Location: Honor, Northwest, Michigan, USA (just steps from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore)
Accommodations: Beach Cottage and Guest House, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 4-10)
Catch the sunrise to start your day and the sunset late in the evening from multiple furnished decks overlooking Big Platte Lake - dazzling water views from the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Please follow the link to our property website in order to read guest comments and view more pictures.
Our private sandy beach is bathed by crystal clear water. It is an ideal water-playground for children because of an extensive shallow area (300 feet); perfect for frolicking, wading, frisbee, and floating, with deeper water farther out for swimming, kayaking, jet-skiing, water-skiing, fishing, and canoeing. A Soft, mint-leaf lawn for volleyball or other barefoot adventures waits at the shoreline, and a flower-garden with a dizzying assortment of fragrant lillies separates the cottage from the guest house.
Our 500-foot driveway is lined with magnificent birch, maple and oak trees, lending a feeling of quiet seclusion to the property. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore can be reached in less than five minutes by foot - we are just outside the edge of the park. Some of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Michigan are just a five minute drive (ten minute bike ride) from the house. Alternatively, you could board our canoe or kayaks on our private beach, wind your way down the Platte River, and emerge two glorious hours later in the splendor of Lake Michigan.
Both the cottage and guest house were custom built in the mid-1990’s. The design concept was to allow light reflecting off of the lake to fill the structures with natural light. Open floorplans, skylights and huge windows make artificial lighting completely unnecessary during daylight hours. On clear, moon-lit nights, the glitter from Platte Lake throws an ethereal blue light throughout the cottage. The cottage living room, dining area, and kitchen are one open area, making it possible for big families to spread out while still inhabiting the same space. The guest house interior is also one open space with a sleeping area, a sitting area, and a TV-nook.
Sleeping arrangements are flexible. The bedroom in the cottage has a new queen bed; the sofabed in the cottage living-room sleeps two adults comfortably; the guest house has a new double bed; for those who prefer the slumber-party atmosphere, there are four self-inflating mattresses which can be put pretty much anywhere (indoors). These are not camping mattresses; they are equivalent in size and comfort to a twin mattress. Linens are provided (including towels).
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: A brand new large-capacity, front-loading washing machine is located inside the cottage. It looks like a space-ship, but it works in near complete silence.
- Dryer: The dryer is also located inside the cottage laundry room.
- Linens Provided
- Garage: Space for two cars/trucks and tons of gear.
- Off Street Parking: Private parking area accomodates up to ten cars.
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer: Easily enough space to accommodate multiple trailers and boats.
- Beds
- Queen Bed: In the master bedroom: comfortable, new, high-end mattress.
- Double Bed: In the guest house: comfortable, new, high-end mattress.
- Twin/Single Bed (4) : Self-inflating mattresses can be put anywhere indoors. The mattresses have self-contained pumps and inflate/deflate in minutes. They are surprisingly comfortable.
- Convertible Bed: Double sofa-bed in the living room has a new mattress.
- Crib
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV (2) : Both the cottage and guest house are equipped with cable TV. The cottage has a 36-inch flat-screen SONY along with a DVD player, and the guest-house has a 19-inch Zenith and a VCR.
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library: An extensive collection of fine films on DVD.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: The kitchen is stocked for serious cooking--gadgets galore, including a cuisinart food processor, a kitchen-aid mixer, a cuisinart waffle iron, gas stove, toaster, coffee maker, . .
- Cooking Utensils Provided: Calphalon cookware, lots of place settings, . . .
- Refrigerator: Full-size, and has a freezer as well.
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill: Grill with a great view of the water and watch the sunset as you cook--the BBQ is set up on the lower deck, next to an adorable little boathouse.
- Deck/Patio (4) : The guest house has a patio area facing the garden, and the cottage is surrounded by decks, two of which are furnished and feature gorgeous views of Platte Lake.
- View/Location
- Beachfront: The beach is private, and the sand is perfect--no stones, no weeds, no algae, no slime--just perfect, firm white sand and crystal clear water. Adjacent to the beach is a firepit for evening gatherings and smores!
- Lakefront: Platte Lake is a premier destination for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, boating, and fishing.
- Communications
- Telephone: One cordless telephone.
- Broadband Internet: Cable modem and broadband access are provided.
- Other Amenities
- Hardwood floors, Beautifully Furnished, Grand Piano, High Chair, Baby Swing, Baby Bath, Fine Patio Furniture, Waterfront Firepit, Bicycles (2), Water Floats (2), Boat Mooring, 17-foot canoe with paddles and life vests, 2 brand new kayaks!
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Kid Friendly: The beach is perfect for kids because of an extensive shallow area for swimming, wading, and playing in the water. Parents can lounge on the decks with a clear view of their swimming children, and the boat traffic is quite distant in the deeper water.
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters: We do not rent to vacationing students under the age of 25 unless they are accompanied by their parents.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Parasailing
- Jet Skiing
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Sledding/Tubing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Big Platte Lake is ideal for swimming, canoeing, 1/4 mile to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (hiking trails, Lake Michigan beaches), 1 mile to Riverside Canoe Trips (groceries, canoe and kayak rentals), 5 miles to the Cherry Bowl Drive In Theatre, 5 miles to Honor (organic and gourmet groceries, banks, post office, gas stations, DVD/video and game rentals), 10 miles to Empire (antiques, beaches, more hiking trails), 13 miles to Frankfort (charter fishing, shops and restaurants, fireworks, surfing), 18 miles to Glen Arbor (galleries, cute shops, Manitou Music Festival), 19 miles to Crystal Mountain Resort (golf, Michigan Legacy Art Park, #1-rated ski resort in the Midwest), 20 miles to Interlochen (concerts, exhibits, arts camp, arts academy), 25 miles to Traverse City (airport, shopping centers and malls), 28 miles to Arcadia Bluffs (#1-rated Golf Course in Michigan according to Golf Magazine)
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
a medical emergency cancellation has left us with availability in September
October through May: $200/night; $1000/week; scheduling is flexible.
Summer 2010: May 29-June 18: $1500/week; June 19-Oct. 2: $1900/week
Weekly rentals run Saturday - Saturday throughout the summer.
$500 deposit secures booking and serves as a damage deposit.
50% of rent due 60 days prior to occupancy.
Balance due 30 days prior to occupancy.
6% State Sales Tax; Pet fee: $25 per day, per pet.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Property Photos
- The view of Big Platte Lake from the upper deck of the cottage - Honor, Michigan Cottage and Guest House
- The dining and living areas of the cottage. - Honor, Michigan Cottage and Guest House
- Guest House: privacy for a couple, or slumber-party destination for the kids - Honor, Michigan Cottage and Guest House
- Our cozy retreat as seen from the street: peace & privacy
- From our property, you can reach this beach by foot, bike, kayak, canoe, or car
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #81130
There have been 13273 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2006.
This listing was first published here in 2006.
Date last modified - November 02, 2009
