Vacation Rentals by Owner

Best Rental We've Ever Had

Guest: nancy (grand rapids MI)
Date of Stay: 09/11/11 Review Submitted: 09/21/11

Super clean, cozy place. We felt at home immediately. Everything we could possibly need was thought of in advance for us. Beautiful waterfront out your door in addition to lots of hiking, beaches, great fishing nearby. Tip: Its a bit of a drive to nearest grocery store, so come prepared with at least a few days worth to start out. Deb and Mark are wonderful hosts. Looking forward to renting again.

Owner response:We take great pride in the cleanliness and condition of maintenance of our cottages. While we are 20 miles from the grocery store, the drive is well worth it! It is truly a secret hide-a-way! Peaceful and quiet.

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

PURE MICHIGAN

Guest: Cass (Waterville,Ohio)
Date of Stay: 09/02/11 Review Submitted: 09/21/11

Deb and Mark, Great seeing you again. This was my second trip to the Shadows and folks you just can't find more gracious hosts than Deb/Mark. They made our stay as pleasant as possible and Mark went why above what a host should do to make our trip wonderful!!! Fishing was great even during the rain. My son who hasn't had a vacation in two years was in heaven with all the fish he caught. This cottage has everything you need and this made it like home. Ludington was busy and full of people and seems to have grown since last year. If you really want to experience PURE MICHIGAN then this is the place to go. It's quiet,clean and full of things to do if you just take the time. Kudos on the new cottage Mark. It's beautiful and I only wished I had booked one day sooner. I highly recommend this place for any age group. Your in for a thrill of a lifetime. Only wish we had more time. Tim/Jeremy Cassidy Waterville,Ohio

Owner response:We love to see our friends from year to year. Thank you for the kudos on the new cottage by the lake. It took Mark a lot of hours to make it the beautiful cottage that it is. Next time, bring your wife and try it! We are sure you will love it as much as the cottage you have stay in twice. We look forward to seeing you and/or your family again.

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

Beautiful little spot

Guest: Lindy (cleveland heights, ohio)
Date of Stay: 08/18/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

The cottage was great. Really clean, nicely built, and all the amenities you need. The property is beautiful -- you're literally in the middle of the woods (Manistee forest), but right on the shore of Lake Hamlin. Night time sky is beautiful. We enjoyed star gazing at the fire pit at night. Trailheads for beautiful hikes through Manistee National forest just down the road from the place. We took our 12 year old, 6 year old and 5 year old on a mile or so hike that spits you out right onto the shore of Lake Michigan. Pretty dunes. The owners are friendly, warm, down-to-earth people who seem like the type of folks that would bend over backward for you. We did not really explore Hamlin Lake, but probably the best way to do that would be to rent yourself a pontoon and keep it right at the property's dock. Also, unless you're willing to hike to it, like we did, shores/beaches of Lake Michigan are about a 20-25 minute drive away in Ludington (as are grocery stores, etc. So come to the cottage with your food and drink, as nothing is very close). Overall, a really nice stay.

Owner response:The cottage is in the middle of the Manistee National Forest, only 4 miles from Lake Michigan at the Federal Camp Ground. Maps are provided for the trails for hiking as well as to get to Lake Michigan without going into Ludington or Manistee. I usually tell people about shopping before they get to the cottage as it is 14 miles from Manistee and 18 miles from Ludington for grocery shopping. I apologize for neglecting this bit of information and will include it in the description of the property for future reference. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

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

We came back.........

Guest: Mary (South Lyon, Mi)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/31/11

This was our second trip back to Shadows of Hamlin Lake, and once again had a great time. Debbie and Mark welcome you in like family. We love taking our jet ski out on Hamlin Lake, especially to Ludington State Park Dunes. The cottage is nicely decorated, clean and has all the amenities you need. Ludington is about 20 miles out, and offers many quaint shops and delicious restaurants. We look forward to coming back!

Owner response:The area us full of places and things to explore. Not only the Manistee National Forest for hiking, trips to Lake Michigan, etc., but also the port city of Manistee. There is a lovely boardwalk that runs from downtown to Lake Michigan. Along the boardwalk there are many little shops to visit and fishing charter boats to see coming in with their catch of the day! There are several eating places and don't forget the ice cream! Just one more place to explore when you come next year!

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

Hoosiers

Guest: Hoosiers (Fort Wayne, IN)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

The Shadows exceeded our expectations in size and the amount of activities at our fingertips; my husband stated that "we didn't even scratch the surface of Manistee Forest". We canoed, tubed, hiked and spent a lot of time at the beach (my girls' favorite). The biking is limited to mountain-bike style trailing so I wouldn't haul them up unless you have true mountain bike tires, but there are many towns nearby with great trails. If you didn't ever want to leave, you wouldn't have to. Hamlin Lake was clean and provided a very serene setting. We saw many deer and some very cool birds. The owners were wonderful and the cabin was extremely clean. My daughter left her glasses and the owners are sending them back, now that is hospitatlity. It was also an excellent time to visit as blueberry season was in full swing and as we headed south for home, peaches were just coming available. What a great family memory!

Owner response:As you found, there is always plenty to do here, or just relax and enjoy the lakes. The hummingbirds are extremely active right now, must be getting ready to fly south! Blueberry picking is a great family activity at the many farms nearby. Maybe next time.....

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

EXCELLENT!

Guest: Joanna (Toledo, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

What a wonderful vacation! The cabin was larger than I expected and wonderfully decorated! It had a great kitchen with all the pots/pans, utensils and dinnerware we could ask for. And what a nice shower with plenty of hot water. Everything was SO clean and there was a real attention to detail. We had a lot of fun fishing throughout the week and brought home a good mess of panfish. When not out in the boat fishing with dad, our 11 year old enjoyed the fishing action from the docks. My husband found the lakeside fish cleaning station very handy. We really enjoyed the beautiful Lake Michigan beach and dunes located close-by in the Manistee National Forest. The wildlife (deer, fox) on and around the property was a real delight. Before we left Ludington, we stopped and picked 2 buckets of big, sweet blueberries -- Debbie had stopped by the cabin one day with a bowl to share with us and told us about the blueberry farm. Mark and Debbie were great hosts and were more than willing help out, answer questions or do anything to make our stay enjoyable. We have already committed to coming back again next year.

Owner response:Fishing has been awesome this year! You started a great streak in catching fish. The fish cleaning station has been used more this year than ever before. There is plenty to do here are you found, beside fishing! Glad you enjoyed the blueberries. Looking forward to seeing you next year.

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

Wonderful!

Guest: Carol (Ionia, MI)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/27/11

Our stay at "The Shadows" was everything we were hoping for and more. The cottage was immaculately clean and well equiped from the kitchen to the bathroom. Our week there was extremely hot and humid so the air conditioning was very much appreciated. Outside was just as nice as the inside. The outside seating, firepit, boat dock, lake breezes and especially the views were excellent. We had a very relaxing week! We had a sneak peak into "The Boathouse"....adorable and every bit as nice!

Owner response:We are so glad you had a wonderful vacation and that all was what you expected. The Boathouse is now done! You can see the pictures on VRBO #367496. With this cottage sleeping 4 and the one you stayed in sleeping 5, perhaps next year your relatives that stayed across the lake can stay here too! The Boathouse also has AC:)

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

GREAT VACATION

Guest: Dave & Carla Evans (woodridge Il)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 08/02/11

This was our second time at the shadows and it was awesome. The lake was great went tubing and swimming at the sand dunes a lot. The girls did some shopping in Ludington, sunsets over lake michigan. The cabin is wonderfully decorated,clean and relaxing. Saw lots of deer,wild turkeys,and a family of foxes, it was like watching national geographic channel. Had wonderful campfires on the lake. Mark and Deb are great host,we will be back. Mark, thanks for the hollow log were still talking about that. Dave,Carla & Haley

Owner response:It was so nice to see you and your family again. You have just scratched the surface on the many adventures that await you here. There is something for everyone, blueberry picking, hikes in the woods, fishing, skiing, and in the winter ice fishing, snowmobiling, or just taking it easy in the cottage watching a good movie. Great to see you again!

Recommended for:

Awesome!!

Guest: Tammy (Fowlerville, MI) (Fowlerville, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 08/08/11

This is a great place to kick back and relax for the week. We were quite suprised at it's location. Very remote and nestled in the shadows of the beautiful surrounding forest. The cottage is so clean and cozy and nicely decorated. Our sons found the fishing on Lake Hamlin to be awesome. The best they've ever had--Small and Large Mouthed Bass, Pike, and Walleye. Mark and Deb are great hosts and I would highly recommend to families or couples looking for a great place to escape and relax!

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

Phenomenal

Guest: Tonia (Lansing)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/30/11

This was a wonderful place to stay. Very clean and well kept and the view was spectacular. The owners were friendly, helpful and just all around magnificant. I came home today (Memorial Day 2011) after a wonderful weekend and checked on line to see when I could return. Unfortunately for me, it is such a great place to stay with such amazing hosts that it is almost completely booked for the entire summer already. Hopefully, I can work out my schedule to book some of the remaining time left or maybe I'll just have to take a fall color tour and go up later in the year. Almost everything you need is provided which makes packing all that much easier, just food and beach towels. With the Manistee National Forest, some dunes, quaint shopping in Manistee and Ludington you couldn't ask for a better getaway. I would definately recommend this place to any one and every one. Thank you Deb and Mark for such a great holiday weekend!

