Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah!

Photo gallery for Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah!

An aerial view of a coastal area with a marina, a road along the shore, and a forested landscape in the background.
A cozy room with a bed, chairs, a table, and a view of the ocean.
A marina with boats docked, a clear waterway, and houses in the background.
A room with three windows overlooking a body of water, a dock with chairs, and a grassy area.
A two-story house with a large porch and a covered front porch area.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Betsie Valley Trail

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Dog-friendly
  • Cribs available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet

Explore the area

View in a map
Beulah, MI
  • Place, Crystal Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Betsie Valley Trail
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, beach near Fair Park
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪44 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 13)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Living room 1

3 Double Beds

Living room 2

3 Twin Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the neighborhood

Beulah

Located in Beulah, this cottage is on the waterfront. While the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can check out Crystal Mountain.
View more Cottages in BeulahOpens in a new window
Map
Beulah, MI

What's nearby

  • Crystal Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Betsie Valley Trail - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • beach near Fair Park - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Crystal Lake Golf Club - 2 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Benzie Area Historical Museum - 2 min drive - 1.8 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪A Papano's Pizza BEULAH - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Platte River Inn - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Cherry Hut - ‬9 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total) with a maximum weight of up to 999 lbs per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah!?

As of Oct 26, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah! on Sep 6, 2027 start from $430, 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 Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah!?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Lil's on the Lake - Vintage Cottage On Crystal Lake, Dog-Friendly, and Short Walk to Downtown Beulah! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Crystal Lake and Betsie Valley Trail. Benzie Area Historical Museum and Crystal Lake Golf Club are also within 2 mi (3 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

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. 38 out of 58 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 58 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 58 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We have stayed here multiple times and it's always great. House is spacious and comfy, and the location is great. We will be back for sure!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 2, 2026
Thanks, Nancy! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we will look forward to seeing you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable house with a beautiful view! The kitchen was well organized and stocked. The front porch had an amazing breeze and view. It was close to fun activities.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 7, 2026
Thanks, Jenny! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great time! Can’t beat the location and the view!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 14, 2025
Thanks, Elizabeth! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great old cottage. Great for dogs with a large enclosed yard. Loved the location.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 25, 2025
Thanks, Andrea! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Lil’s on the lake

Great place to stay. Breathtaking sunsets. It’s a must stay.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

my stay

yes its old but great location large lot great access to the lake comfortable beds. nice kitchen with all accessories to make food and affordable great summer rent many restaurants near by nice beach boat launch very close Frankfort 10 miles to the west great beach
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Fabulous stay

We loved how much charm the cabin embodied. The view of sunset on the lake was incredible. The fenced yard was a positive game changer, for bringing your dog. Overall great, will stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 9, 2024
Thanks, Kirsten! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great location

Lils is very comfortable and had everything for us. We loved having the fenced yard for our lab. The location allowed us to walk to restaurants The cottage had everything we needed and the best porch cots for napping.
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 21, 2024
Thanks, Jean! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the fenced in yard for our pup.We loved the closed in wrap around porch.We needed to move from the bedroom nearest to the kitchen to the bedroom near the porch as that bed was by far more comfortable.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 28, 2025
Thanks, Jennifer! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The view is amazing, very well stocked. I also enjoyed being so close to a great beach. Can’t think of a better place to hang out in the large yard throwing a frisbee and grilling out. The porch is huge, plenty of blankets. I would come back for sure
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 26, 2025
Thanks, Tyler! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Our annual family gathering in Beulah

Lovely sun sets. A nice fenced yard to play games and sit around the fire. The view of Crystal Lake can't be beat.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great for families

My family has been to Michigan almost every summer for over 40 years. We used to camp but now like the idea of staying in a house. Our teenagers and my cousins kiddos who are younger LOVED the big yard, being able to walk to market in downtown Beulah and being so close to the beach. This rustic farm house was perfect for our two families. It may not be “updated” but we absolutely loved our time there!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 17, 2025
Thanks, Rebecca! We are very glad that you and your family enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Warm summer week in July

Fabulous! Would recommend window air conditioning units
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 30, 2023
Thanks, Lisa! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay! Given the cottage's proximity to both Crystal Lake as well as Lake Michigan, air conditioning is rarely needed so we do not have any plans to add it.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Great location, needs updating and new beds

Great location, great yard. But no AC. Pretty hot in the summer. And beds were awful to sleep with two people. Upgrade the mattresses and this is 5 star
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 8, 2024
Thanks for the feedback, Eric! We will look into the possibility of upgrading the mattresses.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Spot

This spot is a gem. Stone’s throw to the beach, great yard, and a wonderful water view. My husband has been telling me about growing up and coming to Crystal Lake twice a summer until he was 22. When I showed him this rental in VRBO, he said he remembered walking by this house as a kid and was excited to stay here and we booked immediately. The massive sleeping porch was a favorite hangout during our stay, with so many seating options in addition to the beds. We loved the vibe of the entire house.It was also walkable to the main strip of town, which was great!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 23, 2025
Thanks, Robyn! We are very glad that you and your husband enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great return stay

We have been enjoying this property for a few years now on the 4th of July. The neighbors recognize us and greet us when we arrive. We keep returning for the amazing location, the huge porch, the big yard for playing games, beach, and so much more. The property manager is easy to work with and responsive. I'm sure we'll be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

my stay

the building was built in the 1930s yes its old . what a beautiful house. great porch great kitchen with shiplap walls and ceiling. very functional everything was there frig microwave toaster oven , nice bedrooms shower worked great . great yard firepit with chairs car parking on site .fantastic view of the lake. easy access to town and restaurants in walking distance . we were there to fish. great access to the lake. overall we liked it very much. hope to stay again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Nov 13, 2024
Thanks, Gerald! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lots of space

The house has a lot of space to move around and lots of choices to gather. The yard is big and totally fenced in. It's convenient to be able to walk into town and to the beach. Overall, it's what we expected. It's old and could be cleaner. I spent the first day cleaning the spider webs from the corners and ceilings, the cabinets and kitchen floor. It served our purpose and we had a good time in Beulah.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 30, 2025
Thanks, Cindy! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Lils

Enjoyed for the most part. Two out of three guests spotted a mouse in the kitchen. Mouse droppings were in drawers and most especially lower cupboards.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 23, 2024
Thanks, Cheryl! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we will look into the mouse issue. Hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, location
The location was perfect and why we booked this place.However, the place needs significant work to make it functional. The property listed itself as sleeping 13 people, which is accurate however it was difficult to accommodate 5. The kitchen had no counter space for food preparation or storage and the counter was at a mid-thigh level. The cabinets were over full with dishes and pots and pans so there was no place to put food and many of the cabinet doors and drawers stuck so could not be used.The bathroom plumbing did not work. We had 5 people staying there - two adults and 3 elementary age kids - and the toilet blocked multiple times and required us to plunge it to make it workable. If 13 people were staying there, the system would fail.The porch was lovely, however, there were no shades for the windows. When we were there the weather was cool - two sunny days with the hottest day being 73. If the weather was hotter and sunnier the porch temperatures would have made it unusable and heated the entire house to an unbearable temperature since there is no central HVAC system. We had cool days, and the we were expected to use space heaters, except if you ran the space heaters at the same time or with other electrics, you blew the fuse.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 7, 2026
Dear Helen: Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

FUN by Crystal Lake

The beds on the front porch were way too OLD & the paint upstairs was peeling !! NOT cool !! Needs a clean up job !! Otherwise was Ok. Was quiet & close to great areas !! Probly' wouldn't stay here until they clean up peeling paint PLUS get NEW lamps !! Chords R way TOO OLD !! Dangerous !!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 23, 2024
Thanks, Christine! We appreciate the feedback and we do hope to see you again! Best wishes and God bless! :-)
From a partner site

8/10 Good

3rd or 4th time renting

(These comments are intended for Agape and not necessarily the masses) Location, view, yard, porch, etc., all great. The biggest limitation is the single bathroom. If there was some way to get a second toilet it would be a big improvement. The second limitation is the kitchen. I realize it is because the foundation is settling but some of the drawers and cupboards do not open. Also, there is almost no counter space to prepare food. We can make due, but even a skinny folding table would be an improvement. That said, we will likely rent again in the future. One more thing - the grill is rusted through and is on its last legs. The grill cover as also quite deteriorated. Replacing them would be another plus. Mike Barrie
From a partner site

8/10 Good

3rd or 4th time renting

(These comments are intended for Agape and not necessarily the masses) Location, view, yard, porch, etc., all great. The biggest limitation is the single bathroom. If there was some way to get a second toilet it would be a big improvement. The second limitation is the kitchen. I realize it is because the foundation is settling but some of the drawers and cupboards do not open. Also, there is almost no counter space to prepare food. We can make due, but even a skinny folding table would be an improvement. That said, we will likely rent again in the future. One more thing - the grill is rusted through and is on its last legs. The grill cover as also quite deteriorated. Replacing them would be another plus. Mike Barrie
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The stay was great, the big porch was absolutely amazing to sit out on and watch the sunsets at night. It would get a little warm with no AC on hot days but having the windows open let in a beautiful breeze at night. Such a convenient location to the beach and fishing especially with young kids! Awesome yard for the dogs fenced in, worked out very well. The charm of the house was cute, def older and you can’t care about aesthetic staying here but that made it great staying at a lake house. Just a couple downsides, no washer for laundry we used some of the same towels over again for shower and I like to keep up with laundry but there’s a laundromat close near by I just decided to live on vacation and forget about laundry so it really wasn’t a big deal at all! The other thing that maybe needed some work was to spray the outside of house for bugs. There were a lot of bugs and spiders. Couple HUGE spiders in the porch that my we had to kill , lots of those mayfly type bugs outside during the day without a breeze (which is expected being by the water I wasn’t upset at all) but was sometimes hard to play outside without bugs flying on you. And there were a lot of ants in the kitchen and on the counter that I had to watch for when I prepped food. Besides the bugs the house was great. Awesome walking right to the town. Would def recommend (if you can handle bugs like us) and we would consider coming back! Thanks for a great stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 23, 2025
Thanks, Justine! We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again! We will do what we can to address the bugs. Best wishes and God bless! :-)
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Location Location Location

I was worried that the home wasn't "lakefront" and that the road in front of the home would be an issue; but I was wrong. The public beach and town is less than a 4 minute walk. The walk is also very pleasant and the road in front of the home is pedestrian and bike friendly. There is a place nearby to rent pontoon boats, kayaks, and bicycles if needed. Apparently, there is also a bike trail from Beulah that will take you to Frankfort. Residents and business owners all seem friendly and welcoming. It is a very small, but quaint town with lots to do for a long weekend. There also seemed to be some sort of pickle ball/tennis court action going on at a park next to the beach - if that's your thing. You also cannot beat the wrap around porch views from this home. Now the "cons" or things you should know - there is only one bathroom and shower, I did not locate a washer or dryer anywhere in the house, but maybe I didn't open enough of the tall cabinets (there is a laundromat in town), doesn't appear to be any heat, definitely no air conditioning (not needed when I stayed here and fans provided), and there were a lot of spiders in the enclosed porch area and upstair bedrooms' windows. If you plan on using the roller beds, just be aware that spiders will be your roomates (got bit on the eyebrow). Also the porch is sloping near the windows and there are drilled holes spread throughout that covered with little rugs so bugs/spiders might always have access to the home.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 5, 2024
Thanks for the feedback, Chia! As indicated in the listing, the cottage does only have 1 bathroom, there is no washer and dryer, and it does not have air conditioning. The cottage does have electric heat though. We will look into the issue with spiders that you mention.
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