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Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake

Photo gallery for Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake

Empire Dune House
View of Front Street
Front porch
Front Living Room
Front entrance and living room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Empire, MI
  • Place, Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Empire Bluff Trail
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake

Great place for big family or two small families--2 living areas, downstairs bedroom with queen bed, 3 upstairs bedrooms with 4 twin beds (2 in each bedroom) and 1 king. Bathrooms updated, downstairs bath has walk-in shower, and upstairs bath has tub and shower. Fully equipped kitchen with new refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. Wireless internet and cable available. Open kitchen/dining area. Spacious yard with lots of trees, campfire ring, two picnic tables and lawn furniture, nice deck and grill in back, covered front porch. Walking distance to National Lakeshore Park center, shops, grocery, post office, library, restaurants, and beautiful Empire Beach with its playground and basketball hoops as well as pristine shoreline. You are a short drive to many other attractions: Sleeping Bear Dunes, North Bar Lake, Pyramid Point, Glen Lake, wine-tasting, antique-shopping, hiking, biking, and casinos. Traverse City is less than 25 miles way if you want to catch a film or enjoy live music. You won't want to miss our local chocolate store and the evening sunsets at the beach, where you might catch a glimpse of the Green Flash. If you are looking for a low-key family vacation with lots of outdoor fun and accessible activities, this house is perfect for you.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Parents supervise use of stairs, etc.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Pets One dog approved on an individual basis.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
The entire property is smoke-free, including yard.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Take out the rubbish
Lock the doors and return the keys
Please leave used linens after stripping on the beds.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 715310vb
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
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Empire

Downtown Mmpire, a neighbourhood in Empire, is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Burnett Park are also worth visiting. Kayaking and windsurfing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hunting nearby.
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Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • beach near Village Park - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • beach near Downtown Mmpire - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Empire Bluff Trail - 4 min drive - 2.2 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Trattoria Funistrada - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Food For Thought - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Joes Friendly Tavern - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake?

As of 9 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake on 18 May 2026 start from £235, 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 at Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Family Friendly Two-Story Home On Main Street In Empire Four Blocks From Lake located?

Located in Downtown Mmpire, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Empire Bluff Trail is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

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. 41 out of 41 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 41 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Well stocked kitchen, easy to prepare anything you like. Lots of living space for the family. Very charming and welcoming atmosphere. Great stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2025
Thanks for your positive review—we love it when families enjoy themselves and make themselves at home. We try hard to create a welcoming atmosphere and we are glad you appreciated that.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Denise M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful warm and cozy home! Very clean and comfy beds. We had a perfect stay. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Aug 2025
Thanks for your review. We love it when guests enjoy our home in Empire as much as we do. We would welcome ya'll back any time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin G.

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

Great place!

Fantastic location in Empire and a ton of space. It was a wonderful place for a family vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Veronica C.

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

Great

Great stay
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2024
We love hosting ya'll, Veronica and family. We hope ya'll stay every summer!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Veronica C.

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

Great

Great place, great host
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Aug 2023
Thanks for your positive comments. We love our house there and try to make improvements every year--so people like you will love returning!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelly M.

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

Great house in Empire

Nice house in excellent condition. Loved the location, we could walk to the beach and ice cream.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept 2021
Thanks, glad you liked the conveniences of our home and location. It's nice to be able to just walk to the beach, to shops, and to eating places. Thanks for staying in our house, and ya'll are welcome anytime. Best Mariana
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ian K.

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

Perfect

This is our second time renting this house and it is one of the best places I have stayed. The house, amenities, and location are all perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eleanor B.

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

Great!

Great property
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Nicole H.

Awesome home away from home!

Our family stayed here for the weekend and didn't want to leave! This house is very cute and stocked with everything you need! Just a few blocks from the beach and stores. Clean and nice furnishings. We highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thanks! So good to know when guests want to stay longer. We hope ya'll return when you have more time to enjoy all that Empire and the area has to offer.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennie M.

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

Relaxation by the Dunes

This is the second year we have rented this house and we cannot say enough about it! From the amenities to the kindness and ease of communication with the host and the amazing location in Empire, it is a wonderful stay! Thank you for the wonderful vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jun 2021
Thanks for your review! I’m so happy y’all had another great stay in Empire. We love when our guests enjoy the house enough to return. Hope to see you in 2022.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy K.

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

Dream Beachtown Home

This was our family’s second stay at this charming house. It is truly the most comfortable home away from home I’ve ever experienced. LOVELOVELOVE
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Jul 2021
Thanks so much for you review, Amy. We love when guests return, especially people like ya'll. Anyone would be lucky to host you. Best, Mariana
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Veronica C.

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

Very nice

Well equipped , good location, beautiful home
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Aug 2022
Thanks for your positive review. We love hosting guests who appreciate and care for our home.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ian K.

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

Perfect

The house is really great with so much space. Everything is nicely decorated and up to date. The quiet location is amazing and you are within walking distance to many restaurants and the beach. It really is a perfect rental.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Sept 2021
Thanks so much for your review. We are happy y’all were comfortable in our house and enjoyed your stay. Come back anytime!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

LeAnn C.

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

Great House and Location!

We just spent a week at the house in Empire. It is a great home. It was clean and accommodated our family very well. The kitchen was well stocked and they had lots of games to play. The front porch was awesome. We loved the town of Empire and it is convenient to everything. I highly recommend this vacation rental.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thanks for the great review. We love it when guests enjoy our home and the wonderful village of Empire.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeffery W.

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

Great Spot and Fantastic Host

This charming rental is amazing, clean bright and well-equipped. Visited during the pandemic, so some local stuff was closed or operating under a limited basis, which made us feel safer really. We had to make some changes and Marianna was incredibly patient and responded quickly to all our questions!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Aug 2020
I’m so happy y’all enjoyed the house and found the environment safe. It was a pleasure hosting your group, and we all just have to be flexible during this pandemic! Stay safe and welcome back any time!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Autumn K.

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

Prime location in Empire!

We had such a wonderful stay! This really is a prime location - right on the main road in Empire - walkable to shops, restaurants and the beach. The home is beautiful and well appointed with everything you could need. You can tell that a lot of care has gone into curating each room with interesting art and comfortable furniture. We loved sitting on the porch near the butterfly bushes which attract many hummingbirds and monarchs. Thanks for a lovely stay, Mariana!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2022
Thanks for your thoughtful review! We are grateful to share our home with guests like you who notice our efforts to create an inviting environment. Thank you too for taking such good care of our place. Y’all are welcome any time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great stay

My family of 8 stayed here to celebrate my daughters 40th birthday. The house is so spacious! Beds are cozy, fully stocked kitchen. Lots of little extras that make the stay fun - the bikes, stuff for the beach, outside area and grill. The owner is quick to respond and helpful. This is our second time to Sleeping Bear Dunes area. It’s beautiful. Empire is a small, quiet town, but has enough services to make a stay comfortable. Just what we wanted.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thanks so much for reviewing our home. It's gratifying when guests like you appreciate our efforts to provide extras--and of course the village and the area are incomparable!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Keith J.

Great extended family getaway!

We loved staying at this property. It's a great house with plenty of common spaces for relaxing, as well as a nice front porch and a good backyard. Our two small kids loved being here, and we made plenty of trips walking to the beach, which is only 5-10 minutes by foot. The grocery store is just down the street, and we cooked in every night. It's convenient to Glen Arbor and just a few minutes to Sleeping Bear -- we'd never visited the area, and we are very grateful we ended up staying at this house in Empire. Had a very relaxing week, and would gladly return. All 3 generations loved it!
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thanks! It's such a pleasure to have families enjoying our home in Empire. Every year we plan improvements we hope will make the stay even more enjoyable. We love return guests!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

john c.

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

Empire 69 years later

Extra special- anything we needed was there- had to do a few minor fixes but then I have been an electrician for 45 years- the owner was very responsive
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jun 2023
Thanks, John. It was a pleasure to welcome you as our first guests of the season. We hope all guests will be as easy to work with as your family.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dory S.

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

Perfect!

We loved this house! We were a group of women who came up to cycle and it ended up being a rainy weekend, thus we spent more time in the house then we had planned. We were so comfortable with the two living spaces and we loved the big fireplace. The kitchen is so well equipped , towels are generous, and no need to run out to buy paper products. The location could not be better-walk to the beach, the cute shops in town, the coffee shop, the chocolate store and the Sleeping Bear Park Headquarters. The decor is an added treat. We plan to come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
So happy when guests love our home! And have a chance to take advantage of all the Village has to offer—from national park headquarters to chocolate! We love providing little extras like paper goods for your convenience. Thanks for the positive response!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy K.

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

Empire Village Gem

We loved everything about this house! It sits on top of the hill on Front Street in the Village of Empire. We were able to walk to the beautiful beach, ice cream shop and Joe's Friendly Tavern. We used the bikes to explore the Heritage Bike Trail all the way to Glen Arbor for lunch. The fire pit in the backyard was a relaxing way to end the days. The house itself is decorated beautifully with interesting artwork and comfortable surroundings. It was very spacious, so our family of 6 had plenty of room to spread out and relax. The kitchen has everything that you could possibly need! The beds and linens were comfy. Plenty of towels and change of sheets! We hope to return soon :)
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
So happy ya'll enjoyed all the amenities of our home--we try hard to make it a home away from home for our guests by providing linens and paper goods, etc. Hope ya'll can visit again!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Denice "Dee" W.

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

Perfect

This Empire property was perfect for our kids and grandkids. We had 10 for one weekend and 7 the rest of the week. The house had space for all to find comfort and peace while still being close to the beach and family down the road. We loved the front porch and the huge kitchen and table. We had three kids age 7-3 and two parents, two grandparents and three adult children for just two of the seven nights we rented. Mariana is attentive and easy to communicate with. Her house has beautiful art and quirky (in a good way) assortments of dishes, glassware, pots and pans, spices and nick knacks which we moved during our stay and put back before we left. (Think pretty glass bowls.) The folks upstairs were a little hot but apparently new AC unit will be in soon. There were great windows (and coverings) and fans an good cross breezes. The garage has bikes, toys and a wagon. Very cool. We loved it. Truly. We have every intention of returning.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2020
We are always grateful when guests enjoy our home. Our plans to install split unit air conditioners in the upstairs front bedrooms were interrupted by Covid 19, but they will be installed in the fall for next season. Although this review states that for a weekend there were 10 people in the house, we were unaware of this as the limit is actually 8 persons, as stated on our website. In the past, we had problems with people letting children sleep on the sofas, so please note that we do limit guests to the number accommodated by the beds in the house. We love improving the property each year--new windows last fall-- and it's fun to see guests like these appreciate the house and its amenities.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Veronica C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

amy G.

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

Just like home

We had an amazing time in Empire. The owner of this home has thought of everything you will need to feel right at home. It was very clean, had very comfortable beds, central air system, grill, fire pit, and was walking distance to downtown and Empire Beach. This home fit our family of eight perfectly. Empire is the perfect location if you are wanting to center yourself near, Frankfort, Glen Arbor, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Traverse City. All are 10-30 min away. You will love this home.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennie M.

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

Wonderful property!

This is our third year at Mariana's and we are so in love with the house! We have stayed at many different homes in Empire and this is by far the best for our group. The home is a close walk to everything and there is so much attention to detail from decor to necessities. It is the perfect size for a small group (we had 6 adults) with plenty of space for eating, cooking , laughing and a great outdoor fire pit. Host is wonderful and excellent communication. We will be back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Mariana Aitches Davis

Host profile image

Languages:

English, Spanish, Romanian
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