ALL WAYS
EXPLORING CADILLAC
Learn about all of the things to do and see from those that have experienced the splendor of Cadillac first hand.
Cadillac Stories
Nature is calling you to come Explore Your Way… our rolling forest-covered hills, ample rivers, diverse lakes, and varied trails all interconnect and span for miles and miles of fun. Our authors share stories and insights from the local perspective.
The Cadillac region is the geographic center of Michigan and boasts the highest elevation in the state. Come join us for a day or more, and explore your way around our area.
OUT & ABOUT WITH DAVE FOLEY
Dave Foley is an outdoor enthusiast who takes every opportunity to be out on the trails, roads, and waterways of the Cadillac area. Follow Dave’s adventures to learn all about where to go and what to experience during your Cadillac visit.
New Winter Sports Trail at Cadillac Pathway popular with Fat-bikers
By Dave FoleyWhen the snow conditions are right, the MDNR Cadillac Pathway parking lot off Seeley Road just east of Cadillac, will be filled with cars left by cross country skiers, fatbike enthusiasts, and snowshoers. While the Cadillac Pathway has been a...
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Out & About, Prime Paddling Season is Upon Us!
By Dave Foley If you were hesitant about joining the throngs of paddlers that fill popular rivers like the Manistee and Pine on summer weekends, take heart, the pressure on these streams is noticeably less after Labor Day. Only a few canoe liveries are...
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Out & About, Steelhead on the Move
By Dave FoleyRivers like the Pere Marquette, as well as the Big and Little Manistee, get a little crowded after Labor Day as thousands of salmon leave Lake Michigan to push up these steams to spawn.From late August until September king and coho salmon...
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Out & About, Spear Anglers Wait for Pike in Darkhouses
By Dave Foley:When you think of ice fishing, what comes to mind is folks standing on the ice or sitting inside fish shanties. Whether it’s tipups baited with minnows or jigging with ice rods, the vast majority of ice anglers are hoping to hook fish fish...
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Birders flock to these 7 NW Michigan locales
By Dave FoleyWith its mixture of lakes and streams as well as forests, meadows, marshes, and agricultural lands, Cadillac is a natural gathering point for birds, both migratory, and year-round resident flocks. To help visitors, I worked with Dave Newhouse, a veteran...
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Opening day brings out walleye, pike, and trout anglers
by Dave FoleyAlthough the November 15 deer season opener garners most of the attention, among anglers, the last Saturday of the month, this year the big day is April 29, when pike, walleye, and trout become legal.At dawn on the 29th cars bump down seldom-used two...
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Out and About, 10 Essentials for Your Next Hiking Trip
By Dave Foley: If you enjoy hiking, be it a day trip or an overnight on the trail, there’s plenty of opportunities in the Cadillac area. Pick any stretch of the more than 50 miles or North Country Trail in our area, or hike the Manistee River Trail between Hodenpyl...
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Out and About, Fishing Hotspots for Free Fishing Weekend
By Dave Foley: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has designated June 10-11 as Free Fishing Weekend. That’s right, no license needed. Residents and out-of-state visitors may fish fish for free on both inland and Great Lakes waters, but fishing regulations...
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Out and About, 7 Top Running Routes in Cadillac
By Dave Foley: Tired of running the same old routes? If you’re visiting Cadillac you can go out every day for a week, never run the same route twice and start each run within five miles of downtown. #1 Keith McKellop Walkway (2 Miles) Probably the best known is the...
read moreHISTORY, ARTS & CULTURE
The Cadillac KISStory Project Announced
In 1975, KISS was an outrageous band from New York City on the cusp of what would later become superstardom. On the other end of the spectrum was the small northern Michigan town of Cadillac. How they came together to celebrate the Cadillac High School homecoming has...
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Camp Greensky Music Festival
As the second annual Camp Greensky Music Festival is set to return to Hoxeyville Festival Site June 6th through the 8th, 2019, here is some information about the event! Camp Greensky Music Festival will be held in beautiful Wellston, Michigan surrounded by the...
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Women entrepreneurs succeeding in Downtown Cadillac
CADILLAC — Retail shops in downtown Cadillac are flourishing. Gone are the dark faces of empty storefronts. Instead, colorful window displays, fabulous interior decor and merchandise, and personal service are attracting destination clientele. Behind the retail revival...
