NOTE: Our cottage is open April - October / November; Charming Cottage on Lakeshore Drive with view of Lake Michigan; Amenities include a large screen porch, BBQ deck, fireplace, central air and semi-private beach access; Accommodations for a maximum of 10 people; one queen bed - rest are twin beds; one bedroom has bunk beds, another has a twin with a trundle underneath; linens, dishes, washer/dryer provided; use of bicycles and beach chairs.
Property manager
Hack Allen
Languages
English
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Have a question?
Beta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Similar properties
Prime Seasonal Availability~ lake, beach & dog friendly,
Prime Seasonal Availability~ lake, beach & dog friendly,
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
Douglas
Located in Douglas, this cottage is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Oval Beach. Forever Curious Children's Museum and Holland Community Aquatic Center are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Douglas, MI
What's nearby
Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society - 5 min drive - 2.6 km
Oval Beach - 6 min drive - 3.0 km
Saugatuck Center For the Arts - 6 min drive - 4.0 km
Butler Street - 7 min drive - 4.3 km
Silver Lake - 16 min drive - 10.4 km
Getting around
Holland Station - 22 min drive
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) - 52 min drive
Restaurants
The Butler - 7 min drive
Saugatuck Brewing Company - 5 min drive
Uncommon Coffee Roasters - 7 min drive
The Southerner - 8 min drive
The BARge - 8 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Charming Cottage on Lakeshore Drive pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Charming Cottage on Lakeshore Drive?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Charming Cottage on Lakeshore Drive?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Charming Cottage on Lakeshore Drive located?
Situated on a lake, this cottage is within 1 mi (2 km) of Kalamazoo Lake and Lake Michigan. Saugatuck Chain Ferry and Wicks Park are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Our experience could not have been better at this classic summer home with its views of Lake Michigan, comfortable furnishings, and other amenities. On several of the nights the sound of the waves across the way from the house added to our overall delight with this special place. We lived on the wicker furnished spacious screened in front porch as if it were our family room. My wife and I and our golden retriever could not have enjoyed the leafy tree lined neighborhood in which this house is situated any more than we did.
Location is the best feature. The furnishings are a bit dated. It's an old quaint unpretentious beach house. Screened porch awesome! Fenced back yard, new Weber grill a plus. A little pricey for the size, but steps from the beach with a peak at Lake Michigan from the front porch.
This quaint cottage was a throwback in time and therefore priced quite reasonably. We loved the semi-private beach access just steps away from the cottage, sunsets, screened front porch, backyard patio, bikes for all 6 of us , and a well stocked kitchen. Thank you so much for sharing it! We had a great time and enjoyed all of it!!
Absolutely perfect place. Such a gem in such a perfect location. Great communication, great accommodations….. had everything we needed!! Porch is the absolute best…… thank you for opening your home to us. We loved it!!
As soon as we walked in, I was transported back in time to the cottage my parents used to rent when I was a kid. There's a wonderful, homey feel to this place. The location was ideal, in a quiet, laid-back neighborhood of upscale homes and cottages, and a three-minute drive to downtown Douglas. Having the bikes available was a real plus. The huge front porch was ideal for relaxing and listening to the waves. Lots of books and games and even a piano for rainy days. Very prompt communication with the owner and the caretaker. Douglas Beach is about a half-minute walk down Lakeshore Drive, and the sunsets are phenomenal. About 95 steps to get down to the beach.
We had a wonderful stay this past weekend! The house had everything we needed and then some and was very comfortable. The kids had a blast choosing their bedrooms. We had quite a bit of rain so we stayed in a lot and played board games which was so much fun. 😁. The location is right across from Lake Michigan and sunsets were gorgeous. One extra cool thing was when we were driving up Lake Shore on Thursday evening to check in, there were deer all over the place! Just hanging out in yards, sleeping and eating the grass.
We have rented the Allen cottage before and have always had a wonderful experience. Our pets are welcome which is so important to us and the beach right across the street is so perfect. The cottage is so well stocked and plenty of room. Lots of nice restaurant choices nearby or relaxing at the cottage on the beautiful front porch cooking out or enjoying the quiet fenced in back yard. You can always expect visits each year from the local deer and the hummingbirds. We hope to come back year after year. We absolutely love it there!
The house is older and is decorated with antiques. The location is great. It is close to Douglas beach. We enjoyed having our dog with us. We did have a problem with the grill. It never got above 250 degrees.
Wonderful, quaint, clean and incredibly well-appointed cottage right across from Lake Michigan. The owner was incredibly responsive and communicative, which is very important to us. The kitchen had everything we needed with lots of thoughtful extras not typically found in most rentals including extra paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent and condiments. Can’t thank the owner enough. We spent much of our time in the fabulous big front porch, listening to the waves. We used the bikes every day (although two of them need new tubes).
We biked, ran, hiked and swam to our heart’s content as the cottage is situated near terrific biking and running areas.
We will be back
Everything was just so lovely and amazing. My husband and I have *not* been able to work from home during all of this (he has his own business and I am a housecall veterinarian). So combined with 3 kids e-learning, we had reached a breaking point (realizing that we are still so much luckier than a lot of people). But this trip was just the thing. It was so beautiful, peaceful, and restful. It was great to be able to sit still for a moment and focus on the kids. We enjoyed fall walks into town and along Lakeshore drive. There were plenty of options for take out an we made some great meals in the house! The kids favorite part was the deer that would come to the yard every day! They also loved using the bikes. My favorite part was sitting by the fireplace and sleeping : )
Back to reality now, but refreshed!
Thanks again for everything: )
The Trupia Family
This cottage was exactly what we were looking for!
The semi private beech was a great option!
The cottage was perfect the front porch aloud us to hear the waves and was perfect
This charming cottage is in a great location and has all the amenities to be comfortable.
My family was totally impressed and satisfied with this property. The owner has put a lot of effort into making guests feel welcome. We will definitely return!
Joan W.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
10/10 Excellent
Dawn K.
28 Aug 2018
Relaxing Summer vacation
We had a wonderful time in Douglas/Saugatuck. It's a great place to unwind and spend quality time together as a family. We enjoyed lots of golf and nearby restaurants.
The cottage was perfect for us. The screened porch was wonderful in the morning to enjoy coffee and people watch. The enclosed backyard made it perfect for our golden retriever to join us on this vacation.
We would return to this cottage in a heartbeat.
Dawn K.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveller
24 July 2018
Great Cottage
A cottage just like I remember growing up and going to Douglas with my family. Had a great time, very comfortable. All the comforts of home, but with that cottage feel and view.
Verified traveller
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
10/10 Excellent
Catherine P.
10 July 2018
Absolutely Perfect Cottage and Vacation in Every Way
I grew up spending my summers on Lakeshore Drive and have many, many, wonderful memories! Our stay in the Allen Cottage took me back to those remarkable days and created new memories with our family. This Cottage is perfect in every way. It is a true cottage but has all of the updated amenities which makes vacation a true vacation. The Cottage has a wonderful kitchen which is stocked with new appliances, including an awesome gas stove, dishwasher and washer/dryer, amazing grill, AND the Cottage has A/C (although I never think of needing A/C in Michigan, but this summer we did). We lived on the front screened in porch which could hold a crowd! The living and dining areas are cozy and comfy as are the bedrooms and bathrooms. The bedroom/bath on the main was perfect for my Mom! No stairs. We also adored and appreciated use of the bikes, beach chairs and beach towels. Access to the beach was a breeze. Truly, everything we needed was waiting for us at the Allen Cottage. We'll be back!
Catherine P.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
10/10 Excellent
denise b.
2 July 2018
Our wonderful Douglas cottage experience
Very charming old cottage with modern conveniences to keep everyone comfortable. We loved he location that made it very easy to do a variety of activities from strolling on the beautiful Lake Michigan beaches, biking with beautiful views, walking with easily accessible paths, shopping in the local small towns, to dining in a variety of restaurants with options to accommodate many tastes and budgets. We also loved that it was a pet friendly property but didn’t see or smell any signs of previous pets:). The owner, Hack, was easily accessible for questions and very gracious and friendly. Thank you for opening your place for others to enjoy. We already said we would go back after only one day being home!
denise b.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
John S., Indianapolis, IN
3 Sept 2017
Quintessential Cottage
My wife and I rented this cottage for just the two of us and our dog. The house could accommodate several more people, but we just wanted to get away. The cottage was clean. The Wifi worked great. The private path to the beach was awesome. We spent most of the daylight hours walking the beach, swimming or reading our books. The cottage is air conditioned, but we found that just opening the windows was the best option. There was generally a good breeze naturally, but when that is not happening, the ceiling fans throughout kept the air moving. We cooked in some nights. The kitchen is not anything fancy, but between the grill outside and the tools in the kitchen you can do most anything. Of the restaurants we went to, Wild Dog in Douglas was probably our favorite, but Black Walnut by the Center by the Performing Arts was wonderful as well. We highly recommend seeing one of the shows at the Center for the Performing Arts. You will not be disappointed. My wife wanted me to add, there is nothing like Lake Shore Rd. Hearing the waves at night is wonderful to fall to sleep to.
John S.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Janice V.
17 July 2016
it really IS a charming cottage!! :)
our family has been vacationing in the Saugatuck-Douglas area for many years, and this cottage is now our favorite place to stay!! it has so many attributes that make it perfect for family time together: the amazing porch complete with a view of the lake and sunsets, a well equipped kitchen, the gas grill, so many lovely bedrooms, and a gas fireplace which made the cottage very cozy on a couple of chilly mornings! we loved the location-- it is close to beaches, and all the local sites are just a short drive away. we are so thankful the owner is willing to share such a special place!! we hope to return next year!
Janice V.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
amber t., Long Beach/Running Springs/Santa Cruz
4 Nov 2015
Magical Lake House
We have been staying at this family lake house since 2013 and look forward to traveling from California every year to return! The location is fantastic - away from the immediate and pressing throngs of tourists to Saugatuck, but (literally) right across the street from the lake shore (and wonderful beaches), minutes to Oval Beach and d.t. Saugatuck, and in walking distance to the Ox-Bow School of Art as well as the best restaurants in the area located in downtown Douglas. The house itself is a special place, that reminds you of a memory you can't quite place. It's truly one of the few remaining vintage lake houses - complete with wood floors throughout, a clawfoot tub, screened-in porch, sweeping yard, and cozy fireplace for the colder times. The house itself is very large; big enough for one quite large family or even a few smaller families. The owner and property manager are wonderful people and accommodating hosts. I'm counting the days until I can go back and sit on the porch and take in one of those beautiful sunsets. Until next time.....
amber t.
About the host
Hosted by Hack Allen
Family Cottage owned for the past 30+ years.
Why they chose this property
Great appeal; pretty front screened porch with nice view of Lake Michigan; nicely landscaped.