Greater Cadillac, Michigan bills itself as an affordable family vacation spot and you can even eat well for free, foraging for wild mushrooms. Morels grow abundantly in the area, and the annual free Mesick Mushroom Festival, the second weekend of May celebrates the harvest.

But there is plenty of year-round, fungus-free family fun. Cadillac, surrounded by National and State forest, public parks & rolling hills, offers a diverse hiking trails for young families and experienced hikers. The Manistee River trail offers breathtaking scenery into river valleys and open waters. The Pere Marquette Trail has a range of terrain with interpretive signage. Download trail maps for National Forest Trails.

Ride bikes around Lake Cadillac, a 7.5-mile trail that connects to the 5-mile Clam River Greenway. White Pine Trail extends from Cadillac to Grand Rapids, connecting in Cadillac to over 200 miles of varied cycle trails, from family friendly paved pathways to more rugged adventures.

With teens, ride mountain bikes along Big M & the North Country Trail, 30 minutes west of Cadillac. The Pere Marquette Trail also has several miles of rugged terrain, and the local National Forest & State Forest Trails offer hundreds of miles of trails to explore with interpretive signage along the trails.

In summer, enjoy free evening music Monday – Thursday at Rotary Performing Arts Pavilion on Lake Cadillac. ‘UpBeat Cadillac’ entertainment ranges from folk to Christian to jazz.. Picnic on the lawn, sit on benches, or dock your boat and listen to the music.

Cadillac’s lake-side parks offer beaches, volleyball courts, a Frisbee golf course and a Skateboard Park.

The Carl T Johnson Hunting & Fishing Museum highlights the northern Michigan hunting & fishing delights with animal displays and an aquarium. The 2.5-mile Heritage Trail goes through woodland and marsh. Borrow fishing rods and test your fishing abilities on the Canal.

Relax with Nature & Culture – Lake Cadillac & Mitchell have four public beaches connected by a multi-use trail system.