The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included!
This is a gorgeous lakefront vacation rental home that is right on Lake Huron in Alpena, Michigan! It has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and sleeps 10. It has a large and gated yard for kids and dogs to play! The rental of the house also includes the use of 2 kayaks and the use of the boathouse on the property, so you can walk out the front door and immediately be in your boat and on the lake! Please note that a liability waiver must be signed before using the boathouse and/or the kayaks.
GUEST INTERACTION:
We have a wonderful local property manager that lives nearby and meets guests in person. After check-in, she is available to address any questions or issues as needed.
NEIGHBORHOOD:
Alpena is a wonderful and rather affordable getaway to nature and water in northern Michigan! Downtown Alpena is approx. a 10 to 15 minute drive from the house, depending upon where you are going. It has a nice historic downtown area with some excellent restaurants and shops. The area is renowned for beaches, swimming, fishing, kayaking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and exploring the beauty of nature in general!
Here are some additional details regarding local activities:
* Boat Rentals: We have had several guests ask about boat rentals in the Alpena area. We would suggest contacting Dodge Marine in Alpena if you are interested in boat rentals.
* Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is a popular winter sport in the area. Please visit www . icefishingalpena . com for more information on local ice fishing.
* Snowmobiling: There is a wonderful 70-mile snowmobiling trail runs from downtown Alpena to Cheboygan, and then continues either north to Mackinac City or south to Gaylord. Maps of this trail are available online.
GUEST ACCESS:
Guests have access to the entire property, including the boathouse. The only thing that is off-limits to guests is the apartment that is attached to the boathouse.
THE SPACE:
There are a few other items that we should mention regarding this vacation rental property:
* The lake bottom in front of the house is rather mucky, so for swimming we recommend going to one of the nearby public beaches, which are less than a 10-minute drive from the house. (Right in front of the lake wall, the lake is also approx. 3 feet deep. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH CHILDREN!)
* There is a separate small apartment on the property that is attached to the boathouse and is used by the property owner. At any time it is possible that the property owner may be staying in the boathouse apartment.
* The vacation house is pet-friendly and up to 2 dogs are permitted. Cats are not allowed. For other pets or more than 2 dogs, please discuss things with us first.
* The vacation home includes high-speed Wi-Fi. There is also a streaming television provided.
* There is a gated entrance (opened and closed by hand) that allows the large yard to be completely fenced in for kids and dogs.
* The house features a modern, large, and well-stocked kitchen with a gas range as well as a gorgeous view of of the lake while cooking.
* There are both indoor and outdoor dining tables for 6 people.
* The vacation home has a front loading washer and dryer in the downstairs bedroom. (The washer and dryer are in the bedroom closet.)
* There is a very nice fire ring with adirondack chairs for having wonderful bonfires and s'mores!
* Although not shown in the photos, there is a charcoal barbeque grill provided.
* The name of this vacation home, The Life Aquatic, derives from the property owner's passion for scuba diving as well as his love for Wes Anderson movies and is an allusion to the 2004 motion picture The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
TRANSIT:
We would suggest that guests have their own vehicle.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
(1) WATER LEVEL: Please note that the level of Lake Huron varies significantly. As such, the boat house may or may not be usable by boats depending upon the lake level. If you are interested in using the boat house for your boat, please contact us to discuss water levels and feasibility before making plans to use the boat house.
(2) PROPERTY NAME: The name, The Life Aquatic, derives from the property owner's passion for scuba diving as well as his love for Wes Anderson movies. :-)
(3) BOAT RENTALS: We have had several guests ask about boat rentals. We would suggest contacting Dodge Marine in Alpena if you are interested in boat rentals.
(4) SECURITY CAMERA: There is an exterior security camera at the property. There are no interior cameras though.
(5) PET POLICY: Up to 2 dogs are permitted at the property. If bringing 1 or 2 dogs, please make certain that they are included on the reservation and that the pet fee is appropriately paid. More than 2 dogs is strictly prohibited and any pets other than dogs are also strictly prohibited.
(6) NUMBER OF GUESTS: Please note that our pricing is based upon the number of guests, with pricing being higher with each additional guest that is included on the reservation. Please make certain that the correct number of guests is specified on the reservation so that the pricing is correct.
(7) EARLY CHECK-IN: Our policy is to allow early check-in on the day of arrival if the property is available for check-in. We will not know until the day before arrival whether or not the property will be available for early check-in or not. You can check with our local property manager the day before arrival or on your arrival day to see if the property will be available for early check-in or not.
(8) LATE CHECK-OUT: We maintain a very strict and structured cleaning schedule. As such, late check-outs are strictly prohibited.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Quiet hours: For the sake of neighbors, guests must be quiet outside between 11:00 PM and 8:00 AM.
PETS: Up to 2 dogs are allowed. More than 2 dogs or any other kind of pet are both strictly prohibited.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2081342
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the neighborhood
Alpena
Located in Alpena, this vacation home is on the waterfront. Thunder Bay Theater and Alpena Civic Theater are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Thunder Bowl Lanes and Lee's Miniature Golf. Laser Team Challenge and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary are also worth visiting.
Alpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional) - 18 min drive
Restaurants
Subway - 10 min drive
Culver's - 9 min drive
McDonald's - 10 min drive
McDonald's - 5 min drive
Taco Bell - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included! pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included!?
As of May 14, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included! on Sep 3, 2026 start from $348, 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 The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included!?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included! located?
Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Lake Huron and 3 mi (4.8 km) from Thunder Bowl Lanes. Mich-E-Ke-Wis Park and Starlite Beach are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
My husband and I (and our dog) enjoyed our stay at Life Aquatic! Very clean and conveniently located home! It was perfect for our lighthouse, fossil, and rock hunting vacation. The views of the water were really nice from the kitchen and main upstairs bedroom, and we were lucky to have a warm and sunny day to pull some patio furniture out from the boat house to enjoy! We had fun playing the card games and Sega Genesis system at night! The hot water heater capacity left a little to be desired for showers, but it definitely didn't spoil our time. Overall a positive experience at the home and with the property manager!
Emily Z.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on May 2, 2026
Thanks, Emily! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Beautiful property, communication was excellent. Viewed awesome lightening show from inside the house and eagles , bunnies & turtles…..nature abounds…would stay again!
Tamara W.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on May 28, 2025
Thanks, Tamara! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
We came for a family vacation. We were very happy with the house. It had everything we needed. It was very spacious and comfortable We brought my elderly mother and it was very easy for her to get around. Nice having a main floor bedroom and full bath. We loved sitting outside. Beautiful view and very peaceful. It was close to town and conveniently located to everything we wanted to do. We would definitely stay again!
Elizabeth S.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 10, 2025
Thanks, Elizabeth! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
We had a great time staying at the beautiful home this past weekend! We were able to get on the lake, do some hiking, some fishing, and had a few bonfires complete with s'mores! The beds and linens were very comfortable and the grounds were very conducive for our family and our dog. We loved all the different areas to spend time together for meals, and games. We look forward to spending time at your home next year. The hosts were very helpful and always available when we had questions. They were very helpful in keeping this home in tip top condition!
Patricia R.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 3, 2025
Thanks! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Beautiful location, country setting yet close to town. House was very clean. Property Manager was very nice and quickly responded. Perfect house for our family to use.
Jennifer M.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on May 3, 2024
Thanks, Jennifer! We are very glad that you liked the home and its location and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Sarah H.
Jun 17, 2024
Excellent time
We had an awesome stay at The Life Aquatic. We enjoyed the kayaks, lawn games, and fire pit. The kitchen had everything we needed to prepare our meals. Thanks for a wonderful stay.
We loved watching the wide variety of birds on the bay. Sunrises and sunsets were gorgeous! Cottage is large, clean, and nicely decorated. Property manager and owner were friendly and easy to communicate with. Loved our time here.
Laura K.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 6, 2023
Thank you so much for the review, Laura! We are truly glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
love staying here. several rooms with several beds. overall the place was pretty clean but there were a few pillows that had marks on them and had dog hairs. other than that, i’d recommend staying here.
Carley F.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 5, 2024
Thanks, Carley! We appreciate the review and will follow-up on the items that you mention. Hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
We had a fantastic memorial weekend. It was everything that we thought it would be planned on being frequent flyers. Would love to share pictures!!!!!!!!
Sherry T.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 20, 2024
Thanks, Sherry! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope that you become frequent flyers! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
We had a lovely week. The house offered plenty of room for our party of 8, though we spent most of our time outside enjoying the kayaks, games, and sunrises. We enjoyed visiting the town of Alpena as well as Mackinac Island, lighthouses and the state parks for hikes and dark night adventures - BUG SPRAY for outdoor activities is a necessity!
Property with the fenced in yard was exactly what we wanted. Had a great vacation with our two dogs roaming and playing in the yard and swimming in the lake. Home was very well-kept and more spacious than I expected. Property manager was wonderful to deal with. Overall experience was excellent.
House was fantastic. Views of Lake Huron were beautiful. Perfect little get away for my family (2 adults and 3 kids. 7yr, 5yr, 3mos) and our friend's family (2 adults and 2 kids, 2yr, 4mos). The beach and splash pad at the park 5 minutes up the road were a big hit for the kids.
Corey V.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Norm D.
Nov 16, 2023
Life Aquatic in October
This is the 2nd time we've stayed at Life Aquatic and everything was great once again. As pet owners we like that the yard is completely fenced with a gate at the end of the driveway. We did get to see some beautiful fall colors until the rain came. We may be back again for another vacation in the Alpena area.
Norm D.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Douglas P.
Sep 12, 2024
Life Aquatic September 2024
After a rather stressful week before, we had a wonderful relaxing getaway time at Life Aquatic. The view is awesome and the house was exactly what we wanted. Watched the resident egret, 2 pair of trumpet swans and their constant duck companions. The water is perfect for kayaking and paddle boards. Almost no waves. The house is maintained and clean. It's very pet friendly. Our dogs loved the fenced in yard. We highly recommend this place in the Alpena Michigan area.
We rented this home as our family is scattered around Michigan and decided to meet up here after Christmas. I thought the house was actually much nicer than the photos (not that the photos were bad!). Ample room for everyone to hang out together or spread out if desired. Heating worked very well throughout the home, upper level got SUPER hot but we shut the vents and cracked a window and were fine. The first night the thermostat must have been programmed to cut to 62 at night because we woke up freezing but we fixed that once we realized. That was the only quirky thing,
I thought it was well supplied with plenty of cooking items, towels, etc. Hard to find a place you can bring a dog to as well, so that was also super nice.
Close to Meijer if needing to run out for anything too.
Verified traveler
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 6, 2023
Thanks for the review! We are really glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
About the host
Hosted by Agape Vacation Rentals
We are a team of experienced vacation rental management professionals who manage a rapidly growing portfolio of vacation rental properties throughout all of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula. We are based out of Beulah, Michigan, in the northwestern corner of the Lower Peninsula on the beautiful shores of Crystal Lake!
We pursue our work from a Christian basis and perspective. Our motto is "Live. Love. Bless." and we truly try to provide an exceptional experience for guests. We also work to provide excellent income for vacation property owners while caring for their homes and property.
Languages:
English, Spanish
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests