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Battle Creek is one of Michigan’s most underrated places to visit. Over the past couple decades, its reputation was mired by economic stagnation. However, I embrace visiting places that might not be the newest, trendiest towns. Often, it’s the towns that don’t have the biggest hype behind them that are full of hidden gems, rich history, and great culture. And that’s especially true for Battle Creek. Over our past couple visits, we discovered many wonderful things to do in Battle Creek!
Most people know that the major multinational cereal company Kellogg’s was founded and still is headquartered in Battle Creek. But did you know that Battle Creek was once a stop along the Underground Railroad? And many people don’t know that abolitionist leader and women’s rights hero Sojourner Truth called Battle Creek her home. But besides those interesting historic facts, there are also some pretty cool sights and things to do like visit a fantasy forest or one of the best zoo’s in Michigan (in my personal opinion)!
~ A Quick History of Battle Creek ~
Before European settlement, the Potawatomi and Ottawa people inhabited what’s now Battle Creek.
In 1831, people from New York and New England moved and settled in the area due to the lands fertility. Shortly after, a post office, schools, and saw mills opened up.
In 1863, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church was founded in Battle Creek. The church and a couple of its high profile members – Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and William Keith Kellogg put Battle Creek on the map nationally. The Battle Creek Sanitarium, run by Dr. Kellogg, was a health resort often visited by the rich and famous. And his brother, WK Kellogg invented cornflakes cereal, later breaking away to form the company Kellogg’s. Shortly after the invention of cornflakes, CW Post invented grape-nuts cereal, also in Battle Creek. From then on, Battle Creek’s been known as ‘cereal city.’
~ Things to Do in Battle Creek Map ~
~ Summary of Trips to Battle Creek ~
When: Saturday in summer & a Saturday in the fall
Why: For our first visit, we wanted to learn more about our state and country’s history. Then, our second trip was tailored to have fun with our toddler son.
Time traveled (one way): 1 hour from Grand Rapids, 2 hours from Detroit, 30 minutes from Kalamazoo, 1 hour from Lansing, 3 and a half hours from Traverse City, 3 hours from Chicago, 3 and a half hours from Indianapolis
Time spent at destination: 3 hours
Budget: For the first day: minimal $ – food; for the second: $$ – food and entrance to Binder Park Zoo
~What we did during our Day Trip’s ~
During the first day trip, we explored the Leila Arboretum, particularly the Fantasy Forest and Miss Iva Dotty Native Flower Garden. Then stopped by downtown Battle Creek, where there are lots of things to see! First, we visited Memorial Park and Mill Rice Park. Then we appreciated a number of mural that decorate downtown. Finally we walked along the river walk until we made it to the W.K. Kellogg House and Underground Railroad Sculpture. While exploring, we stopped for lunch at Clara’s on the River. This restaurant is in Battle Creek’s historic railway depot. It is also in a picturesque location right beside the river walk.
The second trip was to visit the Binder Park Zoo. Following our afternoon there, we grabbed lunch at Waco Kitchen, which is located next to the Battle Creek airport.
~ Places to Stay in Battle Creek ~
Combine these two days together and make it a getaway! The best places to stay overnight are:
- Crafter’s Retreat VRBO: This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home from 1934 is a perfect place to stay during your time in Battle Creek. What better way to learn history than by staying somewhere with history too? It is spacious and conveniently located near downtown Battle Creek.
- Baymont by Wyndham Battle Creek Downtown: If you want to stay in downtown Battle Creek, this is the hotel of choice! There are many perks of staying at this hotel which includes free parking, (which is rare in downtown locations). It’s also within walking distance to downtown’s amenities and has an indoor pool.
- Courtyard by Marriott Battle Creek: If you don’t mind a little drive to reach downtown or are looking for a hotel nearby the Zoo, the Courtyard is where you should stay. There’s an indoor pool and free breakfast. With it’s location near the highway, it’s also a convenient stay to combine with a visit to Marshall, Michigan.
- Fairfield Inn by Marriott Battle Creek: The Fairfield is another great option that’s located in the same area as the Courtyard.
~ Other Things to do in Battle Creek ~
If you’re interested in staying longer, here are additional attractions you may enjoy:
- Flash Flood Water Park – This is a seasonal summer waterpark run by the Battle Creek Parks & Rec Department.
- Historic Bridge Park – Meander around a few short trails to check out the five restored bridges kept here.
- Adventist Village – Step back in time to visit 3 blocks of restored homes, a school, meeting room, and church to learn about the history of the 7th Day Adventist Movement.
- Oak Hill Cemetery – View the final resting place of W.K. Kellogg, C.W. Post, Sojourner Truth, and stationmaster Erastus Hussey.
- Visit a local museum such as the Kimball House or Battle Creek Regional History Museum.
- Fort Custer Rec Area – Originally used as training grounds for the US Army during World War Two, it was converted into a park in 1971. There are over 3,000 acres of forest, 3 lakes, and a portion of the Kalamazoo River here to explore.
- Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary – View and get up close with rescued alligators!
Support the local shops and independent restaurant operators! Over the past couple years, there are a number of new stores and restaurants that opened in downtown Battle Creek such as:
- Cafe Rica: Enjoy a cup of Costa Rican coffee right in downtown Battle Creek. The family that operates this café has roots to Costa Rica as well and strive to provide a positive, welcoming experience to everyone who visits.
- 32 Social: How about another cup of joe? 32 Social is a coffee shop that sells coffee from a small roaster in Detroit and sells small bites from local bakeries and farms.
- Kitchen Proper: Located in downtown Battle Creek, Kitchen Proper is open for dinner and sells a variety of entrees, appetizers, pastas, and more.
- Bread & Basket: This public market is the place to go in Michigan to buy goods from and support women of color. Not only is it run by a Battle Creek local, but it’s a boutique that sells everything from fashion accessories to beauty supplies and more!
- Simply Sensational: After coffee, dinner, and shopping, how about dessert? Before heading home, visit Simply Sensational for cupcakes, cookies, and more!
~ Day Trip to Battle Creek Details ~
Day Trip One: Historic Tour of Battle Creek
Leila Arboretum
Fantasy Forest
Originally, the Battle Creek Country Club sat on this site in the early 1900’s. In 1922, Leila Post Montgomery, widow of C.W. Post (of Post Consumer Goods), purchased and donated the former country club to the city of Battle Creek. Leila envisioned the site as a place of culture amid nature. In 1924, landscaper T. Clifton Shepherd drafted development plans, but when the Great Depression hit, the plans sat by the wayside for over 50 years.
Finally, in 1981, a group of local citizens formed the Leila Arboretum Society to restore the 72 acre arboretum. Since then, the arboretum transformed! Now it contains over 2,500 marked trees and plants, several gardens, a disc golf course, paved trails, a peace labyrinth, kaleidoscope garden, community vegetable garden, greenhouse, public art, horticultural training center, fantasy forest, and the Kingman Museum of natural history – all on its grounds.
Within the arboretum, just by its entrance is the Fantasy Forest, created in 2015/6. Prior to its creation, a grove of over 100 year old ash trees sat here. By 2013, all of the trees died due to the invasive Emerald Ash Borer. Then the arboretum society called on artists and wood carvers from around the Midwest to submit ideas to redesign the tree trunks and remaining branches. The artists and woodcarvers left behind a beautiful fantasy land of wizards, castles, and other mythical creatures for the public to enjoy!
Miss Iva Dotty Native Flower Garden
Also near the entrance is the Miss Iva Dotty Native Flower Garden. Created in 2001, the garden is named after Battle Creek resident Miss Iva who was passionate about nature and wildflowers. All of the flowers and plants growing within this garden are native to the Great Lakes region.
While visiting the arboretum, my family and I spent a majority of our time at the Fantasy Forest. We also checked out the Native Flower Garden to see what was blooming. Our son loves looking at trees and flowers so we wondered if the altered trees would captivate him (they did!)
In conclusion, the Leila Arboretum is a great place to spend a few hours with children or as a family!
Monument Park
Our next stop was Monument Park. This park contains three monuments. The first is of cereal magnate C.W. Post, built in 191, second is a stone tower with local memorabilia from the 1930s, and third is a larger than life monument of Sojourner Truth erected in 1999.
The most remarkable part of the park is the Sojourner Truth monument by artist Tina Allen. It features a 12-foot tall Truth at a lectern posed as if she was delivering a speech. When Truth was alive, she used her natural gift for public speaking to fight for abolition and suffrage. As we walked up to her in the mini amphitheater, we could imagine her delivering a passionate speech demanding the end to systemic racism that lingers to this day.
Mill Race Park
The Mill Race Park is located within downtown Battle Creek. It includes an urban waterfall, shaded picnic tables and a children’s playground. This park is beautiful, clean and modern!
On either side of the waterfall there are 5 sculptures hanging on the wall. These sculptures show the history of Battle Creek around the 1830s when its early settlers built a canal or “race” to connect Battle Creek to the Kalamazoo River. There is a plaque that explains what each of the sculptures means besides the waterfall bridge.
Color the Creek Murals
Prior to going to Battle Creek, I heard about the Sojourner Truth mural by Detroit artist Sintex. But as we explored downtown, we noticed many murals located on the sides of buildings. While admiring the public art, I discovered Battle Creek’s put on an annual Street Art fair annually in mid August called “Color the Creek.” The purpose of Color the Creek is to add vibrancy, create positive energy, and ignite the creative spirit.
During our time downtown, we stopped to admire the Sojourner Truth mural by Sintex. The Truth mural is the first ever Color the Creek mural from 2016. On either side of Truth, there are 2 other murals. To its right is Renda Writer’s Love mural. To its left is a piece by calligraphy artist Tubs, who overcame an illness to make this piece during the 2018 Color the Creek. All three murals are vibrant and add positivity to this corner of town. The murals are visible from Mill Rice Park which adds a great backdrop to the playground.
Downtown Battle Creek
Downtown Battle Creek is interesting to explore. There are several large multi-story buildings, but most of the floors are unoccupied. Many of the storefronts throughout downtown are vacant (but those that aren’t are newer businesses!) There are still posters and signs hanging up in the doors and windows with relics remaining inside showing off opportunities past. It reminded me of a mini Detroit from a decade ago.
Clara’s on the River
After walking up and down Michigan Avenue, we grabbed lunch. Conveniently located a short walk across the River from downtown is the restaurant Clara’s on the River. Clara’s is in the historic Battle Creek train depot built in 1888. The need for a train station arose in the late 1800’s after a US Army training site was established at nearby Fort Custer. It was from this depot that WWI and WWII soldiers departed on their voyage overseas. The depot is on both the National and State Historic Registries.
There is plenty of indoor and patio seating available. After we entered, we chose a shaded patio spot to eat at. The outdoor scenery is beautiful with lots of trees and a fountain. The restaurant’s interior is decorated to honor its legacy as a train depot and contains Battle Creek historic memorabilia and Victorian décor.
While many restaurants are scaling back offerings, Clara’s menu is varied with something for everyone to enjoy. There are soups, salads, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and entrees offered. I ordered their House Salad, which was unique as it contained pepperoni! I also enjoyed my Turkey Club croissant while my husband liked his Baja burger. We recommend dining in at Clara’s when visiting downtown Battle Creek!
W.K. Kellogg House
Once we finished lunch, we continued to meander along the Battle Creek river walk right where we left off at Clara’s. Once we crossed Capital Ave, we saw some beautiful rose and hydrangea bushes across the river from the Kellogg Foundation. As we continued along the path, we stumbled upon the W.K. Kellogg House.
Built in 1918, W.K. Kellogg and his second wife lived in this house from 1918 to 1924. Kellogg lived here during a time of rapid growth and development for Kellogg’s – then known as the Battle Creek Toasted Cornflake Company. After Kellogg moved out, he retained ownership until the 1940s. Later, in 1990 when the Kellogg Foundation constructed a new headquarters, they also purchased the home and moved it from its original site to where it currently stands.
Underground Railroad Sculpture
The final stop during our day trip to Battle Creek was the Memorial to the Underground Railroad. The sculpture is located either just beyond the W.K. Kellogg House if coming from the east or off of Division Ave if from the West.
At 28 long and 14 feet tall, the bronze sculpture depicts Battle Creek stationmasters Erastus and Sarah Hussey leading escaped slaves into their home on the left. The other side depicts Harriet Tubman leading people North.
This sculpture was completed by artist Ed Dwight and financed by the Glenn A. Cross Estate and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 1993. It is dedicated to the strength of the human spirit in the quest for freedom.
I wish we stayed longer and dug in deeper. Unfortunately, the weather was over 90 degrees, and with local museums closed down, we decided to wait for another day. This is definitely a day trip worth repeating – especially once our son starts learning about the Underground Railroad in school. If you have school aged kids or are interested in learning more about Michigan history, we recommend visiting Battle Creek!
Day Trip Two: Fall Family Fun in Battle Creek
Binder Park Zoo
Battle Creek’s Binder Park Zoo is open seasonally from early May through late October. When we visited, it was one of the final days it was open for the season. And honestly, if you’re looking for a not busy time to visit, I highly recommend waiting until October. While the weather is cooler, the zoo is pretty with all the fall foliage and the animals are more active.
Before planning your visit, check out the Binder Park Zoo’s website here as their hours change throughout the season. Tickets cost $15.75 per adult and $13.75 per child age 2-10. Kids under 2 are free! (This is another reason we visited in October, my son turned 2 in November!) Binder Park Zoo is a zoo that doesn’t require timed tickets to enter or require reservations.
As I previously mentioned, Binder Park Zoo is my favorite zoo in Michigan. One of the main reasons why is because of the Wild Africa exhibit. There is a short walk to the International Depot, where you walk under all the African flags to reach. Then you go on a short tram ride to Wild Africa, which takes you to what feels like a National Park right out of the African savannah.
My husband (who is Kenyan) and I are impressed with the authentic touches and Swahili references throughout the exhibit. The path winding through Wild Africa is less than a mile but is organized so you don’t miss any of the animals. There are cheetahs, lions, monkeys, African dogs, and more. Not to be missed is ‘the Savannah’ which is a wide open area where zebra, ostrich, and a variety of African deer can run around. And also, giraffes! These are the giraffes you can get up close to and feed from the Twiga Overlook.
Outside of Wild Africa, there are some other awesome animals like the Mexican Gray Wolf, bear, snow leopard, and more. This is one zoo not to overlook no matter where you live in Michigan (or the Midwest!)
Waco Kitchen
After the zoo, we all worked up quite the appetite. Where better to grab lunch with a toddler than a restaurant with airplanes just below it? And where you can watch airplanes take off and land at the airport next door? Even if you don’t have a toddler, Waco Kitchen is an amazing restaurant you need to check out for good food and a beautiful atmosphere. The restaurant is owned by Waco Airplanes and is located right in their building they sell their airplanes in. There’s is parking for pilots who wish to fly in for a meal in addition to a normal parking lot for us land lovers.
Waco Kitchen is open Monday to Saturday from 11-8pm. Check out the Tik Tok I created about Waco Kitchen here to learn more!
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What are you most excited to see while visiting Battle Creek?
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
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