Entire home

Sunny suite w/ private entrance; view of Betsie Bay one block from Lake Michigan

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The Lakeview suite is on the 2nd floor of Serendipity House facing Betsie Bay.
Serendipity House offers 5 suites with a range of accommodations and rates.
View of house from Betsie Bay. Lakeview suite has view from the second floor.
Miles of shoreline for you to explore.
With our 5 suites, Serendipity House works especially well for wedding parties.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 428.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Frankfort, MI
  • Frankfort Beach
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Elberta Beach
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Point Betsie Lighthouse
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪48 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Crib

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Sunny suite w/ private entrance; view of Betsie Bay one block from Lake Michigan

Serendipity House is a one-of-a-kind inn designed for vacationers who want a unique experience that includes their accommodations. Situated on Main Street a block from Lake Michigan and at the edge of Frankfort's charming downtown district, the inn recalls an earlier time when residents would call out greetings from their front porch to passersby.

Serendipity has the big front porch and updated living space with all the amenities for vacationers who enjoy something unique.

Serendipity House offers four-season lodging in 5 suites at the water's edge. Pack your beach gear and turn right to enjoy Lake Michigan's beaches and spectacular sunsets. Cross the street to start biking the 26-mile Betsie Trail. Or turn left to enjoy downtown Frankfort's unique shops and restaurants. Then come back for fall colors. winter skiing, and spring awakenings.

With five suites, we're especially well-suited for wedding parties, family reunions, or for sharing vacations with friends. Special weekly and off-season rates.

We're listing the Lakeview Suite, but if the dates you'd like are not available, please go to one of our other suites: Betsie (#195186); Manitou (#180215); Nannybird (#186194); or Sandune (#178405).

Property manager

Sarah Bannister McCallum

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Beach view
Barbecue grill

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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
We have a Pack-n-Play on hand.
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Weddings parties and family reunions welcomed.
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
All suites are smoke-free
Pull out sofa is in living room so it's best for families with kids under 12.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 4
Note from host: Weddings parties and family reunions welcomed.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Frankfort

Located in Frankfort, this holiday home is in the city centre and near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Frankfort, MI

What's nearby

  • Betsie Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Frankfort Beach - 4 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Elberta Beach - 8 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Point Betsie Lighthouse - 10 min drive - 8.6 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Stormcloud Brewing Company - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪A&W Restaurant - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Lighthouse Cafe - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Cabbage Shed - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Dinghy's Restaurant & Bar - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Sunny suite w/ private entrance; view of Betsie Bay one block from Lake Michigan pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Sunny suite w/ private entrance; view of Betsie Bay one block from Lake Michigan?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Sunny suite w/ private entrance; view of Betsie Bay one block from Lake Michigan?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Sunny suite w/ private entrance; view of Betsie Bay one block from Lake Michigan located?

Located in the heart of Frankfort, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Betsie Lake and Lake Michigan. Frankfort Beach and Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts are also within 5 minutes.

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 24 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 24 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 24 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 24 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 24 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Terry G.

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

Ironman weekend

Incredible location
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Caroline G.

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

Beautiful town. Great location!

Great location for a vacation. Centered in the middle of it all. Maybe a little tight for 4 people but, with so much to do in the area, we were hardly in the room at all. Beds were comfy which is important when traveling and all you want to do is pass out after a long day.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Kirstin P.

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

Great location for a visit to Frankfort!

The location of this property is perfect for walking to the beach, downtown shops and restaurants, or biking over to hop on the Betsie River Trail. We had everything we needed, just might bring flannel sheets and an extra blanket next time for the blow up mattress that’s in the pull out couch. It truly was a great spot for our weekend up north!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sheri P.

Serendipity House

We had so much fun in Frankfort staying at the Serendipity House! The location is perfect, right near our favorite places to eat, The Coho and Stormcloud microbrewery and just a 1-minute walk to the beach! The rooms were spotlessly clean, owners were friendly and easy and the beds were comfy!!! We loved it and will always stay at Serendipity if we can!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Heidi L.

Wonderful place! The owner, Tim, was great and the unit had everything we needed.

Clean and close to everything. The lake was just a block away and shops and restaurants were in walking distance. Great brewery with tasty pub food selections, just a few blocks away. Wonderful experience. We stayed because it was a short drive to Arcadia Bluffs golf course.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2016

8/10 Good

Megan H.

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

Great location!

This place is close to the beach, restaurants, shops, bike rentals, etc. Had a little trouble checking in as the keys weren’t where they were supposed to be, but got a quick response from the owner/manager. Loved being able to sit on the front porch to read and just watch the world go by.. The porch was a popular place with everyone saying there .
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

DOUG R.

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

Perfect location

The upstairs rooms were comfortable, the TV had a cable connection and the wifi worked. It was perfect for a couple day- stay. For our 2-week stay, the mini fridge was too small, the shower stall (like a phone booth) was too small, and the single-ply toilet paper was disappointing. There were lots of nice towels. And Sarah was always available if there was any questions or issues. The need was comfortable. We would definitely come back for a short stay.
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Steve S.

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

As expected

The location is the selling point. Could not be better. The listing says it can sleep 4 which is true, but I would not put more than three in there. Also, the kitchen has everything you need for a short stay. Just do not plan on cooking alot of meals in the kitchen. It is not that well appointed. Better to go out and enjoy the local restaurants. Overall we were very pleased and plan to rent again next year.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

6/10 Okay

Katherine L.

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

Basic but clean and great location

The location of this property is fantastic - it's right across the street from the bay, two blocks from the beach, and steps to restaurants. The space itself is clean and very basic. A few things that weren't necessarily noted in the VRBO description - there are zero toiletries provided - no soap, no shampoo, etc. We didn't bring any so the first day we had to make do until we made a trip to the store. The molded stand up shower is tiny - an average person can barely turn around in it. The compact fridge has no ability to keep a bag of ice. It's a second floor walk up - no elevator (important to me as I was carrying my bike). None of these things were a major issue for us or hindered our stay, but important to note for other renters. Overall the stay was very enjoyable and would recommend the apartment to others.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Patrick O.

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

great location, nicely stocked, peaceful retreat

The rooms were very clean, the view was great, the house had very little noise from other guests, the kitchen was stocked well. We really enjoyed our stay and will stay there again in the future.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bill K.

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

Beautiful house and great location.

House is beautiful and room was fine.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Steve S.

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

Good

Nice
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Josh G.

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

Super convenient to EVERYTHING

Nice family getaway to heaven on water. The house was easy to find and parking was simple.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kathy L.

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

Great location

Very cozy apartment type rooms just steps from downtown and the beach. Always enjoy our stay here!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Convenient, clean, walk to everything

Loved landing at the Serendipity House just as the summer arrived. Never got back into the car, everything is walking distance. Definitely will return.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Stephen M.

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

Great location and a wonderful stay.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay for an anniversary weekend. The location — two blocks to the beach one direction, and two blocks to the brewery and restaurants in the other is ideal. It is a bit noisy from the other guests, but that is to be expected in a house of this age. All-in-all, we had a wonderful weekend, and will be back. I’d recommend adding a guestbook of some sort, so visitors can leave their notes and impressions for the next guests. It’s always nice to see how far people have travelled to get there!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Rachel K.

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

Nannybird

The Nannybird is in a great location and is a small but nice suite. Perfect place to stay for a beach weekend :)
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

Kay T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Great Locaton

The overall experience was good. There was a discrepancy between the listing and what was actually in the unit. When you search for 2 bedroom 1 bath this listing comes up. There is one bedroom and a living room with a pull out couch. The matress on the pull out couch is an air matress. It was very comfortable. Better than your standard pull out couch mattresses. The online description says there is shampoo and standard soaps, the detailed description after you have paid for the property says no bath soap and no shampoo. Anyway just FYI, the owners are aware and are going to change the online details. Other than that we had a great time. Wish we had another day to really wonder around town.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Michelle T.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Pleasant stay.

Our stay was short just overnight. The door between the two rooms ended up coming off its hinge at the top. But other than that it was a lovely spot.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

Beautiful home and great lication!

Gorgeous grpunds, loved the fire pit and beautiful flowers on the front porch. Steps from the beach, lighthouse & sunset!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Gwenn K.

Great View!

The view was great and we loved how close we were to the beach, shopping and marina! We would stay again
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Emily P.

