Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids

Photo gallery for Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids

A marina with multiple sailboats docked at wooden piers.
A sign for Elk Rapids Upper Harbor with a view of the marina and boats.
A white front door with a glass panel, a doorbell, and a wall-mounted light fixture.
A sandy playground with various play structures including swings, slides, and climbing frames.
A living room with a beige sofa, a coffee table, and a patterned rug. There are two lamps on either side of the sofa.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Lake Michigan

Popular amenities

  • Porch or lanai
  • Barbecue grill
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View in a map
Elk Rapids, MI
  • Place, Grand Traverse Bay
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, North Beach
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Elk Lake
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪24 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Eastroom

1 Queen Bed

Westroom

1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

2 bathrooms

Main

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Second Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Exterior
Grand Traverse Sandy Beach Just a Few Steps Away!
Elk Rapids
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (29 reviews)
Grand Traverse Sandy Beach Just a Few Steps Away!

About the neighborhood

Elk Rapids

Located in Elk Rapids, this vacation home is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Torch Lake. Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum and Music House Museum are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the sledding and ice skating.
View more Vacation Homes in Elk RapidsOpens in a new window
Map
Elk Rapids, MI

What's nearby

  • Veterans Memorial Park - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Grand Traverse Bay - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Elk Rapids District Library - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • North Beach - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Elk Lake - 3 min drive - 2.6 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Oasis Tavern - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Johnny's Torch Riviera - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Dam Shop - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Riverwalk Grill and Taproom - ‬14 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids?

As of Nov 14, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids on May 2, 2027 start from $323, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Steps to Lake Michigan & Downtown Elk Rapids located?

Situated on a lake, this vacation home is within a 5-minute walk of Veterans Memorial Park and Lake Michigan. Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall and Grand Traverse Bay are also within 5 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location! Love the eclectic vibe of the crooked cottage. This was our 5th year staying here and it has pretty much everything you need and close to the beach and downtown.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
One of coolest places we’ve ever stayed… and we’ve stayed at a lot of places..Walking into the place you’ll soon understand why.. meticulously decorated and extra of everything and anything.. will definitely stay again! Thank you for a great family vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 1, 2026
Marcel, We are so happy you enjoyed your stay and your kind words after!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love this place
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love this place! Great location
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful time and great location.
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Can't beat the location. The screened in porch was so beautiful and relaxing at night after the kids went to bed! we loved our stay :)
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing vacation

Great home in downtown close to beaches. Already rebooked another stay for next year.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

This cottage is in a wonderful location. Very close to the beach and easy access to everything in town. Easy check-in and communication was great. Will definitely consider staying here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent property

This is our fifth year renting. Love this place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location where you can play on the beach every day. Cottage is full of everything you need, outdoor play equipment and kitchen items. Comfy beds and plentiful beach towels.
Stayed 17 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great find

Quaint, clean and near beaches and downtown. Nicely decorated. This is our third year and will stay again.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 5, 2024
Thank you Terri. We truly appreciate guests like you who treat our humble cottage as your own. Happy to have you all return. Janet & Ron
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Crooked Cottage

We loved the house & it was close to many things. Perfect ranch style cottage & home away from home. Would stay again or recommend it to friends & family.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home Away from Home

This was our 3rd year staying at the Crooked Cottage and have already booked it for next year. Great location in a beautiful destination. Love the eclectic decor. We always look forward to finding new pieces that have been added.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 5, 2024
Bob, Thank you for that great review! We are happy to welcome you back a 4th time. You might hold the record! Janet
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great spot in Elk Rapids

This place is a real gem. The interior is well designed and thoughtfully decorated. The kitchen is super well equipped and the location is perfect for exploring the gorgeous little town as well as quick treks to Traverse and the surrounding areas. Will definitely return!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect spot in beautiful Elk Rapids

We had a perfect stay at the Crooked Cottage! It is a spacious and well-designed layout for our group. And is the perfect location for exploring Elk Rapids - just one block to the beach and a few to downtown. Can’t wait to visit again. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Year 45 enjoying Elk Rapids and year 4 staying at the Crooked Cottage. As always it didn’t disappoint. They have everything you need and everything you forgot you would need. Great location too. Can’t wait until next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We’ll be back!

This was our second year staying here and we have already booked for next year. Centrally located for downtown dinning and shopping, as well as the beach. Everything you need is provided, except a cheese grater, but no worries we brought a brand new one with us this year and added it to the drawer for future guests. Looking forward to staying here again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

fantastic!!!

WE LOVED This property. The decor was beautiful. The beds were comfortable. We actually purchased the sheets from the beds as soon as we got home because we loved them. The kitchen had everything you could need! The property owners were thoughtful and left flowers and wine and snacks. WE will be back!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 7, 2020
Mary, Thank you so much for the great review! We would be happy to have you stay again! Stay well. Janet
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway!

This little cottage was perfect for our family of 4. Amazing location right across the street from a gorgeous beach perfect for walks and taking in the view. Walking distance from restaurants and the friendly town of Elk Rapids. The house itself is homey and comfortable. It had everything we needed and then some! Beautifully decorated with comfy furniture and plenty of spaces for meals and family time. Our host, Janet, made sure we were well taken care of and checked in via messages to make sure we had a care-free and amazing stay. I would 100% stay here again and can't recommend this host and experience enough! Thank you :)
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved the electric furnishings and being next to the beach and town.

Rental atmosphere was relaxing and uplifting in design. Had all that we needed and then some. We will definitely be back with our inflatable.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Allen MI Trip

This was our first time to MI and we fell in love. The crooked cottage is in a perfect location. It was clean and well decorated. We definitely hope to travel back.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Elm St

A great location to explore from!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great memorial weekend stay!

Booking was simple, very close to the beach! Everything worked great! The beds were comfie, clean and lots of pillows which were also comfie and clean! The house was bigger then we thought. Did bring a full size air mattress for one of our friends staying with us and set it up in the living room and still had plenty of room!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on May 31, 2022
Thank you for the review! Kudos to you all for running the Bayshore! Quite an accomplishment! Hope you can return next year. You all were very respectful to our humble cottage and left it in great shape. Appreciatively, Janet
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Visit

This was a good base camp for exploring not only Elk Rapids but the entire NW MI area. Sleeping Bear, Traverse City, Old Mission Point, Charlevoix, Petosky and Tunnel of Trees are all within a short drive. Having the beach and the sunset a block away was incredible and the whole town is easily walkable. This quirky cottage is well decorated and well located.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved this cottage

Janet was super responsive. Everything was super clean and the location was perfect. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
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