Port Huron - code word for HAPPINESS! Sandy Feet Cottage, steps to Lake Huron
About the property
- Cottage1000 sqft
- Bedrooms3
- Sleeps8
- Bathrooms1
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay2 - 4 nights
3 bedroom, 1 bath updated vintage cottage, loads of charm, short walk to beach
At the end of a row of 5 cottages, along a private street, sits a 1935 cottage, Sandy Feet, that embraces 21rst century living without letting go of its beloved past. This quaint & timeless cottage sleeps 7 - 8 comfortably in three private bedrooms (Master with king bed, 'Beach Room' with 2 XL twin beds & pullout twin trundle, & 'Bunk Room' with 2 twin bunks & antique Ranch Hand's bed). Sandy Feet's daily & weekly prices are completely *inclusive* of cleaning fees and taxes. All the basic amenities for guests (paper goods, soaps, spices/condiments & coffee/tea/hot chocolate) are included as well.
Relax at Sandy Feet in a living room with leather couch, large screen TV (Netflix & Hulu), board games & puzzles, a new kitchen, dining room, bathroom with shower, and sunroom/enclosed porch (with a small view of the lake). Located across the street from Lake Huron, a giant deck wraps around two sides of the house with gas grill, umbrella table, chairs, and loungers. The huge yard, great for badminton, bocce ball & croquet, also has a fire pit for evening bonfires. There's a garage with bikes, scooters, and all the beach toys & games imaginable for the young and young-at-heart. Grab your lightweight wagon with beach chairs, towels and cooler (provided) and head down the block to the paved path to the beach where you can gaze over miles of open water, with it's ever-changing waves & sand. And there's no better place on earth to sip a cup of morning coffee and watch the sun rise.
Sandy Feet Cottage is in a superb location in Fort Gratiot Township on the 'north end,' only 1 mile from the mall and all of the major superstores and restaurants (both local-owned favorites & all the chains) - and less than 5 min. to Starbucks, Barnes & Noble Books, and Krafft 8 Movie Theater. You're in downtown Port Huron in 10 minutes, with all of the great shops, restaurants, farmer's market, River Walk, marinas and more. The picturesque vacation village of Lexington, with their great summer music series, quaint shops, fun beach and long pier walk is only 15 - 20 minutes to the north of Sandy Feet. And for those visitors not from SE Michigan, it's no more than 60 minutes to Tiger Stadium and the Fox Theater in downtown Detroit to catch a ballgame or professional theater.
This charming cottage has antique wicker in the sunroom, local vintage postcards on the walls, a very unusual antique 'ranch hand's' bed, mission rocker, maple Shaker dining set, and other retro touches. But there also is a 'smart' tv (49' in lvg rm) with Netflix and Hulu Plus provided (and very basic cable for a bit of network TV), a recently-remodeled kitchen with microwave and all needed small & large appliances, a Bluetooth music system (streams music from apps like Pandora or Spotify or play your own stored tunes in your smart phone or tablet), washer & dryer (supplies provided), and high speed internet augmented with an additional router to be sure there is plenty of strong Wi-Fi access for all of your devices. We want you to be able to relax on your vacation, so in addition to linens & towels (both bath & beach), all paper goods, shampoo, soap, spices, coffee, tea & hot chocolate are provided. There's even extra sunscreen, bug spray, toothpaste, & deodorant if needed! Cozy throws & blankets are located throughout the cottage, but a new gas forced-air furnace will make Sandy Feet toasty in an instant. And for those 'dog days' when fans & the lake breeze are not enough, there's central air conditioning. Vintage, yes, but re-imagined for the 21rst century.
In the spring of 1919, Harry S Truman returned from duty in World War I & married Elizabeth 'Bess' Wallace. The couple spent part of their honeymoon at the Harrington Hotel in Port Huron, MI. Their daughter, Margaret, wrote in her biography of Bess, 'For the rest of his life, whenever Harry Truman wanted to regain the radiance of those first days with Bess, he simply wrote 'Port Huron.' For him it was a code word for happiness.' It's our code word for happiness too, and it will be yours as well as you discover the Blue Water region and all that it has to offer on your beach vacation.
Owner
Darlene Rushing
- Response rate:
- 100%
- Response time:
- within a few hours
- Speaks:
- english, italian
- Calendar last updated:
- Apr 15, 2018
About Darlene Rushing
We left Port Huron in 1989 for the shiny lights of the big city (Pittsburgh, PA), but our heart and home was always in the Blue Water Area. This is the place where we had our first jobs, met, fell in love, did a bunch of community theater, got married, bought our first house and made a lifetime of great friends. We kept returning most every year since leaving, renting various cottages and staying with friends. Whenever we returned, it just felt like coming home. Over the past 25 years, we've grown up and so has Port Huron. It's now a major tourist location with many beautiful (and free!) beaches, lots to do along the river and lakefront (we love the lighthouse), and an increasingly-dynamic downtown with great antique stores, shops, restaurants & coffee shops. For convenience, there's the Birchwood Mall and the vast assortment of superstores on the north end less than 1 mile from the cottage, which was just farmland, Cheap Charlie's, Kmart and McDonald's when we left. We found that with each visit, we found more and more to do and see in this fabulous region as well as visiting with all of our wonderful friends.
Darlene Rushing purchased this Cottage in 2014
Why Darlene Rushing chose Fort Gratiot Township
In addition to Port Huron, we've traveled the world renting homes, cottages and apartments, all across the US and in Sicily, Turkey, Ecuador, Canada, Italy, Czech Republic, Portugal, Mexico, France, Germany, Nicaragua, Belgium and more. After years of renting others, it's great to have a cottage like Sandy Feet to call our own, and to share with family and friends, both old and new!
What makes this Cottage unique
Sandy Feet charmed us with the many features that have been unchanged over the past 80 years - the proximity to the beautiful Lake Huron, a little-used beach in a quiet residential neighborhood of cottages & homes, the three giant trees in the yard (especially the enormous pine tree in front), the great wood wainscoting in the 'Beach Room' (original living room), the log wood-grooved exterior visible on the enclosed porch and the Bunk Room, and the original wood front door with beveled glass and skeleton key. And the fact that it's at the end of dead-end private street with a spacious yard and huge deck. As time goes on, we plan to continue restoring this 1935 cottage back to more of it's historic origins while enjoying all four seasons along Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. Mostly, we plan on relishing more opportunities to come back to our heart's home.
Amenities
- Internet
- Air Conditioning
- Heater
- Kids Welcome
- Washer & Dryer
- Parking
- TV
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8
- Master Bedroom1 king, Large closet & dresser in addition to luxurious king bed
- Bedroom 2 - Beach Room3 twin/ single, 2 XL twin mattresses plus 3rd twin trundle, large closet
- Bedroom 3 - Bunk Room1 child bed, 2 bunk bed, 1 bunk bed with 2 twin mattresses, plus 'skinny' twin bed
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom
- Bathroom 1toilet, shower
- Shower only, no tub
Location Type
- Beach ViewVery near the beach (end of block, short walk on paved path), with a small view at the cottage from the sunroom, enough to enjoy seeing the freighters go by!
- Lake View
Theme
- Away From It All
- Family
- Historic
- Romantic
- Sports & Activities
- Tourist Attractions
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Iron & Board
- Air ConditioningCentral air conditioning available when needed for all areas of the house except the Sunroom (which is surrounded with screen doors on three sides).
- GarageThe garage holds all the beach toys, lawn toys, three bikes, wagon with beach chairs & cooler, fire pit, additional lawn chairs, and more. There is room to park one car in the garage.
- Hair Dryer
- HeatingGas-forced air. New furnace, so it heats the cottage quickly. Please note that the Sunroom is not heated, and thus is really a '3 season' room.
- InternetHigh speed internet that is boosted by an additional router for best possible WiFi experience.
- Clothes DryerFabric softener sheets provided.
- Linens ProvidedHigh thread count linens.
- Living RoomLeather couch, leather chair, & rocker. Puzzles, games for all ages. 49' 'smart' TV for on-demand watching of movies, tv shows via Netflix, Hulu and similar. Cable TV for 3 network stations and PBS.
- ParkingLots of parking in the driveway and in front of garage. Also, property line ends at the driveway, so never park to the left of the driveway on the lawn.
- Towels ProvidedBath towels, hand towels, wash cloths and beach towels all provided. Please take only beach towels down to the beach.
- Washing MachineLaundry detergent provided.
Kitchen
- Coffee MakerCoffee, tea and hot chocolate provided. Also electric tea kettle.
- Dishes & UtensilsHand-painted china, white china, plastic and paper plates. Utensils for 12, plus lots of plastic utensils.
- KitchenWe are a family that likes to cook & bake, so we hope you find this kitchen outfitted with all that is needed. Additional appliances include lg. crock pot, elec. griddle, blender, sm. food processor.
- Microwave
- OvenFull-size and new.
- Pantry ItemsPantry basics such as olive oil, salt, pepper, spices, and condiments (mustard, ketchup, mayo, pickle relish).
- RefrigeratorFull-size with freezer.
- StoveElectric.
- Toaster4-slice toaster.
Dining
- DiningThere is a buffet that holds dinner plates, soup bowls, small plates and serving dishes.
- Dining Room
- comfy seating for 6 people
Entertainment
- BooksSeveral dozen books available for reading pleasure for adults and children of all ages.
- DVD PlayerLocated in the Master Bedroom, works for the Master Bedroom TV only
- GamesLots of board & card games for children of all ages and adults.
- Music LibraryBluetooth Sound System to play tunes off of your device.
- Ping Pong Table
- StereoBlue tooth stereo. Just hook up your smart phone, tablet or other device to stream your own library or access internet radio such as Pandora & Spotify.
- Television'Smart' TV (lvg room) with access to Netflix and Hulu. Cable for 3 major networks and PBS only.
- ToysPuzzles for kids and adults, lots of various beach toys, kites, balls, and more.
- Video LibraryOver 40 various DVDs and VCR tapes in the bottom drawer of master bedroom dresser for use with that TV.
Outside
- Bicycles3 adult-sized bikes and a variety of helmets. Also Razor scooters.
- Deck / PatioWith table, umbrella, chairs, chaise loungers, side tables, gas grill
- Lawn / GardenLarge yard. Perfect for bocce ball, croquet and badminton.
- Outdoor GrillLarge gas grill, propane provided. If used, please clean grill grates at the end of your stay.
- Ski & SnowboardBring your cross-country skis in the winter for skiing on the beach.
- Water Sports GearBoogie boards, inflatable mattresses, inner tubes, beach balls and more provided.
Suitability
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- wheelchair inaccessibleThe cottage is all on one level, but there are 4 - 5 steps to enter.
Attractions
- marina
- churches
- duty free shops
- festivals
- library
- live theater
- cinemas
- museums
- playground
- restaurants
- synagogues
- winery tours
Leisure Activities
- paddle boating
- antiquing
- bird watching
- boating
- gambling casinos
- miniature golf
- beachcombing
- photography
- scenic drives
- shelling
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- Babysitter
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- pier fishing
- cross country skiing
- fishing
- freshwater fishing
- golf
- hiking
- jet skiing
- kayaking
- parasailing
- cycling
- sailing
- scuba diving or snorkeling
- snorkeling
- snorkeling/diving
- swimming
- tennis
- water skiing
- water tubing
- wind-surfing
House Rules
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.
36 Reviews
Latest reviews
Everything you need to stay like it's home
A wonderful home away from home where you can relax and have no worries !
Best Kept Secret on Lake Huron
Charming Cottage, Feels Like Home
A Great Time was Had by All!
Beautiful cottage and area..........
Location
The Blue Water area is a year-round destination! The beach and waterfront on Lake Huron & the St. Clair River are amazing no matter the season. There are festivals & fairs in all of the nearby towns nearly every weekend in June, July and August (Yale Bologna Festival, Lexington Art Fair, Floatdown, Antique Yard Sale Trail, & many more) and lots of fall, winter and spring events & activities as well (Festival of Trees, St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl & Parade, Tom & Jerrys during December at the famous Brass Rail Bar, fresh apple picking, cider mills and Christmas tree farms). Port Huron's most famous July event is the Bayview Yacht Club's 'Port Huron to Mackinac Sailboat Race', the largest freshwater sailing event of its kind in the world. With over 300 contestants, the event brings boaters and tourists from all over the world to what has become a week-long festival of parades, vendors, and parties. And the start off of the race happens right in front of the beach at Sandy Feet Cottage! Sixty miles north of Detroit, Port Huron is the seat of St. Clair County. St. Clair County is known as the Blue Water Area because its eastern and southern boundaries are formed by the waters of Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, and Lake St. Clair. The St. Clair River forms the natural boundary between the United States and Canada. The river flows along the southern part of the city until it reaches the twin Blue Water Bridges under which is the mouth of Lake Huron. The bridges link Port Huron to Sarnia, Ontario making this beautiful community unique. These magnificent side-by-side spans offer unlimited opportunities for year-round fun and recreation. The views are pretty incredible, too! The huge freighters from all over the world that make their way through the river & under the bridges are a breath-taking sight. More freighters pass under the Blue Water Bridge than flows through the Suez and Panama Canals combined. The historic Fort Gratiot Lighthouse (1829) is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, and tours are available May through December. We also love the tours of the historic lightship, the Huron. Sandy Feet Cottage is located in Fort Gratiot Township, with not only the small, neighborhood beach (shared with just a handful of vintage cottages on our block), but lots of other free, large beach options just a few miles in either direction. These larger park facilities (city, township, county and state parks) have hiking trails, playgrounds, concession stands and more; and all less than 5 miles from the cottage. Port Huron and views of the St. Clair River are just a few miles to the south of the cottage, with its restored Main Street of quaint shops, antique stores, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Lexington, with it's wonderful marina, free public beach and more quaint shops (and numerous music events & festivals in the summer) is located just 15 - 20 minutes north of Sandy Feet Cottage. These are just a few of the many recreational, sporting, eating, relaxing and plain old fun that you can have while vacationing in this terrific region. Or, there's always books, games, puzzles and simply resting at the cottage on the beach, on the porch or around the campfire at the fire pit. Do lots or nothing at all!
Rates & Availability
Additional information about rental rates
All-inclusive price - cleaning and taxes are included in the rental amount. Included in the price are also all basic necessities for your stay - paper goods, soaps, & even coffee, tea and hot chocolate!