Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Explore the area
Bellaire, MI
Short's Brewing Company
Place, Short's Brewing Company
11 min walk
Lake Bellaire
Place, Lake Bellaire
3 min drive
Torch Lake
Place, Torch Lake
7 min drive
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
50 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 3
1 Queen Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Dining area
About this property
Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike
Website: bellairetara.com River side hilltop home located in Downtown Bellaire, with decks, a dock for your boat, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards! The Tara is one of the few homes on "The Terrace", the hillside neighborhood in the heart of Bellaire Michigan, overlooking the Intermediate River and with boating access to the Southern Chain of Lakes, including, Torch Lake.
Built in 1887, this historic home is blessed with access to the entire chain of lakes, including beautiful Lake Bellaire, Clam Lake, Torch Lake with its famous "Sand Bar", Lake Skegemog's renowned bass fishing, The Grass River Nature Reserve and more! The Tara is conveniently located, and perfectly situated, for you to enjoy everything the Chain of Lakes has to offer.
Come relax at The Tara to get away and unwind. You are only a few blocks from downtown but will feel like you're miles away from everything. Watch the deer walk past your window and down to the river in the early evening. Catch a glimpse of otters playing by the river. You will also likely see one of the nesting Bald Eagles soaring high overhead on a pretty sunny day!
You're just steps away from memory making family adventures. Walk down to your private river front area on the Intermediate River where you can dock your own boat, or use one of the kayaks or paddle board to explore the waterways. There are miles and miles of gorgeous waterways to explore.
Mountain biking your thing? From your door you can bike to Glacier Hills for hours of trail riding. Golf? Try the Legend at Shanty Creek one of many fantastic course just minutes away in all directions. Do you enjoy fishing? The area has an abundance of trout streams with great fishing. In fact, you can drop your fishing line in the river right at the dock enjoying the sounds of nature while you test your luck.
After all that adventuring you may want to vist famous Shorts Brewery for one of their handcrafted beers, custom sandwiches or specialty pizzas.
This charming three bedroom one bath home is walking distance to all the attractions of a bustling resort town with a quaint small town vibe. Golf/Hiking/Mountain Biking/Fishing/Restaurants/Shopping all just minutes away.
WHAT TO DO??
NEARBY SKI AREAS: Shanty Creek Resort (3.3 miles), Cedar River Ski Area (6.8 miles), Schuss Ski Area (7.2 miles), Boyne Mountain Resort (27.5 miles)
THINGS TO DO: Torch Lake (~1 hour boat ride from the home), Short's Brewing Company Bellaire Pub (0.4 miles), Downtown Bellaire (0.6 miles), Lake Bellaire - boating, marinas, swimming, fishing, public beach (2.8 miles), Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area Trailhead - hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing (2.9 miles), Torch Lake Cellars (4.0 miles), Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark (27.5 miles), Traverse City (36.8 miles), Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (64.1 miles)
HIT THE LINKS: The Chief Golf Course (3.0 miles), Shanty Creek - The Legend (3.1 miles), Shanty Creek - Summit (3.3 miles), Hawk's Eye Golf Course (4.6 miles), Shanty Creek - Cedar River (6.8 miles), Shanty Creek Resort - Schuss Mountain Golf Course (7.2 miles)
LAKE BELLAIRE (2.8 miles): Summit Village Association Beach Club, boating, boat ramps/marinas, swimming, fishing, public beach access
AIRPORT: Cherry Capital Airport (35.1 miles)
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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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Bellaire
Located in Bellaire, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the waterfront. Elk Rapids District Library and Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Short's Brewing Company and The Chief Golf Course.
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 53 min drive
Restaurants
Short's Brewing Company - 9 min walk
McDonald's - 2 min drive
M88 Morning Grind - 2 min drive
Shanty Creek Resorts - 7 min drive
Toonies Fish & Steakhouse - 8 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).
How much does it cost to stay at Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike?
As of 7 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike on 10 May, 2026 start from S$311, 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 Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Riverfront in Downtown Bellaire - Year Round Fun! Boat/Golf/Bike/Ski/Fish/Hike located?
Located in the heart of Bellaire, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Short's Brewing Company, Lake Bellaire and Intermediate Lake. The Chief Golf Course is 2.9 mi (4.6 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Excellent stay, the house was just as advertised if not better! Comfortable, spacious common areas, comfortable beds and most important, very clean! Location was awesome, right near downtown and very close to Schuss! We were also able to bring our 2 dogs which is important to us! Would definitely stay again!
Our family had a wonderful time! Beautiful home conveniently located in walking distance of Bellaire. Definitely recommend renting the boat to enjoy all the lakes! Thanks Ann and Dave!
We only stayed for once night but enjoyed our time at the house. It is very clean and well appointed and comfortable. It was too hot outside so we enjoyed hanging out indoors. We walked to Bellaire, which was close by.
Perfect location and vintage home. Kitchen was well stocked for family meals. We enjoyed sitting on the front porch with coffee and fire pit in the evening. Close to all activities, including a boat ride to Torch Lake.
