Entire home

Family-Friendly Waterfront Retreat for Larger Groups

Photo gallery for Family-Friendly Waterfront Retreat for Larger Groups

Waterfront area of Knot Just A Cottage on Grand Traverse Bay
Exterior front of house from driveway facing the bay
View of driveway and basketball hoop
View of waterfront area from the dock - photo taken May 2020
View of the house from the deck

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 18260.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Beach view
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Northport, MI
  • Leelanau Sands Casino
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Grand Traverse Bay
    ‪41 min drive‬
  • Mission Point Lighthouse
    ‪69 min drive‬
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪47 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 18)

Bedroom 1 - Main Floor

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2 - Main Floor

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3 - Main Floor

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4 - Upstairs

3 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 5 - Upstairs

1 King Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 6 - Upstairs

1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 4

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Family-Friendly Waterfront Retreat for Larger Groups

Come and enjoy this prime setting on fabulous Grand Traverse Bay with your family and friends. 6 bedroom/4 bath (2,800 s/f) home is the perfect venue for larger family groups looking for a relaxing escape. Our home is situated on Omena Point, which is on the east side of the Leelanau Peninsula, near the small village of Omena, where you’ll enjoy our 200’ of private beach frontage on the sparkling waters of the bay.

1 King and 2 Queens on the main floor and 2 Kings and 10 twins (bunk beds) located upstairs. There are two bathrooms downstairs (both stand-up showers) and 1 full bathroom (tub/shower) plus 1 half bathroom upstairs.

The main level features a fully equipped kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances and plenty of counter and prep space for group meal preparation. The dining table seats 12, plus 3 at the kitchen counter, and 6 in the adjacent sunroom. The living room is cozy with leather furniture and a fieldstone fireplace plus a 60” TV, DVD player, satellite TV and WiFi. However, the sunroom may become your favorite space for relaxing with fabulous views of the bay.

Get outside! Plenty of private beach front – enjoy the sand toys provided for you. Swim, splash, or snorkel as you search for Petoskey stones along the textured bay bottom where the gentle waves have polished the small stones. Fire pit (we provide the wood), gas and charcoal grills, large 6-person hot tub overlooking the bay. Bring your bikes and bike the 3.5 mile loop around Omena Point. We also have a basketball hoop in the paved parking area for shooting hoops, a ping-pong table, and a rope hammock for relaxing.

One of the best features of this unique property is the detached beach house that sits steps from the water. Inside the beach house is a 55” TV, DVD player, satellite TV, seating, and games. On the other side of the beach house sliding glass door is the deck and hot tub that overlooks the bay.

Amenities:
Bed linens, bath towels & kitchen towels are provided at no additional charge. Fully equipped kitchen includes: dishwasher, double oven, microwave, blender, toaster, coffee makers, crock pot, pots/pans, dishes for 20, silverware, and sharp knives. Other amenities include a 6-person hot tub with a view of the bay, a wood-burning fireplace, washer/dryer, gas and charcoal grills, fire pit and chiminea, WiFi, satellite TV, DVD,
another TV in the detached beach house, and kayaks.

Omena is a small lakeside community on the east side of the Leelanau Peninsula, 25 minutes from Traverse City. A short bike ride to Omena and you can experience lunch at Knot Just a Bar or stop in for wine-tasting at the award-winning Leelanau Wine Cellars tasting room. Don’t miss the many fruit stands for fresh picked seasonal produce or pick your own flower bouquet at U-Pick Omena Cut Flowers.

Additionally, there’s lots more to do in the immediate area – the cottage is 7 miles south of Northport and only 8 miles north of Sutton’s Bay where you’ll find quaint shops, fresh farmer’s markets, a grocery store and restaurants, or plan a day trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (about a 45 min. drive) where you can challenge yourself to the Dune Climb and enjoy the spectacular views!

Golf anyone? There are a handful of challenging and beautiful golf courses in the vicinity.

But wait, there’s more! Leelanau Peninsula is home to 25 wineries/cideries divided into 3 mini-trails for easy touring: the Sleeping Bear Loop, the Northern Loop and the Grand Traverse Loop. Experience firsthand the many award-winning local wines - divide and conquer!

****Although the Vrbo Policy states "Bookings are Non-Refundable", the owner does offer a "hybrid" cancellation policy as described below:
~ There will be a $100 charge for all reservations cancelled
~ All cancellations are subject to forfeiture of the entire deposit amount unless the property is re-rented at the full rental rate; a refund will then be made less the cancellation charge of $100
~ Once the final payment is made 30 days prior to arrival, the total rental rate for the stay will be forfeited unless the property is re-rented at the full rental rate; a refund will then be made less the cancellation charge of $100. If the damage deposit has been paid prior to cancellation, it will be refunded.
~ If you have concerns about unforeseen events that might require cancellation, please obtain vacation insurance

Property manager

Mike and Anne Cool

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space
Parking available

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

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

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
*Local township ordinance limits the number of guests to 15 total people over the age of 5 years.
*Actual Cancellation Policy is explained in our Rental Agreement, which guest will receive as part of the booking process.

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Omena

Located in Omena, this cottage is in a rural area and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Northport, MI

What's nearby

  • Leelanau Sands Casino - 10 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Historic Fishtown - 26 min drive - 20.8 km
  • Grand Traverse Bay - 41 min drive - 42.4 km
  • Mission Point Lighthouse - 69 min drive - 70.6 km
  • Torch Lake - 81 min drive - 88.0 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Big Dex's Pizzeria - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Leelanau Wine Cellars - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Knot Just A Bar - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Tandem Ciders - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Fischer's Happy Hour Tavern - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Family-Friendly Waterfront Retreat for Larger Groups pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Family-Friendly Waterfront Retreat for Larger Groups?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family-Friendly Waterfront Retreat for Larger Groups?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Family-Friendly Waterfront Retreat for Larger Groups located?

This Omena cottage is on the beach, 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Lake Michigan, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Leelanau Sands Casino and Nathaniel Rose Wine. Willowbrook Mill and Good Neighbor Organic Vineyard and Winery are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

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. 80 out of 83 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 83 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 83 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 83 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 83 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tina H.

AMAZING WEEK! Incredible home and owners.

We had an amazing time in this incredible home. I just cannot say enough positives. We have no negatives! Our group of 16 had a rough time leaving the property for sight seeing because the property itself was incredible! The home was very spacious-- and all of us enjoyed all of the amenities, including the hot tub, great beach, dock, ping pong table, basketball, etc. The owners are wonderful-- and always replied to our questions quickly. We had the chance to meet Mike and Ann while checking in-- and they were lovely as well. The sunrise was AMAZING -- we even had teenagers getting up for it!!!!! The water was crystal clear - and the spacious dock allowed all of us to enjoy the views. THANK YOU for sharing your spectacular home with us!

10/10 Excellent

Janine B.

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

great family getaway

great fun for the whole family!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great home and location

This is a good fit for a larger group of varying ages. We felt the house/kitchen had been stocked thoughtfully and the location is fun for many Northern Michigan activities.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harold G.

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

Omena reunion

Had a family reunion with 14 guests. This lake house in Omena Point was perfect for our family; plenty of things to do at the house and also nearby. The house comes well-equipped and the bedrooms worked well. Owner is very supportive and quick to respond.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Phil S.

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

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

My wife, I, our children spouses, and grandchildren spent a week at Knot Just a Cabin and had a marvelous time. The house was perfect in every respect. The beach, deck and outdoor fire pit were great. The children loved access to the lake and played for hours at the beach. I would highly recommend this property for a family vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

David R.

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

Beyond expectations

We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to say at Know Just A Cottage. Our 8 grandchildren and 8 adult had the best time. The home exceeded our expectations in every way. Memories were made that will last a lifetime.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susie W.

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

Perfect place for multi family vacation

This home was perfect for an extended family vacation. The home was spacious with a great bedroom setup. The beds were so comfortable! The kitchen was extremely well stocked. There was plenty to do with board games/puzzles, hammock, game room, hot tub, kayaks, sand toys, bikes, fire pit, ping pong and amazing sunrises. The area has so much to explore including the nature preserve in the neighborhood. Thank you for sharing your home!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clifford M.

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

Perfect Family spot

We love the easy accessibility to the beach. The number of bedrooms allowed us to have kids in separate bedrooms. Great kitchen. Hot tub with a great view was a nice bonus. Nice yard for backyard games
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steven J.

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

Knot just a cottage was fantastic!

Waking up to watch the sunrise in screen in porch, Kayaking along the coast, wine tasting in the afternoon, some golf, and Bonfires at night. It just doesn't get any better.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Doris R.

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

70th Birthday Party

10 adults 5 children. Beds for ALL. plenty of room. Fun game room house. Out door toys nice! Hot tub good. Kitchen cookware, fair. Not enough baking dishes. We brought extra coffee maker. 1 not enough for 10 Adult coffee drinkers. Needed about 4 more towel sets. Love the 2 tiered beach area. Overall a 4 ⭐️ rating. Collectively we decided we would rent this place again. Family from Florida and Denver. And us from Michigan. Thank you for the nice experience. Doris Robbins
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nancy P.

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

Great Family Retreat

This spacious, clean home was perfect for our family of 10 adults and 6 children. The layout was great. Plenty to do with beach, ping pong, kayaks and hot tub. Biggest perk is 2 refrigerators and 4 bathrooms. Definitely need sand/water shoes to walk along the shore or play in the water. It’s shallow for a long way out, so perfect for littles. Can’t wait to come back when the children are older so they can all sleep in the big bunk room.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen B.

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

K

This amazing property is what dreams are made of……it was the perfect place for our large family! Every detail was covered from abundant kitchen supplies, outdoor seating as well as the most appreciated “toys” for all the children. The ping pong table, basketball court, bikes, horse shoes and the abundant supply of water shoes were a happy addition to the beach time, petoskey stone hunting and magical time around the camp fire . The hot tub was a big hit as well! Anne and Mike get an A plus as they both were so very gracious with their communications and their attention to detail! Thank you so very much ….it was “pure magic”!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa L.

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

And a great time was had by all

Furnishings very comfortable, nice, well-supplied kitchen. Plenty of activities for the adults & younger kids. Lake frontage, campfires, sand,yard games, close to Sutton Bay & Northport. Everyone had a great time and even talked about a return trip in the future. Thanks for a great time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer J.

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

Great getaway!

Beautiful setting, lovely home with plenty of room for family dinners, game playing, and relaxation. Loved the sun room and the deck. It was a wonderful retreat, but close to small town shopping and restaurants. I highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

bandar s.

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

Amazing place

Very nice place. The atmosphere, the house, the area was wow. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Leila M.

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

Love it!

We stay here every year now! Love everything about this house.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey M.

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

We will be back!

Beautiful property with many great “extras”. Met every expectation and exceeded many. Memorable trip that we are already planning to repeat next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark N.

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

Terrific 10 days

We had a great time at the property. The house was clean and very well-stocked. The location and amenities were as good or better than shown on the website. During our stay a large tree fell across the driveway and prevented us from leaving. Before we could even call the owners to tell them, their handyman had arrived at the scene and started moving/cutting-up the tree. You can't ask for more responsive hosts. Would definitely stay at this location again.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nicole L.

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

Family fun

Our family stayed for a wedding in Northport. We had 9 adults and 2 children, the owners and the home were absolutely perfect. We had such a good time we will be booking a summer trip.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tim S.

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

Perfect place in the Leelanau Peninsula

Our group of 10 loved everything about the home and property. Great interior space, large dining table, wonderful sun room, great bedrooms and beds, well equipped kitchen, 4 bathrooms, fabulous waterfront, fire pit, accessory room and hot tub on the waterfront, kayaks, dock, ping pong, and more. The home and grounds were clean and beautiful, and the view unsurpassed. Great communication with the owners. Also a perfect place for a large family with children of all ages. Equiped better than most places. Thanks to our hosts for a wonderful place that created great memories.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lauren Z.

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

Great family cottage

Our kids had the time of their lives. Game room, hot tub, bikes, games, water shoes. And so did the adults, with lots of space & pretty much all you need. We had an issue with the hot tub that they quickly remedied. Great large family gathering place right on the water.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Angela L.

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

Great Location

The property is everything it says it is and more. We had a great time and the location allowed us to go in all directions to see what we we wanted to see in a short span of travel time. Traverse City - 25 min. Northport Lighthouse - 18 min. Sleeping Bear Dunes - 45 Min. Sutton Bay - 15 min. More wineries than we could visit in one week. Great time on the lake - swimming, kayaking, searching for Petoskey Stones, laying in the sun, and sitting by the fire on the beach. This is definitley a "do it again, and again, and again!"
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

J C.

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

INCREDIBLE in every possible way!

I cannot say enough good things about this property. I live on the East Coast but am originally from Michigan and my entire family still lives there. I suffered the loss of my husband and father of our three sons 4 years ago. My large family dropped everything and was here the next morning. I wanted to do something to thank them and reconnect after not getting 'home' much due to Covid. Every single person, from my dad down to the youngest niece (5 years old) LOVED this house. There is literally not one thing the owners haven't thought of....when we arrived, the backboard of the basketball hoop was broken and I texted them to make sure they knew and that we were not the ones who broke it. They did and said they already were buying a new hoop and it was set up by the next day! We made big fires every night with their (free) unlimited supply of firewood. The only thing I didn't know when I booked it (my fault) was there is not a place to moor a boat overnight. There is a mooring to use all day but the boat, due to the winds and waves, etc must be either pulled out or put into a rented slip at a nearby marina. But in hindsight, I am happy we didn't rent a boat bc we did SO many other fun activities. Omena is in such a perfect location...everything you want to do (Dunes, etc) is a 20 min drive or so, with the other towns of Sutton's Bay and Northport 10 minutes. Wonderful, wonderful vacation and memories made that will last a lifetime!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark D.

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

Amazing property with everything you could want.

My extended family absolutely loved this cottage. It has everything a family of various generations could want for a lakeside vacation. The location is perfect. It is secluded but nearby so many options in terms of restaurants, shopping, and various outdoor adventures. The house is fully stocked with everything you could want. Grills, kayaks, beach chairs, firepit, water shoes, hot tub, dock, sandy beach area, basketball goal, ping pong table, great kitchen and supplies, two refrigerators, the list goes on and on. The property owners are super easy to work with and very responsive. We loved it and are going back next year for an extra week as well. You won't be disappointed!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michelle B.

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

Perfect!

We rented this beautiful place to celebrate our parent's 50th anniversary. Our group of nine adults enjoyed everything about this place. Plenty of indoor and outdoor space for everyone. The owners had everything you could need. The kitchen is incredibly well stocked. The entire place was very clean. My parents don't get around the best (my mom uses a cane) and they were able to get around very easily. Also, I reached out to the owners a couple times for recommendations for dinner and wineries and they were spot on. The entire weekend was perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

About the host

Hosted by Mike and Anne Cool

Host profile image
We have fallen in love with the Leelanau Peninsula after renting different vacation homes every year for more than 20 years. Each year, we have gathered with our extended family to enjoy the Up North charm and each other in a relaxed, quiet setting. Together with our kids, we have so many fond memories of gathering for a few days to reconnect - now we look forward to offering this opportunity to you at our property, Knot Just A Cottage!

Languages:

English