Last updated October 5, 2026 · ranked from 3,165 Google reviews · How we rank
This list ranks 11 things to do in and around Portage, MI, led by South Westnedge Dog Park, Bishop's Bog Preserve and Eliason Nature Reserve. Together they have 3,165 Google reviews; South Westnedge Dog Park has the highest Google rating on the list at 4.8. Every place on the list is in Portage, MI. Rankings weigh Google rating, review volume, how complete and current each listing is, and our own notes on each place.
Room for dogs to run, kid-friendly hikes, and options for picnicking give South Westnedge Dog Park its first-place appeal in Portage, MI. Reviewers describe separate areas for large and small dogs, along with water, waste bags, and disposal stations. Beyond dog recreation, the park has a baseball field and skateboard area. Its 4.8 Google rating from 161 reviews supports the pick, while daily hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., a public restroom, and wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking add practical value.
Separate dog areas
Kid-friendly hikes
Skateboard area
“Lots of room for your dog/dogs to run around in. Poop bags and waste disposal provided on grounds. Separated areas for large dogs (26 lbs +) and small dogs (25 lbs or less). Water is provided. All around an amazing place to be with your …”
Kid-friendly hikes and a welcome for dogs put Bishop's Bog Preserve at No. 2 for an outdoor outing in Portage, MI. The park at 9920 S Westnedge Ave offers hiking for visitors looking to walk with children or bring a canine companion. Its 4.8 Google rating from 69 reviews adds to its appeal. Daily hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. leave room for morning or evening visits, and wheelchair-accessible parking is available.
A paved trail through woods and sunny areas gives Eliason Nature Reserve a clear draw for walkers and cyclists in Portage, MI. It earns rank 3 for combining outdoor activity with practical amenities: kid-friendly hikes, dog access, a public restroom, and wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance. Reviewers also mention wildlife and ecology displays, a bike tire pump, and a water fountain. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the reserve holds a 4.7 Google rating from 139 reviews.
Kid-friendly hikes
Wildlife information displays
Dogs welcome
“Went for a run on fresh snow. It was a good workout! Beautiful and peaceful. Loved the informative displays about the wildlife and ecology.”
A picnic and playground visit are the main reasons Central Park earns rank 4 in Portage, MI. At 7810 Shaver Rd, the park pairs a children’s play area with picnic tables and a public restroom. Reviewers describe a stream, a picnic shelter, and a small playground suited to toddlers. Dogs are welcome, and wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible entrance are available. Daily hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. leave room for both morning play and an evening picnic.
Children’s play area
Picnic tables
Dogs welcome
“Nice park stream running through it. Nice lawn and picnic shelter”
A children’s play area, baseball field and picnic tables give South Westnedge Park several ways to fill an outdoor visit in Portage, MI, earning it the No. 5 spot. One reviewer also notes an entrance to Bishops Bog for exploring, along with skate and dog parks. Public restrooms, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and accessible parking add practical value. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; visitors attending tournaments should note that one reviewer found parking and field-side seating difficult.
Children’s play area
Bishops Bog entrance
Picnic tables
“Fields are ok, outfields needed cutting. Seating around the field is a pain but works. Parking sucks for our tournament.”
Beginner-friendly experiences and practical amenities earn Portage Skatepark the No. 6 spot. One reviewer describes other visitors helping her son learn skateboard tricks, with children using both skateboards and scooters. Others note a clean park, bleacher seating and nearby restrooms. Located at 9010 S Westnedge Ave in Portage, MI, the park opens daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. It has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking, plus a 4.5-star Google rating from 134 reviews.
Beginner-friendly reviews
Bleacher seating
Nearby restrooms
“Never been to a skatepark it was amazing loved it the people there were amazing helped my son with some tricks on the skateboard kids both skateboarding and riding scooters perfect place for beginners”
Court games, playground time, and a picnic can all fit into one visit to Oakland Drive Park in Portage, MI. Its mix of tennis, basketball, volleyball, and a baseball field earns it the No. 7 spot, with slides and swings offering another option for children. Hiking opportunities add a walking component, while picnic tables and public restrooms support a longer outing. The park welcomes dogs and opens daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; wheelchair-accessible parking and an accessible entrance are provided.
Four sports options
Slides and swings
Picnic tables available
“Classic Portage park with all the amenities and sports!
I visited every Kalamazoo public park for a YouTube video!”
A beach on Long Lake and several ways to spend time on land earn Ramona Park the No. 8 spot. This park in Portage, MI combines tennis, basketball and volleyball courts with athletic fields, a playground, picnic tables and barbecue grills. Reviewers praise the well-maintained fields and clean open areas. Slides and swings give children another activity beyond the beach, while public restrooms and wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance add practical amenities for a longer visit.
Long Lake beach
Sports courts
Picnic tables and grills
“Great place for grandson's soccer games. Fields were neat and well maintained.”
A children’s play area gives families a clear reason to visit Millennium Park in Portage, MI. It earns the No. 9 spot for that family-friendly feature, wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking, and daily hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those hours leave room for a morning outing or an evening visit. The park also holds a Google rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 25 reviews, adding positive visitor feedback to its practical features.
Climbing, bouncing, sliding and jumping give children several ways to stay active at Jungle Joe's Family Fun Center in Portage, MI. It earns rank 10 for combining indoor inflatable play with an 18-hole adventure mini golf course and redemption arcade games. Birthday parties are another reason to visit: reviewers praise help with organizing children, food and cleanup. Located at 7255 S Sprinkle Rd, the center stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, leaving room for an evening outing.
Indoor inflatable play
18-hole mini golf
Birthday party hosting
“We had a birthday party here today. Our party host Kenzie was fantastic! She did everything and we didn't have to worry about anything, just show up and had fun! My son and his friends had a fantastic time, the facility was clean and the…”
Pickleball and tennis give Ramona Park Pickleball & Tennis Courts its place at No. 11 among things to do in Portage, MI. Located at 8600 S Sprinkle Rd, the park offers a court-sport option for a local outing. Its Google rating is 4.5 stars across 11 reviews, including eight five-star ratings. A wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking are also documented, adding specific access features to this sports-focused stop.
Pickleball and tennis
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible parking
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Map of every pick
Compare at a glance
Comparison of the best Things to Do in Portage, MI
4.5(11)4.5 out of 5 from 11 reviews (Google rating)
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Ratings and review counts shown are Google ratings, displayed with attribution.
How we ranked this list
Each thing to do is scored on a Bayesian-weighted rating (its rating adjusted for how many reviews it has compared with the Portage category average), how recently we verified its details, and how complete its listing is. Scores and ranks are stored, so the order only changes when the underlying data changes.
Which listed store in Portage, MI has the highest customer rating?
Refuge Thrift leads with 4.8 stars from 71 Google reviews. Cirilla’s follows with 4.7 stars from 161 reviews, while Once Upon A Child has 3.3 stars from 180 reviews.
Where can I buy or sell used children’s items in Portage, MI?
Once Upon A Child at 643 Romence Rd buys and sells gently used children’s clothes, shoes, and toys. Shopping hours are 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday. The store offers in-store shopping, curbside pickup, and in-store pickup.
When can I drop off donations at Refuge Thrift in Portage, MI?
Donation hours at Refuge Thrift, 8700 Shaver Rd, are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Those hours end earlier than shopping hours, which run until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Which listed shops in Portage, MI are open on Sunday or late in the evening?
Cirilla’s is open noon–10 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.–midnight Monday through Saturday. Once Upon A Child is open 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Do these shopping stops in Portage, MI have wheelchair access and parking?
All three list wheelchair-accessible entrances and wheelchair-accessible parking. Once Upon A Child also lists a wheelchair-accessible restroom. Once Upon A Child and Cirilla’s both list free parking lots.
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