Kalamazoo area pp'rs -- tell me the truth About This Page:

[Carousel96]

We will be driving from the Twin Cities to Detroit for a family obligation this summer. We don't have time to make a true (long) road trip of it, but we want to see something on the way.
One of our options is the "Air Zoo" in Kalamazoo MI. Or we could take a more northern loop and swing through the Holland MI area.
Our question is about the Air Zoo. It looks nice in the brochures and on the web, but we all know that these things put on the best possible face. So -- considering that we have seen the Air & Space Museum in DC, the Air Force Museum in Dayton and the Navy air museum in Pensacola -- should we stop at the Air Zoo or will we be underwhelmed?

[JoanW]

Passporter Chad Larner has been there, I think. It is on our list for next year.

Also, look at the Gilmore Car Museum. We did that last year in Michigan and it was great. And the Henry Ford Museum outside of Detroit is wonderful.

[guerns17]

I live near Holland and honestly I would go with your norther loop. I would even stop in a town called Grand Haven which is right by Lake Michigan. I don't know if you have been to Lake Michigan beaches but they are really really nice and Grand Haven and Holland are really nice cute towns. They have good food and atmosphere. I think it would be the more relaxing option!
I probably have been to the airzoo, but it was probably when I was in elementary school so I really couldn't tell you if it was worth it or not. I personally like Grand Rapids Public museum. Its not huge, but it has a really cool planetarium show. Another great option would be the Fredrick Meijer gardens. I went to both of these last summer and they are so much fun, with or without kids!
Hope this helps!

[Air Zoo]

Originally Posted by Carousel96

We will be driving from the Twin Cities to Detroit for a family obligation this summer. We don't have time to make a true (long) road trip of it, but we want to see something on the way.
One of our options is the "Air Zoo" in Kalamazoo MI. Or we could take a more northern loop and swing through the Holland MI area.
Our question is about the Air Zoo. It looks nice in the brochures and on the web, but we all know that these things put on the best possible face. So -- considering that we have seen the Air & Space Museum in DC, the Air Force Museum in Dayton and the Navy air museum in Pensacola -- should we stop at the Air Zoo or will we be underwhelmed?

Hello, I'm going to be up front and let you know that I am an Air Zoo staff member. However, I am also going to honestly tell you the information you are looking for.

The Air Zoo does not have as many aircraft as some of the places you have mentioned (though those places also do not have an SR-71B Blackbird--the only B model in existence-- nor do they have an XP-55 Ascender--again the only one in existence). But we do have a lot more than what they can offer.

The Air Zoo is repeatedly held up as a standard for other museums to model by the Smithsonian. We are the first of our kind in the world... a museum-meets-indoor-amusement-park. We have the world's largest indoor hand-painted mural that surrounds the floor (we hold the Guinness World Record for it). We also have the Midwest's first 4D theatre where you can do a B-17 mission over Germany during World War II. We also have 360-degree, full-motion F-18 flight simulators with 360 degrees of pitch and roll as well as a 3D shuttle mission to the International Space Station. We also have some rides for smaller children and for families.

In our East Campus, we also have the Michigan Space Science Center (opened June 2007) where you can try the Lunar Leap and feel as though you are walking on the moon, try the Space Walk or try a Mission to Mars simulator. That building also houses most of our World War II aircraft--including one of the best kept sets of Grumman Cats.

In the Main Campus, the planes help tell the story of the history of flight... along with the surrounding wall mural, the floor mural (walk through the grassy fields during World War I and walk on the USS Kittyhawk) and, of course, our rides and experiences. The Air Zoo is designed as a place to have fun while also being educational. Docents are available to give you personal tours at no extra charge. In fact, we are considered the museum of the future as kids today aren't content walking around and looking at dusty old planes... the video-game era has made the kids of today want to be engaged and interactive with their surroundings--and the Air Zoo does just that.

Actually, your admission charge will give you access to both buildings, and all rides, theatres and experiences. If you want to eat in the Kitty Hawk Cafe or get a souvenir in the Fly Buy museum store, that'll be an additional cost... but everything else is included.

Beyond the Air Zoo, Kalamazoo has a lot of other attractions to offer... including the Gilmore Car Museum someone mentioned above.

If I can be of any more assistance to you, please feel free to contact me at jmaclean @ airzoo.org Just take the spaces out

-Jennifer MacLean
Air Zoo Staff Member

[lynn7359]

I live in Kalamazoo and have been to the air zoo. I believe it is a fun place to go. I think of it as a great place to go for a small city. My kids had a great time. It gave us something to do in an afternoon. They have things to do for smaller kids and older kids. I wouldn't expect it to be overwhelming with things to do. It can be done in an afternoon.