Now that the cold winter is coming to an end, the sunny spring season is just beginning! Cadillac’s beautiful nature and scenery can be appreciated with countless activities around the area. Whether you are downtown, in a park, or on a golf course, the ability to enjoy nature is everywhere. Here are some of Cadillac’s Spring highlights!
Downtown Cadillac
In downtown Cadillac, there are plenty of wonderful shops and restaurants to visit on a sunny day. However, there is also a delightful area behind downtown called Cadillac Commons. Cadillac Commons features The Market, the City Park, the Rotary Performing Arts Pavilion, and the Plaza (with a fire-pit structure & splash pad for kids during the summer)! This area provides a gorgeous view of Lake Cadillac for when you are having a picnic, reading a book, or taking a break from exploring the local shops.
Trails and Walkways
Past Cadillac Commons is the Keith McKellop Walkway and the Lake Cadillac Foot & Bike Path. These paved trails follow the shores of Lake Cadillac while staying near the city. The Keith McKellop Walkway stretches 1.5 miles along the east coast of Lake Cadillac, featuring historical signs, a playground, multiple sculptures, a beautiful bridge, and a creative butterfly mural to take pictures infront of! The Keith McKellop Walkway is also connected to the 5.5 mile trail that leads to the Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, City Boat Launch, and more!
The Cadillac area offers more trails than those in the city. The Oliver Family Nature Preserve Trail and the Waldeck Island Nature Preserve are the best places to experience over 10 acres of surrounding wilderness. The Manistee River Trail offers 8.8 miles of trail that follows the Manistee River to the Tippy Dam, perfect for a serene walk or jog.
Parks
If you are struggling to decide between a nature preserve, trail, or a park, the William Mitchell State Park is your answer! This state park includes the 3.5 mile Heritage Trail and a 235 acre preserve. The William Mitchell State Park also offers a lakefront campground, as well as access points for fishing and boating.
Other popular parks include the Kenwood Heritage Park and the Cadillac Sound Garden. The Kenwood Heritage Park offers a playground, a disc golf course, a beach, and plentiful parking! Almost every spot in the Kenwood Heritage Park has an exceptional view of the lake. The Cadillac Sound Garden is a beautiful area full of creative musical structures. The Sound Garden is not only audibly stunning, but visually stunning as well. The garden contains 20,000 daffodils, hundreds of perennials, a sundial, and a stone child memorial collection. From the Sound Garden, there is access to the Rotary Centennial Boardwalk.
Lakes & Fishing
The Cadillac area’s popular bodies of water are Lake Cadillac, Lake Mitchell, the Pine River, and the Manistee River. Cadillac’s specialty water activities include kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and tubing. Some access points to these bodies of water are: the William Mitchell State Park, Kenwood Heritage Park, Lincoln Bridge, and US 131 Roadside Park & Bridge Access. There are also local businesses that provide rentals for these activities: Pine River Paddlesports Center, Wilderness Canoe Trips LLC, and Chippewa Landing.
Fishing is a beloved hobby in Cadillac. The area’s fish population contains walleye, northern pike, crappie, bluegills, perch, large and smallmouth bass. Lake Cadillac provides 400+ acres of prime fishing area and is connected to Lake Mitchell via a canal. Lake Mitchell is one of the largest lakes in the area, with plentiful access points, two hotels, and a restaurant.
Morel Mushroom Hunting
One of the biggest festivals in the spring season is the Mesick Mushroom Festival. This festival celebrates the morel mushroom hunting season with contests, flea markets, softball tournaments, carnival, hobby & craft show, grand parade, and much more! The festival typically runs from Friday-Sunday during the second weekend in May, the prime time for hunting morels.
Remember, safety first when you are out hunting morel mushrooms! Some of the guidelines include: know what you’re collecting, use an onion bag, keep mushrooms cool and well aired, respect any “no trespassing”, “private property”, “no littering”, and other posted land signs, and don’t pick wildflowers, as many are protected species.
Golf
Finally, one of Cadillac’s biggest attractions is golf, with 9 courses in the greater Cadillac area! These courses provide delightful and scenic views, serene atmospheres, and various specialties. The Eldorado has a highly rated course, a lovely restaurant, and a pro-shop. Lakewood on the Green is another great course with a 15 acre lake, a remodeled restaurant, and a clubhouse. Evergreen Resort is a 4 season resort with 27 holes of golf, lodging on site, a restaurant, and spaces for meetings. Missaukee Golf Club features free play for junior golfers who are 16 years old or younger play for free all season. Even Caberfae Peaks has a 9-hole course, it boasts 11 bridges, food and lodging on site, even though it is better known as a ski resort in the winter.
