Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great Vacation Home for Girlfriends' Wine Weekend Getaway

Guest: SteanBean (Howell, MI)
Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/06/11

I just returned home from our group's weekend stay at Roby's Retreat and couldn't wait to write a review on the house. This house was PERFECT for our girlfriends' wine tasting weekend. At first, we looked for hotels to stay in during our visit to the Traverse City area, but nothing quite fit. I started looking for other options and when I came across Roby's Retreat, I had a feeling I had found our home away from home for the weekend. Not to mention, it was cheaper per person to rent the house than it would have been to stay in individual hotel rooms - and I feel there were many, many more benefits to staying at the house. (And you cannot beat the view and location!) There is great gathering space on the main and lower level, allowing our entire group to hang out together. The house was very well equipped, the furnishings very comfortable, and everything was very clean. Everyone in the group loved this cottage and a few were even interested in possibly renting the home during the summer with their families. What you read in the description and see in the photos accurately reflect the home. If you're looking for a cozy and homey cottage on the lake for a large group, this is it. There really could not have been a better place to stay for this event. The ladies can't wait for next year!

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

Great clean house with lot of amenities

Guest: Seattler (Redmond, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/09/11

We rented this house this summer and we just had a blast there. We were a group of 14 adults and 5 kids. The house is very well maintained inside and outside the kids and adults had lot of fun with paddle boat and kayak. There is a volleyball net outside, and sand toys. We wish we planned to stay for one more day. Great house and the owner is a great communicator and very nice to interact with!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Wow!

Guest: YPOM (Rochester. MI/USA)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/31/11

We had a group of 21 in for Memorial Day weekend, 2011, and can't wait to go back! Everyone in our group couldn't stop talking about what a great house and great location it was! Everything you can imagine or need is there - very well appointed!! The house is about 26 miles away from downtown Traverse City, but nicely away from everything. Very quiet. :)

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Vivan Steemers (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 08/11/09 Review Submitted: 08/11/09

Our family spent a wonderful week at Roby's Retreat. The house is very comfortable, the view on the bay beautiful and the possibilities for young and old to enjoy themselves numerous. Living ourselves in Michigan, we were eager to show our relatives from California and Europe the best Michigan has to offer during our family reunion... we succeeded!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Jennifer Hall (Ann Arbor MI)
Date of Stay: 04/01/06 Review Submitted: 04/18/06

Thank you for the wonderful Easter. Our family had a grand time flying kites, boating, looking for minnows, and having an Easter egg hunt. We even had a contest to see who could stay in the water the longest - it was cold but the kids loved walking in it. The fireplace and hot tub were a perfect compliment to a day outside in the fresh spring weather.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Don & Mary Ann Stange (Rochester Hills, Mi)
Date of Stay: 10/01/04 Review Submitted: 10/17/04

A great place! The location, of course, is a great start, but only the start. We slept all 18 of us very comfortably. Everything necessary was supplied.A very comfy and nice place. The screened porch was great and the hot tub a wonderful addition. We couldn't have enjoyed our stay more. The fire pit was enjoyed two out of our three nights at your place and we hope our singing wasn't too loud, but we were having fun. The kids loved the paddle boat too.

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 09/03/04 Review Submitted: 09/02/04

Just a short note to say hi and let you know the clan really enjoyed our week together at Roby's Retreat in early August. Thanks for making it available. It is a lovely place in a beautiful area! The weather wasn't great but it didn't stop us from having a great time. I hope we can do it again. -E.C. August, 2004

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 08/31/04 Review Submitted: 08/30/04

Just wanted to let you know that we all loved Roby's Retreat.... what a beautiful place! Somehow - despite all the beautiful pictures - you have to be there to really appreciate it. The screened in porch was especially nice since we all love to play cards and this enabled us to do that in the fresh air without the added "benefit" of bugs! We really lucked out on the weather too......Thanks again PV for such a great getaway! -A.B. August, 2004

Recommended for:

Guest: T.C.
Date of Stay: 07/31/04 Review Submitted: 07/30/04

Memories of Roby's Retreat this week were rich with the sounds of seagulls and children, jet boat engines and coyotes howling. We so enjoyed this vacation up North. Family gathered from as far west as Kansas and as far south as Ashville, NC. It was an idyllic week weather-wise and the accommodations allowed for space to run & space to gather together. Thank you for creating a space near such beauty for families to come together to enjoy nature and the beauty of each others company.

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 07/25/04 Review Submitted: 07/24/04

I was part of the group which just rented (July 17-24th) and want to thank you for renting your place. Our family had such a wonderful time and enjoyed the house and ALL of its accommodations. Your place was very nice and worked out very well for our large group, especially the children! We hope to visit again next summer! -T.K. July, 2004

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 07/12/04 Review Submitted: 07/11/04

It was WONDERFUL! We enjoyed the house so much - all your personality and warmth comes through. Thanks so much for a great time, -S.M. July, 2004

Recommended for:

Guest: K. S.
Date of Stay: 07/10/04 Review Submitted: 07/09/04

Great place for a big group. Many directions for people to disperse themselves. Also loved the large living area on main floor for gathering together. Character of the home, with so many games, books & good movies shouts out for family fun times. We found ourselves admiring your style and wishing we could meet you! Thanks for a great stay. We'd love to come another time.

Recommended for:

Guest: A.S.
Date of Stay: 07/10/04 Review Submitted: 07/09/04

Thanks for sharing your house. It was a great vacation and allowed me to appreciate a part of the country I'd never spent time in. It was an enjoyable week with tons of family fun and relaxation. Thank you.

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 07/01/04 Review Submitted: 06/30/04

Thank you so much for letting us spend a week in your home. We had such a delightful time. All 20 of us were in and out during the week. Only 5 of us were there the entire time but 4 more stayed until Thursday. We really enjoyed ourselves. Thanks again for all the work you do to make this comfortable and homey for your renters. The little touches do not go unnoticed. -B.K. June, 2004

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 01/02/04 Review Submitted: 01/01/04

We had a lovely time in your home. It is beautiful, as is the view…………Your neighbor ……is quite a nice man and clearly keeps an eye on things for you. He was kind enough to lend us some jumper cables. As a last note, being a school librarian, I was very impressed with your book selections. Thank you again for such a lovely retreat location. Happy New Year.-M.H. December, 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 10/25/03 Review Submitted: 10/24/03

We had the most wonderful weekend at the cottage. The house was beautiful and comfortable and the views were spectacular! The colors were FABULOUS! -V.H. October, 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 08/30/03 Review Submitted: 08/29/03

What a spot for a family reunion. There were beds for everyone! Thanks for sharing. -M.T. August, 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 08/15/03 Review Submitted: 08/14/03

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful retreat. We felt so pampered! The cappuccinos on the deck were a perfect way to start our day. The sound of the water, the beautiful and ever changing sky made for perfect relaxation. What a privilege to be here. -E.W. August 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 08/10/03 Review Submitted: 08/09/03

With all of the cozy touches your house seems like a bed & breakfast--only without the breakfast and the host!......Our group of 4 families was very comfortable. T.L. July, 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 08/01/03 Review Submitted: 07/31/03

What a great place.....The five grandchildren were busy the whole time playing in the water, tracking the deer prints, & watching chipmunks play on the rocks. It was so nice to be able to sleep 16 people and still have beds left. Everything was provided for, even some good reading books, toys for the kids, games, etc.etc. The firepit provided many nights of fun as well as the best smores. Your house provided a wonderful week of fun & rest. There is also an abundance of sand! -P.L. July, 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 07/20/03 Review Submitted: 07/19/03

Beautiful weather, cottage was wonderful, campfires on the beach, trips to Sutton's Bay, Northport, Traverse City, tennis at Northport, pontoon boat on Lake Leelanau to Leland, lunches and dinners at Eddies, Woody's, Bluebird, Sgt. Pepperoni's, lots of fun and relaxation. -S.D. July, 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 07/03/03 Review Submitted: 07/02/03

We enjoyed the cottage very much. Our trepidations that it might not be all that was advertised were laid to rest. There was plenty of room, the girls were impressed with the well equipped kitchen, the set-up for electronics as well as for the outside activities worked out well and there are, of course, many activities within a short distance. Additionally, we were lucky enough to have better weather than one might expect at that time of year. We would not hesitate to return sometime in the future, and would recommend the place to others needing a place for a large group. -J.D. June, 2003

Recommended for:

Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 06/30/03 Review Submitted: 06/29/03

Just wanted to drop you a note and tell you what a great time we had up in the TC area while staying at your home in Omena. The home was very nice and made for a very enjoyable vacation……We had a wonderful time and can't really think of any improvements to such a great place. We really enjoyed our week in T.C. and look forward to doing it again sometime in the future!-A.S. June, 2003

Recommended for: