Vacation Rentals by Owner

Very nice vacation home

Guest: Wanita F. (Carsonville, MI)
Date of Stay: 02/02/12 Review Submitted: 02/09/12

We had a great time staying at the house. There was 10 of us and we had plenty of room. Very clean which is important to me. Kitchen was stocked with everything you needed including soaps, pots and pans etc. A lot of homes that we've rented you had to go out and buy dish soaps, paper towels, garbage bags etc. It was fully stocked with all of those things. We really enjoyed the hot tub and sauna which again was clean! Doug was so good to work with and when I e-mailed him with any questions, he was quick to respond. We planned on snowmobiling but, there wasn't enough snow. We rented cross country skiis in Indian River and went snow tubing at Gaylord's Tree Tops. We went wine tasting in Petosky which was great! You won't be sorry in any way if you rent this vacation home and Doug was great at giving advice on where to go and what to do. We are hoping to rent it again next winter! It would probably be great in the summer time too since it has a fire fit and large back yard right on the river. The interior was very well decorated. The living room is small which was the only downfall with a large group. We just set up the lawn chairs, which was provided, and it worked out great. There is a really nice deck on the back of the house and it was relaxing to listen to the river and watch the deer in the backyard. Again, great house you won't be sorry renting this one in any way!

Owner response:Wanita, Thank you for writing such a wonderful review and for sharing your experiences at our cabin! Krista and I sure appreciate your honesty and kind remarks. Please keep our cabin in mind for future trips Up North with your family and friends. You're always welcome at our home away from home :) God Bless! Doug & Krista Sidell

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Definitely recommend!

Guest: Dave133 (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 09/22/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. What a clean, beautiful home on a gorgeous, waterfront setting. This was a relatively last minute booking and Doug was more than accomodating. It was a work weekend for a couple of us, so decided to have our families join us and we had a wonderful time. Only wish we had more time to spend around the cabin and on the river. The kids enjoyed the bonfire as well as the adults and the sound of the river nearby was relaxing. I would definitely recommend this home and will stay again when I can. Doug was a real pleasure to work with.

Owner response:Dave, Thank you for writing such a nice review. Krista and I sure appreciate you taking the time to provide the feedback. We're sure happy the weekend went well for the working pilots and the vacationing family members! Please keep our cabin in mind for future trips Up North. You're always welcome in our vacation home. Doug & Krista Sidell

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

Amazing retreat!

Guest: Thomas C. (Bowling Green, OH)
Date of Stay: 09/03/11 Review Submitted: 09/11/11

What an absolutely gorgeous cabin!!!! Very clean, EXTREMELY spacious, and a beautiful location!!! We only stayed 3 nights but it was wonderful! I fell in love with the HUGE kitchen the moment we walked through the door! Plenty of roomy bedrooms and bathrooms on each of the 3 floors. Great hot tub and sauna. A very large backyard with terrific views of the Sturgeon river. Nice and quiet location and just minutes from downtown Indian River, Burt Lake, and Mullet Lake. I personally spent alot of time in the kitchen and it had everything I needed to prepare all of our meals. We had brought a few items from home ( some pans, measuring cups/spoons, etc.) but never needed to unpack them. There is a nice patio w/ grill on the front side of the cabin and a large patio in the back. We enjoyed our coffee while sitting out on the deck which overlooks the backyard and river. This place is just unbelieveably GORGEOUS!!! We are looking to stay here again for at least a week next summer...maybe even two if our schedules allow.

Owner response:Sandy, Thank you SO MUCH for your kind words and wonderful review. Krista and I sure appreciate your feedback! Thank you, also, for considering our cabin for future trips Up North. Indian River and N. MI are slices of heaven; especially in the summer! You and your family are always welcome at our vacaton cabin on the Sturgeon River. Doug & Krista Sidell Homeowners

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fun in beautiful Michigan

Guest: Vic (OKC, OK)
Date of Stay: 07/31/11 Review Submitted: 08/18/11

My huband and I REALLY enjoyed our stay in Michigan. The house was lovely, roomy, well appointed, very comfortable, and close to many different places and activities. The owner was very helpful and informative. I would highly recommend this beautiful place to anyone interested in vacatioing in Michigan. We had a great time!

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

Excellent Quality For The Price. Owner Easy To Work With

Guest: Dave (Clermont, Florida)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

We arrived July 9, 2011 for one week vacation and had a great time. There were 13 of us (6 adults and 7 kids). Everyone had plenty of room and each had a bed. The family room and kitchen were never crowded. But, weather was great so we spent most of the time outside. Kids played on the grassy back yard or by the river. Adults relaxed on the back deck, near the river, in the hot tub, or by the fire pit. Great Kayaking on the river. Home was clean and well maintained. Will definitely recommend to friends. Thanks for sharing your Home wih us Doug.

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

GREAT Up North Retreat!

Guest: Ski Trippers (Southeast, MI)
Date of Stay: 02/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

We had a fabulous winter vacation. My wife and I and a few couples stayed here for our annual ski trip this year. The home was in great shape and plenty of space. We all had ample room for sleeping and the kitchen is great for entertaining and staying in on the cold nights. The hot tub sauna combo was great after getting back from skiing at Nubs Nob that is only a 25 minute drive. Also as a bonus the house is very easy to get to from I75 and you have a great up north feel. Doug the owner, was fantastic to work with. He helped us with some local restaurant recommendations. When we come back to Indian River we will definately consider staying again. Enjoy your stay, becasue I know we did.

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

A great "Up North" Michigan experience!

Guest: Allison (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

We had a great week at the cabin - sitting by the river, kayaking and canoeing the river, driving over to Petoskey, cooking in the well equipped kitchen, roasting marshmallows in the fire pit, relaxing in the hammock, walking the dog on the rail-trail, and just enjoying family time together. We had planned to do a few day trips, but it was so nice staying at the cabin that we only got away one day. The weather was too warm for us to use the sauna or hot tub this time, but we hope to try them on another trip. Wading in the Sturgeon River was the perfect way to cool off. Our dog also enjoyed cooling off in the river and the backyard was just the right size for a little Frisbee throwing. The cabin has a real "out in the woods" feel, but is less than five minutes from a terrific grocery store in Indian River (Ken's) and several good restaurants. (We ate at Vivio's twice!) The owner was great to work with, and the cabin's caretaker was just up the road and responded quickly when we had a question. We brought our own canoe, but really enjoyed using the kayaks that Doug has at the house, too. There are several launch spots just up the road, so we could do longer or shorter paddles, then land at the cabin at the end. It was also fun to watch the kayakers and tubers float by as we relaxed in the backyard. A nice bonus was the Tempur-Pedic mattress on the bed in the main floor bedroom. It slept great and felt better than our bed at home. Having the TV was a nice extra, but we only turned it on one evening. The other evenings were spent playing games or just visiting. The games selection is pretty good – Monopoly, Clue, Chutes & Ladders, playing cards, and a multi-game set with Chinese checkers, etc., as well as a nice selection of jigsaw puzzles just right for kids. And it was nice that the kitchen had some of the basic cooking supplies – flour, sugar, salt and pepper, etc, even some condiments in the fridge. Overall, we had a great experience at the cabin and hope to make it back -- maybe for a winter trip next time.

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

Great Home Base for Water Sports

Guest: Arrow1 (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 04/09/10 Review Submitted: 04/12/10

This is a very comfortable cabin (nice kitchen, comfortable beds) with nice extras (large TV, sauna and hot tub). The neighbors are friendly, and bringing a dog was no problem. But, the big plus in our view was location. The Sturgeon River (not as quite as scary as all the guidebooks say) runs through the back yard and the Pigeon River is only about 15 minutes away. In warmer months, we would have brought the sailboat, as Burt Lake is only a few minutes down the road. The place has a wilderness feel to it even though you are very close to town. Doug was very easy to work with and helpful. We will be back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners.

Fantastic Rental

Guest: dudusmar (Gaylord, MI)
Date of Stay: 03/19/10 Review Submitted: 04/06/10

Our group had a wonderful time at this beautiful log cabin on the river. There were 11 of us and the cabin provided enough room for everyone. The location was awesome!! Very close to the highway and all of the things you might want to do in northern Michigan. The fire pit allowed us to spend some time outside in spite of the cool March weather. We also loved the hot tub. We've been renting vaction properties in northern Michigan each spring for over ten years now so we know something about it. Doug was fantastic to work with. He was super friendly and answered all of our questions promptly. The listing is completely accurate. The property is clean and well-maintained. I would absolutely recommend this cabin to any group.

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Thanks for the wonderful time!

Guest: OlgaDetroit (Detroit, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 12/30/09 Review Submitted: 01/20/10

I would like to thank on owner again for sharing your cabin with us on Dec.30th, 2009 - Jan 3rd, 2010. We have enjoyed the spacious kitchen and did a lot of cooking. The living room space was perfect for relaxing, the sauna and hot tub were a huge hit with us. The house was very clean, spacious and had everything we were looking for and more! The location of the house is just a wonderland, the river view is amazing - and the surrounding nature is not describable. With many attractions around such as skiing, sliding and snowmobiling - the house is perfect getaway for the winter time. It was a perfect way for us to celebrate 2010 and we had all accommodations we needed. Thanks again!

