Torch Lake Exceptional Lakefront Cottage - Sandy Beach
- Cottage1600 sq. ft.
- Sleeps: 6
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2
- Min Stay: 3–7 nights
~ Lovely Family Cottage Featuring: 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Sleeps 6 ~
Bedrooms
Owner
Nan Reed Twiss
- Languages:
- english
About Nan Reed Twiss
My great grandparents bought this property back in the eighteen hundreds, and it's been the beloved summer home to generations of my family (my children are now the fifth generation). The cottage which was left to me was built by my grandmother during the 2nd world war, and even though I've lived on both coasts of the US, in Europe and in Asia, I've never missed a summer. Birchwood cottage remains my favorite spot in the world...I just wish I could still spend all summer there as I did as a child. Now our family of five treasures the three weeks we save for ourselves, and scared though I was to share the cottage with strangers, so far, renters have treated the place beautifully.
Nan Reed Twiss purchased this Cottage in 1890
Why Nan Reed Twiss chose Alden
I was lucky enough to inherit this gem. But why I would buy it (and I would!) is that Torch Lake is an extraordinarily beautiful lake, more beautiful than any I've ever seen. The colors are like the Caribbean, and the water is so clear you can see the bottom all the way out to the drop-off. The sandy bottom makes it especially beautiful. The area is so peaceful if it's peace you're looking for... and yet, if you want activity, you don't have to go far at all for inland entertainment. There are lots of artist's towns nearby, nice shops, some great restaurants, golfing, hiking...and the town of Alden is a brief walk away.
What makes this Cottage unique
Our cottage is right on the water, so we sleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore. We watch the sunsets from our deck that overlooks the water or from one of our three hammocks placed throughout the property. The beach is perfect for small children since it stays shallow for a long way. In addition to the obvious sand-castle building, the kids also love to explore the woods and build forts with the driftwood or play on the raft. We love to swim, sail, walk or bike into town. There's so much to do in the area, but honestly, we're so happy at the cottage and on the lake, we generally just stay there.
Amenities
Featured
- No Smoking
- Children Welcome
- TV
- Satellite or cable
- Washer & Dryer
- Internet
- Parking
- Heater
- Fireplace
Bathrooms
- Bathrooms: 2
Safety features
- First-aid kitunder bathroom sink
- Smoke detectorin all bedrooms and kitchen
- Fire extinguisherUnder kitchen sink
- Exterior lighting
Location Type
- Lake
- BeachfrontWonderful sandy beach with shallow water that's great for children.
- Lake View
- Lakefront
- Water View
- Waterfront
General
- Telephone
- Heating
- Linens Provided
- Washing MachineBrand new in 2014.
- Clothes DryerBrand new in 2014.
- FireplaceWe have two wood-burning fireplaces: one in the dining room and one in the living room.
- ParkingPlease park in the area to the left as you arrive – it is slightly higher in elevation. Just be careful not to block the foot path to your right as you park with your car pointed toward the trees.
- Internet
- Towels ProvidedPlease bring your own beach towels.
- Wireless Internet
- Iron & Board
- Toilet Paper
- Living Room
Kitchen
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Oven
- Microwave
- Grill
- Coffee Maker
- Toaster
- Blender
- Coffee Grinder
- Dishes & Utensils
- KitchenBrand-new floors in 2018
- Kettle
Dining
- Dining Area
- Dining
Entertainment
- Television
- Satellite / Cable
- DVD Player
- BooksPlenty of children's books, classics, modern fiction and non-fiction, as well as some very old books that are fun to look at.
- GamesMany games and puzzles for all ages – great for rainy days.
- Games for Kids
Outside
- Lawn / Garden
- Balconyinside the cottage
- Kayak / CanoeYou must sign a waiver to use the boats; then you'll receive a code to unlock the boats and lock them again before you leave.
- Beach Chairs
- Beach Towels
- Porch / Veranda
- Deck / PatioLarge deck overlooking lake and a private deck off the Master Suite with a hammock swing for two.
- Outdoor Furniture
- TennisThere are a couple of courts in Alden (1/2 mile away)
- GolfSeveral award-winning golf courses 15-30 nominates away.
Notes
- We have a raft that is available for our renters a short distance from shore that we also share with our neighbors to the north. We also have lovely spots for reading or intimate conversations, including 1 large Hammock and 2 Hammock Swings that fit two people each.
House Rules
Children allowed
No pets - My husband is allergic to cats and dogs.My husband is allergic to cats and dogs.
No parties/events
No smoking
Max guests: 6 (sleeps up to 6 adults)
Minimum age of primary renter: 30
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date.
Damage and incidentals
You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.
46 Reviews
Torch Lake 2019
The vintage style cottage is adorable. The views are beautiful of Torch Lake. We enjoyed walking to town for breakfast down a path near the cabin. The location is great .We dined in Bellaire, Elk Rapids, Traverse City and then visited Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. This location was great to be centrally located. We also spent several days out boating the beautiful lakes . Nan was very responsive as a host.
Family Vacation
Short boat ride to the sand bar, short walk to Alden, great deck for relaxing, owners were very friendly and easy to work with, there was a minor problem with the plumbing and it was taken care of immediately, we rented a boat for the week and would highly recommend that, friendly neighbors, plenty of parking space, kids loved the pad they could swim to and jump off in the lake, plenty of kitchen supplies (sometimes too many when trying to find what you need), this house provided everything our family needed to have a great time!
A nice rustic cottage on a beautiful lake
We stayed with our extended family in early June. The cottage is historic and rustic, and as such has some quirks. The bathrooms in particular could use updating. Overall, the cottage had exactly the old-fashioned historic feel that we were looking for. The beds were comfortable, and we were able to get the temperature right. The kid's out-cottage was OK, it was a little musty but the kids didn't mind. We cooked most meals at the cottage and the kitchen had everything we needed. As noted, the electric oven was tough to get set correctly, but we made it work.
The lake access was amazing, the firepit near the beach was fun, and we were able to make good use of the boat lift. We enjoyed our week! As long as you realize that this is an old, historic cottage and prepare yourself for that, you won't be disappointed.
We highly recommend hiking at the nearby natural area, that was a highlight of our week.
Great cottage on Torch Lake
We really enjoyed our stay. We've rented a number of cottages over the past 30 years, so we have experience with what to expect, and this definitely met our expectations.
Nice large rooms for socializing, and the master bedroom is really large too.
Kitchen was well equipped and they have a very nice outdoor grill as well.
Thanks you, Mark – you were ideal guests. You are welcome back anytime!
Loved it!
Beautiful property; charming older cottage; perfect location. Everyone from age 4 to 65 had a great time.
Nancy G