Vacation Rentals by Owner

Charming Cottage - a Hidden Gem indeed!

Guest: Scott (Grand Haven, MI)
Date of Stay: 08/28/10 Review Submitted: 09/07/10

Great cottage, atmosphere and location for a quality and relaxing vacation. Quiet, pituresque lake, perfect for paddling and pretty good fishing for bass & pike, too... hint: use 4-5" perch minnows / small bluegills & bobber for the big boys! Decking surrounds cottage and offers seating/lounging for reading, enjoying libations or just hanging with family or friends. Surgeon Bay on Lake Michigan (5 miles north of Cross Village) is just 30 minutes away and offers one of the best swimming beaches in all of Michigan. We did day trips to Mac. Island, Sturgeon River (kayaked) and Boyne Mtn (Zip Line course) and Petosky. We would definitely return!

Owner response:Wonderful! ....We are so pleased your family found the relaxing vacation you wanted! Matt and I are eager to try out the fishing tips, too. Please come again next year! Happy Fall from the Becker Family.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Very pleasant property

Guest: Mike & Dee (Jackson, MI)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 09/15/10

My husband and I spent a week this summer at the Lily Pad. It was very relaxing. We fished a lot, caught just enough to keep for a meal. The cottage is very clean and has everything you need.

Owner response:We absolutely appreciate a vacation with relaxtion. Come back every time you need a break! or a meal of fresh-caught fish :) See you again soon. Many Thanks...The Becker Family

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Relax Relax Relax

Guest: Bill, Lori & Christopher (Dearborn Heights MI)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

Our recent week at the Lily Pad was great for my husband and I as well as our 11 year old son. The cabin was beautiful, clean, comfortable and included everything we needed. We enjoyed our trips to Alanson, Cheboygan, Indian River, Mackinaw Island and Petoskey. The information provided by Matt and Lesley was fantastic and really helped. We purchased absolutely delicious pies from the House of Pies and had an AWESOME breakfast at the Brutus Camp Deli. One of our favorite adventures was when my son and I went kayaking around the lake. It was so beautiful and relaxing. We loved the landscaping and the huge deck. The satellite TV was great as it allowed us to stay on top of the weather forecasts for any zip codes that we entered. Matt and Lesley go out of their way to think of everything to make your stay comfortable. We definitely recommend the Lily Pad.

Owner response:We are so very pleased and appreciate your kind words. It is very helpful to get updates about our local restaurants, towns, and places of interests. We love northern Michigan and are very appreciative of your patronage to this area. Also, the Lily Pad loves repeat guests so please come back soon. The Becker Family

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Great holiday getaway

Guest: Michael (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/12/10

The Lily Pad was the perfect escape for our small family of 3, although we could have been comfortable with one more child. We were pleasantly surprised at how clean and well maintained this pet friendly residence was. Although we could have done without it, the satellite TV kept my daughter entertained during the brief rain showers when she wasn't on the dock catching bluegills hand over fist! The owners were very helpful and accommodating. Thank you for a great vacation. PS. Don't miss the Friday night fish fry at Moose Jaw Junction!

Owner response:Fishing is fine, so good to hear it. Glad to get a new dining tip too, thank you. We will be heading to Moose Jaw early next season when we stay at the cottage again ourselves! We appreciate your patronage to northern Michigan and hope you will visit us again in 2011 at any of our properties! Warm Regards from the Becker Family

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Our Stay with "the girls"

Guest: dane (Granger, IN)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10 Review Submitted: 07/01/10

We enjoyed our week at the Lily Pad. Loved hearing the loons and seeing the beautiful sunsets. We were disappointed with the dock and pier as the dock was underwater and even if the lake had been at a normal level I don't think it would have been usable...we were looking forward to fishing from the pier--had to wade in knee deep water to get to it. The cabin itself is beautiful with everything you could want. Loved the deck which was around the cabin. We had a wonderful time...thanks

Owner response: Lancaster Lake was brimming with water ! We are SO pleased to welcome Larry & Carolyn for another another visit this fall!...this time with close friends. We received an unusual amount of rain in a very short time. On nearby Douglas Lake, where we also have a cottage, many docks were washed away, including our neighbors. Others were adjusted upwards to the maximum level, and were still under water. This is not a regular occurrence, by all means. We have been in the area for 10 years without seeing lake levels this high so suddenly. My husband worked with a local contractor to construct a temporary fix, even as the levels dropped. We don't want to be surprised by high water again!...and we like happy renters...Thankfully, our guests understood the challenges of Mother Nature! and they replied to our concerned response as follows: "We loved the Lily pad...we have even talked with friends about coming up there.....we may decide to come this fall or next for a long weekend. What are your weekend rates? Thanks for getting back with us. " Carolyn and Larry Granger, IN

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Ken Crowne (Plainfield, IL)
Date of Stay: 09/14/09 Review Submitted: 09/14/09

This house is ideal for the small family that likes a mixture of quiet meadow lake with access to some small town fun nearby. For a more public experience, the small state park beach and pier in Cheboygan was nice; back at the lake, The solitute of quitetly kayaking thru the sparse reeds at dawn was loved by my kids. Turtles, frogs, for the kids to pursue....some pike and bass for the angler willing to search the round the lake weedlines, and plenty of respectable fish right off the pier. if you catch small bluegills, the bigger predators strongly preferred them over large store-bought sucker minnows. Small attention to details at the house made things quaint and convenient. Put 168 miles on the hammock. Well worth the investment, can't wait to come back.

Owner response:Sounds like a perfect upnorth experience. You will be pleased to know the hammock is still being appreciated :) We will get another if it goes on overload. Fishing can be relaxing and exciting, like the best holidays. We appreciate you patronage and hope to have your family visit again. Warm Regards, the Becker family

Recommended for:

Guest: Bob and Jan (Holt, MI)
Date of Stay: 09/09/09 Review Submitted: 09/09/09

Completely enjoyed our stay at this perfect cottage. The peace and quiet was very enjoyable. Everything you would need was provided for and in very good condition. We would highly recommend a stay at the Lily Pad. Thank You, Matt and Leslie.

Owner response:Thank you very much for your patronage! It is rewarding and worthwhile to hear from our happy (and relaxed) guests. Please visit northern Michigan again soon. Best wishes!

Recommended for:

Guest: Veronica Combs (New Albany, IN)
Date of Stay: 08/26/08 Review Submitted: 08/26/08

This is a perfect little cabin: peaceful, quiet, picturesque, and nicely decorated. The half bath upstairs is great for people sleeping up there. The kitchen is fully equipped; we loved the concrete countertops. We all enjoyed the hammock and the gorgeous sunsets. We will definitely rent again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Veronica
Date of Stay: 08/26/08 Review Submitted: 08/25/08

Your cabin is such a lovely place in all ways. I was completely stressed out when we arrived and completely blissful when we left. It was just right for my father and son too, who shared the upstairs bedroom. I loved the dishware in the kitchen and all the green, yellow and orange glass accents. So pretty. I left a comment. Hope it encourages others to stay at your place. Veronica

Recommended for:

Guest: Margaret Vroman (Pinckney, MI 48169)
Date of Stay: 08/25/08 Review Submitted: 08/25/08

The Lily Pad is wonderful. It is very clean, modern and extremely comfortable. The lake is quiet and clean with great fishing. We had a memorable time and hope to go back soon. The whole family gave it Thumbs UP!

Recommended for:

Guest: James14 (Redford, MI)
Date of Stay: 08/12/08 Review Submitted: 08/12/08

What a wonderful place to stay. Very clean, all the amenities (even Direct TV). I caught 11 fish, mostly bass, 2 pike. Swam in the lake with my daughter, very nice and refreshing. Loved the deck, the firepit, the sunsets. Leslie and Matt went way beyond my expectations with this rental, definitely has a lot of love put into this place. I will definitely be back again.

Owner response:Super- It is wonderful to hear you have enjoyed our special place. We always like to hear about the FINE fishing. We have stayed here a lot ourselves, so we were able to put in a few extra touches to keep it comfortable for all tastes. We want to have you visit again. Its great to have easy-breezy guests. Warm Wishes from The Becker Family

Recommended for:

Guest: Monica K
Date of Stay: 07/05/08 Review Submitted: 07/04/08

Matt, We had a lovely time. Thank you for renting the Lily Pad. We enjoyed it very much and would readily recommend it to any renters considering it! Thanks Monica

Recommended for:

Guest: csam (West Bloomfield Mi)
Date of Stay: 05/31/08 Review Submitted: 05/31/08

The "Lily Pad" is VERY clean and adorable! we enjoyed our stay. It was quiet and peaceful,We went on several day trips and we were always glad to come home to the Lily Pad and relax in this cozy beautiful setting. We loved the Humming birds and the Loons. Thank you Matt and Leslie.

Recommended for: