Entire home

Beautiful Private Harbert Beach cottage well appointed on a quiet private lane

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Cozy cottage
large living room with fireplace
large bright living room with great view of nature ( deer & birds) fireplace
Huge family room with piano & Bose stereo. Large smart TV over Fireplace
Screen porch with fan & reading light,  table & chairs, hooks to dry wet items

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6139.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available

Explore the area

Map
Harbert, MI
  • Cherry Beach
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Warren Dunes State Park
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Warren Dunes State Park Beach
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Michigan City, IN (MGC-Michigan City Municipal)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed and 1 Child Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Beautiful Private Harbert Beach cottage well appointed on a quiet private lane

This beautiful 5 star newly renovated year round cottage is about 2000 feet from Harbert Beach & short walk to Cherry Beach. Family friendly and well equipped kitchen. Walking distance to the Swedish Bakery & Luisa's Cafe. Just 5 minutes from Warren Dunes & Sawyer Market. Screened Porch, firepit, 2 outdoor patio areas on a private Lane. Fireplace and large great room with piano. Large dining area . This property is located in the heart of wine country and minutes from local brewery & farm to table restaurants. Great fishing & birdwatching. Minutes away from New Buffalo & St. Joe. Queen pull out couch in Living room with screen to close off the living room for privacy as well as a cot and an air Mattress provided in 2nd bedroom closet if needed. Enjoy the winter at our cottage. Winter sports at Love Creek are 18 miles away in Berrien Springs and provides cross country skiing, snow shoe ,and snow bikes. An outdoor ice rink is located in the park across the street on Red Arrow and provides ice skates to those who want to ice skate at no cost. Uncrowded beach and minutes away from great food & shopping. Kayak the Galien River 10 minutes away. Big screen smart TV & WiFi, games & puzzles to play. If you are musical the piano is well tuned. Central air & ceiling fans for comfort. Charging stations for phones & other items in each bedroom side table. Harbert Beach is open and 2000 feet down Harbert Road. Cherry Beach is open with ample parking, restrooms and 5 minute drive or a walk in the woods down Swans Way a path off Harbert Road. Warren Dunes is 5 minutes away with a huge beach with restrooms and concessions. Waco beach is also open in Bridgeman & they play taps at sunset.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:
(listed roughly north to south)

Grand Mere State Park: totally undeveloped dunes and Lake Michigan shoreline, often you are the only people on the beach, trails (beach is a two-mile walk from the parking lot, a one mile paved path and one mile dune trail); at Stevensville, a 16 minute drive north on Interstate 94
Warren Dunes State Park: 4 miles north on Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer (7 minute drive); requires fee to enter, 2000 acres, six miles of hiking trails, three miles of Lake Michigan coastline, beaches, rugged dune formation rises 260 feet above the lake
Beach Bucket Fudge & Popcorn: ice cream shop 4 miles north at 12021 Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer (7 minute drive)
Falatics Meat Market: incredible place, 12236 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman (269) 426-3224 (6 minute drive). Order ahead for curbside pick up.
Greenbush Brewing Company: taproom, annex and beer garden (3 miles north / 7 minute drive; Sawyer Road)
Sawyer Home & Garden Center: myriad fresh produce, wine, flowers sawyergardencenter.com (3 mile drive; north side of Sawyer Road)
Sawyer Market & Deli: grocery store and ice cream shop with excellent pre-bake pies at the deli (finish baking them at home) (269) 426-4646 (3 mile drive; south side of Sawyer Road)
Cafe Gulistan: tasty Middle Eastern restaurant and wine bar, Harbert cafegulistan.com (1 mile)
Luisa’s Cafe & Harbert Swedish Bakery: coffee cake, pastry, donuts, bread etc. at the bakery; lovely fresh-cooked breakfast or lunch in attached restaurant luisascafe.com (.8 mile / 15 minute walk)
Capozio's: Tasty pizza, south to 13982 Red Arrow Highway, Harbert (4 miles / 4 minute drive south) Thursday to Sunday (269) 469-4001
Red Arrow Roadhouse: the classic, south to 15710 Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier (269) 469-3939redarrowroadhouse.com burgers, salads, whitefish, crab cakes, ribs, fun (9 minute drive south)
Union Pier Market: 9905 Town Line Ave, Union Pier (269) 586-3775 (10 minute drive south)
The Wine Sellers: lovely wine shop at the southern end of Union Pier, 16409 Red Arrow Hwy
Ghost Isle Brewery: restaurant and brewery, views of sweeping marsh and wetlands, 17684 U.S. Highway 12, New Buffalo; ghostislebrewery.comsandwiches, BBQ, seafood; seasonal, ethnic flair
Barney’s Market: grocery store in New Buffalo
Oink’s Ice Cream and Yogurt: famous ice cream shop in New Buffalo
Stray Dog Bar & Grill: 245 N Whittaker Street, New Buffalo thestraydog.com
Beer Church Brewing Company: wood fire pizza, small plates and small batch beer in re-purposed church beerchurchbrewing.com 24 S Whittaker Street, New Buffalo
Acorn Theater: live music, comedy and drama acornlive.org 107 Generation Drive, Three Oaks
Vickers Theatre: historic movie house at 6 N Elm Street, Three Oaks vickerstheatre.com
Three Oaks art galleries: along Elm Street — Studio B Gallery, art gallery at the Vickers Theatre, Judy Ferrara Gallery, Trilogy Antiques and Design (13 minute drive, take Three Oaks Road)
Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce

Property manager

John & Susan McGrail
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Should smoking occur a 500.00 cleaning fee
We are on EDT time for arrival & departures (Michigan Time). Please be considerate of our cleaning service they will be in the house at 11:00.
Load dishwasher & run as you leave and start a load of laundry please. It would be appreciated if you could unload the dishwasher as time permits
Please leave beds unmade that you slept in. Please start towels & place in washer before you leave. Thank You

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert

Located in Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert, this holiday home is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Warren Dunes State Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Round Barn Union Pier Tasting Room and Captain Mike's Fun Park.
Map
Harbert, MI

What's nearby

  • Cherry Beach - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Warren Dunes State Park - 7 min drive - 5.9 km
  • Warren Dunes State Park Beach - 10 min drive - 7.2 km
  • Weko Park - 11 min drive - 12.8 km
  • Four Winds Casino New Buffalo - 18 min drive - 15.8 km

Getting around

  • New Buffalo Station - 13 min drive
  • South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Journeyman Distillery - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Beach Bucket - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Lydia's Down Home Cooking - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful Private Harbert Beach cottage well appointed on a quiet private lane pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful Private Harbert Beach cottage well appointed on a quiet private lane?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Private Harbert Beach cottage well appointed on a quiet private lane?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Private Harbert Beach cottage well appointed on a quiet private lane located?

This family-friendly Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert holiday home is located on a lake, within 1 mi (2 km) of Cherry Beach and Lake Michigan. Eleanor O'Connor Wilson Woods Preserve and Robinson Woods Preserve are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 43 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 43 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 43 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 43 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 43 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Leslie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Getaway

I stayed in this house for a long weekend during COVID in 2020 and vowed to come back and bring my husband this time. I'm so glad we did. The house is very inviting. The kitchen is well supplied with all the utensils and pans you'll need. The living room is supremely comfy, with one of my favorite reading-chairs in the world. And they have a piano! Both bedrooms are peaceful and quiet, the mattresses are comfortable, and there are two bathrooms. I especially love the screened-in-porch, which would be especially delightful during a rainstorm. Plus there is an outdoor dining area and a fire pit. And a mere 15-min walk to the nearest beach. Can't beat this place.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

C M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely hosts and home

The house was immaculate, the location great! We walked each morning to a lovely Swedish Deli for breakfast, and enjoyed the walking path along the main road. It was a short drive to the beaches which were beautiful. They have clean bathrooms, water sports rentals and food vendor trucks. A great time!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dana W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Family Getaway

My family and and I stayed at this property and really enjoyed our time there. Of all of our vacation rentals we've stayed in, this one felt the most like home. The property was as described, very clean, and a cozy and comfortable place to stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shelly M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Cottage, would highly recommend!

This cottage must have recently been refinished/remodeled because it was in wonderful condition. And it was so VERY clean! At one point i started looking around for little bits of dirt because I was shocked not to see any dust or stains or anything at all. Very comfortable stay. The owners came through for us very kindly when a small issue arose and that was most appreciated. Also close to a very nice, not very busy beach. Loved our stay here!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

All you need… plus

We (4 adults) stayed July 4-7, 2024. This is a wonderful place and better than advertised. We… cooked and baked, showered, borrowed an umbrella and chair, hosed off stuff beach stuff, hung out in the lanai, walked and drove to Harbert beach, ate in Sawyer and New Buffalo, used the pullout bed, had a day at Warren Dunes, chatted with friendly neighbors, and received almost instant feedback from the host to our questions… which were already answered in the instructions. It was clean and had some extras amenities. Great location. Even watching and listening to the rain in the lanai was nice. Five stars.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pamela W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Lovely Home Near the Lake

My mom and I stayed at the McGrails' cottage for one week during late June, and it was nearly perfect. The house is comfortable, well set-up for guests, and the screened in porch was particularly nice. The beds are comfy and I was easily able to cook using the pots, pans, and utensils provided. Some of the food in the cupboards should probably have been thrown out (some coffee that was kind of stale, the olive oil might be on its way out, etc), but we mostly bought our own food supplies anyway. My only suggestion is that they provide some instructions for how to use the TV. We managed to kind of figure it out, but never completely. Instructions would help. Oh and my mom suggested some guidance for the ensuite shower as it's a bit unusual, with more than one shower head. But those are just suggestions! We very much enjoyed our stay. A week of reading, relaxing, and just a little bit of exploring. Just what we wanted.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christine I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway

Beautiful property and home. Was a wonderful experience. Would like to visit again.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Emily H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy cottage

We had so much fun here! Thank you for sharing your clean, cozy cottage. We loved that the beach was a 10 minute walk (or short drive with gear and kids), a best bakery was a 5 minute walk away, we were close to so many fun things and a great screened-in porch at the house. We had a great family vacation. We can’t wait to come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Geralyn M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy Cottage

All the comforts of home. Very spacious and clean. Loved seeing all the birds and deer. Highly recommend !
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lauren L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Spot

The house is immaculate with very clear directions regarding the house. I saw deer and babies every morning right across the street. They have everything you need regarding pots, pans, storage. Just a great place
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet Get Away

Beautiful home in quiet neighborhood. Walking distance to beach, antique shops, bakery and some restaurants. Hosts are very welcoming and easy to get in touch with! Would definitely use this property again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erin M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very comfortable cottage

My group of 2 adults and 2 young kids had a wonderful stay. The cottage was very comfortable, clean, and well-stocked, with space for everyone to stretch out and relax and a very nice screened in porch to enjoy the nice weather. The location is fantastic, with the bakery and the beach in walking distance. We would definitely stay here again in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sara B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Cottage Experience!

This cottage is very charming and wonderfully clean. It's a great value for how close you are to Lake Michigan. It's within walking distance to Cherry Beach and Harbert Beach and only a 5 minute drive to Warren Dunes State Park. There is a long walking/biking trail going down Red Arrow Highway that can easily lead you to bakeries, restaurants, and a park. The kitchen stocked with any gadgets you may need. The master bathroom is absolutely gorgeous. Checking in and out is very easy. The property management is incredibly responsive. We already are anticipating booking next year!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peacefully Perfect!!

Lovely, clean home in a quiet, wooded neighborhood. This cottage has every necessity and comfort. Furniture and beds are comfortable, sheets are soft. Home is stocked with everything a family needs. We were a group of 4 adults and two small children. We especially enjoyed the screened porch and firepit with smore ingredients provided by the hosts. Very close to multiple beaches. Bring your own beach towels and fire-starter logs (wood is on-site, but needs a little help to get going) and you will have a great time.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely

It was great. Clean comfortable good location would like to go back. Really enjoyed it!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

2/10 Terrible

Melissa U.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy

Expect to lose your deposit for no reason

Overall we liked the house and the location UNTIL we headed home and learned the owner decided to keep a large portion of our deposit for no reason. We followed every house rule and our family treated the house and property as if it was our own. We followed the check-in and check-out checklist and even washed all the towels to give the cleaners a head start. Their claim was that we had a dog on the property that a neighbor saw, and that the housekeeper found dog hair and pine needles in the house requiring extra cleaning. Here’s the thing- we had NO DOG at any point in our visit! We traveled over 9 hours and spent most of our time at the beach so bringing a pet along would have been unmanageable. We also had no visitors. It is absolutely impossible for anyone to have seen a dog with us! Other families walked through the neighborhood headed to the beach and some had dogs with them, but I never recall any group lingering in the yard while we were there. We were also never allowed to see any “proof” of a dog, dog hair, or the extra cleaning bill they were supposedly charged- just withheld our deposit without any recourse. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some pine needles in the house as the property is covered in pine trees and we had 3 young children along. However, we were already paying for professional cleaning and assure you that we left the home at an appropriate level of cleanliness when we left. Further, if dog hair was in the home it could have been from previous renters as we were somewhat grossed out that there was hair clogging the bathtub drain and we also found an earring on the carpet while staying. At any point during our stay if the owners were concerned we had a dog they could have contacted us or come over to check. They only communicated this by keeping our deposit after we were already driving home- causing stress and ruining our return trip. We attempted to contact VRBO twice to resolve this, and they kept sending our case to a “higher unit.” We waited weeks and were never contacted back. Since we live so far away taking this to small claims court is not an option. Please beware.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girlfriend Retreat

This was a perfect place to catch up with old friends. Just as pictured and clean! We spent most of our time on the porch & beach and look forward to our next visit!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

J S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun time!

This was a great location and very cute cottage feel. The Swedish bakery down the street was wonderful for breakfast/brunch.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Yodit B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

1 Minute to the Beach, 5 Mins to the Dunes!!!

We had a great experience at the cottage! It is such a cute little place, surrounded by gorgeous hydrangeas, yet feels very spacious inside! Hosts took great care to think of everything! From a fully stocked kitchen with every tool or appliance you could need to games galore. Lots of helpful labels and discreet signs around to make things easier. Master Bathroom was shockingly awesome! Pictures don't do it justice with four skylights, gorgeous light fixtures and huge shower with rain head, body spray jets and hand held sprayer; perfect for soothing away aches after a long hike or day on the water. Can't say enough good things about this place! I highly recommend it!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This was a perfect house and a perfect location for our girls trip this past June.

This house was perfect for our girls getaway this past June. The house was well stocked with everything you could need, was very clean and in the perfect location for sightseeing, wine tasting and shopping. Just a short walk and you were at beautiful Lake Michigan enjoying a sunset.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Thomas W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming Getaway

Great spot to getaway to nearby Lake Michigan! Very clean and roomy for our group. Hosts were very helpful with accommodations and suggestions of fun activities close by. 🌞
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

House was clean and well stocked. Owners are very personable and friendly.

Our family very much enjoyed our stay at this house!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alana N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home and beach!

Our family greatly enjoyed our stay at the McGrail's 3 Shades of Gray cottage in Harbert! Lovely, cozy and updated home had everything we wanted: comfortable beds, updated kitchen and bathrooms, and lots of cozy comforts that make a house a home. We used the game table every night, and the firepit was a nice bonus for the s'mores that the owners kindly provided! Nice, quiet neighborhood, with a longer walk than expected to the beach (we drove, since we had rafts and cooler), but we absolutely loved the private beach with nice sand and no crowds. We kind of hoped for a little more "town", but we took a rainy day and drove to St. Joseph for that, which was lots of fun (We ate at Tosi's for lunch...highly recommend). All in all, wonderful time on Lake MI shore! We would definitely come back and hope we can someday! Thanks Jack and Susan for sharing your lovely home!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Margaret C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home, Wooded Neighborhood With Birds

This home is nicely decorated with a fantastic master bath. Board games, good wifi. Wonderful beach walking. We loved watching birds from the screened-in porch. Had a peaceful and relaxing time there.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Leslie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dream Home Away From Home

I can't overstate what a lovely stay we had at this home. The master bathroom is one of the nicest bathrooms I've ever experienced. The home was light-filled. The kitchen was well-stocked. The streaming television available was perfect. I even played their piano and it was a refreshing change from everything else. The hosts even included a bag with s'more fixin's to prepare over the fire pit in the back yard! Although we had to drive to the beach instead of walking (beaches in Michigan have taken a beating and are narrower and more crowded because of that), the local beach was still a great choice. I'm so grateful we were able to stay in this relaxing, quiet, comfortable home.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

About the host

Hosted by John & Susan McGrail

Host profile image
We are nature lovers and enjoy the outdoors. Peace & quiet is key but quick access to all the shops, eateries, & local 3 Oaks " The Vickers" movie theater, as well as live productions at the AcornTheater in 3 Oaks. We love to ice skate & cross country ski down our lane & Swans Way. Swim out to the sand bar and float in an innertube & watch the sunsets. The beach is a short walk and we are on the " Wine Trail & in the center of local breweries.

Why they chose this property

This propery has space & tasteful decor. New furniture and all new revovated rooms with comfortable new mattresses & linens. Beautiful hardwood floors with new carpet in the Bedrooms. Personal fans as well as central air and heat. Quiet, but minutes away to busy New Buffalo, Sawyer, & Union Pier. Screened in porch with old fashioned glider. Smart TV and outdoor reading lamp on screened porch with ceiling fan & comfy furniture. Family friendly with beach chairs, blanket, inner tubes, umbrellas & life vests for smaller children.
High chair availiable upon request.

What makes this property unique

2 Large bathrooms & bedrooms with queen beds, fire place, 2 outdoor fire pits, and screened porch. New kitchen with Keurig, cuisinart, farm sink & gas range. Local farmers markets on Saturdays. Lovely views from all rooms and views of local wildlife as they stroll through the yard. Nice size yard in front & private back yard. The house is located on a private lane for quiet & safety and is 2000 feet fron Harbert Beach & 5 minutes from Warren Dunes National Park. Cherry beach is a longer walk or short drive with parking & port-o-johns.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests