Northern Michigan’s Cadillac beckons visitors with its quaint small-town living on Lake Cadillac and the surrounding great outdoors.
Known as the “gateway to up north,” the waterfront town welcomes over 1 million visitors annually with its downtown shopping and dining, nautical activities, lakefront beaches and historic district, per the city of Cadillac.
“Just a short trip from anywhere, Cadillac is where you get that first “Up North Feel,” the forests are bigger, the town more welcoming,” Pure Michigan says.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recognizes the city as one of Michigan’s Pure Michigan TrailTowns, home to over 200 miles of trails in the area’s forests, perfect for hiking, walking, biking or off-road vehicle trips.
Here’s what to know.
Where is Cadillac?
Cadillac is a northern Michigan city in the Lower Peninsula, surrounding Lake Cadillac. The town of about 10,000 residents is a popular tourist destination, bringing in over 1 million visitors per year.
How did Cadillac get started?
The area is the ancestral homeland of Anishinaabek peoples that form the Council of Three Fires historic alliance, including the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi nations, the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau’s website notes.
Cadillac’s roots began as a late 19th century lumber town, going from a village to a city in 1877, per the city’s website. George Mitchell, a farmer from New York, played a prominent role as an early settler in the area, becoming the city’s founder and first mayor, the website says.
The town was originally called Clam Lake, as the adjacent Lake Cadillac was then known as Little Clam Lake, according to the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau and the city’s website. The name Cadillac was selected in honor of 17th and 18th century French settler Antoine de la mothe Cadillac, a prominent military leader and trader known for founding Detroit.
Stroll and shop in downtown
While in town, visitors can check out local specialty shops, salons, spas and boutiques in downtown Cadillac.
Products to choose from include books, apparel, toys, candy, antiques, jewelry, gifts, accessories, flowers, games, home decor, popcorn and more.
From Angel’s House of Treasures or Lil’ Red Barn Antiques to The Trend Designers Day Spa, Toy Town, Horizon Books or Book Nook, Serendipity to Magnolia Boutique and Gifts and beyond, there’s something for everyone to choose from.
Enjoy waterfront recreation
Cadillac surrounds Lake Cadillac, one of only four cities in the U.S. with a lake completely within its borders, the city’s website says. The Clam Lake Canal links Lake Cadillac to the nearby Lake Mitchell, along with more inland lakes and two paddling rivers, the Big Manistee River and Pine River, per Pure Michigan.
The area’s vast waterways and beaches offer opportunities for fishing , sunbathing, kayaking, tubing, swimming, canoeing and boating, per the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau and Pure Michigan.
Local parks include William Mitchell State Park, Cadillac Lakefront Park and Kenwood Heritage Park.
Tour Cadillac’s historic district
In the heart of town, the Cadillac Historic District offers a look back in time, preserving Cadillac’s heritage within the original Village of Clam Lake Boundaries, the city’s website says.
The district, one block east of downtown, is mainly residential, featuring wood frame, single-family homes and large, Victorian-style homes once belonging to lumber barons and business leaders, per the website. About 70% of the historic district’s homes were built before 1910.
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Trek through the woods on nature trails
In the great outdoors around Cadillac there are over 200 miles of trails, Pure Michigan says. The Huron-Manistee National Forests and Michigan DNR Forest Areas include trails offering opportunities to hike, bike, walk drive off-road vehicles and hunt.
The northern Michigan city is recognized as a Pure Michigan TrailTown. The designation notes the city’s status as a year-round destination with its extensive trails offering outdoor recreational activities fit for all four seasons.
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Savor local dining and brews
Cadillac boasts restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream stores and bakeries selling a variety of cuisines, beverages, alcoholic spirits and sweet treats.
Visitors can try over 25 locally owned eateries, the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau’s website says. Options in the city include classic American fare, ice cream, Mexican cuisine, beer, pasties, Indian cuisine, BBQ, coffee and tea beverages, fresh-baked pastries, burgers, baked goods and more.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Check out these places, activities in Cadillac this summer