Location: Little Traverse Lake, Northwest, Michigan, USA (22 miles from Traverse City, 9 miles from Leland) View Map
Accommodations: House, 5 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 3.5+ Baths (Sleeps 12-14)
Keywords: Lake House
ENJOY MICHIGAN'S LEELANAU PENINSULA!!
Our charming lake house sits on an acre of land on Little Traverse Lake in the heart of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, named by Good Morning America in 2011 as the most beautiful place in the U.S. In the summer, the lake, with its private, sandy beach is great for kids, perfect for all water sports or just sunning on the dock. Just across our designated "Scenic Winding Road" is the national seashore with wooded dunes through which hiking and cross-country ski trails take you three-quarters of a mile to the nearly secluded Good Harbor Bay on Lake Michigan. The interior of the Leelanau Peninsula has well-paved roads with little traffic which makes them perfect for road biking. The bike routes are moderately challenging for the novice to very hilly for the experienced road bikers.
You will enter our home through a custom designed round-topped "Hobbit" white oak door. Our 2002 architect-renovated, art-filled home has two charming bedrooms on the main floor, one with a king size bed and a private patio, the other with twin beds. There is a full bath with tub and shower nearby and a half bath in the tile-floored vestibule near the front door. As you step down from the vestibule, you will enter a large living room with a 1904 "found" antique mantle surrounding a tiled fireplace. The white oak floor covered by an oriental rug in the center continues into the modern kitchen and into the dining room surrounded by windows on three sides with a view of the lake. A large stone terrace with a dining table, chairs and a lounge facing the lake can be reached through French doors from the dining room as well as from the living room. Also on the main floor looking out to the lake is a two-storey library/ music/ TV room with a large, field stone fireplace. French doors next to the fireplace lead out to the terrace as well. There is a second entrance under a breezeway from the mudroom which has sinks and a wine cooler. An outside shower is in the breezeway for washing off sandy feet and bodies.
The second floor can be reached by an open stairway in the vestibule which leads up to a window overlooking the library. To the right is the master suite with a king size bed, built-in bookcase/headboard. And French doors which open to a private balcony looking out to the lake. The suite has a large bathroom with a glass-surrounded shower and three shower heads, a Jacuzzi-style tub with water jets, a bidet and separate sinks for him and her. Across the hall is a small laundry room with washer, drier and ironing board. At the end of the hall is an office with computer and a fax machine/copier. There is a large walk-in closet off of the office.
At the other end of the second floor is an open play area which leads to the "carriage house" over the two-car garage. The "carriage house" consists of a small sitting room large enough to hold a crib or a “play and pack.” Next to the sitting room is a bedroom with a king size bed and French doors opening out to a private balcony with a view of the lake. Down the hall is the “bunk room” which can sleep four in two sets of bunk beds. The room is built into a hill and has its own private deck in the woods. At the end of the hall is a full bath with a stand-up shower.
The Amenities of the Area:
The Leelanau Peninsula is made up of rolling hills and valleys with charming towns and inland lakes surrounded by beautiful Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay beaches which are seldom crowded. This rural area is occupied by farmers growing fresh Michigan produce, fishermen who catch whitefish from Lake Michigan every day of the year, cherry farmers who produce cherries for the country, vintners who produce wine that competes with the best in the US, restauranteurs who offer everything from family meals to fine dining, shop owners who sell fine antiques and fine art as well as souvenirs, vacationers who dream of retiring on the peninsula and those retirees whose dream came true. Many artists, writers and musicians have moved to the area because of its natural beauty. The roads and towns display the names of
the early Czech, Bohemian and Polish settlers of the peninsula.
Some of the Special Events:
In the summer, there are the Cherry Festival, the Dune Grass Music Festival, Suttons Bay Art Fair, Food and Wine Festival, Interlochen Music Festival, Michael Moore's Film Festival, fireworks and parades on the Fourth of July and torch lighting ceremonies on Labor Day when cottagers prepare to return home at the end of the summer. In the fall, there are color tours, vineyard tour weekends, a culinary arts weekend, a long-distance road bike race and the Iceman, a thirty mile off-road bike race, in November. The Vasa, a cross-country ski race in the winter is world famous.
Wine tasting is offered by the many wineries on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. There are antique shops as well as fine art galleries in most of Leelanau's towns and in Traverse City. Nationally known musicians perform at Interlochen and there are a number of small venues where you can hear fine, local musicians. The area has a number of good bookstores as well as many fine restaurants. There are two excellent public radio stations, WNMC and Interlochen, on which independent music, classical music and live concerts can be heard.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning : No air conditioning but there are ceiling fans in all bedrooms and in most of the rooms.
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Dryer
- Wood Fireplace (2)
- Beds
- King Bed (3)
- Twin/Single Bed (2)
- Bunk Bed (2)
- Convertible Bed
- Entertainment
- Jetted Tub in Bath
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- VCR
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator (2) : 1 refrigerator; 1 wine cooler
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio (3) : 1 stone terrace facing lake; 1 small terrace off of a main floor bedroom; 1 wood deck off of bunk room
- Balcony (2) : 1 off of master bedroom; 1 off of carriage house bedroom
- Lanai : Screen porch
- View/Location
- Lakefront
- Communications
- Telephone (5)
- Computer
- Broadband Internet
- Other Amenities
- 4 of the 5 bedrooms have walk-outs to balcony or terrace; screen porch facing lake; fireplaces in living room and library (antique and field stone); unique tiles in bathrooms; French doors in the living room, dining room and two-story library leading to a stone terrace; oriental rugs; white oak wood floors; stainless steel kitchen; gas stove; art on walls.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Shelling
- Sledding/Tubing
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Summer ( May- Sep) .. $750/nt (3 nt min) .. $5250/wk.
Fall (Color Season)...... $700/nt ................ $4900/wk.
Ski Season (Jan-Mar)....... $725/nt ................ $5075/wk.
Available year-round.
Security/reservation deposit required.
Cleaning/laundry fee required.
Kayak,sunfish, power boat rental additional.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Beautiful Leelanau Peninsula Architect-Designed Lake House
Year Purchased: 1977
Why the Owner Chose Little Traverse Lake
Although we have traveled throughout Europe and the United States, we have discovered that the unspoiled Leelanau Peninsula, with its rolling hills, vinyards and orchards, uncrowded sandy Lake Michigan and inland lake beaches and charming villages, is one of the lovliest spots on earth.
The Unique Benefits at this House
While at the lake house, we enjoy biking on the nearly traffic-free roads, kayaking on Little Traverse Lake or Victoria Creek, hiking and cross-country skiing the trails across the road in the national seashore and, of course, swimming in Little Traverse Lake and in nearby Lake Michigan.
Owner's Map of Little Traverse Lake
In 2002, what was once a small "cottage" became a completely remodeled home built on the footprint of the original building with the addition of a great room and an attached carriage house. Our lake house is where we have enjoyed family reunions, celebrated weddings, birthdays, dinner parties,weekend get-togethers with friends and the Christmas holidays.
Property Photos
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- Lakeside view. Lighted boardwalk leads to waterfront. - Little Traverse Lake, Michigan Vacation Rental
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- Lakeview from the terrace. - Little Traverse Lake, Michigan Vacation Rental
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- Roadside view: Facing state-designated "scenic winding road." - Little Traverse Lake, Michigan Vacation Rental
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- Dining room facing Little Traverse Lake.
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- View of the lake from the library.
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- Screen porch looking sideway to the woods and out to the lake.
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- View of kitchen from dining room.
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- Little Traverse Lake and Sugar Loaf Mountain.
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- Master bedroom
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- Library fireplace.
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- Balcony view from master bedroom.
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- Library bookshelves.
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- Living room.
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- Carriage house bedroom.
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- Twin bedroom on main floor with view of wildflower garden.
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- Downstairs bathroom.
Traveler Reviews (10)
Disappointed
Guest: Disappointed
(Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11
Review Submitted: 12/28/11
My family stayed in this home in July last summer. The home is in a great location! There was so much to do and everything was just a short drive away! The small towns and beaches were wonderful! The home itself was very dirty. Fans were so dusty that when you turned them on dust went everywhere, hairs were in bathtub/shower, carpets were not vacuumed, and kitchen counters and floors were also filthy. We had to do a deep cleaning upon arrival. We paid the cleaning fee and it was clearly not cleaned prior to our arrival. It was also extremely warm the week that we stayed in this home and the fans did not cool the home at all. Since it was so warm we decided to go for a swim in the beautiful lake, later to find out that everyone who swam in the lake developed a rash which we are certain was swimmers itch. Overall, we LOVED the area, but the home was not what we expected.
Owner response:I was disappointed to receive this – our first ever - negative review. Our experienced cleaning crew had just finished cleaning the house (the equivalent of 11+ hours of cleaning) before this party arrived. The crew does a thorough cleaning in preparation for our guests: changing linens, cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, dusting all surfaces, vacuuming the rugs, mopping the floors, sweeping the terrace and the front porch. This crew has worked for me for several years and I have found them to be careful and thorough. I cannot recall whether I called this party to see if they had settled in—as I usually do—or whether they emailed me to tell me that they were dissatisfied with the condition of the house. I promised to look into their concerns and immediately phoned the head of the cleaning crew. She assured me that her crew had left the house in perfect condition and, because she lives close by, offered to go to the house to talk to the guests so that she could correct any problems that she found. The renters agreed upon a time to meet with her; however, when she arrived, the family was not there and she had to wait for several hours for them to return. When they finally did, they refused any assistance. They stayed the entire rental period without further complaint or contact. Although I felt that it was not necessary, I refunded a substantial portion of the cleaning fee as a gesture of good will. I can assure future renters that we live part of the year in this home and care deeply about it. Since we are meticulous about the condition of our home, this review does not reflect the experience other guests have had or you will have if you chose to vacation in our home.
Recommended for:
Charming, Comfortable, Fabulous Weekend
Guest: Jeff
(Okemos, MI)
Date of Stay: 09/23/11
Review Submitted: 12/20/11
My family, 14 of us, gathered here in late September for my niece's wedding at a local Winery. The house and environs could not have been more comfortable or well-suited for our family. We cooked together in the large kitchen, lounged in the many quiet areas in the house, hiked in the woods to the lakeshore, grilled outside on a quiet, clear starry Michigan night. Would love to make this special occasion one to repeat!
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.
Beautiful Leelanau Peninsula Architect-Designed Lake House |
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/23/11
Review Submitted: 08/02/11
Our family of 14 enjoyed a fabulous week here on Little Traverse Lake. The house has many common areas large enough for all, but cozy enough to make you feel at home. The lake is shallow near the shore, but deep and large enough for fishing and tubing (both of which we did a lot of). The hiking trail to Good Harbor Bay was close and and nice walk, if you do take it make sure you look for the bald eagles, we were fortunate to see one as we were walking the beach. The home is in a quiet area where we were able to spend a lot of quality family time, but close enough to many different places within 15-20 min drive; Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, and many wineries. We loved it here, and highly recommend staying here. Thanks for a great vacation!!!!
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Family reunion (12 persons) and 50th wedding anniversary celebration
Guest: John and Anna
(Berkley, MIchigan USA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10
Review Submitted: 07/03/10
Excellent venue for family vacations and celebrations. An elegant, spacious and very well equipped residential property in one of Michigan's finest resort areas. Outstanding views, gourmet kitchen and dining area complete with all you need for serving a big family; an exceptional library; great room; fireplaces; fire-pit on the beach; and very comfortable sleeping accommodations. Our children and grandchildren were with us, including a five-month-old, and the owners couldn't have been more helpful with advice on getting settled-in and with their descriptions of things to see and do. The property is on a fine swimming lake with a sandy bottom, really good for kids, and the entire area, including its famous sand dunes and lake Michigan beaches, are great for all ages. Wild life abounds near by. It was just right for our family needs and wishes.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/20/09
Review Submitted: 10/20/09
This home was the perfect gathering spot for a group of friends getting together for an extended fall weekend spent enjoying the colors, visiting the wine producers, and experiencing meals at local restaurants or prepared in the wonderful kitchen. This home is open, airy and a fantastic "home base" for any season spent visiting this great part of Michigan.
Recommended for:
Guest: JB and Marie-Laure
(Cincinnati OH & France)
Date of Stay: 08/19/09
Review Submitted: 08/19/09
When we told our friends visiting from france that we would take them to Michigan, they were uncertain about the destination, but the 10 of us (including 6 pre teens and teenagers ...) totally loved our week of vacation. Not only is the area stunning and the Traverse lake a delight, but the house was perfect for us: great common areas and enough private rooms for all and each, very nice garden with wonderful view and all the equipments we would not even hope to find in a home. Where ever our vacations will take us next year, the bar is EXTREMELY high :)
Recommended for:
Guest: Paul & Ro Treger
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/13/09
Review Submitted: 08/13/09
Three generations, all 10 of us had a great week at your wonderful home. It was all "as advertised", with great amenities, and we loved the personal touch with your art work etc. Great area for hiking, water sports, and we found the nearby towns charming. It was a great family vacation.
Recommended for:
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/10/09
Review Submitted: 08/10/09
Our extended family of 12 (89 years of age to 18)really enjoyed our week in your beautiful home. The home is well appointed and very spacious. The kitchen is well equipped and great for cooking family dinners. The location is great. Hiking trails, beach, and great restaurants all within easy access.
Recommended for:
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/02/09
Review Submitted: 08/02/09
What a find this place is! Our family of 9 adults and two teenagers spent a week on our first visit to northern Michigan in this absolutely perfectly decorated and appointed home. They didn't miss a trick. It is beautiful inside and out, plenty of room for a large group but also very livable and comfortable and you feel right at home as soon as you walk in - - as if you are the personally invited guests of the owners. All the bedrooms are nice-sized and if you are lucky enough to get the master bedroom, you wake up every morning to a bird's eye, picturesque view of the yard and lake. The houes is easily accessible to many things to do and explore and many very good restaurants. We just loved our time there.
Recommended for:
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/22/09
Review Submitted: 07/22/09
Our family of 11 enjoyed a fabulous week in this gorgeous home on Little Traverse Lake. The house is very family-friendly as we were all together, yet there was plenty of space for everyone. The lake is perfect for both children and adults. Sandy bottom, shallow for awhile, and deep enough for water-skiing farther out. There were hardly any other boaters and kayacking was also great. The home is beautifully furnished with all the amenities you could want. Hiking, shopping, etc. are all easily available in the area. We all loved it.
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #134803
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