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Life in Early Marion: Cabin Style
Looking to get your history fix? Take a visit to the Marion Historical Museum located at: 505 S Mill St. Marion, MI 49665. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history and artifacts of Marion, Michigan and the surrounding area, and will be sure to...
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5 Reasons to Take Your Kids to a U-Pick Farm this Summer
Looking to get your kids outside this summer? Grab them and head out to one of Greater Cadillac Area’s U-Pick farms for an experience they will love. Here are 5 reasons why:Encourages Healthy Eating: Going to U-Pick farms exposes kids to healthy food...
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Greater Cadillac Area ‘Time Traveling Tour’
Are you looking to immerse yourself into the local history and culture? The Greater Cadillac Area has seven museums available to you throughout the summer, all located within 30 minutes of Cadillac. Spend some time traveling to each location and experience...
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Listen Locally: Live Music Summer 2018
Looking to get out and embrace local artists and culture? This summer the Greater Cadillac Area has an array of opportunities for you to enjoy live music. The Rotary Performing Arts Pavilion in downtown Cadillac will be hosting live music all summer long...
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U-Pick, We Pick, Everyone Picks – Fresh Fruit this Summer
Take advantage of Northern Michigan by grabbing a bucket and heading out to pick fresh Blueberries at Double L Farms here in Cadillac. Double L Farms is a family owned business. At the farm they sell local, fresh blueberries. They are MAEAP certified which...
read more
15 Steps to Ice Cream Craving Nirvana
By Erica Benham Here’s the scoop…there are several ice cream shop options out there in the Greater Cadillac area to cool down on these hot summer days. Take a tour and check them all out! Cadillac Ice Cream Co. – Cadillac Westside: [M-55/M-115, Cadillac, MI 49601...
read moreWOODS & WATER
Top 5 Places to Fish Opening Day of Trout Season
By Dylan Cook For many, the opening day of trout season is a woodsmen’s holiday only rivaled by the opening day of deer season. The last Saturday of April, which falls on the 27th this year, will see anglers from across the state head to the river in search of the...
read more
Gobble, gobble… Spring is upon us; turkey hunting season is here
By Dylan Cook We are, in my opinion, in the “good ole days” of turkey hunting. It may be hard to believe, but not too long ago the wild turkey hunting was unimaginably different. In the late 1970’s, according to Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, a hunter had...
read more
Manistee River Trail Loop Backpacking Trip December 14-16, 2018
As the seasons change and winter arrives, many people put away their backpacking gear. But as the snow falls and the crowds disappear, a new adventure awaits. It was a cold December night, and our group met at the Upper River Road trailhead on the North...
read more
New Winter Sports Trail at Cadillac Pathway popular with Fat-bikers
By Dave FoleyWhen the snow conditions are right, the MDNR Cadillac Pathway parking lot off Seeley Road just east of Cadillac, will be filled with cars left by cross country skiers, fatbike enthusiasts, and snowshoers. While the Cadillac Pathway has been a...
read more
Life can get ‘Ruff’, Take a Break at the Cadillac Area Dog Park
Looking for a place to let your dog run off some steam? The Cadillac Area Dog Park is the perfect place for you! Bill Allen, retired Cadillac High School teacher, recognized the need that the Cadillac Area had for accommodating dog owners and creating a...
read more
Cadillac Tuesday Turtles – Cycling for the Novice
by: Ben Hikok, Tuesday Turtle originator, father, friend, community volunteer and attorney. Do you ever think back to the way you felt as a child while riding on your bicycle? Do you miss the wind in your hair (or at least as it blows through the vents in...
read more
The Boon Bonfire
Taking to the trails, we leave from the Caberfae Trailhead on Trail 638 towards 637 headed to the Boon Bonfire. Our group is made up of novice to experienced riders, so the ride starts off touring 15 mph to a forest trail that will remind you of a...
read more
Horizontal Glide – XC Skiing in Cadillac
Cross County Skiing in Cadillac While Caberfae Peaks offers plenty of thrills for alpine skiers, cross-country skiers can delight in a trio of free, groomed, public trail systems in the Cadillac area. Nearest to Caberfae Peaks is the 10 mile-long McKenzie...
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Top 5 "Early Summer Hot Spots" in Cadillac
It could be considered rare for a relatively laid back northern Lower Michigan community to have such an eclectic mix of options to include in its choice for Top 5 Destinations. But if you know anything about Cadillac, this is pretty much business as...
read moreAREA TOURS
Cadillac Fall Color Tour
4 SELF-GUIDED FALL COLOR ROUTES Fall Color in Cadillac is second to none. Breath taking views can be seen from your car, bicycle, kayak, canoe, motorcycle, train and by foot. You name your mode of transportation, and you’ll experience unforgettable views....
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Old Indian Trail – Cadillac to Traverse City
THE OLD INDIAN TRAILBY:Frank EttawagheshikFor several centuries, Odawa people have been on these shores and in the woods and hills of this land. We are living amid the places from which spring the stories of our world, ourselves, our families and our...
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Motorcycle Ride Guide – Cadillac & Northwest Michigan
Motorcycle Ride Guide It all begins in Cadillac! Create memories that last a lifetime as you ride our rolling hills, take a break along the countless lakes and rivers, and experience breathtaking views as you explore the area. Opportunities to stop, shop,...
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Touring Old Cadillac
Touring Old CadillacStep back in time and explore the key historic buildings that were built during the thriving lumber era in Cadillac. Many of these buildings still stand proudly today. See the map below that corresponds to the numbered items underneath....
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The Science of Fall Color
By Joy VanDrie Fall color – What trees offer what color & Why? The most common leaf colors of fall are red, yellow and orange and some trees can have several of these colors simultaneously as the season unfolds. Why do they turn color though? It’s an...
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Late Autumn Fishing on the Big Manistee
By Maralee Cook While many fly fishermen are happy to be on the water at any time of year, D-Loop Outfitters owner Dave Barkman will tell you there are three great reasons to fish the Big Manistee River in autumn: “There are large opportunities for...
read moreThe Lakes Fall Color Route
THE LAKE/CADILLAC CITY FALL COLOR ROUTE – Visit page for .pdf download Cadillac City Fall Color Tour ORANGE ROUTE (see map at bottom of page) Starting downtown at the Cadillac City Park (GPS-190 Cass Street), head W toward Lake Cadillac on either Cass St or Harris...
read moreSouth/Hoxeyville Fall Color Route
SOUTH/ HOXEYVILLE/LUTHER/BRISTOL FALL COLOR ROUTE – Visit page for .pdf download BLUE ROUTE (see map at bottom of page): From Downtown Mitchell Street, head south on BR-131 to Mackinaw Trail, approx. 1.5 miles. Turn R/W onto Mackinaw Trail at the traffic light. Follow...
read moreLake City/East Fall Color Route
LAKE CITY / WEST FALL COLOR ROUTE – Visit page for .pdf download PURPLE/PINK ROUTE (see map at bottom of page): Starting downtown at the Cadillac City Park parking lot, head E toward Mitchell Street (away from lake) on Cass Street. At Cass/Mitchell traffic light,...
read moreBEST OF 4 SEASONS
Top 5 Places to Fish Opening Day of Trout Season
By Dylan Cook For many, the opening day of trout season is a woodsmen’s holiday only rivaled by the opening day of deer season. The last Saturday of April, which falls on the 27th this year, will see anglers from across the state head to the river in search of the...
read more
Gobble, gobble… Spring is upon us; turkey hunting season is here
By Dylan Cook We are, in my opinion, in the “good ole days” of turkey hunting. It may be hard to believe, but not too long ago the wild turkey hunting was unimaginably different. In the late 1970’s, according to Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, a hunter had...
read more
Manistee River Trail Loop Backpacking Trip December 14-16, 2018
As the seasons change and winter arrives, many people put away their backpacking gear. But as the snow falls and the crowds disappear, a new adventure awaits. It was a cold December night, and our group met at the Upper River Road trailhead on the North...
read more
New Winter Sports Trail at Cadillac Pathway popular with Fat-bikers
By Dave FoleyWhen the snow conditions are right, the MDNR Cadillac Pathway parking lot off Seeley Road just east of Cadillac, will be filled with cars left by cross country skiers, fatbike enthusiasts, and snowshoers. While the Cadillac Pathway has been a...
read more
Life can get ‘Ruff’, Take a Break at the Cadillac Area Dog Park
Looking for a place to let your dog run off some steam? The Cadillac Area Dog Park is the perfect place for you! Bill Allen, retired Cadillac High School teacher, recognized the need that the Cadillac Area had for accommodating dog owners and creating a...
read more
Missaukee Golf Club Golf – Weekly Tip
Tip of the Week: Balance to Creating Consistency Lay down a club in front of you to serve as an alignment aid, to make sure your ball position and aim are correct Keep your balls close enough to reach and put into a fresh spot of grass Make sure that you...
