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Blue Birdhouse - No Cleaning Fee - Pet Friendly - Dunes National Park

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Beach
Property grounds
Exterior
Interior detail
Bathroom amenities

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Chesterton, IN
  • Indiana Dunes National Park
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Indiana Dunes State Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Valparaiso, IN (VPZ-Porter County Municipal)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bunk Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining Area

About this property

Blue Birdhouse - No Cleaning Fee - Pet Friendly - Dunes National Park

Welcome to the Blue Birdhouse, nestled near the stunning Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Our charming 2-bed, 1-bath home is perfect for families seeking a comfortable and relaxing getaway.

The home features a fenced-in yard for your four-legged friends and ample parking for up to three vehicles. Inside, you'll find a fully equipped kitchen, including a BBQ gas grill for outdoor cooking on the patio.

Local Attractions and Activities:

Lake Michigan Beaches and Hiking Trails: Just a short drive away, the pristine beaches and scenic hiking trails of Lake Michigan offer endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Families can enjoy swimming, beachcombing, and picnicking along the beautiful shoreline.

Fishing: Spend a relaxing day fishing at the nearby lakes and rivers. The area is known for its diverse fish population, making it a popular spot for anglers of all skill levels. Children will love the thrill of catching their first fish!

Chesterton European Market: Experience the charm of the Chesterton European Market, held every Saturday from May to October. This vibrant market features fresh produce, artisanal goods, and unique crafts from local vendors. It's a great place for families to explore, sample delicious treats, and pick up unique souvenirs.

Indiana Dunes State Park: Explore the vast dunes, forests, and wetlands of the Indiana Dunes State Park. With miles of trails, birdwatching opportunities, and breathtaking views, it's a must-visit for nature lovers. Families can enjoy educational programs and ranger-led activities that bring the park's natural wonders to life.

Local Dining and Shopping: Discover a variety of dining options, from cozy cafes to fine dining restaurants, as well as charming boutiques and shops in the nearby towns of Chesterton and Valparaiso. Many establishments are family-friendly and offer menus that cater to younger guests.

South Shore Train to Chicago: The Blue Birdhouse is conveniently close to the South Shore Train, offering an easy and scenic ride to downtown Chicago. Enjoy a day in the city, visiting renowned museums like the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, exploring Navy Pier, shopping on Michigan Avenue, or experiencing Chicago's famous culinary scene. The train ride is an adventure in itself, providing beautiful views of the landscape along the way.

Casinos: For a touch of excitement, visit one of the local casinos. The Blue Birdhouse is conveniently located a short drive to either the Hard Rock Casino or Blue Chip Casino.

Family Fun at Local Attractions:

Washington Park Zoo: Located in nearby Michigan City, this zoo features a variety of animals, a historic observation tower, and a play area, making it a great destination for a family outing.

Deep River Waterpark: Perfect for a fun-filled day of water activities, this park includes slides, lazy rivers, and splash pads for kids. It’s a great way to cool off and enjoy some excitement with the whole family.

Rogers-Lakewood Park: This beautiful park in Valparaiso offers a wide range of outdoor activities including fishing, boating, hiking, and playgrounds. It’s an ideal spot for a family picnic or an adventurous day out.

Whether you're here to relax on the beach, hike through nature, fish, explore local markets and dining, enjoy family-friendly attractions, or take a day trip to Chicago, the Blue Birdhouse by the Beach offers the perfect home base for your adventures.

Property manager

Michael Murphy

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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Property grounds

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 20
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

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 and a first aid kit

About the area

Chesterton

Chesterton is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park. Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery and Washington Park Zoo are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Chesterton, IN

What's nearby

  • Indiana Dunes National Park - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Indiana Dunes State Park - 5 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Indiana Dunes Visitor Center - 6 min drive - 4.1 km
  • Bailly Homestead - American Indians and Fur Traders - 8 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Dune Acres Beach - 9 min drive - 6.0 km

Getting around

  • Portage - Ogden Dunes Train to Chicago - 11 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Original George's Gyros Spot - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Blue Birdhouse - No Cleaning Fee - Pet Friendly - Dunes National Park pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Blue Birdhouse - No Cleaning Fee - Pet Friendly - Dunes National Park?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Blue Birdhouse - No Cleaning Fee - Pet Friendly - Dunes National Park?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Blue Birdhouse - No Cleaning Fee - Pet Friendly - Dunes National Park located?

Situated in Chesterton, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Bailly Homestead - American Indians and Fur Traders and Indiana Dunes National Park. Chellberg Farm and Lustron House are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.2

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 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Evelyn B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very Pleasant Stay
We had a fantastic stay at the Blue Birdhouse. Super close to the beach and a very clean little house. Wagners Ribs were walking distance away and delicious food. We had an issue accessing the house that the owner quickly resolved. Great little place.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Beth E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Birdhouse property
The house was super clean and comfortable. The fenced backyard, garage, and patio wete wonderful. Great for dogs. wonderful.furniture
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Douglas B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Labor Day
Nice place
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Sharon S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
Needs work
The house was ok but it needs some work. The master bedroom bed is very small and sags. The livinh room pull out was as well. The futon was atained. The hardwood floors were dirty and couldnt walk barefoot on them or it would turn your feet black. The dinning room table was broken amd wobbling so we couldnt sit there.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Melynda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Close to the beaches
This place was clean and well stocked with anything you need or might have forgotten. Would have gave 5 stars but the trains (out of control of the host) ran constantly and the house is super close to the track. Yard was perfect for our dog and enjoyed grilling and the fire pit.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Antoine B.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Older Charm
The area is nice and quiet. Not really as close to the key areas of the dunes. Older home with some updates. Washed and dryer are in the basement. Exterior could use some maintenance. Overall, it meets the requirement if you do not plan to spend a lot of time onsite.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location!
This was the perfect house for our family visiting the dunes for a long weekend. It is close to everything. The space was perfect and very clean! My kids were able to have their own beds. And our dog loved the yard!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Violeta g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family weekend get away
Our family had a wonderful time staying and making memories at the bluebird house. The house was very inviting and precious. Would def visit again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Ethan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Young family’s first beach trip
Stayed with toddler and infant on our first trip to the beach as a family. Toddler loved the Fantasia Mickey sheets, coloring books, and other small kids touches. Host was super responsive to a few small issues. One thing to be aware of is that this non-smoking property smells faintly of cigarettes when you first come in the back door to the kitchen, possibly from adjacent outdoor smoking area, but the smell doesn’t continue into the living/sleeping areas. Great and inexpensive option for a beach trip, 10 minutes from state park beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Debi D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Blue Birdhouse Bliss!
My Niece and I stayed at the Blue Birdhouse for her Spring Break and to see if we wanted to visit this area in the summertime, as we had never been there. The Owner of this house was gracious and kind and very responsive to any questions or requests. We also took our dogs with us and they had a blast in the fenced back yard! Every time we went to look somewhere up to visit, it seemed like everywhere was between 5 - 10 minutes away! Location is absolutely awesome and close to virtually everything!! The house was very clean and really cute! And again the Owner of the house is a very nice and kind person! Very comfortable house and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay! We would absolutely want to stay there again next time we visit the area!!! Thanks so much!!! Had a great time!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Renae R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great House!
Had a great stay at the house, everything we needed was provided. The location is great and getting to Indiana Dunes was very easy. Communication was excellent, would definitely recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lizabeth D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sand dune paradise
Really enjoyed our stay. Enjoyed going to Indiana dunes park. Thought hot tub advertised in property… We could not find hot tub. Bicycles were a treat though.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful relaxing weekend at your darling bluebird by the dunes.
Very clean! Turned cold so unfortunately we couldn’t use your fire pit and outdoor furniture but hope to be back when weather cooperates. We did have a nice sunny cool day at the dunes and enjoyed a delicious lunch at the pavilion. We have been waiting years for it to open!!!!!! We also have a VRBO rental and I jotted down some of your extra touches like the impression on the t tissue rolls lol… The only thing we missed was coffee in the morning. Couldn’t find any…..
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

belinda y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyable stay
We totally enjoyed our stay at the Blue Birdhouse by the beach. Checking in was easy. Our 4 legged family member loved the fenced in yard for him to roam. So close to the National park and the places to eat and visit in Chesterton were so easy to get to. The house was clean and cozy. Would definitely book here again if we need short getaway.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ted B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful and cozy
Wonderful location. Easy access to any thing you need. Very clean and comfortable. Host is easy to get in touch with and is open to suggestions. Great fenced in yard for the pets.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ariana M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great beach getaway!
A wonderfully cute property that was perfect for our 5 year old and our 2 dogs! Loved how close we were to some really amazing beaches and we had all the amenities we could have needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karol B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved the birds
Very nice home feeling house. I see it would be nice to set outside in the large yard with the fire pit but it rained all night.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Nice
It was a very nice place for a quick 60th birthday celebration for my wife and I.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margaret G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Dunes Days
Adorable house with all the amenities.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

4/10 Poor

Nancy M.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy
Don’t plan on cooking
We left almost immediately. The provided cookware should have been thrown in the garbage. Since we couldn’t use anything provided we left.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christopher P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A great getaway stay
The house was well suited for our family of 5. A fenced in backyard added security and peace of mind. Also. having games, toys, and a bunk bed was great for the kids.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Michael Murphy

Host profile image
Born and raised in Chicago, I fell in love with Northwest Indiana and the beautiful Dunes area during my many visits. The charm of this region captured my heart, and it’s here that I met my wonderful wife, who grew up in Chesterton. Together, we have built a family with two amazing kids who share our love for the beaches and natural beauty of the area.

As a host, I enjoy welcoming guests to experience the same enchantment that drew me to this part of the world. Whether it's the stunning sunsets over Lake Michigan, the vibrant local markets, or the endless outdoor activities, there's something here for everyone. Our family loves exploring the hiking trails, spending sunny days on the beach, and discovering new local gems. We are passionate about creating a warm and inviting space at the Blue Birdhouse by the Beach, where you can relax and make lasting memories.

We hope you enjoy your stay and fall in love with Northwest Indiana and the Dunes just as we did!

Languages:

English
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