River Oaks Park Soccer Complex owes its name to the 100-plus-year-old oak trees that reside along the shores of Morrow Lake. This beautiful, well-manicured sports complex is one of the premier soccer facilities in southwestern Michigan.
Set on 330 acres of land, River Oaks Park consists of 20 soccer fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, volleyball nets, softball fields, and a series of hiking trails. This complex has the space, amenities, and experience necessary to host any kind of sports tournament.
While River Oak Parks Soccer Complex is the main reason why you’ll travel to Galesburg, Michigan, it’s the nearby, entertaining attractions and great restaurants that will elevate your trip to the next level.
Things to Do
Airway Fun Center
The pinnacle of amusement in southwest Michigan can be found at Airway Fun Center. This attraction is most likely going to be the most memorable part of your team’s trip to River Oaks Park Soccer Complex because of how many fun activities there are.
39 bowling lanes are available day and night. It won’t be difficult to get a few open lanes for regular or cosmic bowling. Airway Fun Center is also home to Escapology, an interactive, mind-stumping game. You have six rooms to pick from, each with their own story, clues, and difficulty rating. Keep an eye out for which room the team decides on because some have an age suggestion.
The daredevils of the group won’t be able to pass up trying the two rope courses. Zoom through the air on the 100-foot zip line. Climb the rope ladders, balance on the rope bridges, and find out if you can conquer all of the other obstacles the ropes courses throw at you.
Moving back to ground level, Airway Fun Center has many more exciting activities. Race around in go-karts or go for a dizzying ride on the 4Spin Gyroscope. Team up and fight to become the best laser tag team or feel like a secret agent infiltrating a high security base by attempting the Laser Maze. Airway Fun Center even has an 18-hole mini golf course, a virtual reality game, a rock wall, and an arcade. Check out Airway Fun Center’s packages and pricing specials to save some cash when you go. 5626 Portage Rd, Portage, MI 49002
Air Zoo
Aviation fans will go wild over a trip to Air Zoo. This aircraft museum is not far from River Oaks Park Soccer Complex. There are more than 50 aircraft from various decades on display. See where it all started with the Wright brothers’s replica glider. Then travel through the decades where you will encounter iconic aircraft like WWII bombers and the modern day SR-71B Blackbird.
You could make an entire afternoon out of just stopping by every aircraft and learning about them, but if you were to do that you’d be missing out on the rest that Air Zoo has to offer. Multiple galleries devoted to topics such as space technology, the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II, and the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame are also on display.
Air Zoo has some interactive exhibits as well. Find out what it’s like to be a pilot and fly a plane in one of the 3D flight simulators. Encounter the thrill of free-falling at the paratrooper jump activity. There’s so much to see and do at Air Zoo. Your team won’t even realize that they’re learning because of how much fun they’ll be having. 3101 E Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49002
Sky Zone
Continue the sensation of flying high after you leave Air Zoo by heading to Sky Zone. This extensive trampoline park promotes flipping fun through four thrilling jump activities. Bounce around however you want at Freestyle Jump. Don’t worry about having too large a team because this area is massive thanks to all of the trampoline-lined floors and walls.
When it’s time to come down for a landing, you want a soft one. That’s exactly what you have in the Foam Zone. Jump as high as you can and flip around while your mind is at ease knowing that you are going to land in a giant pit of foam cubes.
Any aspiring basketball players in the group are going to make a beeline for the Skyslam station. Utilizing trampolines, you can accomplish your goal of dunking on a basketball hoop. Once you get the feel for it, elevate your game and start doing some one handed and in between the legs slam dunks to impress the rest of the team.
The final event at Sky Zone is maybe the most intense: Ultimate Dodgeball. This game is already action packed, but when you add trampolines into the mix, it gets crazy. The dodgeballs won’t be the only thing bouncing everywhere. 5103 Portage Rd, Portage, MI 49002
The Crossroads
Leave River Oaks Park Soccer Complex and shop till you drop at The Crossroads. Malls have so much to do, making it a great spot to visit. The Crossroads is an attraction that always comes through for you because of how much you can do there. Browse 100 specialty stores and four anchor stores on two floors. Add to your wardrobe by shopping at some of the many clothing stores.
With all of the food options including Paulie’s Cheesesteaks and Sbarro, everyone on your team will be able to find something they want to eat. The Crossroads is big enough that you could very easily spend a few hours there or if need be, get in and out quickly. 6650 S Westnedge Ave, Portage, MI 49024
Celebration! Cinema Crossroads
Take a seat and get ready for one heck of a show at Celebration! Cinema Crossroads. Playing all of the blockbuster hits, this theater shows roughly 15 different movies throughout the day. It may be tough for your team to decide on just one movie because of the diverse selection, but there are no wrong choices at Celebration!
Some of the movies are also shown in IMAX theaters. If you’re looking for the most epic, immersive movie experience possible, IMAX is the way to go. 6600 Ring Rd, Portage, MI 49002
Kalamazoo Nature Center
For most, the Kalamazoo Nature Center is an activity best suited for the warmer months. If you are able to deal with the cold Michigan winter, the beauty of this attraction in the winter is a sight to behold. No matter which season it is when you visit River Oaks Park Soccer Complex, the nature center is a great place to spend some time.
In total, there are 14 trails that vary from .04 to 2.7 miles. Some are rated as easy to hike, others are moderate, and a few are difficult. The staff at the nature center can help you figure out which one would be best appropriate for your team.
Depending on what trail you take, you’ll walk through wetlands, woods, or prairies. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like songbirds, frogs, turtles, and fish. Group rates for the Kalamazoo Nature Center start at 10 people. 7000 N Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Places to Eat
Crow’s Nest
The first restaurant near River Oaks Park Soccer Complex on the list specializes in breakfast foods, sandwiches, and vegan dishes. Crow’s Nest is open from morning to night, making it a viable option at any time.
Everybody knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and Crow’s Nest is there to start your day off the right way. Try their biscuits and gravy or fresh made French toast and pancakes.
The Reuben sandwich is off the charts along with the Hawkeye Burger. As far as vegan recipes, Crow’s Nest has a good selection available. No longer will the vegans have to suffer with limited choices. 816 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Andrea’s Cafe and Pizza Too
You don’t have to go to a pizzeria to get some top-notch pizza. All you have to do is stop by Andrea’s Cafe and Pizza Too. You have the option to build your own pizza from an extensive list of toppings or simply order one of their awesome signature pizzas.
Andrea’s also serves breakfast items like steak and eggs, sizzling skillets, and a lot of sandwiches. You can wash down your meal with a frothy milkshake too. This restaurant closes in the afternoon. Plan to eat earlier in the day if you want to try Andrea’s. 10 E Michigan Ave, Galesburg, MI 49053
Acapulco
Looking to spice up your meal a bit with some Mexican food? You don’t have far to go once you leave River Oaks Park Soccer Complex. Acapulco guarantees that you’ll love your food.
Order some nachos and guacamole for the team to share while they wait for entrees to arrive. You have the difficult choice between a host of meals, like tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, steak or seafood dishes, and burritos. 510 S Paw Paw St, Lawrence, MI 49064
Studio Grill
The grill is cranked up high at Studio Grill. The menu is full of crowd-pleasers. The first meal of the day might be your best with one of Studio Grill’s omelets or a stack of fluffy pancakes. If you’re more of a lunch food kind of person, you can order one of their deli sandwiches or stuffed burger at any time. 312 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Regardless of what you do in Galesburg after you finish up at River Oaks Park Soccer Complex, the number of attractions you have at your disposal will exceed the amount of time you have. There won’t be any worry of being stuck with nothing to do. It would be smart to plan your trip to River Oaks Park Soccer Complex a bit ahead of time, so you know exactly what places you and your team won’t want to miss.