The property was amazing, the house was elegant, very clean, and the location was perfect and close to town. We felt very welcomed into the home, and it was very personable. All the amenities were so fun, we all enjoyed the corn hole and other games that were provided. We also loved watching the great streaming options on TV. The beds and couches were very comfortable to sit and sleep on.
The Tara House was exceptionally clean, and neatly decorated, with plenty of room. There is a lot of activities to take advantage of at the house, which made it more fun.Thank you for the great time. We would totally rent this place again. Barry and Evelyn
My wife and I loved staying here! Cute house, cozy and welcoming, and loved that we could bring our two dogs. The location is fantastic, quiet neighborhood, just a few minutes walk from downtown Bellaire. Anne was very friendly and communicative during our stay. We highly recommend!
My husband and I had a great time staying here! There were yummy treats waiting for us from a local bakery. The house is so charming. Shirt walk into Bellaire! Highly recommend!
We had a wonderful time at this cute property! The hosts were very accommodating as we checked in and throughout our stay. The house was perfect for a friends getaway with new babies and a dog. Definitely recommend this VRBO! It’s walking distance to downtown Bellaire and a short drive to other cities in Northern MI.
Great getaway!!. Beautiful yard for our dogs to enjoy. Large covered front porch was so nice to sit and relax. The personal dock was more than I imagined fishing, swimming, kayaking!! Wonderful Hosts!!
We had the absolute most delightful time at the cottage! Ann and Dave were super responsive to any inquiries we had and had fantastic recommendations on what to do in the area.The cottage was quaint, clean, and so charming. Its so hard for us to go on long trips without our anxiety ridden Labrador and the fact we could bring her, made our time away more enjoyable cause we knew she was fine. She enjoyed the space thoroughly!The river and dock area were so enjoyable. For the first time in 10 yrs, i was able to cast a line in the river and just sit in silence. I dont get that often!We most definitely will be back next year!
The Tara is a very nice property. Great front porch. Lots of outdoor space. Great location for boating. Super responsive owners. … and rubber ducks! What more could you want!?!
We loved the house! It was so cozy and comfortable for our family and we were sad to leave it! Beautifully decorated and tastefully updated. It was nice to have the private dock with kayaks and SUP to use when we just wanted to stay around the area too. Quick walk to bars and restaurants in town, but fully stocked kitchen for preparing and eating in. Thank you for a great week Anne and Dave!
Extremely happy with our stay, the house was clean, kitchen was spacious and well appointed, the owners attentive and responsive. The location was fantastic as we enjoyed downtown Bellaire often, and the proximity to Torch Lake was a huge plus. We brought our boat with us, was awesome to be able to drop it in the water across the street and keep it moored at the property’s riverside landing. We saw plenty of deer roaming the neighborhood nightly, very cool experience. It’s a historic home that’s been tastefully updated, lots of character and charm, which I appreciate. I, as well as my guests, didn’t mind it at all, again, it’s a historic home built during a different era, but for older guests or those with mobility issues, the stairs to the second floor are a little tight and could be tricky. Also keep it mind, there’s only one bathroom, which can get interesting with larger groups, but our group of 2 adults and 6 teens made it work just fine. In sum, it’s a great property with tons of positives, owners are accessible and responsive, and I would 100% stay again.
A Truly Stunning Stay!We had the most wonderful time at this beautiful farmhouse. Every detail was thoughtfully curated — the finishes throughout the home were gorgeous, and the decor looked professionally done. (Rumor has it Anne, the owner, did it all herself — and if that’s true, she’s incredibly talented!)The flower planters lining the front porch were such a lovely welcome, and the luxury touches continued inside — plush towels, fresh pastries upon arrival, and even a fan in the master bedroom (a must-have for light sleepers like me!).One of the highlights was watching deer just 10 feet from the back door every evening — it was magical. During a stroll through town, we met Dan, who was incredibly friendly and gave us great tips on local spots.Everything about our stay was perfect. We will absolutely be back!
Stephanie S.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jun, 2025
Thank you Stephanie for such a glowing review…you are welcome back ANYTIME!!
Anne & Dave
We thoroughly enjoyed our one week stay at the Tara. The historic home had been beautifully renovated and elegantly appointed. The kitchen was perfect and the towels were luxurious! We spent many hours on the front porch and around the fire pit. The many steps down to the river did not deter us seniors and we enjoyed sitting down there too. The cute town was a quick walk away and we loved that. Anne and Dave were super nice and perfect hosts. We would definitely highly recommend.
The home is so quaint and calming. Plenty of places inside and out to enjoy visiting with friends and family. The only thing that could possibly be a negative for someone, is that the only bathroom is downstairs and all 3 bedrooms are up stairs. With everything else being so perfect, it was an easy "problem" to deal with.
And the surprise little gift at check in was amazing and appreciated.
Lovely little house, and Bellaire is a lovely town with some nice shops/bars/restaurants. The only glitch was when a large tree fell onto our boat while it was moored at their dock on the river. To the hosts credit, they came immediately with chain saws and we removed the tree. Otherwise it was a very nice stay.
Verified traveller
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
About the host
Hosted by Anne & Dave Drummond
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests