Steps away from the beach, this fully renovated, light and airy cottage offers lovely water views of both sunrise and sunset.
This highly sought after location is set across from the marina and is just a minute's walk to beautiful North Beach or the channel.
During the peak summer months, we rent on a weekly basis - Saturday to Saturday.
Enjoy your morning coffee or an evening cocktail on the front patio while watching the boats navigate the channel. Or choose the rear, fenced stone patio to lounge with a book, or grill a meal, and dine al fresco with a view of the lake.
Just a short walk to down town, you can stroll through the shops, enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at one of South Haven's many restaurants, rent a bike or kayak, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride. The summer's Farmer's Market is full of locally grown bounty and crafts.
This little Peace of Haven offers spacious comfortable accommodations including a pleasant master bedroom with a king bed, adjacent private bathroom, and access to a small private deck via French doors. The original living room of the house is a large, private, high ceilinged space featuring a kind sized bed and access to the front patio. The great room, with views of the lake and access to the rear patio and driveway (off street parking) has a queen hide-a-bed, in addition to living and dining furniture.
The kitchen is fully equipped for those who wish to cook with microwave, dishwasher, stove, oven and a full sized refrigerator in addition to a large selection of pots, pans and other kitchen needs right down to spices in the cupboard.
A flat screen TV, cable, wireless internet, DVD player and a cupboard full of books and old fashioned games are just some of the amenities provided for your entertainment enjoyment.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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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 first aid kit and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the neighborhood
South Haven
Located on a lake, this cottage is in North Side, a neighborhood in South Haven. Lake Michigan and Pilgrim Haven Natural Area reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Michigan Maritime Museum and South Haven Center for the Arts. Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum & Gardens and The Fun Park are also worth visiting. Jet skiing, kayaking, and water skiing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling nearby.
South Haven Center for the Arts - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Kal Haven Trail - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
Getting around
Bangor Station - 16 min drive
Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 54 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 4 min drive
Cafe Julia - 18 min walk
Taco Bell - 4 min drive
Burger King - 3 min drive
Little Caesars Pizza - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Steps Away from the Beach 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 Steps Away from the Beach?
As of May 10, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Steps Away from the Beach on May 16, 2026 start from $464, 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 Away from the Beach?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Steps Away from the Beach?
Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Steps Away from the Beach located?
Located in North Side, this cottage is within a 5-minute walk of North Beach and Lake Michigan. Stanley Johnson Park and Michigan Maritime Museum are also within 10 minutes.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
We were able to experience the July 4th wknd here and it was everything we could have asked for. Literal steps from the beach, a clean home, and plenty of space for our family of 5 (kids are ages 5-10). We’d love to come back next summer!
Having the beach so close was fantastic. House was perfect for pets and was stocked better than any place we've stayed before. Already booked for next year
We stayed for a little getaway with our dogs, the house was clean, easily accessible and close enough to the beach. We were able to go on several walks and venture around town easily. The hosts were quick to respond to questions. If we make our way back to South Haven, we will stay here again. I only managed to get one picture the entire time, but the evening view from the house was amazing.
The perfect size and location for our group. Super clean! Thanks for a great stay!
Maggie P.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Mary Beth C.
Oct 5, 2025
Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Love the location. Our lake view was blocked with a fencing structure that they put up to control the sand in the winter. Landscaping needed major trim work. Could not even walk around on the back patio due to large ornamental grasses in the way. Lots of character, but will not stay there again due to condition of plumbing and overall condition of the home.
House was fantastic in a great location to the beach. We were in town for a wedding and it was close to all activities and gave us a wonderful place to relax
We love this property! It continues to check all the boxes of being an ideal property for our family in south haven. It is walking distance to almost everything you could want to do but homey enough you’ll want to stay and enjoy the space! Thank you for sharing the property!
Had a nice time in this cabin. Location was perfect and had everything we needed. The one issue we had was resolved within an hour. Good communication with the host before and during stay. Would not hesitate to book again.
What a beautiful clean home just steps away to restaurants, shops, the most delicious bakery and of course the beach! Everything was more than perfect! Kitchen fully stocked and the most comfortable beds ever! Will definitely be back!
Great location and a greats space for a family. Within walking distance to town, close to the beach and very nice neighborhood. Only drawbacks were technology (TV remotes) were not user friendly, refridgerator freezer was dirty. Owner has stocked linens, all kitchen necessities and nice patio to use.
Beth J.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 19, 2022
Thank you! We will create more user friendly directions for the technology and address the freezer concern.
This was our second stay, absolutely the best location, cleanliness beyond. Could not have asked for more. Pride in ownership and taking care of the guests is definitely a priority. We will be back again!
We loved our stay at Steps Away! The beds were so comfortable and the kitchen was fully appointed! The grill was awesome. We cooked on it almost every night. We were in South Haven during a very hot week and were grateful for the “very strong” air conditioning, mainly at night. We parked the car at check in, and didn’t use it except to visit Pilgrim Haven Beach during one of the days of our visit—great beach and dog friendly FYI—otherwise we walked everywhere. We will be back!
Can’t see marina or lake from property without standing up to look over fence or through trees. No reading light in living room. TV in Master not hooked up. Good proximity to lake, nice and clean inside. Feel it was overpriced due to above issues.
Jan W.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 30, 2022
Hi Jan, I'm sorry that the TV was not hooked up properly in the main bedroom. This is usually not the case. Adding a reading light in the living room is a great suggestion. Thank you.
This was our second time staying at this property, and we had a wonderful time! All the lovely little touches in decor really elevate the space. We appreciated the ease of access to the beach, the cleanliness, and the lovely patio for eating outside and grilling. Communication with the owners was super fast! We can't wait to return here next year! (Side note: Unlike our previous stay, the flags indicating water safety weren't posted on poles that were visible from the home. This year they were posted further down the beach. This has nothing to do with the owners, as it's the city of South Haven that takes care of this kind of thing. Not a big deal at all; just wanted to update my previous review!)
A very nice house with a great location! Impressed with the large family room. The beds were very comfortable. The primary had an attached bathroom. It was small but serviceable, as was the 2nd bathroom. Very nice kitchen with all kinds of pots, pans, gadgets, knives, great dishes and silverware. We did see ants on the countertop. There were ant traps so this isn't something new. Maybe they are there because of being near the beach and the sandy soil? We were able to handle that by keeping the countertop clean, and not leaving out anything that could attract them. (Like a coffecake from Bundes! LOL!) It would be nicer if the outside could be spruced up a bit. Ivy on the patio running amuck. Huge grass in back patio needs some trimming as do the overgrown bushes on the front steps. We ended up going in and out the sliding glass doors most of the time. Did not use the patio because of the tiny ants that crawled on your feet. Some of the outdoor furniture could use some cleaning, too. All in all, the positives way out weighed the negatives!! This is a very cool house and we would definitely rent it again!!
Great property with views of the lake. Perfect location. We couldn't of had a better time!
David R.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
About the host
Hosted by Dean House
We have been the proud owners of this North Beach cottage since 2015, continuing a grand tradition of this wonderful location and rental property. We enjoy coming to South Haven and have fallen in love with its great restaurants, wonderful activities, beautiful beaches and the nice view of Lake Michigan from the cottage and its nearby access to the beach! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Why they chose this property
This cottage is a little slice of heaven. We love the South Haven area and wanted to spend time here as a family. This cottage gave us the opportunity to enjoy South Haven every summer, and we would like to share our joy with you.
What makes this property unique
Beautiful views, nearby access to the beach (only a few steps), very close to downtown South Haven (quick walk), cable tv, internet access, kitchen, dining area, lovely neighborhood.