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Whaleback Retreat

Photo gallery for Whaleback Retreat

A lakeside property with a house surrounded by trees and a grassy field.
Room
A bedroom with a bed, desk, chair, computer, and speakers.
A bedroom with a bed, a lamp, and a wall decorated with framed posters.
Room

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Your own private chef
    One of the few properties offering private chef services.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Lake Leelanau
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Garage parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Leland, MI
  • Place, Lake Leelanau
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Historic Fishtown
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bunk Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Whaleback Retreat

Welcome to this charming house in Leland. This marvelous property boasts 4 bedrooms, including a king bed, 2 queen beds, and a bunk bed with trundle. With 2 bathrooms featuring shower, tub and hair dryers, guests will feel right at home. Our place is equipped for both long or short stays to make your holiday one to remember.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 4492017vb
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Leland

Leland is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
View more Holiday homes in LelandOpens in a new window
Map
Leland, MI

What's nearby

  • Lake Leelanau - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Historic Fishtown - 2 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 5 min drive - 7.9 km
  • Front Street - 32 min drive - 49.0 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 40 min drive - 56.6 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Roman Wheel Pizza & Subs - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪VI Grill - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Fiddleheads - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Leelanau Pie & Pastry - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Birdies Sandwhich Shop - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Whaleback Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

How much is parking at Whaleback Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Whaleback Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Whaleback Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Whaleback Retreat located?

Situated in Leland, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. Van's Beach and Historic Fishtown are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 7 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 7 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 7 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 7 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael J.

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

Great weekend away!

The location was fantastic! Minutes from fishtown! exploring the area and the wineries!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was in a great area very close to downtown Leland. Host was very responsive and his home had everything we needed!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicole W.

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

Wonderful get away spot for families that is close to FishTown and Van's beach.

Plenty of room in this home for all of the family. Less than a 5 min drive to Van's beach or Fishtown. The property is expansive and we enjoyed our stay. Thanks!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Jun 2025
Thank you.. yeah that yard is expansive, I feel like I need to be writing poetry
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julia S.

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

Fourth of July Weekend

We had an incredible stay at Bradley’s home. The pictures were exactly how the home was set up. A full kitchen full of all the cooking utensils you need. Rooms and bathrooms were all clean with plenty of towels to use. It was the perfect location, 5 minute ride to Leland where we enjoyed two delicious fish dinners at the Cove. Then only a 25 minute ride to the Cherry festival in TC. We enjoyed a beautiful day at the sleeping bear beach as well. I would 1000% stay here again. Bradley was very responsive if I needed to ask any questions as well!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a beautiful property whose location is just right: 30 minutes or less from major sites such as Sleeping Bear Dunes, TC, lighthouse, beaches, Fishtown, Glen Arbor, wineries. The rooms are spacious and everything you need is provided.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Sarah P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
We've stayed in many vacation rentals over the years, and while this property has several positives, there were a few important things we wish we had known before booking.The location between Lake Leelanau and Leland is excellent, the backyard is spacious, there is access to a nearby dock, and the owner was easy to communicate with.Our biggest concern was that there is a second occupied house on the property that shares the backyard and driveway. This was not disclosed in the listing, and we specifically book VRBOs for the privacy of having our own space. While the neighbors were nice, this is something future guests should know before booking.It's also worth noting that although you enter the home on the first floor, the main living area is upstairs, so guests will need to use stairs to access the kitchen and living spaces. The home also appeared to be the owner's primary residence when not being rented, with personal belongings throughout the house, including clothing left in the dryer and a child's room full of personal items.There were also a few maintenance and convenience issues. The dishwasher did not clean dishes well, some basic kitchen items like measuring cups and scissors were missing, and the back door did not appear to lock properly.Overall, we enjoyed the location and appreciated the owner's communication, but greater transparency about the shared property and attention to a few details would have made for a better experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Tara O.

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026

About the host

Hosted by Bradley

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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