Things to Do in Cadillac, Michigan: A Local’s Guide- Just Short of Crazy

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I was born and raised in Cadillac and while growing up here there was not much to do. You basically had like three options, go to the movies, bowling, or do an outdoor activity like swimming, hiking, taking out a four wheeler on the trails, fishing, skiing or snowboarding. You get the gist of it and a lot of people couldn’t afford the fancy outdoor toys including my family.

I spent a lot of time outdoors, hanging out with the neighbors and riding my bike. Thinking back on it, I now realize how few activities Cadillac had compared to the places I’ve lived since. It kind of makes me sad.

After a number of years away, I moved back last year and I’m rediscovering my hometown through fresh eyes and finding that there are so many things to do now compared to a decade ago.

Table of Contents

Summer Fun For Locals and Visitors Alike

Camping

Cadillac offers great places to camp with a tent or camper, there are even cabin rentals on the lake!

Right between the lakes you have Mitchell State Park that offers many sites as well as some cabins. The benefit of staying at this one is you’re right between two lakes and across the street from Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing Center. The center offers hiking trails and numerous events throughout the year. This summer you can take a fly fishing seminar in July. Be sure to check out the other numerous activities available this summer. Another benefit of staying at the state park is the accessibility to nearby restaurants, and most importantly, coffee. Also, downtown Cadillac is just on the other side of Lake Cadillac about 10 minutes drive away.

Another campground to check out on the lake is Hemlock Campground. I haven’t stayed at Hemlock, but I’m definitely curious to try it. It looks perfect for campers that like a bit more privacy.

Outdoor Activities

One thing that hasn’t really changed, but has significantly improved is all the outdoor activities you can find in Cadillac year round. During the summer months you’ll find:

Hiking
Fishing
Boating
ATV Trails
Kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding
Disc golfing
Golfing

The Cadillac Area ATV trails are ready to welcome you with updates way signs, 2 trailhead staging areas, and more than 100 miles of mapped scenic ride miles. Don’t have an ATV? No worries, there are a number of rental facilities to help you out.

For those that love biking, you’ll want to ride the 200+ miles of multi-terrain trails. There are trails for families, fat-tire biking, and road biking.

Our personal favorite outdoor activity is kayaking with camping coming in a close second. When I want to get out on the water I tend to drop our kayaks on the Big Manistee River. Local outfitters can fit you with a kayak, canoe, and even a float tube if that is more your style.

For Creative People

If you’re feeling artistic, head over to Up North Arts, where you can take classes on everything from watercolor painting to ukulele strumming. Last year, my mom and I took a Nature Watercolor Journaling class, and I highly recommend it.

The Wexford Conservation District and Lake City-Missaukee County Conservation District both offer affordable classes on outdoor and gardening topics, and while most are held in the fall, winter, and spring, I encourage you to bookmark them for future visits.

Head Out To The Farm

Growing up, I had cornfields, dairy farms, as well as berry and pumpkin patches. But over the years, things have changed, and now visiting a farm is an experience in itself. Here are a few spots to check out:

Maple Leaf Farm & Creamery – Play with baby goats, attend a class, and most importantly, buy some delicious goat cheese.

Double L Farms in Cadillac and Blueberry Hill Harrietta both offer U-Pick blueberries usually starting in mid-July.

3^rd Day Farm you can visit with the alpacas, baby doll sheep, Lim-flex cattle, chickens, and pigs, tour the greenhouses, or request a fresh salad blend be cut for your dinner.

Brinks Family Creamery a family dairy farm that creates premium milk and cheese products directly from the registered Holsteins. When you stop in be sure to get some ice cream.

A Little Lavender offers a roadside stand with lavender bundles, steam distilled hydrosol, lotion bars and more.

Cotton Creek Farms is an alpaca farm where you can visit with the alpacas and buy alpaca made goods.

Of course, if you’d like a one-stop shopping experience I highly recommend visiting the Cadillac Farmers Market to find the above products and so much more.

Explore the Live Music Scene

Since moving back I’ve learned there are a number of music venues now in town. I haven’t been to all of them, but they are on my list.

The Greenhouse at the Willow In addition to live music, they also host trivia and music bingo on Wednesday nights. Watch their facebook page for other events like wine tasting, silent disco dance parties, and more.

The Venue at the Truckstop: This is one of the larger venues in town and they host some decent sized events and concerts. From cover bands to magic shows and all kinds of entertainment you’ll want to look over the upcoming shows and buy tickets now as they tend to sell out.

Cadillac Rotary Performing Arts Pavilion: The UpBeat Cadillac Summer Music Series returns at the Pavilion. Starts on 06/19/2025 and runs every Thu through 08/28/2025. Begins at 7:00pm. Bring your own chair and enjoy music with an incredible backdrop.

Coyote Crossing Resort: Every Thursday night throughout the summer they offer Open Mic Night and then on Saturdays they bring in top notch performers. Be sure to go early and grab some dinner and a cocktail.

Shopping and Eating

Cadillac’s charming downtown is a delightful mix of retail shops, restaurants, and coffee spots. Some of our favorites include:

Serendipity and The Bird House: Great for unique finds.
Chunky Bear Coffee: A cozy spot to sip a cup of coffee.
Wildflour Bakery: A perfect place to send a letter to your future self.

For when you’re feeling hungry, you can stop by Indian Spice, Clam Lake Beer Co., or Mi Mezcal Mexican for a delicious meal.

Gardening Stops You Should Visit This Summer

If you’re into gardening, Cadillac and the surrounding area are home to some great greenhouses and garden centers:

Christie’s Potting Shed: Located in Marion, Christie’s is a small town florist, greenhouse, and antique shop.

Walravens: A great blend of farmers market, butcher shop and greenhouse, located on Cadillac’s west side.

Sassafrass: Located in Lake City, Sassafrass has a beautifully curated gift shop, loads of outdoor decor and all the plants you’d ever want for your yard and garden.

Backyard Blossoms Greenhouse: I just discovered this one this year through a facebook post. Located in Tustin just a few miles from US 131 this Amish run greenhouse is simply adorable. Flowers, garden plants and indoor plants are all available as well as other gardening needs. It’s worth a visit just for the vibe. 19418 220th Ave, Tustin. They are open seasonally Monday-Saturday from 10a-6p. On your way to the greenhouse do yourself a favor and stop at the Yoder’s of Tustin store. Their bread and bakery items are top notch. Grab a sandwich if you are there around lunch time. You wont be disappointed. Note, Yoder’s is closed on Thursday and Sunday and only takes cash or check.

Nearby Towns for Day Trips

Wanting to discover towns near by then you should definitely check out one of these towns as they offer much to discover.

Boyne City: Venture out to Boyne Mountain and check out their SkyBridge for an amazing view. The downtown is also a cute area to shop and get a meal.

Traverse City: If you visit the end of June you will have to go to the National Cherry Festival. Traverse City is also known for their wine so find a wine trail and sample wine all day!

Petoskey: Head to the OG area to find Petoskey stones. A fun free activity that you can spend hours doing. Petoskey also has an amazing downtown to shop and eat.

Leelanau Peninsula: I love everything about this region from the cute downtown area of Glen Arbor to fishtown in Leland to all the wineries/cideries and stunning views. This is my favorite day trip from Cadillac.