Itinerary: My 'Rock & Pickle' Road Trip
- Craig Johnson
- Jul 3, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Summer has arrived, ushering in warm temperatures and numerous chances for outdoor pickleball. This also ignited my urge for a new travel adventure. After a bit of research and hearing the buzz from recent Major League Pickleball (MLP) events, I realized that the MLP will soon be visiting Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is relatively close to me, too. Who's up for a road trip?
After deciding on a travel itinerary, my impulse is to also look for music experiences to include, like attending a performance by a favourite artist on tour or ticking a concert off my bucket list. During my search, I indeed discovered a bucket list band, The Wallflowers are performing close to the MLP Grand Rapids tournament. I just missed their shows in Toronto recently, but as luck would have it, Jakob Dylan & his crew have a tour date at what looks like a super cool microbrewery concert venue in nearby Kalamazoo.
With a travel plan in place, here is how my itinerary is shaping up for my Rock & Pickle Adventure set to begin July 8th.
Trip Agenda
Tuesday
Early AM drive to Kalamazoo, Michigan
Settle at my hotel, and get ready for my concert at Bell's Eccentric Cafe
Tickets bought for The Wallflowers with Early James
Wednesday
Drive an hour to Grand Rapids
Take in the annual Beer City Open Pickleball Championships
Thursday/Friday
Grounds pass access both days at MLP Grand Rapids
Drive back to Ontario with a stop in London
Saturday
Attend a Mixed Doubles Boot Camp at Smash Pickleball
Return home
This road trip, focused on pickleball and a summer concert, has come together perfectly. If you are in Grand Rapids next week, let's meet up. I'm eager to share my first MLP event experience via website posts or on LinkedIn while travelling too.
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