Serene Home & Keeper's Cottage, Sandy Beach & Labyrinth

• Great location, very comfortable!

  Great location, very comfortable!

  • Guest Julie
  • Date of stay 10/12/12
  • Review Submitted 10/17/12
  We (7 women on a girl's getaway) stayed in the house and apt the weekend of 10/12-14 and although the weather was cold and wet, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The home was just as shown in the photos and more - loved the fireplace. Upon arrival, we were greeted and shown where everything was and how to reach someone if necessary. You could tell the owner (and caretakers) cared for the property. The view and grounds were incredible and we all talked about how it would be the perfect place to come back to with family. Very relaxing!

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

  Owner response: Very happy you enjoyed yourselves in spite of the crummy weather! I agree a fire in the fireplace while looking out at that beautiful lake is very relaxing... Hope to see you again!

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• What a discovery!

  What a discovery!

  • Guest ann from Texas
  • Date of stay 09/14/12
  • Review Submitted 10/11/12
  Our family roots are in Wisconsin, so we rented this Lake Michigan home for a week in September to visit cousins, play golf in Kohler, and go to a Packers game in Green Bay. What a fantastic stay we had on all counts! And the best part of each day was coming back to Firefly for a walk on the beach and stoking up the fire pit! We cooked meals, rode bicycles, grilled outside, took pictures of sunsets and cloudburst, used both the main house and the adjacent living space, walked the labyrinth and garden, and LOVED the outdoor shower! Having manager Sally right down the road meant we never had a worry. This was a most delightful step into memories of how homes used to feel. . . a warm embrace by pine wood cabinets and windows always open. The upstairs bedrooms and deck served as a get-away for yoga or reading in peace and quiet. Already planning our return trip, so keep the light on for us! As the saying goes, some moments are priceless, and this was a weeklong jackpot! Ann from Texas

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

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• Just Fabulous

  Just Fabulous

  • Guest ARA
  • Date of stay 09/21/12
  • Review Submitted 09/26/12
  We wished we didn't have to leave!! :) The house is just amazing and great for a large family or group of friends. It has an amazing array of things to do and places to hang out. The beach is fantastic also... and if you are the type to wake up (or stay up) until 6 in the morning, the sun rise is just amazing.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

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• Illinois Family of 9

  Illinois Family of 9

  • Guest Marilyn and Family
  • Date of stay 08/10/12
  • Review Submitted 08/25/12
  This attractive home on the western shores of Lake Michigan is a fantastic place for a family of all ages. The Beach equals any you would find on the Oregon Coast. You can walk, run, wade, dig , or sun all day. Or you can enjoy peace and quiet on the second floor balcony, and watch the waves roll in. The lovely maintained yard offers play, places to read, two large tables for eating, and a firepit for making S'mores or telling stories after dark. Everything needed is available in the home's interior, including a great variety of activities for children. After being exposed to the Chicago sky for years, we especially enjoyed seeing STARS at night. A very special place for a family vacation. We hope to return.

  Recommended for: Pet owners, age 55+, families with young children, people with disabilities.

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• Grand Rapids Michigan

  Grand Rapids Michigan

  • Guest Tom
  • Date of stay 06/15/12
  • Review Submitted 06/26/12
  This place is GREAT for families who want to kick back and enjoy each other in a quiet, clean and beautiful place. Everything was as as wonderful as described and even more. We visited with our grown children and our 12 grandchildren ranging from 6 months to 15 years old. It was perfect and we can hardly wait to book again for next year. The beach is beautiful, the decks are shaded and perfect for reading while the kids are napping. Rooms were clean and very comfortable. Our favorite spot was the large table with umbrellas overlooking the lake. We ate almost every meal out side. The surrounding towns are small so if you are looking for exciting things to do this is not the place for you. However, if you are looking to make memories with your family come and enjoy.

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

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• Wonderful vacation home

  Wonderful vacation home

  • Guest lindsay
  • Date of stay 06/01/12
  • Review Submitted 06/17/12
  We were very lucky to have found this home on VRBO.com and to have spent a week here for our vacation, with guests ranging from 1 year old to over 75. The pictures look great, but this house and outdoor set up was far better than expected. The home was extremely well maintained, with many of the amenities (kitchen items, sheets and linens) as nice if not nicer than my own house! We were blessed with some amazing weather so most of our time was spent relaxing in the yard and/or beach. But there was more than enough space for everyone to enjoy the house indoors, and plenty of extra amenities such as games, books and toys. We also enjoyed the beautiful state park for running and riding bikes and all of the great options for golf nearby. Not a day went by that someone in our group wasn't praising the house for it's amazing views, private beach and amenities. We definitely hope to be back next year, and are planning to book it as soon as 2013 dates become available! The only thing I would do differently is bring less stuff because they really do have everything you need. On the last day I was still finding more games and activities that I wish I would have discovered earlier!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children.

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• A comfortable and relaxing getaway!

  A comfortable and relaxing getaway!

  • Guest RJ
  • Date of stay 10/27/11
  • Review Submitted 11/07/11
  Everything was exactly as described - a comfortable, relaxing location in a beautiful setting right on the beach. It was wonderful to enjoy long walks on the beach every day and fires on the beach nightly. Thanks for providing all the extras - books, games, firewood. We definitely hope to make this a regular destination!

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Hi Judy, I'm happy everyone enjoyed their stay and you were able to take in a little R&R at the beach. Hope to see you again next year!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Perfect

  Perfect

  • Guest DavidG
  • Date of stay 09/02/11
  • Review Submitted 09/25/11
  Our experience was wonderful. It was even better than our expectation. The fact that it is "tucked into" the landscape is extremely quiet with no road noise, and that every possible thing we could need was on hand, made this a fabulous stay. I am an interior designer, and loved the well-done 50's-80's decor, The 21st century was present as well in all the appropriate places. It is impossible to think that this would not be anybody's idea of a perfect beach vacation! We had looked long and hard to find a vacation spot that was on the beach. Not near the beach, across the street from the beach, down 100 steps to the beach, but on the beach. We were fortunate to have all kinds of weather and the experience of sitting in the wonderful teak Adirondack chairs only 10 feet from the surf was serene. The house is charming with a wonderful feeling of times gone bye and lazy vacation days. Most importantly, it is clear that this is a home and not a rental property. Each object was clearly chosen with feeling. All of us enjoyed discovering something else new to us that was beautiful or whimsical or both. Certainly these few days were halcyon days.

  Recommended for: Girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers, people with disabilities.

  Owner response: Hi David, Thank you for the great review! We are really pleased that you and your family had such an enjoyable stay. Hope to see you again in the near future... as you know it is a great place for some R&R. Take Care!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Beautiful, perfect retreat

  Beautiful, perfect retreat

  • Guest Lainie
  • Date of stay 08/12/11
  • Review Submitted 08/21/11
  This property looks great online, but it is even more wonderful in person. The green spaces are impeccably maintained and very beautiful, the private beach is pristine, and the main house is *adorable* and wonderful for socializing with family and friends. With the keeper's cottage, there was plenty of space for adults to stay up late, without disturbing the 2 year old and 6 month old children we had along. The keeper's cottage has a beautiful, large living space (living room, full kitchen, dining area, and large screened porch) that I never expected from the online description. The entire place was a treasure trove of extras - fun new books to find for kids and adults, adorable coffee mugs tucked away in cabinets, quirky occasional lamps in every room, board games, and more water toys than you could wish for. Every detail was in place - all you need to bring is your suitcase, groceries and an iPod! Oh, and maybe bug spray for those nights around the fire pit. :) We would recommend this place to anyone, and hope to be back soon.

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

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• Fantastic Place to stay!

  Fantastic Place to stay!

  • Guest Joanne
  • Date of stay 07/22/11
  • Review Submitted 08/03/11
  We stayed at Firefly Farm from July 22-July29. We had family join us from Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota. The house couldn't have been more inviting, clean and comfortable to stay in. There was everything supplied you could think of. There was a ping-pong table and many inside and outside games. The beach was clean and beautiful. The house was everything the listing said and more. We have rented beach homes in Michigan and this one far surpassed our expectations. We will definitely return next year!

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

  Owner response: Hi Joanne, Thank you for the great review. We are happy that everything worked out so well for you. We look forward to seeing you next year! Sally

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

May-June: $2,875/week; $480/night (May two-night minimum, June weekly rental only)
July-August: $3,335/week (weekly rental only)
September-October: $2,875/week; $480/night (two-night minimum)
Check-in is Friday, 4:30 PM; Check-out is following Friday, 10:00 AM
All rates are for up to 12 people.  Rates do not include 5.6% local sales tax.
We do not rent to prom groups, wedding receptions, parties and/or
bachelor/bachelorette outings.  Please contact for our pet policy.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.