Cabin In The Woods

Guest: Ann Arborite (Ann Arbor, MI)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/09/12

We came for some quiet time to watch it snow after the busy holiday season, and we got exactly what we came for! Relaxing by the fire, reading, watching it snow, hiking in the rolling woods... perfect! Comfortable space, warmth was not a problem. Comfortably furnished, well appointed kitchen for cooking and eating in. Ideal location with it's close proximity to Lake Michigan, Harbor Springs, Good Hart and skiing. The hosts were very helpful and attentive to ensure our comfort and the enjoyment of our stay. I'm sure we'll return in the near future. Thanks for letting us use the cabin.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

Wonderful spot - and just as described.

Guest: LGD (Kalamazoo, MI)
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

We spent four days here and had a great experience. The owners are really pleasant and the cabin was well equipped. Great location close to Harbor Springs or Petsokey - with trails and beaches nearby.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, pet owners, sightseeing.

Cabin in the Woods

Guest: Bill (St. Louis)
Date of Stay: 10/02/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

Ann & Sam, My stay at your cabin was absolutely wonderful! It more than lived up to your description. I spent the week bicycling the many wonderful trails in the area, exploring MacKinac Island, and kayaking. The cabin was a terrific place to return every evening. Spent most evenings having cocktails on the deck, cooking dinner, and reading in front of the fireplace before falling to sleep. By the way, the pots and pans you provide are first class! I've been a satisfied VRBO renter for 10 years, but rarely have I experienced such wonderful cookware! A cordon blu chef would have been delighted! A friend joined me mid-week and kept raving about the cabin and the location. I hope to return next year-----so sorry I missed you when I left. Again, many thanks for providing an ideal private and peaceful hide-a -way and for your obvious concern to provide any help needed to make my stay enjoyable! Bill

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+.

Wonderful, peaceful and scenic!

Guest: Glen, Melony, Gracie and Eliza Mae (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 08/26/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

We just spent three wonderful days at this secluded cabin in the woods. Bo and Ann were very personable, generous and accommodating. The cabin was beautifully rustic and had real character. The story of how it came to be built and the history of the surrounding land (involving an Indian princess) was fascinating. It was very comfortable and peaceful. Sitting on the deck and just enjoying the quiet sounds of the forest was very relaxing. We explored the area around Harbor Springs for three days and feel we only "scratched the surface" of all the attractions in the area. We especially enjoyed visiting the Three Pines Studio and the Legs Inn (great Polish food!) in Cross Village. We enjoyed a "famous" chicken pot pie and a strawberry-rubarb pie from the General Store in Good Hart. We had a wonderful hamburger at the Harbor Bar in Harbor Springs, and then bought some ground chuck and smoked whitefish spread from the Toski Sands store in Petoskey (the same store the Harbor Bar buys its ground chuck from). Overall, we had a very good time -- just what a vacation should be!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect location with Perfect hosts!

Guest: Paul Volker (East Central Illinois)
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

We just returned from our week long stay at this cabin and it was perfect for us. The hosts, Bo and Ann, provided us with everything we needed to make our stay enjoyable. The milk, juice and muffins waiting for us upon our arrival were much appreciated. The gas grill on the deck provided us the opportunity for midnight hamburgers following one long day. The cabin's kitchen afforded us the means for heating lasagna and Italian beef that my wife had prepared ahead of our trip and frozen. We took day trips to Old Mill Creek State Park near Mackinaw City (the zipline and climbing wall is great); Fisherman's Island State Park near Charlevoix, (great spot for finding Petosky stones); Wildnerness State Park on Sturgeon Bay; Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore southwest of Traverse City (nice kayaking on nearby Platte River) ; and nearby Petosky State Park (a nice, clean sandy beach). The cabin provided a nice homebase to start and end each day, or to sit on the deck and enjoy the quiet. At night the only lights you'll see are the stars, and the only sound you'll hear are the crashing waves on Lake Michigan. This was our first trip to Harbor Springs so I'm not too familiar with the local dining and shopping. But I can recommend New Yorker for a nice dinner without the kids. Yummies for ice cream, and Kilwin's for fudge and salt water taffy. Thank you Bo and Ann! We had a wonderful week and hope to see you again. Paul, Theresa, Giles and Megan

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

Absolutely charming!

Guest: Moya (Suwanee, GA)
Date of Stay: 07/25/10 Review Submitted: 08/06/10

If you are looking for charm and a peaceful location, this is it! Our neighbors were quite literally the horses and burros. Ann and Bo have done a lovely job with the cabin. It was clean and well stocked when we arrived for our stay during the week of July 25-31. This is the perfect location for your "home-base" if you plan to take any day trips during your stay. There are also some cleared paths in the woods for you to hike if you are so inclined. Ann and Bo made several recommendations for dining out in the area. Turkey's, in downtown Harbor Springs, has amazing pizza and they carry Hudsonville ice-cream! Legs Inn, located in Cross Village, specializes in Polish fare. We sat outside on the patio area facing Lake Michigan. The dinner portions are HUGE so if you have a small appetite, order the appetizer options. I can vouch for the cabbage rolls, they were delicious! If you are planning to head to the UP, check out Bessie's Pasty Shop on Main Street in St Ignace. Available in beef or chicken, with or without gravy. YUM! If you plan to go to Mackinac Island, you are in for a treat! Boats run frequently to the island. There are NO automobiles on the island--only horses, foot traffic, and bicycles. There is also a state highway on the island complete with a rest area at the halfway point for those of you who want to ride bikes. I can recommend the Yankee Rebel for good food and a reasonably priced menu. We were there during the Chicago to Mackinac boat race. The restaurant staff was courteous and overall traffic flow was good. The tour of the Fort and the carriage ride are worth the money. Just order the package option when purchasing your tickets. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes. If you would like to take a longer boat ride, say 3 hours, take a trip to Munising and ride out to Pictured Rocks. The rock formations and colors are worth seeing. It is a 3 hour drive, maybe a little longer, since you will run into road work areas. You might want to pack a lunch if you are on a tight schedule time-wise, plus you are not likely to find a place to eat until you get closer to Munising. There are also hiking areas nearby. There are lots of charming harbor towns in the lower peninsula with plenty of shopping. Check out the Cherry Republic Cafe in Glen Arbor. The food is great and the gift shop is amazing! Who knew there were so many ways to use cherries. We highly recommend this rental and look forward to returning. Byron & Moya

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

Not Guest Friendly

Guest: Vince (Howell, MI USA)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 06/22/10

While the cabin was fairly clean, that is dusted, clean floors, adequate bedding, etc. there were some serious issues when it comes to kitchen amenities and overall appearances. The hostess scolded us for complaining about the cleanliness of the refrigerator, toaster/oven, the deck table and chairs and the sole table top fan. The pots and pans were absolutely filthy with burnt on food and grease residue. We had to scrub 3 of them before we could use them. The fan was covered with 1/4 inch of dust. The toaster/oven front was black with burnt food and crumbs. The overall landscaping was overcome with weeds. The deck table was covered with dirt. There were two chairs and a side table that were covered with what appeared to be mold or mildew. The deck umbrella was deteriorated with many holes in it. The path to the cabin is dirt covered and if wet, you will get your shoes dirty. We stayed here 5 nights and were given only one set of bath and hand towels for each of us (2). I took pictures of the condition of this place as well as the amenities. I would not recommend staying here.

Owner response:We've had renters, both repeat customers, immediately before and just after these particular renters and both with no complaints. So we were not a little surprised by their reaction to the cabin. As a salesman I want to believe that the customer is always right but I also know that two people can look at the same thing and see two different things. Upon arrival the renters appear to have put on the white gloves and quickly found the degree of cleanliness not up to their standards. When the "hostess" went to greet them as she always does she was instead treated like the maid and it became clear that she and they were not going to get along. She tried to accommodate them by re-cleaning the items they complained about but when it became a matter of one thing after another she finally felt it necessary to request they contact me, her husband, with any further issues. They never did. - We advertise it as a cabin in the woods and by definition it is rustic. There is no grass or garden. It is the woods. - The footpath is wood chips contained by stones on either side. - We do not provide housekeeping during your stay. We present you with a clean cabin. Broom and dustpan, a Hoover, and cleaning fluids, paper towels, etc are all provided. We provide you with locally hand made soap to use and to take home with you. - The kitchen is well equipped. Basic necessities, salt, sugar, tea, and coffee are provided. However there is neither dishwasher nor laundry. It is a cabin. - We provide initial linens only. You are welcome to bring your own should you need more. - While I appreciate these renters bringing these deficiencies to our attention I have to say that their descriptions seem a little excessive. I guess we benefit from their hard work bringing it up to standard for us. Still, cast iron pans should not be scoured as they lose their cure and will rust. Perhaps a hotel would be more appropriate for these renters next time, or at the least a more expensive house on the beach.

Recommended for:

Guest: Kathy & Robert Christina (St Clair Shores, MI)
Date of Stay: 08/17/08 Review Submitted: 08/17/08

"ENCHANTING"...the best way to describe this adorable cabin, from its charming architectural details...to the serene views of the pastures...the surrounding meadows of wildflowers and berries...wooded trails to meander,(or better yet, ride!)...your gracious and friendly hosts...the exuberant "BUSTER" and company...all fit for a Princess (Polish, that is!)We'll be back!!! Worth the drive!

Recommended for:

Guest: Liz19 (Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/27/08 Review Submitted: 07/27/08

Marvelous and peaceful. Rustic but with amenities. We had to tear ourselves away to bike, which was the purpose of our visit. We found we didn’t want to leave our little cabin with its fabulous deck surrounded by trees and nothing but the sound of songbirds. Everything we needed was there. This little gem is smack dab in the middle of some of the best road biking in Michigan. Just park your car and clip in. Our hosts could not have been more helpful, but they are only around if you need them. Provisions are a few minutes away in Harbor Springs or Petoskey. We will definitely return.Liz – Canada

Recommended for:

Guest: H. Tyszka (-)
Date of Stay: 07/02/08 Review Submitted: 07/02/08

Full disclosure here. I have known the owners for almost thirty years and have tried to buy the cabin but they won't sell. They are great people and it is a great cabin. Quaint, quiet, and secluded, yet just a short ride from Harbor Springs, one of Michigan's premier villages, or Cross Village and Legs Inn, not to be missed. You won't regret it, in fact you won't want to leave.

Recommended for: