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Lakefront cottage in the heart of Leelanau County

Lakefront cottage with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Lakefront cottage in the heart of Leelanau County

The Yellow House
Spacious backyard
The fire pit
Living room
Cozy seating and a games table

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms0+ bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View in a map
Maple City, MI
  • Place, Little Traverse Lake
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Manitou Passage Golf Club
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Place, Lime Lake
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bunk Bed

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 half bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Lakefront cottage in the heart of Leelanau County

Welcome to The Yellow House at Little Traverse! This lakefront home is perfect for the family. There's a sandy beach (with sand toys!) and shallow waterfront on Little Traverse Lake for the kids, and beautiful sunset views for the adults. Enjoy family time around the fire pit (fire wood is included) or dining on the deck. The house also includes 4 kayaks and a rowboat, as well as a gas grill.

The interior has an open floor plan with two tables for indoor dining or games. The kitchen is well-stocked for cooking and has a gas stove and dishwasher. A washer and dryer are also included. The master and full bath are on the main floor, with three additional bedrooms and a half bath upstairs. The house includes bed linens and bath towels, as well as dish and hand soap, laundry and dishwasher detergent, and paper towels.

The Yellow House is a great home base for your exploration of Leelanau County, with Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan, golf courses, biking trails, local wineries, dining, and shopping all within a short drive. We love this area and will happily provide recommendations!

*Ask about our cancellation policy!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Outdoor space
Parking available
Lake view

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Maple City

Located in Maple City, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Practise your golf swing on a nearby course, or enjoy other activities in the great outdoors, such as hiking/biking trails and cycling in the area.
View more Cottages in Maple CityOpens in a new window
Map
Maple City, MI

What's nearby

  • Little Traverse Lake - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Manitou Passage Golf Club - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 2 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Lime Lake - 2 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Crystal Mountain - 41 min drive - 65.9 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Pegtown Station - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Foothills Cafe - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Bel Lago Vineyards & Winery - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Cedar Tavern - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Market 22 - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming family-friendly cottage in scenic Leelanau County pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Charming family-friendly cottage in scenic Leelanau County?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Charming family-friendly cottage in scenic Leelanau County?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming family-friendly cottage in scenic Leelanau County?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Charming family-friendly cottage in scenic Leelanau County located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within a 15-minute walk of Little Traverse Lake and Manitou Passage Golf Club. Lime Lake and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are also within 2 miles (3 km).

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. 39 out of 40 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 40 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 40 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Margaret T.

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

Relaxing at the yellow house

great place to stay. kitchen well equipped and furniture very comfy.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Amazing!

This house is absolutely adorable. Everything was incresibily clean and well taken care. Perefect location to so many attractions. You also must check out the M22 Market across the street. Mary was amazing to communicate with and answered all of my questions quickly. Loved it!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Monica S., Swansea,

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

Best family vacation ever

From the very beginning the owners were gracious and easy to communicate with! The cottage location is ideal for just relaxing on little traverse lake or a very short trip to Lake Michigan Beaches. The Leelanau Pennisula is beyond beautiful with many things to enjoy! The cottage is so cute and well maintained. Great kitchen supplies too! Our grandchildren loved swimming and enjoyed the private sand beach. The dock is very nice and the sunsets just stunning! We can’t wait to return. Wonderful place for family fun and making memories. Thank you to the owners for their kindness and availability! Wonderful people!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nancy L.

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

Very nice lake cottage

Kitchen is exceptional for cooking for 8 people - lots of nice equipment and good set up. the sandy lake is very nice. CAVEAT - the mattresses are old (downstairs queen and upstairs queen) and need to be replaced. One comment was that "they got numb sleeping in the bed" and the other is that the couple kept rolling into each other. Mattresses should be an easy fix these days:-) The twin beds are newer and comfortable - the bunk bed mattresses have a " camplike feel" - not great if older than 12. But a very nice property
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachel K.

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

Fantastic Home in Leelanau!

The Yellow House is truly a gem in the heart of Leelanau. My family and I have been going to this region for years and were very happy to find this special spot. The sandy beach and quiet water of Little Traverse Lake was PERFECT for our three young kids (all younger than 10). They could safely play in the shallow water and the home was equipped with sand toys, yard toys, kayaks, a row boat, life jackets, and any other amenity you could wish to have. As with many Up North homes, there is no A/C. However, with the cooler June temperatures plus the many fans provided by the host, we were comfortable at night. Mary the host is fantastic and communicated clearly and promptly. The location is quiet--not in the heart of Traverse or Glen Arbor--but still close enough to these places to enjoy any type of outing we wanted to do. We appreciated the quiet of the location as we wanted a true getaway and didn't want to feel like we were right next to a bunch of other people. We are already comtemplating when we will book again for a future family vacation!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Leslie M.

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

Delightful Spot

The Yellow House has been beautifully organized for vacationing families. Well equipped from the kitchen to the kayaks! We ( five adults and two kids) loved our time there.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jean C.

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

Family vacation 2022

Great location! So many activities right at the property, swimming, fishing, yard games, campfire, cookout, kayak, rowboat, etc.... & close by are lake michigan beaches, wine/ beer tasting, shops, golf, the beautiful dunes & scenic drive, restaurants - our favorite M22 Market across the street. Property itself is exactly as pictured, well maintained and stocked with anything you may need.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Pam H.

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

What a gem!

Loved staying at the quintessential cottage on Little Traverse Lake. The previous reviews accurately describe the generous supplies, linens, outside lake toys needed for a comfortable stay. So hope that the future allows us to return again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steve B.

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

Great cottage, Great lake

Cozy clean cottage on a beautiful lake. Close to all the quaint peninsula towns.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jorene M., Howell, MI

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

Yearly Family Vacation at the Yellow House

We walked into to an immaculate lake house that was perfectly stocked with all the appliances needed for a carefree stay! Also, clean and not worn bedding, bath towels, and kitchen towels… along with more than enough paper towels, TP, and Kleenex for the week! We were delightfully impressed! The outside… WOW! A beautiful fire pit with kindling wood for the week…. Kayaks for adults and children along with a row boat.. all in excellent condition! The lake…. oh my! Clear as glass and a sandy bottom…. Shallow water for the children to play safely in all the way to the end of the dock. Our first stay and our plan is to return! Highly recommend this property!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eric S., Medina, Ohio USA

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

Excellent Lakehouse

Spent a wonderful week at this lovely cottage right on Little Traverse lake with our 3 adult children and oldest daughters husband. Extremely clean, comfortable and well stocked house that really allowed us to both chill and reconnect with with family , while also being a great step off place to explore Glen Arbor, Leland, Sutton's Bay, Sleeping Bear Dunes, the many wineries of the Leelanau peninsula and the awesome restaurants and other venues in Traverse City . Loved the fire pit and kayaks, and enjoyed swimming in the sandy bottomed lake. The large front yard also provided ample space for tossing a baseball or frisbee around, or the multiple games of baggo (a small portable cornhole game that the owners also provided). The close proximity to Glen Arbor allowed us fill up on everything cherry at the huge Cherry Republic there - as well as grab whatever groceries needed at a very well stocked (really top-end - even had Sanders bumpy cakes!) mini grocery store (Andersons) that included GF and DF stuff food for one of the family - while also having an onsite sommelier and an extensive liquor section. This allowed us to prepare and sip some specialty, late night old fashions, sazerac's and gin/tonics by the fire or around the dining room table while crushing each other playing board games. This house is conveniently located to also visit more in-depth than in our previous N Michigan vacations the quaint town of Suttons Bay with all its shops and some really good restaurants. For us though, the highlight of the trip was the jaunt a few miles south to "downtown" Maple City where we took curling lessons (too much fun) and competed with each other at the Broomstick Kitchen and Taphouse. After a most enjoyable 2 hours, went up front to have an awesome meal with excellent beer listening to live music under the trees. Really - I highly recommend this vacation home. The owners (who were great to deal with) have thought of everything that you would need to enjoy a week on a lake "Up North" - the house is functionally laid out well with a nice kitchen, comfortable beds - and its on a beautiful, swimmable lake that isn't busy or chock full of tourist - so if you want to relax in an adirondack chair, read a book and feed the ducks - you can do it successfully. Next time we are in area, will definitely look to stay here again - its such a nice place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Debbra E.

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

Great family getaway!

Thanks for sharing your home!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nancy P.

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

The Yellow House is exceptional

Like so many other reviews, I have nothing but great things to say about this property. The location is central to Sleeping Bear Dunes, quaint towns of Glen Arbor, Empire, Leland ( Fishtown). Great restaurants/ wineries/ shopping. The house is well-equipped / kayaks & rowboat a hit/ dock & beach tranquil & fun. Fire pit lovely!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Heidi B.

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

Our week at the Yellow House!

Loved it. Very convenient to many areas. M22 Market across the street was amazing!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy L., Frankenmuth

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

Great place for family vacation

Well appointed kitchen. Nice fireplace pit. Kayaks and other lake boats at disposal.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Helene B.

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

Perfect family getaway

Our family of 7 had a great time at the yellow house. Having a bedroom downstairs was perfect for the grandparents, while the rest of our bunch was upstairs. The kitchen was a very generous size and had plenty of room to hang out and cook. Can't beat the backyard and beach area. Clean sand and the water was shallow enough for our toddlers to play and swim. They had plenty of fans to keep us cool. Would stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kerry D., Cincinnati OH

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

Great weather for our week

As always the week goes by far too fast. We enjoyed our stay here. Owner was super helpful when we needed her. Thank you for a great stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Susan d.

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

In love!

The Yellow House was a lovely place to stay. Spotlessly clean, comfortable, and just the right size. We loved exploring the Leelanau Peninsula from the house’s easy central location. A perfectly picturesque part of the world! I hated to leave. This house would be especially good for families with young kids. Ours are a bit too old now to appreciate the shallow water of Little Traverse Lake to its fullest.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mickie R.

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

Family Vacation

Upon arrival we were amazed with the beautiful lake, nice pier for our boat and fire pit. The home was very clean and well stocked with all the listed items that are provided. We never needed to call for assistance with anything. Everything in the home is well maintained and cared for.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kelly O.

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

Great location. Very clean. Well stocked kitchen. Right on the water!

My family rents a cottage every summer. This is our 7th year by far the best rental. The location is perfect
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Eric and Diane G.

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

Nice Place

Nice accomodations. Weather did not cooperate a little cold and dreary other than that nice visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Claire R.

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

Wonderful stay on Little Traverse

Just perfect from start to finish. Property is beautifully maintained but not so fussy that you feel uncomfortable. Perfect for families! Cozy but totally do-able with either two families of four or multiple generations. Road noise is the only possible complaint, but it's very manageable. Can't wait to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jackie H.

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

Yellow House

The Yellow House is sparkling clean. The beds are comfy and location couldn't be better. The waterfront is an easy walk in. We took advantage of both the kayaks and the row boat. The kitchen is well stocked, easy to use and keep clean. We took quick trips to Suttons Bay and Leland. Mary was quick with a reply when we needed to reach her. Grateful for the week we had.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

John H.

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

Fun Family Place on Little Traverse Lake

Our family (6 adults and 2 grandchildren) very much enjoyed this nice, cozy place conveniently located between Glen Arbor and Leland. Spacious yard between the cottage and lake was great for relaxing and lawn games, sandy area on the shore and shallow water near the dock was a delight for the grandkids. We all enjoyed the six kayaks available for use. Owners were very responsive and good communicators.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Tamara J.

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

Quiet Lake

Fun. Lots to do!

About the host

Hosted by Mary Fallon

Host profile image
We have been vacationing in Leelanau County with our six children for over 20 years. After renting cottages in several different locations around the county, we discovered our perfect spot, Little Traverse Lake. The calm and crowd-free water (shh, that's a secret!) enticed our watersport-loving family, and we've been hooked ever since. In addition to spending time on the lake, we love to bike and cross-country ski the nearby trails, hike the dunes, explore local restaurants and festivals, and take in the gorgeous sunsets. In the summer of 2006, we were fortunate to find a place of our own, The Yellow House. Here our family has enjoyed birthdays, holidays, family reunions, engagements, anniversaries, and much more, as each season brings new adventures on Little Traverse Lake.

Languages:

English
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