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

Guest: Brandy12 (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 12/15/09 Review Submitted: 12/15/09

This cabin is absolutely fantastic! I was looking for a Fall weekend getaway that would provide me with both tranquility and relaxation and that is exactly what I experienced. Everything about this cabin exceeeded my expectations from the cozy warm interior to the amenities, including my two personal favorites, the jaccuzzi and fire pit. This cabin is great whether your looking to taking your significant for a romantic weekend or planning a family vacation for 6. Thanks for allowing me to spend a weekend in Paradise!

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Guest: Sheri10 (-)
Date of Stay: 09/30/09 Review Submitted: 09/30/09

This is a great cabin! The location is perfect - close to Burt Lake, Petoskey, and Mackinaw with so many activities. The beds are very comfortable and there is plenty of space for a large group.

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A perfect northern michigan retreat

Guest: The Gilly Group (Trenton, MI / Southeastern Michigan / USA)
Date of Stay: 07/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/08/09

Our family enjoyed a beautiful, memorable week at the Sidell log home. This luxury log home home offers a great layout for a large group and lots of room for entertaining, plus many extras, such as a big screen TV, sound system, washer/dryer, gourmet kitchen and grill, hot tub, sauna and kayaks. We enjoyed a wonderful family week of togetherness in our favorite area of northern Michigan with sightseeing, kayaking (we rented a couple extras to make 5!), fishing, river walking for Petoskey stones, nightly bonfires, biking (spectacular bike/snowmobile trail 50+ miles long!) and nearby beach at Burt Lake. Best of all, a relaxing week with something for everyone in first class comfort. The location is great for easy access to all northern sites, easy drive to the UP, Tahquamenon Falls, Mackinac, Petoskey, etc. Beautiful luxury log home, very tastefully decorated with all the extra trimmings for entertaining. First class lodging offers an up north rustic touch of the northern woods. On the banks of the river's edge and flowing yard, the large, inviting firepit became a cozy family favorite evening tradition for roasting marshmallows, smores and grandpa's special campfire fruit pies and stargazing in the northern skies! Thank you Doug for the great memories. With our kids and grandchildren spread out in other areas of the country now, we don't get together often enough and it was the perfect backdrop for making some special Michigan family memories with our grandchildren, and revisiting many great times of long ago vacations in northern Michigan (this time we left the tent at home!). Our family thanks you for a great vacation! July 2009. ps ... We'll be back!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, sightseeing.

Great river front log home

Guest: Contented Angler (Cadillac Mi)
Date of Stay: 06/27/09 Review Submitted: 07/08/09

This rental was perfect for our families annual fishing trip.It was very clean and well appointed with nice hot tub and sauna. Enjoyed the large fire pit at the river bank for enening bonfires. Nice woodsy feel to the place yet only a short drive to great restaurants golf and great lake and stream fishing. I highly reccomend this rental. Ownner was very helpful.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Awesome Cabin, Great Location, Very Helpful Owner!

Guest: osu buckeye girl (Columbus, OH)
Date of Stay: 06/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/16/09

Our family really enjoyed staying at Doug's cabin! It was perfect. We really enjoyed all the fun things to do in the Indian River area. Some of us kayaked, some biked the trails (right close to the cabin), some played golf. The hot tub and sauna were super popular too; sat in both most every night. What was especially meaningful to us is how well-decorated the cabin is with very nice furnishings and all the space. Of course the bonfire pit near the river was relaxing for us, too. We all highly recommend this cabin. The owner was very good to work with as well. Plus we could bring our dogs at no additonal charge!

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

Guest: Jeff S. (Sterling Heights, MI)
Date of Stay: 06/10/09 Review Submitted: 06/10/09

Having stayed in one of Doug's previous vacation cabins, the bar had been set high. Well now, it's even higher. This vacation cabin is great for enjoying a week away with a large group. Plenty of room. Great cabin feel blended with higher-end touches such as a home theater system, sauna, and hot tub. Plus, there was something for everyone to do. People went shopping in Petoskey, some kayaked, some hit the trails, etc. My favorite though was spending time down by the Sturgeon River. I was by myself for two days before the rest of my group came up and that's where you most likely would've found me (I just wish I was better at Trout fishing that what I am). I look forward to spending more time here in the future!

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I look forward to spending more time here...

Guest: Jeff S. (Sterling Heights, MI)
Date of Stay: 05/30/09 Review Submitted: 06/10/09

Having stayed in one of Doug's previous vacation cabins, the bar had been set high. Well now, it's even higher. This vacation cabin is great for enjoying a week away with a large group. Plenty of room. Great cabin feel blended with higher-end touches such as a home theater system, sauna, and hot tub. Plus, there was something for everyone to do. People went shopping in Petoskey, some kayaked, some hit the trails, etc. My favorite though was spending time down by the Sturgeon River. I was by myself for two days before the rest of my group came up and that's where you most likely would've found me (I just wish I was better at Trout fishing that what I am). I look forward to spending more time here in the future!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, pet owners, sightseeing.