Entire home

The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 101600 sq ft

Popular amenities

Parking available
Dryer
Washer
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill
Fireplace

Explore the area

Little Traverse Lake, Cedar, MI

Little Traverse Lake
‪1 min walk‬
Manitou Passage Golf Club
‪6 min drive‬
Lime Lake
‪8 min drive‬
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
‪46 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bunk Bed and 1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining area

About this property

The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak

The Irwin Cottage sleeps up to 9 guests comfortably in 4 bedrooms and accommodates 2 more people on a pull-out in the den. There are 2 bathrooms. The cottage sits just feet from the lake, has a sandy beach, a sandy bottom to the lake and is shallow for a long way out into the lake. This is great for small children. There is a dock, a rowboat, and 2 kayaks available for guests use. The kitchen is complete with a dishwasher and garbage disposal. All appliances are new and stainless steel and granite counter tops. The living room boasts a gas fireplace, great for cool mornings or a cozy late evening! There are both a washer and dryer in the laundry room. The dining room table sits up to ten people. There is a gas grill available for guest use. The den has a large smart TV. Guests can stream using their own accounts. Linens, towels, some paper products and soaps are available to guests to get started for the week.

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Amenities

Kitchen

Washing machine

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Load and start the dishwasher

Strip any used beds, gather used towels and store extra beds

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish

Turn off the lights

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

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 and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Cedar

Located in Cedar, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

View more Cottages in Cedar

Little Traverse Lake, Cedar, MI

What's nearby

Little Traverse Lake - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
Manitou Passage Golf Club - 6 min drive - 4.0 km
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 6 min drive - 5.4 km
Lime Lake - 8 min drive - 5.8 km
Historic Fishtown - 14 min drive - 15.4 km

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

‪Pegtown Station - ‬10 min drive
‪Cedar Tavern - ‬12 min drive
‪Broomstack Kitchen And Taphouse - ‬10 min drive
‪Laurentide Winery - ‬12 min drive
‪Little Traverse Inn - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is steps from Little Traverse Lake and within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Manitou Passage Golf Club and Lime Lake are also within 3 miles (5 km).

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

William C.

1 Sept, 2025

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

Amazing location and home was perfect for a family getaway. Can’t beat the lake and privacy the house offers. Had everything we needed for our stay.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Janice H.

18 Aug, 2025

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The location on Little Traverse Lake was amazing. We found it better in person than in the listing. The house was cozy and comfortable and the back yard fire pit area was heavenly. There were some rustic features in the house that need attention such as water stains on the ceilings and walls and the cookware was old and mismatched. The cleaning could be improved upon, but was generally good. Overall our stay was comfortable and lovely. The location on Lake Travis couldn't be better.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica D.

16 Aug, 2025

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

A cute cottage in an ideal location! The house is spacious and had everything we needed for a family vacation with adults and kids. The kids especially loved the floating dock. It’s warm during the day in the cottage as there’s just one wall unit ac but we spent the whole day outside and didn’t mind. It cools the place down enough at night, or turn it off and open the windows! The family photos and measurements on the wall were so cute. It’s definitely a place for family memories!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew H.

25 Aug, 2021

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

A wonderful slice of northern MI!

Clean, quiet, and right on the lake. Excellent communication from the host and a beautiful home for our family of 5 to enjoy. Perfect location to enjoy all things northern MI!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Martin P., Muskegon

19 Sept, 2019

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

Little Traverse Lake

Beautiful spot. Little Traverse Lake is very picturesque and we enjoyed fishing and kayaking on the lake. It is a short bike ride from the cottage to the Heritage trail trailhead on Good Harbor Rd. It is also only a 10 to 15 minute walk to Lake Michigan on the God Harbor Bay trail. Great fish and chips at the nearby Little Traverse Inn. Easy drive to Leland, Glen Arbor and Sutton's Bay

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Roy S.

