Quaint Cottage in a wooded setting, steps from the dunes and Lake Michigan!
Location: South Haven, Southwest, Michigan, USA (Lake MI beach over the majestic dunes)
Accommodations: Cottage, 4 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 8-10)
Keywords: Cottage, Plus Guesthouse, air conditioning, fire pit, washer/dryer, wooded acre, walk to beach, Cable
Why settle for just any beach cottage? Experience the best of both worlds: A very private little cottage in the woods on an unpaved road, nestled in the beautiful critical sand dunes of Lake Michigan and yet just minutes south of downtown South Haven. You have almost an acre to yourself, a quiet place where families and husbands and wives can unwind from over-busy schedules, reconnect with each other, read stories together, roast marshmallows or pop popcorn over the campfire, play hide and seek in the woods or just swing in the hammock. You can climb over the unspoiled dunes or take a stroll on the meandering path through the woods around the dunes to get to that unsurpassed view of Lake Michigan where you can play in the Lake, on the beach or walk along the uncrowded, wide sugar sand beach.
Available all year long, experience all kinds of water activities in the summer, crisp fresh air and colorful leaves in the fall, sledding down the dunes in the winter (which can be breathtaking), wildflowers and delicate new leaves unfolding in the spring, and, of course, the Lake Michigan sunsets which are painted uniquely each evening, no matter which season you are at the cottage. You won't be the same when you go home from this quiet, uncrowded and peaceful place. This 1600sf cottage complex is situated in a small community of unpaved roads and is bordered on the south by a state park and backs up to undeveloped land on the north. Make this year the beginning of your family vacation tradition at this cottage in the woods.
It is the third cottage from the dunes and was renovated in 2008 with new bathrooms, kitchen, flooring, appliances, mattresses, paint, décor, etc. The cottage has three bedrooms, sleeping six with a queen bed in the master and twin bunkbeds in each of the other bedrooms. The bedrooms are very small which allows for plenty of living space. The guesthouse is just steps away from the cottage and features one bedroom with a queen bed, bath, laundry facilities, family room and sleeps four when using the queen sized sofabed. It also has an outdoor shower with hot and cold water for rinsing off all that sand.
The town of South Haven is just minutes away, a great bike ride. There you will find many more people, the blue stairway to South beach, the lighthouse, concessions and the wonderful riverwalk along the channel, a great spot to sit and watch all the different boats coming and going. The downtown area has plenty of shopping opportunities, delicious restaurants, a bakery that can't be beat and a seasonal Farmer's Market which overflows with fresh local produce and flowers. The Good Ship is docked at the Maritime Museum and can be booked for sailings; jet ski, canoe and kayak rentals can also be found downtown. The Kal-Haven trailhead begins in South Haven and the Black River is ready for canoe and kayak use.
Life along Lake Michigan is an unforgettable experience, to say the least, but to have an opportunity to actually live amongst those pristine sand dunes along the Lake is beyond comparison with in town rentals. This is the third year this rental property has been offered, so don't wait too long to make your plans to spend a week or more in the summer or even just a couple of days in the other seasons. Your time here can make a world of difference when you go back home to your everyday life. We are sure you will want to come back year after year to climb the dunes, roast marshmallows over the fire in the firepit, play in the woods, walk the beach, hike area nature trails, and whatever else you enjoy. Just imagine the memories!
It takes approximately 4-5 minutes to get from the cottage to the beach through the stunning dune area. Most of us have to climb, rest, climb, rest, etc. to get to the top of the dunes. The exhilarating effort involved is well worth it once you get to the top, see the magnificent view and then get to go down the other side! The path around the dunes through the woods takes about 6-7 minutes to get to the beach. The times given above are based on my walking and I am 59 years old. Two other options to get to the Lake are South Beach which is just a few minutes' drive away in town and Van Buren State Park which is just down the road from the cottage and there is a paved path that goes right down to the beach.
Our other cottage in this same neighborhood is VRBO #168621. They are about a 3 minute walk from each other. Consider renting both of our cottages for larger groups providing a sleeping arrangement for 16-20. What fun that would be!!
Check out the link to our website at the bottom of this listing.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided : We pay close attention to the condition of all of our linens and towels and they are replaced right away when necessary.
- Washer
- Dryer
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Fireplace : Wonderful, large brick fireplace. Some firewood is supplied to get you started on your stay. There is additional firewood to purchase just down the road. We request that you do not bring your own firewood.
- Beds
- Queen Bed (3) : One is in the cottage, one is located in the guesthouse bedroom, and the 3rd is the sofabed in the guesthouse.
- Bunk Bed (2) : There is a twin/twin bunkbed in each of the other two bedrooms in the cottage.
- Convertible Bed : The queen sized sofabed is located in the guesthouse family room.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV : This is in the living room with the DVD player
- DVD
- CD Player
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided : All equipment was new in 2008. Quality stainless steel and glass, no plastic or aluminum. There is a family size electric griddle.
- Refrigerator : Full size.
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio : Has an outdoor table and chairs.
- Communications
- Telephone : Local calls only.
- Other Amenities
- Our 'mountains' are made of sand! You can see the sand dunes from the cottage. There is also a great fire pit with seating to enjoy. The cottage is equipped with family books to read and indoor games to play, along with tetherball and horseshoes outside for some good old fashioned fun!There is also a small cooler and 9 folding chairs (one is child sized) you may take to the beach.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters : We prefer not to rent to singles under the age of 25.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Parasailing
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseshoes
- Miniature golf
- Rafting
- Sledding/Tubing
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Lots of seasonal festivals, many featuring the local produce from the area. Bowling is nearby and in the winter there is a wonderful outdoor ice skating rink in downtown South Haven.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Sep.7,2011-June 14,2012... $250/night, 2 night minimum ....... $1200/week.
June 15,2012-Sep.3, 2012...weekly rentals only (possible nightly)...$2100/week.
PAYMENT PLAN IS AVAILABLE. There is a 3 night min. stay for holiday week-ends.
$300 refundable security deposit on all rentals.
Deposit and 1/2 weekly rental to hold reservation, due within 7 days of booking.
$300 dep.holds following year dates until Jan.15 - then 1/2 rent is due.
Check-in:Friday 6 pm - Check-out:Friday 1 pm.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2007
My husband, Alan, and I have five children, four sons and one daughter. We recently have increased the daughters to three since our two older sons are now married.
We have taught all our children at home all the way through high school, except for our fifth who is just 10 years old and currently working diligently at his school work.
We love traveling as a family and have covered a good part of the United States over the years. We also had the opportunity to go on a family missions trip to Moscow, Russia.
Why the Owner Chose South Haven
We choose to purchase this property in South Haven for several reasons. One is the proximity to Chicago and the main one is that we absolutely love Lake Michigan. As I grew up, my family went regularly up to Pt. Betsie, MI each summer and that cottage was right on the Lake. Since that location is too far for week-end trips, we decided on South Haven. The downtown area is lovely and it is not very touristy which we really appreciate.
The Unique Benefits of this Cottage
We enjoy being away from the bustle of downtown, yet being close enough to make quick trips for dining or shopping.
We always use the fire pit!
Property Photos
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- Quaint Cottage in a wooded setting, steps from the dunes and Lake Michigan! - South Haven, Michigan Vacation Rental
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- Private Guest House just a few yards from the main cottage, - South Haven, Michigan Vacation Rental
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- Spacious Firepit with plenty of seating-a fabulous place for evening memories! - South Haven, Michigan Vacation Rental
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- The fireplace room with comfy leather furniture and a wood burning fireplace.
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- Large Bright Great Room with Half Bath and seating for 10 around a large table.
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- Full kitchen with breakfast bar, granite counters and everything you need.
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- Delightful master bedroom in the main cottage with a queen bed.
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- One of the three delightful cottage bedrooms
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- Brand new full bath in cottage
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- Guest house bedroom with a queen bed, door to the bathroom & faces a wooded dune
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- Surrounded by dunes
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- Descending to the wide beach and mesmerizing lake
Traveler Reviews (40)
Girls Week-end!
Guest: Susan
(-)
Date of Stay: 10/25/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
Our girls weekend was great and your place was perfect for us. The layout of the cottage and the property was good for sleeping and the view of the woods was so nice & relaxing. We hope to come again sometime. The flip flop decorations are really unique. We had a great time. Thank you so much.
Recommended for:
Fabulous Stay!
Guest: Dawn
(-)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
The Bunco Babes had a fabulous stay in your house, everything was perfect! The Dunes and the Midweat Ocean (haha) are amazing and we burned off lots of calories walking up the hills. South Haven is gorgeous, we loved the food at Tellos! ice cream at Kilwin's, and food at SuCasa and Clementines was wonderful!
Recommended for:
Great Memories
Guest: Beth
(-)
Date of Stay: 09/29/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
Thank you for sharing your house with our family. It was a great way to celebrate my son's 13th birthday. We had a wonderful time and made great memories.
Recommended for:
Just What The Doctor Ordered!
Guest: Veronica
(-)
Date of Stay: 09/11/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
We wanted to thank you very much for a great relaxing week-end. Your home is so cozy, it's just what the doctor ordered. The photos online don't do it justice, your home bypassed our expectations. Thank you so much, can't wait to come again. Thanks!
Recommended for:
Had a Blast!
Guest: Cindy
(-)
Date of Stay: 09/02/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
Your place was exactly what the doctor ordered -- rest, relaxation, and fun in the sun! Our daughters had a blast on the dunes, clean beaches, and hammock! We had fun with rolling waves, rock hunts, hot dunes (wear shoes), and sandy shores. Thank you for offering your home! We had a blast!
Recommended for:
Stars at Night Are Amazing!
Guest: Scott
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/26/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
We had an absolutely wonderful time at your lake house! The house was clean and fully supplied with anything we needed. Our children and grandchildren made some wonderful memories around the campfire and also down by the beach. The stars at night are amazing and we saw a few shooting stars as well. We already can't wait to come back next year. Thank you for your hospitality!
Recommended for:
Hours at the Beach
Guest: Val
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/19/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
Thank you SO MUCH for the opportunity to relax in your cozy home! Our family has enjoyed making memories of being together....thank you for allowing us to stay at Dune Daze. The weather has been absolutely beautiful, we enjoyed many hours at the beach....this is just what we all needed, a home away from home!
Recommended for:
So Well Supplied!
Guest: Martha
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/10/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
It is my first time here, but my daughter's family has come the last 4 summers. It has become a family tradition for them! They love it here. Your two cottages are so well-supplied and cleverly decorated. The flip-flops on the walls are especially creative! Blue Lake Michigan, White caps crashing on the beach, Peaceful South Haven.
Recommended for:
Wonderful Place To Enjoy The Company of our Family
Guest: Fran
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Date of Stay: 08/05/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
What a wonderful time we had here at Dune Daze! We spent a wonderful week enjoying the beach and Dune hikes as well as the local attractions. We shared this place together for a whole week with ages ranging from 2 - 78 years old. Thank you for a wonderful place to enjoy the company of our family.
Recommended for:
Absolutely Charming!
Guest: Nancy
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11
Review Submitted: 01/23/12
We had such a great time! The cottage is absolutely charming - just perfect! Thank you so much for everything - beach & sun, shops & restaurants and this wonderful accomodation! We hope to be back again next year!
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #161098
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