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Lakewood on the Green – Weekly Tip
This week’s Golf Weekly Tip from the Tee is coming to you from Lakewood on the Green. Tucked away in the heart of Northern Michigan, a tranquil escape from everyday life infused with allurement, splendor and wholehearted spirits. Lakewood is an intimate...
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Cadillac Tuesday Turtles – Cycling for the Novice
by: Ben Hikok, Tuesday Turtle originator, father, friend, community volunteer and attorney. Do you ever think back to the way you felt as a child while riding on your bicycle? Do you miss the wind in your hair (or at least as it blows through the vents in...
read more
The Boon Bonfire
Taking to the trails, we leave from the Caberfae Trailhead on Trail 638 towards 637 headed to the Boon Bonfire. Our group is made up of novice to experienced riders, so the ride starts off touring 15 mph to a forest trail that will remind you of a...
read moreDINING, SHOPPING & ENTERTAINMENT
Women entrepreneurs succeeding in Downtown Cadillac
CADILLAC — Retail shops in downtown Cadillac are flourishing. Gone are the dark faces of empty storefronts. Instead, colorful window displays, fabulous interior decor and merchandise, and personal service are attracting destination clientele. Behind the retail revival...
read more
5 Reasons to Take Your Kids to a U-Pick Farm this Summer
Looking to get your kids outside this summer? Grab them and head out to one of Greater Cadillac Area’s U-Pick farms for an experience they will love. Here are 5 reasons why:Encourages Healthy Eating: Going to U-Pick farms exposes kids to healthy food...
read more
U-Pick, We Pick, Everyone Picks – Fresh Fruit this Summer
Take advantage of Northern Michigan by grabbing a bucket and heading out to pick fresh Blueberries at Double L Farms here in Cadillac. Double L Farms is a family owned business. At the farm they sell local, fresh blueberries. They are MAEAP certified which...
read more
15 Steps to Ice Cream Craving Nirvana
By Erica Benham Here’s the scoop…there are several ice cream shop options out there in the Greater Cadillac area to cool down on these hot summer days. Take a tour and check them all out! Cadillac Ice Cream Co. – Cadillac Westside: [M-55/M-115, Cadillac, MI 49601...
read more
10 Ways to Spend Your Days in Cadillac: With Your Kids!
1. Putt-Putt, Go-Karts, & Waterslides—Oh My! Adventure Island: Adventure Island Family Fun Park was developed with the family in mind. Two water slides provide the ultimate in water entertainment. Try our Hydro-tube Speed Slide for a real thrill. Our...
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9 Things to do with a Family of 4 at North American Snow Festival for under $200
Head back to the Cadillac Commons/ City Park for more fun, from 4:30-6:30pm send the kids up in the RE/MAX tethered hot air balloon for a ride overlooking Downtown Cadillac ($10 donation from each rider to Children’s Miracle Network required) = $20 By Joy...
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12 Things Your Ears & Palate will LOVE at NASF this year!
By Joy VanDrie Buy your $5 button and come hang out in the Cadillac Commons (City Park) music from Squad Car Jazz Town starts at 6pm. Be there 6-7pm for the WTCM Chili Cookoff under heated tents. Bring some cash to grab a brew or spirit and hang out with...
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10 Reasons Canadians LOVE Caberfae Peaks on Winter Break
By Joy Vandrie The Canadian Winter Break covers two awesome spring skiing weekends in Northern Michigan, March 10-20, 2017. During these two weekends, Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort, in northwest Michigan offers the following top 10 reasons Canadians love to...
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10 Activities for a Ladies Weekend in Cadillac
By Joy VanDrie Wine Tasting at the Cadillac Winery Tasting Room – downtown Cadillac. Call Ashley for a group tasting, or just stop in if it’s just a few of you. Cadillac Winery Tasting Room offers a relaxing atmosphere in a bar like setting, and also offers...
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