3 Jul, 2025

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

Nice escape to the lake

We had a great time staying at the Irwin CottageThere were 8 of us total 4 adults and 4 kids between the ages of 7-11Enough space inside for all of us and there were 2 living areas so the kids could be away from the adultsThe best place was outside by the lake, there were enough chairs by the fire pit for all of usThe kids had great time playing the sand and the lake is shallow and sandyThe kids also enjoyed the kayaks and swim platform, they out there most of the tripThe owners needed to remove something from the property and notified first and were nice to respect our stayWe got an opportunity to meet one the owners and Michelle was very nice and brought a bottle of the local wineI would consider this place again if staying in that area again

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jen S.

29 Aug, 2022

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

A perfect place to stay!!

I really loved this cabin on the lake. It was perfect. The adults sat by the fire pit nightly and the kids played in the water every day. The way the house is split with two living rooms flanking is he ends of the house was perfect. Kids could watch a movie while adults talked without interruption. This house is located very near hikes and bike paths. We really enjoyed our stay and would be back. The only suggestion I would have for the owner would be to have more rugs in the house. Without rugs, the sand was not contained and we were constantly sweeping. There is no avoiding sand in this part of Michigan. 😁

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Andre C.

18 Oct, 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely beautiful location. Open living room/kitchen with views of the lake.

We had an absolutely wonderful time. The open floor plan living room kitchen area is wonderful with big windows looking at the lake. The dock and kayaks and tow boat were great. We enjoyed the fire pit as well. Our only quibble would be the overall cleanliness was only moderate (it is an older cottage). The towels and linens are quite old as well. And this might be TMI but single ply toilet paper?? I didn’t even know anyone still made that. Will probably bring my own towels/toilet paper next time but would definitely stay again.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mary K.

8 Oct, 2021

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

Roomy Cottage

This 4-bedroom cottage is very roomy and good for a large group, but even just the 2 of us enjoyed it much. A beautiful view of Little Traverse Lake from the large windows. Also a deck and a lake-side area for gazing at the stars. Excellent location for access to Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Autumn H.

9 Sept, 2021

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

Amazing cottage!

Had a great time with my friends here :-) Everything was very clean and orderly and overall it is just a beautiful cottage!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Amanda F.

29 Jun, 2021

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

Great cabin

My family and I loved this cabin, private lake access and everything about the house was great

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Sarah O.

22 Jun, 2021

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

Many Pros, one HUGE Con for our family

The Pros: This is a sweet lake cottage, in the family for generations and clearly well loved and cared for. The location is just what we wanted for our family of 6 adults: situated right on the lake in a quiet, non-touristy area, with easy access to stores and outdoor activities. The house accommodated our family nicely with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, well equipped kitchen, large combination living/dining area with large windows allowing nice views of the lake. There is a second living room/TV room, allowing people to spread out and engage in different activities. Beach/firepit area is great (no shade, FYI). Kayaking on the lake was lovely, swimming in the deep water off the floating swim dock was great. We also rented a stand up paddle board from a local company who delivered it to the house. Day trips to Sleeping Bear, tubing on the Platte river, day out to a brewery in Traverse City. Also a pretty 30 min walk down the road and through the woods to a beautiful undeveloped Lake Michigan beach (intensity of biting flies varies by day, but no parasites in the water!). Communicating with Mary Lou was easy and she was helpful and responsive. The HUGE Con: Beware the shallow water. Three members of our group contracted swimmer's itch from the lake. This is a parasite that is apparently common in the lakes here but since we are not from the area so we weren't aware. While it is not dangerous to humans, the organism borrows into the skin causing extensive bite marks and severe itching. Two of our group had at least a hundred bites on their bodies and were miserable for most of the week due to itch, painful sores, difficulty sleeping, etc. Included in the house's information notebook was a pamphlet describing this problem, however, we would have appreciated a personal warning from the owner to take precautions. We now know these precautions include not spending time in shallow water, toweling off immediately, not sitting around in your suit, using oily sunscreen as a barrier. It surprised us that the description of the property even highlights how great it is for small children because the water is shallow for a long way out, without mentioning the risk of the parasite. At the end of the dock it is still only 1.5 feet deep. We used our SUP to get out to the deep water once we realized the swimmer's itch problem, and this probably kept the rest of us from getting it. It was a most unfortunate occurrence and spoiled and otherwise lovely week.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

John N.

22 Jun, 2021

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

Amazing get away on the lake

Very happy with our stay at this property. Ideal location on Little Traverse lake. Home is as described - kayaks, dock, and chairs out by the water were great touches to make the stay really enjoyable. Only negative comment is the main bathroom shower/bathtub. Water drains very very slowly & bathtub looks worn out - needs updating. Otherwise this is a great rental and we'd be happy to stay again.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Constance C.

16 Jun, 2021

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

Loved it!

This place was incredible. The lake was so nice and everything was very clean.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eugene S.

19 Oct, 2020

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

Great location

We had a great stay at the Irwin Cottage. The kitchen was extremely well stocked, the view of the lake was lovely (we saw loons and muskrats), the bed was comfortable, the property manager was very responsive and helpful, and the location was superb (private frontage on lake, quiet, short walk to Good Harbor beach, relatively short drive to Leland for fresh fish and groceries, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, and Traverse City). We highly recommend this property and plan to return.

Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Patricia D.

6 Oct, 2020

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

Great family spot

Great location. Walkable to Great Lake Michigan beach, about 20 minutes. Close to Glen Arbor and Leland. Very clean and comfortable beds. My toddler grandchildren had the best time in the sand and shallow waters edge. Wonderful, relaxing time!

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2020

6/10 Okay

Kathleen S.

3 Oct, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Beautiful location with hidden thermostats and uncomfortable bed

The location was beautiful and greenery provided privacy. The use of the kayak and row boat was an added bonus. The front queen bed was used by two couples and two out of the four people were not at all comfortable. There were no written instructions in the notebook regarding the fireplace and the living room thermostat was completely covered by a large mirror.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christopher R.

2 Sept, 2020

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

Great place!

Loved the lake, nice house, secluded, Mary Lou was very kind and helpful!

10/10 Excellent

Heather R.

18 Aug, 2020

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

Family vacation

We had a wonderful stay at the Irwin cottage. Very relaxing and great to spend time with family. The younger kids enjoyed splashing in the lake while the older kids enjoyed the kayaks. I would defiantly stay here again. Mary Lou was wonderful about answering any questions and easy to reach.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Haley D.

8 Aug, 2020

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

Great location for kids and adults

This cozy cottage was perfect for our family with younger children. The kids loved swimming off the dock which is not too deep, and playing in the sand. Great location close to everything we wanted to do.

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Charles R.

27 Jun, 2020

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

The Perfect Lake House

The Irwin Cottage is on the most beautiful lake with some amazing sunsets and night sky’s. My whole family had a blast and felt so relaxed after our stay!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

B Z.

25 Jun, 2020

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

Private Cottage on Little Traverse Lake

The Irwin cottage is a peaceful getaway on a beautiful lake in an absolutely beautiful area. Although the cottage is older it is clean, well equipped, well maintained and right on the lake. Mary Lou, the property manager was always only a phone call away. The cottage was child friendly with a small sand beach, large shallow area for young children and a floating dock for the adults. Two kayaks and row boat are provided. Many places to explore: picturesque towns, wineries, galleries, biking paths, hiking trails, restaurants. The road the cottage is on is great for walking and biking. Bring your binoculars many different birds, Kirtland warblers, kingfishers, variety of woodpeckers etc. Good fishing. We had a great time!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

David H.

2 Jul, 2019

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

Lovely Cottage for a Family

We absolutely loved our stay at Irwin’s Cottage! It was clean, well maintained and perfect for 10 whole people. Our favorite parts were all the lake activities and how close you are to everything!

10/10 Excellent

John N.

3 Sept, 2018

Beautiful home in a great location. They had everything we needed there.

Located on a quiet lake with a nice beach, this home was everything we were looking for. Mary Lou kept in touch and made sure we had what we needed. We'll be back next year.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly B.

3 Jul, 2018

Fabulous!

The house was perfect for our large group and Mary Lou was very welcoming! She answered our questions quickly. The yard was safe for our young kids, far off the road, and the water was shallow. We enjoyed the kayaks and jumping off the dock! So much to do in the area and the house was close to the dunes and historic villages. We would definitely recommend this cottage and hope to return!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018