Kellogg's, Post Cereals and other food manufacturers keep a high profile here in Battle Creek, but the town is also home to dramatic sculptures of historic figures mingled with the natural beauty of park settings. Wildlife at the zoo and nightlife at the casino entertain a broad span of ages, and the hometown festivals bring as much joy as the tasty homegrown produce featured in many of its favorite eateries.
Find Some Fun
Slide on down to the Flash Flood Indoor/Outdoor Water Park in downtown Battle Creek's Full Blast Recreation Center. Although it's a bit smaller than big commercial water parks, the pools and play areas offer ample opportunity to beat the heat anytime between Memorial and Labor Day. Get a little exercise by cycling along the well-groomed Linear Park Trail beside the Battle Creek River. Don't have your own bike? You can rent one at a B-cycle station. If you start at the Kool Family Community Center (formerly Burnham Brook), they'll even lend you a helmet. Join the locals rooting for their baseball team, the Battle Creek Bombers, at C.O. Brown Stadium. When it's chilly outdoors, revel in the musical performances of local churches or sink into a seat at a symphony concert in the Art Deco-style W.K. Kellogg Auditorium.
What to See
Take a step back in time at the Historic Adventist Village, where you'll find 19th century houses, churches, a charming old schoolhouse and the home of Ellen G. White, founder of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. The John Harvey Kellogg Discovery Center is on the grounds too, with engaging interactive health and history displays. Take a short trek to the east side of town to see the 12-foot-tall bronze statue of the famous abolitionist Sojourner Truth. You'll find more of Battle Creek's heritage downtown, where the Kellogg Foundation's international headquarters honors the largest memorial to the Underground Railroad in the United States. The playful side of Battle Creek lives at the Leila Arboretum's Children's Garden, where whimsical sculptures accent engaging, kid-themed gardens and horticultural collections.
Activities in Battle Creek
Get an up-close experience as you feed the giraffes and walk through the stunning bird aviary at Binder Park Zoo, about a 15-minute drive south of downtown Battle Creek. Open from early spring until late autumn, the zoo's natural habitat displays, Wilderness Tram ride, restaurant, conservation center and children's areas will keep your whole family entertained for hours. On weekend afternoons year-round, immerse yourself in an outer space adventure show in the planetarium at the Kingman Museum, see the natural history displays, and revel in the seasonal beauty just outside the door in the Leila Arboretum. If you’ve got a strictly grown-up crowd, shows at the FireKeepers Casino Event Center feature nationally acclaimed entertainers, and you'll find plenty of play at the gaming tables. The festive atmosphere lasts all year long in Battle Creek—choose between the Cereal Festival held in June with the world's longest breakfast table, the early-July Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival, August's Summerfest and Black Arts Festival, and the International Festival of Lights during the winter holiday season.
Where to Eat
Fresh local produce, food trucks and a bustling atmosphere create a delightful space to lunch at the Battle Creek Farmers Market, held at noon every Wednesday and Saturday from May through October. Throughout town, you can satisfy appetites of any size at the little cafes, familiar chains, ethnic food restaurants, and traditional American style dining spots such as Clara's on the River, where an antique-filled interior and outside patio with a view make dining an event for any season. Most restaurants offer vegetarian selections, including A Taste of India, which has a whole section of the menu devoted to vegetarian entrees.
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