Owner response: As you look at your calendar, please remember that The Shadows #2 will be available mid-July for your next "get away", it will sleep 4 and will be all brand new!! Give us a call for dates.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful place to stay!

Guest: Renee S. (Eagan, MN)
Date of Stay: 05/16/11 Review Submitted: 05/31/11

My family recently stayed here for a few days and we had a wonderful time. The owners are very kind and welcoming and we had a wonderful time exploring the woods and enjoying the beautiful lake view.

Owner response:The lake and the woods are always exciting, no matter what the age. Summer especially is a great time to explore the woods and the water. There are many opportunities for boating, swimming, skiing, and just laying around on the dunes or shore. Just wait until you see the summer sunsets over the dunes!! Breathtaking.

Recommended for:

Quiet, peaceful, beautiful!

Guest: Nancy (Holland, MI)
Date of Stay: 10/15/10 Review Submitted: 11/01/10

I thoroughly enjoyed my long weekend at your cottage. Inside it is so clean and welcoming. The view of the lake from the living room, bedroom, and little deck was gorgeous. I loved sitting on the deck. It was so quiet and peaceful. Great place to totally relax, enjoy the fall colors, and the peaceful surroundings. Deb and Mark are so welcoming. They definitely have the gift of hospitality! Loved every minute of it, and was sad when I had to head home. Thanks!! Hope to visit again sometime.

Owner response:You had a beautiful weekend to stay at our cottage. The colors were at their peak. The fall sunsets over the dunes coupled with the reflection of the colors on the water make for an unforgetable getaway. We know there are some who miss you too so hurry back soon! We are so glad you had a good time.

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

Beautiful Vacation!

Guest: Denise (Dearborn, Mi)
Date of Stay: 09/17/10 Review Submitted: 09/24/10

Our trip in Mid Sept was a planned, "say goodbye to summer" mini vacation, and I have to say, I dont think I could have picked a more beautiful area. The shadows is located on a perfect part of Hamlin Lake. You can see the dunes from their lake front, and easily & quickly get there by boat.! The cottage was cute and clean; just perfect for us. Very nicely and interestingly decorated. The view of the lake from the big picture window was great. Deb and Mark certainly know the area and were great in answering ALL my questions. (i ask a lot of them!) They recommended dinner at The Bungalow in Manistee. It was probably the best steak dinner I've had all year! Our day trips to Manistee and Ludington were wonderful, even with the cooler weather. Manistee is particularly neat with the river walk that is in town, and of course you must visit the Ludington State Park! We always looked forward to heading back to the cottage in the evenings for the deer sightings and to fish both off the dock and by boat, but also just to relax. There is a nice firepit along the lake front that we used our last night. The morning that we left I told my husband; " we've got to go down to the lake and sit and say goodbye to the lake"!! I was sad to leave, but thankful for the wonderful experiences we had. Thanks again Deb and Mark! We hope to be able to come back next September!

Owner response:Your questions kept us on our toes! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to the next time, hopefully, it will be warmer, but I know it was warm in the cottage and by the fire. See you soon.

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

Excellent get away

Guest: Shelly (Waterville OH)
Date of Stay: 09/07/10 Review Submitted: 10/13/10

We felt at home as soon as we walked in the door of this very clean, cheery vacation home. The view of Hamlin Lake from the windows is very soothing and beautiful. The fishing is fabulous as you can just drop your line over the breakwall or off the dock. It's the perfect place to really get away from everything. We'll definitely go back.

Owner response:Fishing is great here, all year round, and as you found, right off the shore! You caught some big ones!!! The sunsets too are awesome, you missed a great one, all pink, just after you left. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

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

Wonderful Spot on North Hamlin Lake

Guest: Jack&Marlene (Grandville, MI)
Date of Stay: 09/03/10 Review Submitted: 09/10/10

What a marvelous, restful, enjoyable stay we had! Even the cold, windy, rainy weather wasn't a detriment - we watched satellite TV, played games, visited Ludington & Manistee - Lake Michigan was a thrill to experience with the gale force winds! But we regretted not bringing our lap top. The dock & boat station were handy, with the DNR launch and a restaurant/bar across the lake a perfect location. The wide shore line for watching beautiful sunsets, with a great fire pit & comfortable seating, was lovely (I loved my cat companion). The dirt roads are good for biking, plus there is a trail head down the road to the Lake MI shore for hiking (plus access to the Lake Michigan Recreational Area). The cottage was CLEAN and COMFORTABLE, well decorated with attention to detail, providing everything needed to make living easy. Mark & Deb were perfect hosts, with a wealth of info, suggestions, help and anything else we needed, yet not disturbing our privacy or rest. It was a joy to get to know them and the history of their homestead! We will be back, and will gladly tell others of our enjoyable stay!

Owner response:We enjoyed meeting you both and having you stay in our cottage. This area has so much to offer, even in inclement weather, as you found out. Glad the games came in handy. We look forward to seeing you again, and your friends. Hope they enjoyed the visit too.

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

Martin Family

Guest: Martin Family (Linden, MI)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 09/05/10

Our family had a wonderful week at the cottage and we can not wait to return. Our youngest already has asked when we are going back - next week?? The cottage was extremely clean, organized and comfortable. We would highly recommend the cottage to anyone who is seeking a relaxing vacation with beautiful views. We may even try to rent in the winter so the kids (and us) can go sledding! Mark and Deb were very helpful and went out of their way to ensure our entire family (kids included) had a wonderful stay. This get away was exactly what we needed - quailty family time. Thanks Mark and Deb!

Owner response:You were a joy to have at the cottage. Your family is much like ours, picking up sticks in the woods to make fires, eating "pillow" marshmallows, throwing sticks/balls for the dog, etc (she missed the boys right away!) Hope to see you again soon!

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

A perfect vacation spot to relax

Guest: Bob&Jan (Florida)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 08/20/10

A wonderful, relaxing spot.You feel like you are all alone but the terriific hosts are there when you need them. Deb & Mark are the perfect hosts, knowlegeable, helpful and very pleasant. Anything you need, anything you need to know,is available but they are totally unobstrusive. We had a great week. We will tell everyone about it. A nice quiet spot and a beautiful cottage - like brand new! Wish we could live there all summer!

Owner response:It was a hot week, even for Floridians! Fishing will be better in May, cooler weather anyway. We will be waiting for you whenever you are able to visit again. You both are a treasure. Thanks for the input. There is a potatoe peeler in the drawer now!

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/06/10 Review Submitted: 02/06/10

Very nice owners. They went to great lengths to ensure my husband and his friends had a great fishing weekend. Thanks again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/23/09

The cottage had a great view and was clean, quiet, and private. The owners were very hospitable and there was a great firepit by the lake.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/23/09

Our stay at Lake Hamlin was awesome. Mark and Debbie were great hosts. Our kids--13, 15 and 18--loved the cottage and how close the lake was to us. Having the whole lakefront area to ourselves was a plus. The lift for the boat and the private dock allowed us to come and go as we pleased. The secluded location didn't keep us from going into town each day to explore Ludington and get to know the beautiful area around Lake Hamlin. We would definitely give it an A+ rating and are hoping to return again next year.

Recommended for:

Guest: Dave & Carla Evans (woodridge Il)
Date of Stay: 08/04/09 Review Submitted: 08/04/09

Thanks Mark & Deb, Our stay was great the Cabin was beautiful and roomy located on a gorgeous lake, love the firepit and both decks. Mark went out of his way to help me dock and pull out my boat. Very nice and accomadating people I would highly recommend this place especially if you are looking for a relaxing, secluded location. Thanks again for a wonderful time Dave & Carla Evans

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/28/09 Review Submitted: 07/28/09

A very nice cottage in an excellent location. Extremely well-furnished. Hamlin Lake is a delight. Very friendly and accomodating owners.

Recommended for:

Guest: the "Hops" (Holland, MI)
Date of Stay: 07/21/09 Review Submitted: 07/21/09

First time at the "Shadows", but hopefully not the last! Mark and Deb made us feel so welcome, the cottage was supplied with everything we needed, the lake setting was awesome - even if the weather didn't always cooperate :)

Owner response:We were so glad to meet all of your family. As you say, the weather wasn't always the best, but the fish didn't seem to mind! See you next year.

Recommended for:

Guest: Ewa1 (Columbus, OH)
Date of Stay: 07/12/09 Review Submitted: 07/12/09

There is not much to say, The cottage on the lake in the middle of the woods was cozy, clean and tastefully decorated. We got what we asked for and so much more. We really enjoyed hiking on the close-by trails, walking on the Lake Michigan beaches, exploring Manistee and Ludington and quiet time by Lake Hamlin. That was the perfect cottage and perfect location for our vacation. Thank you Deb and Mark!

Owner response:Thank you for your input on our cottage. We went right out and bought a new coffee maker, as you said the one we had was so slow! Now your coffee will be ready when you are for hiking, fishing, seeing the sites, etc.!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/29/09 Review Submitted: 06/29/09

We really enjoyed our week at the cabin. It is tastefully decorated and well maintained. Mark & Deb are excellent hosts, very warm and friendly. They were very informative about the lake and activities.

Recommended for:

Guest: Arrow1 (Grand Rapids, MI)
Date of Stay: 05/20/09 Review Submitted: 05/20/09

Deb and Mark went to great lengths to see to our comfort. The lake is beautiful, and the cabin is newly redone. We look forward to returning soon.

Owner response:Thank you for your input on our cottage. You were the first people to stay at our cottage. We went and bought a new DVD/CD player at your suggestion. On your next visit you will be able to use the DVD/CD player with greater ease!

Recommended for: