See all properties
Entire home

Welcome to the Lake - Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage - Reserve Now!!

Photo gallery for Welcome to the Lake - Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage - Reserve Now!!

Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage "Tree House"
Hilltop cottage nestled in the trees
View of gorgeous fall colors from wrap around deck
Family room has 1 sleeper sofa.
Cozy cottage kitchen

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
9363 W. Ridge Trail, Shelby, MI, 49455
  • Stony Lake
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Silver Lake State Park
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Electric Forest
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Ludington, MI (LDM)
    ‪46 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Gathering Space with pull-out couch

1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Welcome to the Lake - Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage - Reserve Now!!

This is it! Relax and enjoy your summer vacation on the best private association Lake Michigan beach right across the street. Our cottage will help you feel like you are at home without any of the daily grind. You'll be grilling and dining in the shade of trees on a huge wraparound deck. Enjoy sitting around the campfire making s'mores and telling stories after a relaxing day at the beach and an exciting day of adventure. Ride and explore the dunes and hike the trails a few short miles away with Mac Wood's. Bike to your hearts content on the Hart-Montague Bike Trail, one of the longest in the state! Tour a local dairy farm and taste some of the best ice cream, cheese and milk on the planet. Farm markets boast local produce all season, including apples, cherries, peaches, berries, and vegetables. Take a wine tour and visit nearby local wineries, The Fox Barn, and sample the wines. Find your new favorite again and again!

Our cottage has both heat and A/C (wall mount in living room) with two bedrooms.

Bedroom one has a full size bed, dresser, and closet. Views of the woods and ridge from a tree house setting.

Bedroom two has a full size bed, dresser, and closet. Views of the woods in a tree house setting.

Pull out sofa sleeper accommodates extra guests and children.

Entertainment includes internet, television with Roku, DVD, VCR, WIFI broadband, VOIP telephone, books, magazines, games and playing cards.

Kitchen is fully furnished, except for your food. Grill, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, dishes and utensils, pots and pans, skewers, Crock Pot, and much more.

Included washer and dryer will make your stay hassle free.

Enjoy exploring the 2,300 feet of private association Lake Michigan beach access right across the Trail. Play in the sand and listen to the waves all day long at the beach.

Our typical rental week (six nights) begins Sunday at 3:00PM and continues through Saturday at noon.

Our cottage is not handicapped accessable. There are twenty-one stairs from the driveway to the deck.

Property manager

Steve VanderLaan

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Front of cottage. Gorgeous outdoor space for dining. Firepit for evening fires

Peaceful Family Retreat with Breathtaking Lake Michigan Beach

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
9.6 out of 10, (18 reviews)
Peaceful Family Retreat with Breathtaking Lake Michigan Beach

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 12:00 PM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 1 total)
$200.00 per pet non-refundable pet deposit.
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No Linens, towels, bedding, pillows provided

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

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Shelby

Located in Shelby, this cottage is in a rural area and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Silver Lake State Park. Lewis Farm Market & Petting Farm and Craig's Cruisers Family Fun Center are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Shelby, MI

What's nearby

  • Stony Lake - 4 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Silver Lake State Park - 14 min drive - 10.7 km
  • Lewis Farm Market & Petting Farm - 15 min drive - 12.2 km
  • Little Sable Point Lighthouse - 21 min drive - 14.8 km
  • Electric Forest - 23 min drive - 20.3 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 79 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Stony Lake Inn - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Whippy Dip - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Lighthouse Grill - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Cellar 36 - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Oceana Winery - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Welcome to the Lake - Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage - Reserve Now!! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at Welcome to the Lake - Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage - Reserve Now!!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Welcome to the Lake - Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage - Reserve Now!!?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Welcome to the Lake - Cozy, Hilltop Wooded Lake Michigan Cottage - Reserve Now!! located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Lake Michigan and 1.4 mi (2.3 km) from Stony Lake. The Fox Barn Winery and Silver Lake State Park are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

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. 25 out of 33 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 33 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 33 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

T. P. F.

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Sheryl S.

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

Great location awesome hosts !

Just steps from a gorgeous beach, all the comforts of home, caring and responsive hosts. Especially enjoy watching sunsets at the beach with kind neighbors!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eric B.

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

Fantastic

The beach walk was easy as can be! Just a quick stroll across the street leads to a deck with seating - perfect for watching sunsets and access to the beach for lounging and swimming. Close to Stoney Lake, and Silver Lake. Nice open area living space with two private bedrooms. It had everything we needed. Everyone we met from the community was really friendly too!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy H.

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

Great location and easy check-in/out

We love the location and the area is great! The house has everything you need. Easy check in/out.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sheryl S.

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

Lovely Beach Getaway

Kind and caring hosts. Always responded quickly. Very clean and comfortable. Great room even nicer than pics.It was like our hosts could read our thoughts because everything we needed was there! So close to the gorgeous beach! We also enjoyed watching the sunset with kind neighbors, visiting local farms and dairies and bakery, biking, canoeing, go carting and playing mini golf! We are grateful for a wonderful stay !
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debbie L.

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

Memories Made

Perfect beach vacation! Cottage has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Can’t wait till next year!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tina G.

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

Always a nice stay

We've stayed here several times and it's always everything we need for a great week at the lake in our favorite area of West Michigan. The cottage is stocked with supplies, appliances, and little extras that make staying there super convenient. We loved watching the wildlife, taking walks through the association to see the sweet little fairy/gnome houses and enjoyed the extra large beach this year.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

T. P. F.

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

Early summer bacay

Exactly what we were looking for - peace, quiet, beautiful beach. The Cabbage was the perfect locale for what we needed!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne K.

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

I felt at home.

Great location! Dogs are allowed on semi- private beach on a leash. Area is beautiful and so much to do. Great place to make memories.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kim W., Ann Arbor

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

Perfect location

Perfect location in Cobmossa beach with easy access to the beach. My family keeps coming back because we love the area and the cabin feel. Appreciated the filtered water. Thanks!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy H.

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

Cozy beach house

Clean, cozy, close to Lake Michigan, part of a beach community - everyone was really nice. The bedrooms are a bit tight and the beds are full-sized/doubles - just be aware if you're going to use both bedrooms (we kept our luggage on one bed and stayed in the other room). We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Daniel G.

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

Great location

Simple, quaint/clean property in a nice location close to the public beach access.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carrie A.

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

Kids campout 2021

We upgraded this year from tents to cabin and was wonderful experience. I brought 6 kids so there was 7 of as and all had comfortable places to sleep it worked out perfect. The location was on the corner across the walkway entrance to the beach. The water was beautiful and clear sand was amazing and was shallow for a distance so also fun to watch the family's with little kids and dogs swim. Didnt realize I didnt need so much camping gear because they had supplied us with so much from beach chairs and umbrella, noodles, tubes, camping chairs for fire pit. And to top it off kids had a blast with a sunset fire right on the beach since area has fire rings. Wonderful place kids loved it and hope to do it again next year.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Angela M., Ottawa lake

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

As advertised. Very close walk to Lake Michigan

Loved being able to walk to the beach since access was so close. Some dishes were dirty when we got there so that wasn't good. And the walk up the 2 flights of stairs to carry up our luggage wasn't fun but loved the open concept layout and outside deck and fire pit
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim W., Ann Arbor

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

Fun family vacation

Second year staying here for family vacation at the lake. It is literally steps away from a semi-private beach. We went swimming daily so this is not deal for us! The neighborhood is amazing - beautiful walks including a fairy door village on Erie Trail. And, this year we finally saw the 4th of July Parade. Thanks for loaning us your home for the week.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Justin R.

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

A Week Well Spent

My wife and I were looking for a private cottage along Lake Michigan to take a summer vacation. This "Cabbage" certainly fit the bill! While not precisely on the Lake, we could see the Lake from the windows and it was literally across the street from us. Because we went on a week that turned out to be rather rainy, colder, and windy, we didn't spend as much time on the beach as we would have, but that meant we got to spend a lot of quality time in the cottage, which was an excellent use of our time. Everything that we needed in terms of kitchen items, grill, bedsheets, and things to occupy our time was provided. And overall, we completely enjoyed our time and would go back to the area in the future!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Andrew H.

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

Cozy Cottage is Hard to Beat!

We had a really nice time at Steve and Karen's place in Shelby. The house had everything we needed, and it's lovely to be able to go from woodsy retreat to sunsets on the lake in about 100 steps. I really enjoyed being able to stand out on the boardwalk high above the lake at any time of day, within a minute of leaving the house. The neighbors are all kind and the entire area is very peaceful, and the beach is beautiful. I highly recommend this location, though I give our stay four stars because several of the hosts' expectations were not clear in advance and caught us off guard--for example, we were expected to bring our own sheets and towels, but I hadn't known that in advance (though they were gracious in providing them to us). The prominent placement of paper plates and plastic cups throughout the kitchen felt like a strong hint to avoid using the real thing, and the check-out cleaning to-do list, which was shared with me the night before we left, was much more burdensome (sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, mirrors, shower, toilet, etc.) than I'd ever experienced at a homestay before. When I did reach out, Steve and Karen were incredibly prompt and kind in their responses. With a bit more clarity in advance on the house rules, this is an easy five stars.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gregory B.

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

Great Stay at Welcome to the Lake

We thoroughly enjoyed our week-long rental - the property was exactly as described and suited our needs perfectly, and the location so close to the beach was fantastic (especially since we were also lucky enough to have great, swimmable weather almost every day). The owners (Steve and Karen) were very responsive before, during and after the rental and fully addressed all of our questions. We love Western Michigan and would strongly consider renting this property again. Thanks!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kim W., Ann Arbor

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

Great family getaway

We love this area and we’re so excited to find a place walking distance from the beach and willing to have a dog. Thanks for a great trip!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Curtis C.

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

August 2020

Another relaxing week at a cozy little house in the trees and just a short walk across the street to Lake Michigan. The owners are always very responsive to any questions. We will be back again next year.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

John S.

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

Refreshing and Reasonable

Our stay was rejuvenating and the cottage was a very suitable home base. The short stroll to the lake with provided beach toys was ideal. The shaded, quiet setting, fire pit, grills and large deck provided relaxing evenings and more than made up for the small sleeping quarters.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Joey B.

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

An excellent family vacation

We had a wonderful time at the cottage. The house is wonderful and very well kept up. We were so happy that we were able to bring our dog too. The beach was great, and lots to do with little kids. It was an excellent family vacation.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Curtis C.

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

Stay 8/4-10 2019

Great location with the comforts expected for a lake cottage. Friendly and prompt property owners. Can’t beat the location or the ambience of being in the woods while only steps from the Lake Michigan lakeshore. This is our 5th year at this location and we plan to return next year.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2019

6/10 Okay

Tracie H.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication

We enjoyed lake Michigan, not the property.

First impression is most important right! Upon arrival opening cupboards and drawers to find full of expired food items throughout... including the refrigerator! More importantly, food ladened silverware and dishes were in the cupboards and utensil drawer as well! Unacceptable health risk no matter what the cost is... Additionally, ALL storage areas for clothes for your week stay (required to book) we're full off bathing suits, under garments, and other clothing. All closets we're full of towels and old bed sheets and pillows for use, but all had sweaty stains on them. Just not what we expected... Lastly, communication from owners to help resolve some of our issues at end of stay proved fruitless. When contacting the owners regarding the dirty dishes having old dried on food on them this was the response. "We were horrified to see the dirty dishes in the utensil drawer! Who would have thought to look to make sure the previous occupants cleaned like they were supposed to! We can come and clean now!?). Wow, not what I believe any of us would expect to find when offering our hard earned Dollars to stay for a vacation. Attempts to resolve this poor experience prior to this review being post we're fruitless, no response from the property owner when asked for direct resolution. We would not give them our monies again, and can't recommend this property to others in good conscience.

10/10 Excellent

Tyra G.

It was everything we were looking for and more!

Our family of five had a wonderful time staying at Steve’s cottage. We were first time users of this service and were a little skeptical but pleasantly surprised that the home was just as it was described. We were able to bring our little dogs so it was a family event. Lake Michigan is right across the street with a private beach! The house is tucked away and offered privacy. The home is very cozy and offers everything the traveler could need. So many thoughtful little details! There are so many attractions in the area for all ages. We went to a real dairy, climbed the sand dunes and the went up into the lighthouse. We played mini golf and took a tour via Jeep through the sand dunes. There is so much to do and see! We hope to return very soon.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2018

About the host

Hosted by Steve VanderLaan

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

Enjoy this cottage and get the best of two vacations in one. A cottage in the woods and lake access for fun in the sun!

Languages:

English
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Hotels

Cabin Rentals Queensland
Villas Uluwatu
family rentals in Yamba
pet-friendly rentals in Geelong
pet-friendly rentals in New South Wales

Holiday Rentals

South Kensington Holiday Rentals
Possum Brush Holiday Rentals
Thorpdale Holiday Rentals
Old Town Edinburgh Holiday Rentals
La Rochelle Holiday Rentals
Hamilton Island Holiday Rentals
Burrawang Holiday Rentals
Meeniyan Holiday Rentals
Queenstown Holiday Rentals
South Australia Holiday Rentals
Port Arthur Holiday Rentals
Whistler Holiday Rentals
Honolulu Holiday Rentals
Kamala Beach Resort Holiday Rentals
Marcoola Holiday Rentals
Sunshine Coast Holiday Rentals
Bright Holiday Rentals
Oberon Holiday Rentals
Avoca Beach Holiday Rentals
Great Ocean Road Holiday Rentals
Daleys Point Holiday Rentals
Cape Town Holiday Rentals
Mudgee Holiday Rentals
Little India Holiday Rentals
North Stradbroke Island Holiday Rentals