2, 2017 (weather permitting) Portage

          Christmas Bird Count


See also

OptOutside  An alternative to hitting the malls on Black Friday

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

Kalamazoo in Winter from CommunityLink

11 Unforgettable Winter Places in Michigan

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

The DNR has calendars of events for State Parks and Recreation Areas.

Winter Events 2016-17

While November offered Kalamazoo plenty of mild, sunny weather, Winter will be coming soon.  With its cold days and long nights, Winter brings a new set of options: skiing, sledding, or skating.  A variety of local festivals celebrate the season.

Winter Events near Kalamazoo

December 3, 2016 Tree Lighting Portage

December 3-4, 2016 Olde World Village Winter Holiday Festival Augusta

December 16-23 Zoo Lights Binder Park Zoo Battle Creek

December 17, 2016  Santacon Kalamazoo 6pm Kalamazoo 

December 10, 2016 Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo

December 31, 2016 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 14-21 2017 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

January 26 - 29, 2017 Winterfest 2016 Grand Haven

January 28, 2017 Winter Jamboree Milham Park Golf Course Kalamazoo

February 3-5, 2017  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 17 -20,  2017  Great Backyard Bird Count

February 18-19, 2017 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 24-25, 2017 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 4, 2017 Quietwater Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events

International Festival of Lights Battle Creek November -December

          Dutch Winterfest Holland

Millennium Park Skate Rink opens December 8, 2016 (weather permitting) Portage

          Christmas Bird Count


See also

OptOutside  An alternative to hitting the malls on Black Friday

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

Kalamazoo in Winter from CommunityLink

11 Unforgettable Winter Places in Michigan

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

The DNR has calendars of events for State Parks and Recreation Areas.

Winter events 2015-16

This morning's snow makes a post on Winter events timely.  While the first snow isn't usually ski-able, Winter in Kalamazoo offers plenty of opportunities for skiing, sledding, and skating.  Local festivals celebrate the season.

Winter Events near Kalamazoo

December 5, 2015 Tree Lighting Portage

December 5-6, 2015 Olde World Village Winter Holiday Festival Augusta

December 12, 2015  Santacon Kalamazoo 6pm Kalamazoo 

December 12, 2015 Free Admission Day and Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo

December 31, 2015 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 16-23 2016 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

usually around January 17 Schrier Park Winter Sports Fest.  Portage

January 28 - 31, 2016 Winterfest 2016 Grand Haven

typically end of January Muskegon Snowfest Muskegon

February 5-7, 2016  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 5-7, 2016 Magical Ice Carving Festival Saint Joseph

February 12 -15,  2016  Great Backyard Bird Count

February 13-14, 2016 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 26-27, 2016 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 5, 2016 Quietwater Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events

International Festival of Lights Battle Creek November 22-December 31

          Dutch Winterfest Holland

Millennium Park Skate Rink opens in December  Portage

          Christmas Bird Count

 See also

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing

Monthly Events Roundup from Pure Michigan
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

Kalamazoo in Winter from CommunityLink

11 Unforgettable Winter Places in Michigan

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Event list Benton Harbor

Winter Events 2014-15

 Snow arrived in Kalamazoo long before the official start of winter.  It looks like this year should offer plenty of opportunities for skiing, sledding, skating, as well as lots of local festivities.


Winter Events near Kalamazoo

December 13, 2014  Santacon Kalamazoo 6pm Kalamazoo 

December 13, 2014 Free Admission Day and Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo

December 14, 2014 - January 5, 2015. Christmas Bird Count

December 31, 2014 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 9-10 2015 Ice Sculpting Competition Holland

January 10-17 2015 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

usually around January 17 Schrier Park Winter Sports Fest.  Portage

January 22 - 25, 2015 Winterfest 2015 Grand Haven

January 31, 2015 Muskegon Snowfest Muskegon

January 30 – February 1, 2015  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 6, 2015 Magical Ice Carving Festival Saint Joseph

February 13 -16,  2015  Great Backyard Bird Count

February 14 - 15, 2015 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 27-28, 2015 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 7, 2015 Quietwater Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events

International Festival of Lights Battle Creek November 22-December 31

Millennium Park Skate Rink opens in December  Portage

See also

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing

Monthly Events Roundup from Pure Michigan
 
Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

Kalamazoo in Winter from CommunityLink

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Weekend Programs Benton Harbor
 

Maple Syrup Season 2014

While my colleagues complain that this winter will never end, the first signs of Spring are coming: longer days, migrating birds, and flowing sap.

Maple Syrup Festivals near Kalamazoo

March 8-9 Maple Sugar Madness Sarett Nature Center Benton Harbor

March 8-9 Maple Sugar Time Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Chesterton, Indiana


March 15-16 Maple Sugar Festival Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo

March 15-16 Sugar Camp Days Bendix Woods County Park, New Carlisle, IN


March 22 Sugarbush Festival  Blandford Nature Center Pancake Breakfast  9am-12noon Grand Rapids

April 25 - 27 Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival, Wakarusa, Indiana

April 25 - 27 74th Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival Vermontville

Also consider

Maple Sugaring from Michigan Advantage

Oakland County Maple Syrup Events

Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival

Maple Syrup festivals in the Midwest (mostly Wisconsin and Minnesota)

The Kalamazoo Nature Center shared these links on making syrup on their Facebook page

-Michigan Maple Syrup Association:
http://www.mi-maplesyrup.com/Contents.htm
-Ohio State University Extension: Fact Sheet Hobby Maple Syrup Production:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/for-fact/0036.html
-Maple Field Guide (specs on other species of maple):
http://www.mapleinfo.org/htm/blackm.cfm
-Sugar Bush Supply Co. in Mason, MI:
http://www.sugarbushsupplies.com/
 

Ski Eliason Nature Reserve

When I visited Eliason Nature Reserve, one of Kalamazoo's newest parks, in the fall , it seemed like it would make a nice place for a short cross-country ski outing.  I took the opportunity of this afternoon's cold weather to try skiing the park.

The park doesn't offer an extensive system of trails.  I finished the only trail in less than an hour and I was moving fairly slowly.  The terrain is pretty mild, with a few gentle slopes.  The snow was pretty hard-packed this afternoon, which made the short downhill sections a bit more challenging.  With fresh snow,  it would be very accessible for beginners.

Despite being closed to motor vehicles, the reserve had been used extensively by snowmobiles.  They had packed the main trail pretty solidly and they had gone off-trail frequently.

 

If Eliason's one trail isn't enough, it's a short walk to Bishop's Bog.  I did that and extended my outing by another hour.  West Lake would be another option, with just a bit longer of a connecting walk.


Eliason Nature Reserve
9202 Portage Industrial Drive
Portage, MI 49024
[address is approximate]

Ski Pigeon Creek

I first read about Pigeon Creek Park in the guidebook Michigan Winter Trails but I didn't have a chance to ski it until yesterday.  Pigeon Creek is an Ottawa County park between Holland, MI and Grand Haven, about an hour's drive northwest of Kalamazoo.  The park offers over 10 miles of ski trails.  All the trails are groomed for traditional, diagonal-stride skiing and some trails are also groomed for skate-skiing.  About three miles of trail are lit for night skiing.  The park features a separate snowshoe trail and a lighted sled hill near the lodge.

Pigeon Creek is close enough to Lake Michigan to get lake effect snow, much like Love Creek County Park to the south, so it's worth checking when Kalamazoo's snow is insufficient.  The county regularly updates trail conditions on their Winter Sports Hot Line: (616) 738-9531.  Yesterday, their snow seemed just as deep as Kalamazoo's.

The trails are well-marked and there are many inter-connections making it easy to create loops of varying distances.  I skied for about an hour which certainly didn't exhaust all of the options.  The loops I took were very beginner friendly, with no steep hills or difficult sections.  There are steeper, more challenging, sections and these are well-marked.  Easier alternative routes are always available.
The county provides an online trail map (pdf).  Physical maps were posted at most interesections, making orientation simple.

The park's lodge is open weekday evenings and all day on weekends.  They have ski rentals available during those times and a concession sells snacks, like hot dogs, chili, and hot chocolate.  I didn't have a chance to try it since I visited in the morning.

There were only a handful of people in the park on a snowy Tuesday.  I imagine it's more popular on weekends and evenings.

Pigeon Creek is named for the now extinct Passenger Pigeon that used to flock to the area.  The trails pass through mature maple-beech forest, hemlocks, and planted pines.

directions: From US 31, north of Holland, take Stanton Road east three miles to the park entrance.

Pigeon Creek Park 
12524 Stanton Street
West Olive, MI 49460

Free

Winter Events 2013-14

Shorter days, longer nights, and colder weather signal winter in Kalamazoo. The season of snow brings opportunities for skiing, sledding, skating, and lots of local festivities.


Winter Events near Kalamazoo

November 9, 2013 The Annual Kalamazoo Holiday Parade 11 am Kalamazoo

December 2, 2013 Marshall's 49th Annual Christmas Parade 7:00 PM Marshall

December 3, 2013 Parade of Lights 6:30 PM Holland

December 6, 2013 Sinterklaas Eve Procession 7:00 PM Holland

December 14, 2013 Free Admission Day and Local Gift Fair  9 am -4 pm Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo

December 14, 2013 - January 5, 2014. Christmas Bird Count

December 14?  Santacon Kalamazoo 6pm Kalamazoo

December 31, 2013 New Year's Eve Fest Kalamazoo

January 10-11 2014 Ice Sculpting Competition Holland

January 11-18 2014 Kalamazoo Beer Week Kalamazoo

January 17-19  2014  Hunter Ice Festival  Niles

usually around January 18 Schrier Park Winter Sports Fest.  Portage

January 23 - 26, 2014 Winterfest 2014 Grand Haven

January 30 – February 1, 2014 Muskegon Snowfest Muskegon

January 31 – February 2, 2014  Icebreaker  South Haven

February 7-9, 2014 Magical Ice Carving Festival Saint Joseph

February 14 -17,  2014  Great Backyard Bird Count

February 15 - 16, 2014 Free Fishing Winter Weekend throughout Michigan

February 22, 2014 Winter Beer Festival Grand Rapids

March 1, 2014 Quietwater Symposium East Lansing

Ongoing events

International Festival of Lights Battle Creek November 23-December 31


Holiday Kerstmarkt Fridays and Saturdays Nov 23 - Dec 14, 2013 Holland

Millennium Park Skate Rink opens in December  Portage

See also

Discover Kalamazoo's event listing

Monthly Events Roundup from Pure Michigan
 
Outdoor Athelete's Winter Sports events

Gazelle Sports Races and running calendar

Kalamazoo in Winter from CommunityLink

West Michigan Winter Weekends

Sarrett Nature Center's Weekend Programs Benton Harbor

The Department of Natural Resources has events in the State Parks in November,  December, and January

Maple Sugar Festival

The Kalamazoo Nature Center's annual Maple Sugar Festival is this weekend.  The event features demonstrations of maple sugaring, from tree to syrup, and maple-centered food.  We enjoyed pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast this morning and, later, some maple cotton candy.  In the afternoon, they feature sundaes: ice cream with maple syrup.

They have different activities and shows for kids.  We saw a raptor demonstration with an American Kestral, Red-Tailed Hawk, and a Screech Owl.  We skipped the Maple Sugar Tour this year, to have more time at the Delano Homestead area.

Maple Sugar Festival events at Delano Homestead included a pioneer maple syrup demonstration, where sap was collected in wooden buckets coated with beeswax, then boiled in iron pots over an open fire. 

There were demonstrations of blacksmithing, spinning yarn, and rides in horse-drawn wagons.

Kalamazoo Nature Center
7000 North Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 

KNC's Delano Homestead
555 West E Ave
Kalamazoo, MI

Interested in other maple events near Kalamazoo?  See 2013 Maple Festivals

Top Five Beginner Ski Trails near Kalamazoo

My wife and daughter have just started cross-country skiing, so I've been considering the best local destinations for them.  Steep hills are really hard for someone just learning to ski and overly long trails can make the sport seem exhausting rather than fun, so I was looking for areas that offered relatively level trails and relatively modest distances.

Kalamazoo's best places for beginners to cross-country ski

1. Alamo Township Park
Alamo Township Park is far and away the best local option for beginner cross-country skiers.  Three loops wind through a mix of hardwood and conifer forests with a bridge over an attractive creek.  The trails are groomed and never crowded.  This park offers all the beauty of the winter woods without any steep hills and it's close to town.  These trails are nice enough to satisfy more experienced skiers looking for a short outing.

2. West Lake Nature Preserve
West Lake Nature Preserve in Portage offers a nice short loop through the woods very close to town.  It's very accessible for beginners, with no hills.  It's probably too short to attract advanced skiers.  This park attracts lots of foot traffic, so the snow is often packed down and I've never seen good ski tracks established, so it's probably best to visit when there is fresh snow.

3. Milham Park Golf Course
Milham Park Golf Course does have more hills than the other areas on this list.  The hills are steep enough to be fun and they are wide open, without trees or obstacles, so even if a beginner veers off-course they should be okay.  The trails are groomed, when there's enough snow, for both skate skiing and classic skiing.  The golf course doesn't offer the same natural beauty as the other areas and if it's windy it feels colder.  It's right in town, so travel time is minimal.  

4. Schrier Park
Schrier Park offers a decent length trail system that can connect to West Lake Nature Preserve through Bishops Bog.  The orchard area near the Osterhout Road entrance is a big open area good for practicing.  The trails have some modest slope, but no demanding hills.  Snow is the big drawback at Schrier Park.  Since its main trails are paved, it takes fairly deep snow to make them skiable.

5. Russ Forest
Russ Forest in Cass County is another good destination for cross-country beginners.  If it was closer to Kalamazoo, I would put it higher on this list.  The trails go through mature forests with some really nice views of Dowagiac Creek.  None of the loops have challenging hills.  The trail system is longer than the others listed here making it worth the drive.

None of these areas charge admission and none offer ski rental.  Lee's Adventure Sports in Kalamazoo does rent skis.  They also have occasional demo days where you can try skis and other equipment.  Two cross-country ski areas that offer on-site rental are within reach for a day trip: Love Creek County Park and Muskegon Winter Sports Complex. Update: Pigeon Creek Park also has ski rentals and its trails are beginner friendly.

WMU Winter Carnival

Saturday was Western Michigan University's Winter Carnival.  The main attraction was the Polar Plunge, a jump into freezing cold water through a hole cut in the ice on Goldsworth Valley Pond.  About 50 people took the plunge, which was a fundraiser for Special Olympics.

The Kalamazoo Gazette has a story with photos and video.  The Western Herald has slideshows of the carnival and the plunge.  See more of my pictures of this event on Facebook.

The carnival included music, a snowman contest-- made difficult by the light fluffy snow-- and pizza, doughnuts, and hot chocolate.  A temporary ice rink was erected but not open for skating when I visited.  A cardboard sled contest was planned for later in the afternoon.

WMU President John Dunn in the freezing water.

Ski Woodland Park

Last winter, I'd hoped to ski at Battle Creek's Woodland Park but there was no snow when I visited.  A few days ago, I returned and, while the conditions were not perfect, I did enjoy skiing the park's trails.  The snow was just deep enough to ski with the occasional rock or root breaking the snow surface. 

Like some of my usual Kalamazoo ski destinations, Woodland Park seemed popular with hikers and dogwalkers and most of the trails were packed hard and somewhat slippery.  One loop did have a nice set of tracks set by previous skiers with only a few footprints marring the track.  That trail section offered the best skiing.

The trails were mostly flat with a few rolling hills.  There was one very short but relatively steep slope.  A new bridge over the park's creek opened a loop that would have been inaccessible on skis.  (Last winter I crossed the water on a fallen log, but I couldn't have done that on skis.)  The outer loop was about 2.5 miles long.  With good snow conditions, this park would be good for beginning skiers.

If I lived in Battle Creek, I'm sure this would become a regular winter destination for me.

Woodland Park and Nature Preserve
14201 Helmer Road
Battle Creek, MI
[address is approximate]