Clarkston for First-Timers
12 stops · about 6 hours · Updated October 6, 2026
Start your first visit to Clarkston, MI with breakfast, then make room for parks, golf, books and locally made goods. Mel’s Grill on Pelton Road serves breakfast and coffee, while Mel’s Grill 2 on Gateway Park Drive adds outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. For lunch or dinner, Crispelli’s Bakery & Pizzeria offers pizza, vegetarian and vegan options, and an on-site bar. QDOBA Mexican Eats provides customizable Mexican food for takeout, and Parker’s Hilltop Brewery serves beer at its Dixie Highway restaurant.
Build the outdoor part of your visit around Clintonwood Park’s paved walking paths, playground, splash pad and sports courts. Bay Court Park, in the Clarkston, MI area, has grassy picnic space, slides, swings and kid-friendly hikes. Fountains Golf & Banquet combines nine- or eighteen-hole golf with food on-site. For indoor play, The Fairytale Fun Place brings together slides, interactive games, fairytale entertainment and a cafe.
Finish with the shops. Inscribe Books is an independent bookstore on Sashabaw Road, where Serenity Grace Boutique also carries clothing, home decor, gifts and locally made items. On Dixie Highway, It’s So Cute Boutique carries women’s clothing, accessories and gifts from local makers.
Eat here first
anytime
Stop 1
Crispelli's Bakery & Pizzeria - Clarkston
4.7(1162)Village of Clarkston
Stop 2
Mel's Grill
4.7(935)Village of Clarkston
Mel’s Grill serves breakfast, brunch and comfort food with coffee, offering counter service, table service and takeout at its Pelton Road location.
Stop 3
Mel's Grill 2
4.7(757)Village of Clarkston
Mel’s Grill 2 pairs breakfast, brunch and lunch with coffee, outdoor seating and space for dogs outside, plus vegetarian and organic options.
Have a drink
evening
Stop 4
Fountains Golf & Banquet
4.4(711)Village of Clarkston
Fountains Golf & Banquet brings nine-hole and eighteen-hole golf, available carts and on-site food together, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking.
Stop 5
Parker's Hilltop Brewery
4.4(945)Village of Clarkston
Parker’s Hilltop Brewery serves beer and other alcohol at an on-site bar, with free lot and street parking at its Dixie Highway location.
Stop 6
QDOBA Mexican Eats
4.4(1007)Village of Clarkston
QDOBA Mexican Eats offers customizable Mexican food and vegetarian options, with takeout, delivery and catering for lunch, dinner or a quick bite.
See something
anytime
Stop 7
Bay Court Park
4.7(609)Independence Township
Bay Court Park combines grassy picnic space, a playground with slides and swings, and kid-friendly hikes, with dogs welcome on the grounds.
Stop 8
Clintonwood Park
4.6(499)Village of Clarkston
Clintonwood Park offers paved walking paths, a playground and splash pad alongside baseball, basketball, tennis and volleyball facilities, plus picnic tables.
Stop 9
The Fairytale Fun Place
4.5(220)Village of Clarkston
The Fairytale Fun Place combines an indoor playground, interactive games and fairytale entertainment with a large on-site cafe and eatery.
Take something home
anytime
Stop 10
Inscribe Books
5.0(74)Village of Clarkston
Inscribe Books adds an independent bookstore stop on Sashabaw Road, with Wi-Fi, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking, and a five-star Google rating.
Stop 11
Serenity Grace Boutique
4.9(45)Village of Clarkston
Serenity Grace Boutique brings together clothing, shoes, accessories, home decor and gifts, with locally made items throughout the store and in-store pickup available.
Stop 12
It’s So Cute Boutique Clarkston
5.0(4)Village of Clarkston
