Lovely Lakefront Cottage: 13 Mi to Traverse City!

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Cabin

Traverse City Vacation Rental | 4BR | 2BA | 2,008 Sq Ft | 1 Step for Access

Property Exterior | 2 External Security Cameras (Facing Water & Front Door)

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.6

Exceptional

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 11187 sq m

Popular amenities

Beach view

Washer

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Fireplace

Check-in time

4:00 PM

Check-out time

10:00 AM

Explore the area

Traverse City, MI

Spider Lake11 min drive
Traverse City Beach13 min drive
Traverse City State Park18 min drive
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)20 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Additional Sleeping (Living Room)

1 Double Sofa Bed

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Full Bathroom

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

About this property

Discover a lakefront Northern Michigan paradise at this 4-bedroom, 2-bath vacation rental. This rustic cottage is the perfect place to experience seclusion while still having easy access to all the area's best breweries and beaches. Connect with the outdoors when you use the kayaks and rowboats, splash in the waters of Island Lake, or admire Grand Traverse Bay. End your days making s'mores at the fire pit, enjoying a meal in the sleek dining room, or retiring early to one of the bunk beds.

-- THE PROPERTY --

2,000 Sq Ft | 2 Kayaks | Fire Pit

This retreat's beautiful, forested environment with easy access to nearby attractions makes it the perfect getaway for friends and family!

Bedroom 1: King Bed | Bedroom 2: King Bed | Bedroom 3: Twin Bunk Bed | Bedroom 4: Twin/Queen Bunk Bed | Living Room: Full Sleeper Sofa

OUTDOOR LIVING: Back patio, picnic table, lawn chairs, shoreline access, rowboat, private dock, gas grill, life jackets
INDOOR LIVING: 2 Smart TVs, DVD player, gas-burning stove, foosball table, 6-person dining table, mudroom, children's play area, books, games, ceiling fans
KITCHEN: Fully equipped w/ stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar, drip coffee maker, water filter, ice maker, toaster, dishware/flatware
GENERAL: Central heating & air conditioning, washer & dryer, high chair, complimentary toiletries, linens, towels
FAQ: Quiet hours (10:00 PM - 7:00 AM), limited cell service, 1 step required to access, 2 exterior security cameras (facing front door & water)
PARKING: Driveway (6 vehicles), garage is locked/unavailable for guest use

-- THE LOCATION --

GET OUTSIDE: Island Lake (on-site), Traverse City State Park (8.9 miles), Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve (12.4 miles), Clinch Park Beach (12.8 miles), West End Beach (14.2 miles), Empire Bluff Trailhead (37.8 miles)
LOCAL HOT SPOTS: Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel (9.2 miles), Traverse Tall Ship Manitou (15.0 miles), Old Mission Lighthouse (29.6 miles), Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre (34.3 miles), Fishtown (38.2 miles), Sleeping Bear Dunes (40.6 miles)
WINERIES: Black Star Farms (14.5 miles), Left Foot Charley (14.9 miles), Mari Vineyards (15.1 miles), Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery (18.7 miles)
BREWERIES: The Filling Station (12.2 miles), Rare Bird Brewpub (12.8 miles), Mackinaw Brewing Company (13.0 miles), The Workshop Brewing Company (13.2 miles), Right Brain Brewery (13.2 miles), MiddleCoast Brewing Company (13.3 miles)
AIRPORT: Cherry Capital Airport (9.5 miles)

-- REST EASY WITH US --

Evolve makes it easy to find and book properties you'll never want to leave. You can relax knowing that our properties will always be ready for you and that we'll answer the phone 24/7. Even better, if anything is off about your stay, we'll make it right. You can count on our homes and our people to make you feel welcome — because we know what vacation means to you.

-- POLICIES --

- No smoking
- No pets allowed
- No events, parties, or large gatherings
- No bachelor/bachelorette parties
- Must be at least 25 years old to book
- Additional fees and taxes may apply
- Photo ID may be required upon check-in
- NOTE: Please observe quiet hours from 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM
- NOTE: The property requires 1 step for access
- NOTE: The property does have cell phone service, but it may be spotty since the property is located in a rural area. Please check with your provider to confirm your service quality
- NOTE: No outside boats allowed on the lake - use only the boats provided (kayak, row boat)
- NOTE: No wake on the lake
- NOTE: Your safety matters. This property features 2 exterior security cameras. Camera 1 faces towards the garage and front door and camera 2 is in the back of the house facing towards the water. The cameras are outward facing and do not look into interior spaces.

Property manager

Evolve

Languages

English, French, German, Spanish

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Beach view

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

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

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this cabin is on the waterfront. Shoppers can check out Front Street, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. Travelling with kids? Consider Centre Ice Arena, or check out an event or a game at Turtle Creek Stadium. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and hiking/biking trails.

Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

Spider Lake - 11 min drive
Traverse City Beach - 13 min drive
Turtle Creek Casino - 17 min drive
Traverse City State Park - 18 min drive
Front Street - 22 min drive

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

‪Stone Hound Brewing - ‬20 min drive
‪Peegeo's - ‬13 min drive
‪Smoke and Porter Public House - ‬17 min drive
‪Bourbons 72 - ‬18 min drive
‪Burger King - ‬18 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lovely Lakefront Cottage: 13 Mi to Traverse City! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Lovely Lakefront Cottage: 13 Mi to Traverse City!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lovely Lakefront Cottage: 13 Mi to Traverse City!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Lovely Lakefront Cottage: 13 Mi to Traverse City! located?

This family-friendly Traverse City cabin is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Forest Lakes and Rennie Lake. Spider Lake and Tibbets Lake are also within 6 miles (10 km).

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Talia C.

3 June 2024

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

Perfect cabin on the lake!

This was the perfect base to enjoy Traverse City - the cabin had everything we needed to relax right on the water, but also great proximity to other places to step out an adventure. Would definitely stay again!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeana B.

9 Sept 2023

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

Lovely Lake

Quiet, serene, private lake with the clearest water. Located far from worries but close enough to see everything on our must-see list.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Yara A.

21 Aug 2023

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

Very clean and beautiful

The house was very very clean and everything was in there so we as a big family didn't need to bring Any thing other than our food

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristen M.

7 Aug 2023

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

Great lake to stay on

Loved how clean and laid back the lake was. The house was pretty clean, but a little weathered looking. Great communication with the building manager. You may want to bring extra toilet paper, as they didn't have much extra there.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara W., Canton

21 July 2023

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

Lovely cabin with Great Lake access!

This cabin was perfect for our annual lake getaway. The lake access was perfect and the kids enjoyed fishing, swimming, and kayaking. The cabin had everything we needed. Evolve was very easy to work with and John the neighbor checked in on us and gave us lots of great information. 5 stars!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Renee K., Michigan, United States

24 Jan 2023

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

Comfy, clean and cozy!!

This home was very clean and comfy. The kitchen was well stocked and both TVs had Roku so we were able to log in and watch TV. The beds were really comfortable. Lots of light from the windows. Comfy couches. A couple of notes that I sent to the property owner so they may be addressed - we did not find a hair dryer (a necessity for my family in Michigan winter) and there were not enough bedroom outlets. A few other things for future visitor knowledge - there are no bathroom toiletries, so bring your own bar soap, shampoo, etc. There was about 1 roll of toilet paper in each bathroom so, with 7 people, we had to go buy more toilet paper the first night. There was only one comforter and no blankets on each bed, but after some digging we did find extra blankets in one of the closets so were able to warm up all of the beds.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kayla G.

27 Sept 2022

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

Very nice place

Very nice and just as expected! Great space and lots of room. It rained the whole time and we were stuck inside, they had games for us to keep us busy. Big kitchen, great place

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mary

8 Aug 2022

Peaceful Lake

The cottage and lake were perfect. A great place for kayaking, fishing, swimming and evening campfires. It was close to Traverse City for entertainment yet a quiet retreat. The cottage was comfortable and the kitchen well appointed. Everything was clean and the washer and dryer for towels was a bonus. We would definitely recommend this property.

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jennie F.

3 June 2022

Perfect!

This property was the perfect home base for us to investigate wine country and nearby lighthouses. Very clean, comfortable, well-appointed, and quiet. Thank you so much, Tom, for your gracious hospitality.

10/10 Excellent

Dana

24 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

This property is very comfortable and pleasant. Very clean. Love it was clean and slept like a baby. It is not a tajmahol but it is cleaner than some I have seen. Worth the money!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kris C., Traverse City, USA

23 Sept 2021

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

Cute place, quiet and peaceful

Everything went well. (Neighbor guy stopped in to say hi 5 min after we arrived to share his live autobiography -- it wasn't all bad, nice dude and all.... but I didn't really want to visit with a stranger for 60 minutes burning up my afternoon by the lake on day .01, but oh well I guess). Fishing was pretty good. Caught a 13" & a 14" perch, several smallies and a couple large mouth. Had a couple rainy days and when the wind blew at night, the house came alive with howling noises. Made the sleep a little rough, but it worked out. Batteries were dead in the TV remote (seems to be a thing with my VRBO stays lately, ... weird). Ü Nice old cabin though, and a "history of the lake" lecture to boot. If you get the chance to stay here... Do it.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Casey d., Fort Wayne

6 Aug 2021

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

Quite place

We rented this house for a long weekend and it was amazing! Great house, nice property! The small lake is amazing it’s a good kayak around the lake. Beautiful scenery. Would definitely go back again

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

17 July 2021

Awesome stay!

My family of 6 had a wonderful stay. The cabin had everything that we needed. The kitchen was well equipped with updated appliances and plenty of space. I had read previous reviews that there was no central air, but there definitely is central air now! The lake was great. The older kids loved the kayaks and running and jumping off the dock. My toddler loved splashing around on the beach and shallow water. We were able to have a fire every night and roast marshmallows. John the neighbor made sure we were all set with firewood and kindling. There was also a grill that was easy to use. This was the perfect relaxing spot for our family. Highly recommend!

10/10 Excellent

Hugo R.

31 May 2021

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

Nice place

Very nice

Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

4/10 Poor

Penny P., Hamilton

8 Nov 2020

Liked: Check-in, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy

Beautiful View, TERRIBLE PROPERTY

This property has many issues starting with multiple uneven floors and levels. The wood stove does not work as advertised, the hall bathroom sink and toilet are not secured in place. The slate tile build up around the tub makes it dangerous getting in/out of the tub. The master bedroom has no closet. The towels left for us were thread bear and had holes in them. The dishwasher is not secured in place and will literally fall forward when both drawers are pulled out to load dishes. There are multiple electrical issues including flickering lights and exposed wiring. We experienced a good amount of rain during our stay and noticed significant issues with the gutter drainage. We contacted the owner/guest contact by phone and email with no response throughout our stay. THIS PROPERTY IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY WE PAID AND IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE OWNER TAKES NO MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY OR RESPOND TO RENTERS. We have requested a refund due to false advertising and lack of response to mutiple issues.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Shana B.

5 Sept 2020

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

Family vacation

Very, very pleased with our stay at this Island Lake property. Just right for our pandemic family vacation. the kitchen is spacious, the grill and all appliances, including the washer and dryer, worked perfectly. The beds are comfortable, the sheets and towels were nice and clean. The lake is beautiful and we really enjoyed taking the kayaks out during the day and using the fireplace at night. Thank you for a great stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Terri

2 Sept 2020

Beautiful spot

We enjoyed our stay at this cabin. The location is terrific — the lake is quiet and secluded. We loved having the direct access to the water. The house is convenient to Traverse City, several bike trails and Sleeping Bear Dunes. The only down side is something others have commented on — the tub in the second bath pretty much doesn’t drain. John next door (who is great) even came by with Liquid Plumber, to no avail. We wondered if it might not even be hooked up to the septic system. We had four adults in the house, so doubling up with the other shower wasn’t bad. With more people than four in the house I can imagine the inability to use that shower would be a real problem.

10/10 Excellent

Christopher C.

29 Aug 2020

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

Great house

We loved this house. We had little kids and it could not have been better. The lake was perfect, the kids spent all day in it because it was so shallow close to the house. So quiet too. We will definitely return. Perfect getaway.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

Tami S.

11 Aug 2020

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

Beautiful clear lake and nice home

We had a great time! The house is older but mostly updated. The sandy lake is the best part. We swam every day and took kayaks out on the quiet, warm lake. The kitchen is well stocked. The one shower does drain very slow but I spoke with Tom who explained it’s just sand backup from the way the house was built - it’s not a clogged drain. Bedding and towels are clean but old. No screen doors on the door wall. It was 85-90 degrees when we were there so that would have been nice to open the door wall while we were playing games at night, but for the most part, the house never really got too hot.. The Wifi was pretty slow, but who needs WiFi with this beautiful view and lake! And yes, the neighbor brought us firewood! We had a blast! Or 20 minutes to downtown TC.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

6/10 Okay

Angela G.

25 Sept 2019

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

Ladies Weekend, not 100%

We arrived for girls weekend and had a great time! It took about 25 minutes to get to down town Traverse City and the cottage description was accurate. I had one question and recieved a response right away. This cottage is purely a 'rental property' it seemed. The drain in one of the showers backed up with peeling paint, there were sheets over some of the windows, some very old bunk bed mattresses, and the other shower leaked onto the floor when in use. Very large spider webs in multiple rooms of this cottage. Although the cottage was surface cleaned with clean linens and floors and counters, it was lacking in 'up-keep'. If you aren't picky and are looking for a relaxing get away this place might be for you!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nancy G.

23 Sept 2019

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

Great Anniversary Getaway

Everything was great.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

lisa m., Cincinnati, Ohio

18 Sept 2019

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

Great location

Close to town and getting to other popular sights is only an hour or two away, very peace lake!

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jessica K.

17 Sept 2019

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

Amazing Family Vacation

We had the best time with our 3 little children. Everything was clean and tidy when we arrived and the property was perfect for us to relax and also for the kids to be completely entertained. Toys, books and movies were a major win for us! The neighbor was so nice and gave us fire wood for our entire stay.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

Chris S., Grand Rapids, MI

17 Aug 2019

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

Great family-friendly getaway!

We had a great experience at the Island House as a party of 6 (5 adults, 1 child). The house was clean, comfortable, and spacious. The beach front was perfect for a young family, with a shallow, sandy beach and lots of water toys. We would absolutely consider coming back. The renovated kitchen was spacious and easy to use, and we loved the open floorplan with lots of living areas and large dining room table. Tom was responsive to our questions, and the next door neighbor (John) was very helpful. He brought us firewood and extra beach toys. We enjoyed walking around the lake (it's a workout because of the hills!) and kayaking. The lake was very quiet throughout the day, despite staying in late July. Reviews from 2017 and 2018 both mentioned that the tub in bathroom #2 did not drain well. We were disappointed that this was still the case in 2019. After a 5-minute shower, there was quite a bit of standing water which also caused sand to remain in the shower. Perhaps this is not an easy fix and more extensive plumbing work is required to resolve it. If that's the case, we feel like renters deserve to know this and should not be surprised by it. A note to this effect as part of the check-in materials would have gone a long way. Bathroom #2 also had no hooks for hanging damp towels or washcloths. As mentioned in other reviews, the house cools down quickly at night and the lack of central A/C was not a problem. There was a unit in the main living area that can provide a bit of relief if needed.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kathy T.

13 Oct 2018

Beautiful spacious home on a private lake!

This place was perfect for an extended weekend for a girls getaway. The view was amazing, the beds were comfortable and the dining table was perfect for family style eating, playing cards and games. The Lake was so calm and having kayaks at our disposal was such a bonus. The neighbors (John and Marty) were friendly and very knowledgeable about the area. The owner was great and very quick to respond to any questions we had. The icing on the cake was hearing the call of the loon that landed in the lake as we were packing up to go home. I would highly recommend this place.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018