Relaxing week in Northport

Guest: Kurt & Pam (Wildwood, MO)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

My family of 5 had a great week at this cute house! Northport is a quaint little town. We enjoyed going across the street to the bakery in the mornings, and strolling to the pier with an ice cream cone in the evenings. The front porch is fabulous. We spent most of our time out there, enjoying the porch swing, hammock, grill, hot tub and stereo speakers ready for our iPod. Inn-keeper Will Harper is very friendly and accommodating. He has added many thoughtful amenities such as foosball, piano, guitar and even wi-fi. The furnishings are charming with an eclectic mix of old and new ("new" in just the right places, such as appliances, linens and very comfortable mattresses!). There are many cute beach towns within driving distance. We had a fun and relaxing vacation!

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

Northport

Guest: TCParalegal (Leland, MI)
Date of Stay: 05/26/11 Review Submitted: 06/14/11

My husband had a wonderful time. Great location in town. Owner is very helpful. Would highly recommend.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

If you love being right in town, this is the ideal Northport, Michigan location

Guest: Karen (Suburban Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 06/25/10

We stumbled on the property when investigating Northport as a possible vacation destination. We were looking for an in-town option, to get the real flavor of the eclectic mix of locals and summer residents. The description and photos made the house seem like it could fit the bill for our needs: a house set back from the road, yet in the center of town. And indeed, Mill Street Manor and Porch Sitting Society was exactly as advertised. While we are very picky, for this trip we weren’t looking for the ultimate swanky beach house with granite countertops and Viking range. We just wanted a happy, sunny, peaceful place with ample room for us and three older teenagers that would serve as a base camp for hiking, biking, long walks, beaching, and whatever else we decided to do individually and as a family. If you love being right in town, this is the ideal location. Northport has it all, on a small scale: Stubbs, The Eat Spot, the well-stocked Tom’s Grocery store and on Fridays: the Farm Market. We also had a fabulous time at Fischer's Happy Hour Tavern and ventured out to buy eggs and cheese at some local farms. We ventured to Leland to catch the ferry to South Manitou Island—and to stock up on the most awesome smoked fish and jerky ever, ate a great meal at Martha’s in Sutton’s Bay and enjoyed the many natural wonders of the Leelanau Peninsula. Will Harper should be appointed Michigan’s ambassador to Northport. He is so enthusiastic, and is as hands on or off as you require. He went above and beyond to make sure that we had everything necessary to have a great stay. The house was neat and clean, the Wi-Fi was great, and the Satellite TV was perfect for the only thing we watched all week: the NBA championship. For us, the house was perfect five people, and would be fine with one more person. But with only one true bathroom, and one beach bathroom in the basement—it could get challenging for the pickier traveler.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Great house for two families with kids to share

Guest: Pamela A (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 04/06/10 Review Submitted: 04/21/10

We stayed a week in early April. The house was spacious enough for two families of 4 to share. Everyone was comfortable with their rooms, the kids loved the upstairs with their own TV and space to stretch out. They also loved the Foosball table in the basement. We loved being right in town but still close to several parks, the beach and all the area has to offer. Barb's Bakery is right across the street and the donuts are a delicious way to start your morning. The hot tub and front porch were great. The owner was easy going and seems like a great guy. I recommend this property and will stay there again!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Guest: Frank and Elaine Kirby (Flint, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 02/17/10 Review Submitted: 02/17/10

We had a wonderful visit to Mill St Manor for a winter break / get away. My husband,I and our two little children spent 5 days / 4 nights here with another couple with two older children. The house was very spacious and has a great set up for a couple of families to visit. The upstairs loft is perfect for kids to have their own space and place to get away. The house was very clean. We enjoyed an atmosphere of relaxation the entire stay. The large wood stove in the living room and the hot tub off the porch definitely helped to create this atmosphere. Last, but not least, the owner was wonderful. He was very easy to communicate with when planning our stay and very quick to respond to any questions we had. Our family would definitely recommend this rental to others. It would be a very nice place to visit during the summer with the large covered porch. Thanks again for sharing Mill St. Manor with us. We really enjoyed.

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Guest: David190 (Ohio)
Date of Stay: 12/19/09 Review Submitted: 12/19/09

Added by owner, quoting Thanksgiving renter email: "Will, We had a wonderful time and enjoyed your home very much! We commented numerous times on the brightness, the perfect size, LARGE PORCH, and the "perfectness" of your rental. It is a perfect location and we appreciate the off-season price. Unfortunately, due to the rainy weather, we didn't get a chance to try the hot tub (grrr!). "

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Guest: Liz & Rob2 (San Antonio, TX)
Date of Stay: 08/07/09 Review Submitted: 08/07/09

This cute house has got to be the best kept secret in Northport. We have been staying in the area for years and passed by this gem a number of times without even seeing it. The present owner took the house out of the shadows and remodeled it to make it shine. Every detail in the house is perfect with the addition of a great porch to spend the mornings and evenings on enjoying the “hustle and bustle” of a sleepy Lake Michigan coastal village. This is not the beach house with the killer view, but a great location for our family to kick back, do a little painting and reading on the porch and let the kids wander around town eating ice cream, visiting the beach, going to the library and exploring the various pocket parks in town. Everything is within walking distance including the grocery store. Behind and next to this house is a small stream which provided a great opportunity to bird watch in the mornings and the evenings. It didn’t get any better spotting birds anywhere else in the Leelanau. You can stack people like wood in all the rooms and beds provided, but in the end there is one finished bathroom with an additional shower, toilet and stationary tub downstairs in the basement. Perfect for us, but might be tight for more than four. The kitchen has its charms, but don’t plan on practicing your culinary visions.That said, Mill Street Manor is nicely decorated and a well done rehab of an old Montgomery Ward kit home. It is comfortable and well appointed with all the amnities. The porch becomes the “heart of the house”, and everyone had private space, from the attic lair, to the game room in the basement, to sneak off to.We look forward to returning next year. Book this soon before it becomes hard to get a slot!

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Guest: Alisha Cochrun (Traverse City, MI)
Date of Stay: 04/19/09 Review Submitted: 04/19/09

I am friends with the owner of this house and so far, have experienced some of my best weekends ever in Northport. The house is beautiful and you can't find a better location around. It is a perfect summer vacation spot... with an upstairs hang out area and an incredible deck with a sweet grill and outdoor stereo system. And to sum up the town of Northport, well, it's fabulous! The people are so down to earth and friendly, I felt right at home. There's loads of great outdoor activities- hiking, golfing, sailing, snowmobiling in the winter; or building a bonfire and enjoying the sunset. I cannot wait to escape to this small town bliss again!

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