Great location, good amenities, on its way up

We stayed in the Lakeview Suite for three nights. We had two adults, a five year old and a baby. Some of the decor has been updated from the pictures shown. Location: Excellent. 1 block to beautiful beach, go the other way for shopping and restaurants. Can even walk to grocery store (>1mile) if needed. Tiny view of lake Betsy though the windows, best view is from the toilet - not kidding. Space: good space for two adults plus pack-n-play (provided by Serendipity house) in the bedroom, especially if you block off the internal entry door and just use the external door as we did. May not be so pleasant in the winter. Living space had a sleeper sofa, but it takes up all available room so we used a small inflatable bed (we brought our own) for our 5yo and then propped it in the corner so we had living space during the day. Bathroom is ample, though shower is small. Amenities: Kitchenette had all appliance, pots, pans, etc. Including dish soap. Need to bring your own salt pepper and other condiments. Bathroom had plenty of towels though some were slightly stained (not gross - just showing wear). No shampoo or shower soaps provided. Enough space and hooks for storage of clothing, gear, and food supplies. Clothesline in back for drying suits was very helpful. We didn't use the picnic table, backyard chairs, or fire pit, but they were all there. "Grill" is a tiny webber charcoal camp grill. Will do the trick if you're desperate, but too fussy for our needs. Peaceful backyard setting with just other home noise, not business noise. Nice front porch to people watch or read. Beach chairs provided in the bedroom. Owner appeared to be working in grounds and doing other maintenance while we were there - I took that as a good sign. Good service interactions. Cleanliness: Average. This is the one that will keep me from letting my mom stay here. Carpets were worn and had stains and there were stains on the couch. We found earrings in the floor when we arrived which made me question the vacuum job. Linens were clean, but bedcover did not appear to be made of a washable material. Perhaps they switch them out and get them laundered - otherwise... Dust on pictures and flat surfaces, sand in drawers. Looks like they weren't wiped out between guests. Kitchen was clean as was the bathroom. Honestly, I think it just might be too much for one housekeeper to handle during peak season. Nothing gross - just not as nice as it could have been. We had a great time.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

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Outstanding Location and Classic Charm

We have stayed at Serendipity House several times since it opened and have always found it to be charming and very centrally located. Each time we've visited we've seen a constant improvement in upkeep and renovations. Very laid back atmosphere with an inviting front porch where we have met other guests from Germany, Washington State and Japan. We've never looked for a hotel when staying in Frankfort and this fits the bill. 2 blocks from the beach and 1 block to town. The rooms are well kept and clean. Bathrooms are stocked with towels and chairs are provided for the beach. It's nice to be able to take our dog with us and have never had a problem with noise.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Serendipity House

A few problems that you can correct. The ceiling light in the living room was burned out. The entertainment center had allot of dust and also had spilled pop or something on the front of it (very dirty). And a DVD player instead of a outdated VCR would have been nice. We brought movies but couldn't play them. The acorns on the outside steps were a hazard to take the garbage out. The windows were hard to open for fresh air, and needed windex. Not enough kitchen towels. Mine stayed wet the whole time. Also, a full length mirror is needed. Behind the bathroom door would be a good place. The couch was very uncomfortable. I suspect that it is very old and without the use of the bedroom pillows, it would have been impossible to relax on. When I made my reservation I asked if "quaint" shopping is available. Yes there was, but most of the stores were closed for the season. The rooms was "presentable" without going the extra yard. The dust on the entertainment center showed just how often it is NOT cleaned properly. I don't think I would choose HomeAway again.

About the host

Hosted by Sarah Bannister McCallum

Host profile image
The Bannister got into innkeeping accidentally, when his stepfather surprised his mother with the purchase of a resort with 12 cottages and a motel in nearby Arcadia. It was a long, colorful and rocky road until the resort was sold off in 2007, but Tim learned a great deal as an innkeeper and decided to build off that experience.

Why they chose this property

Pierside Lodging had been a bed-and-breakfast that had been closed and mothballed for 4 years when Tim purchased the property and renamed it 'Serendipity House.' Built in 1890, the house had started out as an inn, going back to hosting the workers who built the Frankfort Pier.

What makes this property unique

Today, Serendipity House is a one-of-a-kind inn designed for vacationers who want a unique experience that includes their accommodations. Situated on Main Street a block from Lake Michigan and at the edge of Frankfort's charming downtown district, the inn recalls earlier times when residents would call out greetings and exchange gossip from their big front porch to passersby. Serendipity has the big front porch and updated living space with all the amenities for vacationers who enjoy something unique.

Languages:

English