Entire home

Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage

Photo gallery for Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage

A lakeside cabin with a covered porch, a stone wall, and a sign reading "LAH-WA-GA".
Two Adirondack chairs with a table and two wine glasses on a wooden deck.
A living room with two grey armchairs, a sofa, and a large window overlooking a lake.
A living room with a wooden table, two sofas, and a ceiling fan.
A bedroom with a bed, a chair, a TV mounted on the wall, and a window with a view of a body of water.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
With space for 4 guests, this cottage features 2 bedrooms and stunning lake views. It offers direct beachfront access and a patio for outdoor enjoyment. Adventure seekers will appreciate nearby kayaking, hiking, and biking opportunities, along with attractions like Lake Bellaire and The Chief Golf Course. Skiing options are also available nearby.

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Lake Bellaire
2 bedroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Barbecue grill
  • Patio
  • Onsite parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Washer

Explore the area

View in a map
Bellaire, MI
  • Place, Lake Bellaire
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Torch Lake
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Boyne Mountain
    ‪40 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪46 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Twin Beds

Bathroom 1

Soap · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage

The AhWaGa, built in the 1890s, is a fully renovated lakefront retreat. Wake up in a bright, cheery bedroom, make coffee in a full kitchen, and ease into your day under the covered porch, while overlooking the serenity of Lake Bellaire and listening for beckoning calls of the loons.

The cottage features the original maple hardwood floors, milled by the Thomas Forman Lumber Company of Petoskey, Michigan in the early 1890s.

Kitchen/Living Room: Fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, quartz countertops, and stainless appliances, beautiful gas fireplace with TV and Blu Ray DVD player, queen-size pull out couch, and historical décor.

Master Bedroom: Queen bed, flat screen TV, windows looking over Lake Bellaire. Second Bedroom: twin trundle bed with flat screen TV. (very small room)

Bathroom: Tiled shower and floor, quartz countertop, full-size washer and dryer.

Wrap Around Covered Porch: Adds additional outdoor furnished space with eating and seating areas.

This 1890's cottage, noted as the first built on Lake Bellaire, maintains its original design and boasts updated décor that features items from The AhWaGa's founding family.
Uniquely 15 feet from the shoreline, this historical cottage invites the cool lake breeze. West-facing porch offers views of magical sunsets that paint the sky and water as a changing mural with dusk falling into quiet, star-filled nights.

Lake Bellaire is a part of the Antrim County Chain-of-Lakes waterway. Bring your watercraft and boat across Lake Bellaire to the Grass River, Clam Lake and River to the famous Dockside eatery on the shore of Torch Lake. Enjoy a variety of activities on crystal clear Lake Bellaire with provided kayaks and paddle boards. The water frontage is a firm, sandy bottom for swimming.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Looking northwest from the dock. The beach area is to the right in this photo.
Cottage on Lake Bellaire
Bellaire
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (13 reviews)
Cottage on Lake Bellaire

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Adults only
default

Events

No events allowed
No parties or events allowed. No exceptions.
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking is permitted on the premises/property.
Please no wet swimsuits on wood floors or furniture. Please help protect our 130 year old wood floors. No smoking/vaping in cottage nor outside.
Cottage is best suited for couples. 2nd bedroom is very small. Please inquire PRIOR to booking if a concern. Signed rental rules agreement required.
No day guests w/o prior approval and no overnight guests/events on site. Fireworks not permitted on site. Cottage must be left in clean condition.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 745612
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
Note from host: No parties or events allowed. No exceptions.
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, 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

Bellaire

Located in Bellaire, this cottage is in the city center and on the beach. Elk Rapids District Library and Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at The Chief Golf Course and Short's Brewing Company. Enjoy the area's slopes with snowboarding and skiing, and don't miss out on the sledding.
View more Cottages in BellaireOpens in a new window
Map
Bellaire, MI

What's nearby

  • Lake Bellaire - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Short's Brewing Company - 5 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Torch Lake - 10 min drive - 15.9 km
  • Boyne Mountain - 40 min drive - 64.6 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 40 min drive - 58.7 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪M88 Morning Grind - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Shanty Creek Resorts - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Short's Brewing Company - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Coffee Bar - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage?

As of Oct 4, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage on Oct 19, 2026 start from $286, 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 Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Experience Lake Bellaire Sunsets and Fall Colors at Enchanting Lakefront Cottage located?

Located in Bellaire, this beachfront cottage is in the city center and within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Bellaire, The Chief Golf Course, and The Legend. Short's Brewing Company is 2.5 mi (4 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

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. 84 out of 86 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 86 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 86 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 86 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 86 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cottage was beautiful and relaxing! Jen was wonderful to work with!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My husband and I returned to this property 7-8 years between visits for our anniversary. It was just as clean, relaxing, beautiful and magical as we remembered it to be. We also enjoyed the town of Bellaire even more this time. We are hoping to return next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was supper clean and comfortable. Beautiful views of the lake. We would rent again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The host was very helpful and responded quickly to my questions. The home is adorable and well maintained. Very clean and has lots of seating outside for the view of the sunset. Perfect for a couple's getaway. Close to Torch Lake and Golf Resorts and restaurants are just a couple miles away in the downtown area. Very quiet and peaceful and we would definitely go back!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our vacation was a great experience from the booking, the communication with Jen, to the stay in this great cottage. We enjoyed the extras like kajaks and paddleboards. The shallow sandy water was great for the kids. We rented a boat and the boat lift worked out perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely cottage, great porch and close to the water. Had a wonderful stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house overwhelmingly exceeded our expectations! Other reviewers are right - the views from inside the house can’t be captured in phone pictures. We brought our own Whaler and tied it to the pier out front. We used the kayaks and/or paddleboards every morning before sunrise to go down either of the two rivers - Grass River or the river into town for morning coffee and muffins. It’s the right distance to do long road bike rides around the surrounding lakes as well as launch your trailers boat to endlessly explore. The house is MORE than stocked with just about everything you can think of. We travel Up North every year and look for very specific things to enjoy the area, and this house was amazing :)
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful cottage on very nice lake! Owner was very responsive! We very much enjoyed our stay and would definitely return!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was very clean and newly updated, secluded right on the water and only 5 minutes from Bellaire. Perfect sunsets.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Vacation

Extremely quiet and great location
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated. Jen was available if we needed anything. The view of the lake was beautiful. The kitchen was well supplied.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful experience!

This was our second stay at The Ah-Wa-Ga. We love it there! Jen is a fantastic host and the home is always clean and inviting upon arrival.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great cottage

Great location! Relaxing stay on Bellaire Lake. Cottage had everything we needed. I would definitely stay here again. Good communication with our host, Jen.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property was just as described! It was a quiet and relaxing weekend on Lake Bellaire. You can tell the love they put into renovating this old cottage!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely fabulous! One of the best cabins we’ve ever stayed at. Spotless inside and out! Charming and inviting with an awesome history. So important is the comfort of the front room furniture and it was great.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

This place is special!

The Ah Wa Ga is amazing! My wife and I enjoyed our stay and the stress-free booking process orchestrated by Jen made all the difference. The home was clean, the lake was beautiful, and we will plan on returning one day.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful cottage and location

Everything as described. Clean and comfortable. Nice quiet spot on the lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Weekend Getaway

Absolutely Amazing!!!! We could not ask for more from the views of the lake, the location and amenities. This was exactly what we needed to get away.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Another Great Stay

This was our second stay at AhWaGa. Beautiful. This time we rented a pontoon boat from a local place and kept it overnight. Perfect since there is a wonderful dock at the cabin.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Just perfect

We couldn’t have asked for more lovely accommodations with the absolutely most picturesque view of the lake and sunsets. The owners were so kind and thoughtful... really, just the perfect place.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

This place is amazing!

We have stayed here multiple times and could not ask for a better location to unwind and relax. The location is an easy drive to Charlevoix or Traverse City, and Bellaire itself has many cool spots to check out. The host takes great pride in the cleanliness of the home and it is well stocked with kitchen items for preparing your own meals.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Honeymoon

The lake was beautiful and the cottage was lovely in every way. We had everything we needed to enjoy our honeymoon up north—gorgeous sunsets, cozy fireplace and a well appointed kitchen for cooking. The cottage is lovingly restored with every detail carefully thought out.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome location

Everything we expected! Very close to the water and with a boat ramp. Best sunsets ever. So private and good area to walk. Everything was there that we needed and more. The owners took very good care during our long stay.
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Belair

Great place right on water! Clean
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great cottage stay to celebrate the last bit of Summer

We really enjoyed our stay at AhWaGa. The cottage was private, tastefully decorated, historic, charming, updated and ticked every box on our list. The porch was our favorite place to hang out and watch amazing sunsets, feel lake breezes and listen to loons calling. Jen was a great host—we wanted for nothing. We hope to return soon!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Jen

Host profile image
Bellaire native, historian by trade, fan of Northern Michigan.

Why they chose this property

I saw The AhWaGa for the first time while boating on Lake Bellaire. The historic cottage, the first built on Lake Bellaire, called to me. It was in desperate need of renovation, and begged for revitalization. We are only the second owners of The AhWaGa - purchasing the cottage from the original family who built the cottage in the 1890's. The restoration of the cottage has been an incredible experience.

What makes this property unique

We fell in love with the quaintness of the cottage, from the wrap around porch, to being so close to the shoreline. The sunsets are stunning, and second to none. The AhWaGa is an authentic experience of an old Northern Michigan cottage, loved by families and friends for generations. To the north, views of unspoiled shoreline. We share the cottage with the Eagle who flies overhead from the nest at the river's mouth, and the loons who swim our shoreline.

Languages:

English
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback