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Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake

Photo gallery for Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake

Exterior
Private kitchen
Interior
Pool
Marina

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Hillman, MI
  • Place, Brush Creek Mill
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Clear Lake State Park
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Place, Ocqueoc Falls
    ‪43 min drive‬
  • Airport, Alpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed and 1 Child Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed and 1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake

Our Hickory House Cottage with free cable (TV with DVD player) & WiFi. is located on the eastern shore of Lake Avalon with a sunset view on one of Northern Michigan's true gems. This Lake has been described by Riparian magazine as one of Michigan's most beautiful Lakes. Two full stories of open floor plan. The Primary Bedroom has a King Size bed, and the second basement bedroom has a Queen and a full size bed. Two full baths with plenty of privacy, a fully appointed kitchen including dish washer, Your private deck and dock provide trouble free sunning, swimming, and room to moor your own boat. If you bring your own large boat please have a conversation with the owner before you arrive. It is probably best to go to the public boat launch first (two doors away). Turn around space in the driveway is limited at the cottage . Kayaks, a row boat with outboard & a paddle boat are complimentary. Avalon is deep, crystal clear, spring fed & sandy bottom. This all sports lake features swimming, boating of all kinds, fishing & water skiing or tubing, with a nearby public landing and DNR boat launch complete with a boat washing station. Lake Avalon is located Northwest of Hillman MI (4 miles) which offers pizza, grocery stores, party stores, beverage emporiums, gas stations, a DQ & various eateries to suit any taste plus World Class Thunder Bay Golf Course and Elk Preserve which features viewing and tourist rides. Our Cottage is 1.5 hours from the Mighty Mack bridge & 45 minutes from Lake Huron. Numerous golf courses offer the very best in Up North recreation. Within one hour drive you can reach Alpena, Gaylord, Cheboygan, Harrisville, Lincoln, Atlanta, Rogers City or Lewiston. Lake Avalon is the Jewel in the Crown of lakes in this area so you might just come for vacation & stay here the rest of your life in a gorgeous four season setting.

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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
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
All pets will require phone or text confirmation due to area limitations, owner pets and possible additional fees
There are flexibility in the check in and check out days

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 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

About the area

Hillman

Located in Hillman, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Brush Creek Mill and Elowsky Mill are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Clear Lake State Park and Turtle Lake. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling.
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Map
Hillman, MI

What's nearby

  • Brush Creek Mill - 9 min drive - 10.2 km
  • Clear Lake State Park - 26 min drive - 30.8 km
  • Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary - 42 min drive - 60.7 km
  • Ocqueoc Falls - 43 min drive - 58.1 km
  • Northern Lights Arena - 43 min drive - 61.0 km

Getting around

  • Alpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Black Squirrel - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Chauncey's Pub - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Jacques Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪On Top Of The Hill - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake?

As of 3 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake on 29 Aug, 2026 start from S$327, 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 Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Clean, neat & attractive cottage on Michigan's most beautiful Lake located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 4.8 mi (7.7 km) from Brush Creek Mill and within 20 miles (32 km) of Clear Lake State Park and Turtle Lake. Elowsky Mill and Stevens Twin Sinks Preserve are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 34 out of 40 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 40 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 40 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 40 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 40 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dawn R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
The lake is beautiful and Gil was very helpful whenever we needed anything.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tammy B.

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

Beautiful Lake and Area

My husband and I enjoyed our stay. The area is really nice and the lake is beautiful. Check in was easy and the hosts were nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon M.

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

Relaxing Cabin

The location of the cabin is fantastic, and Lake Avalon is beautiful!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brandy M.

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

Beautiful lake and excellent property

Avalon Lake is just beautiful - the water is so clear. We enjoyed eating and shopping in Hillman and in Alpena. The house was great - always cool downstairs and all the amenities we needed.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Todd L.

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

2024 (August) Lake Avalon

The lake was beautiful and only a short walk from the house. The listing was as advertised and Gil was very helpful in his recommendations of what to do in the area.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joy S.

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

Beautiful

Avalon Lake is absolutely beautiful! Gil and his wife were wonderful hosts, we had many of great conversations with them and their family. We had a wonderful time and look forward to the next visit!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

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

Peaceful, restful experience

Clean, quiet home on a beautiful, quiet lake. Great Lake for swimming..the sand bottom makes it very clear. Wonderful hosts.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katherine G.

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

Lake Avalon Stay

The house is clean and most everything you'd need is available. I've never seen so many linens and towels! The area on the property is kept up with multiple seating areas and the hosts are super flexible & accommodating. The lake is beautiful, we would visit and stay here again for sure!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

ricky l.

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

4th of July stay

Overall great stay , clean house great location beautiful water. Just took much noise from boats and watercraft for the 4th of July. Maybe some other time of the year would be better.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Giuseppe M.

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

The best people ever!

This was by far the best time me & my partner & have had in a long time! The owners were freakin awesome!! The lake is beautiful! Cabin is very nice, we already plan to go next year! Love Gil & Laurene potter so happy we went!
Stayed 12 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

joe s.

everything was right on point, as far as teh description. this is the best lake in all of Michigan!!

NICE!! YOU'LL NEVER WANT TO LEAVE!!!! YOU WILL BE BACK FOR SURE.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

MINDI A.

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

Doesn't get better than Avalon Lake

Kind, loving owners made this stay pleasant on a lake that is absolutely unforgettable! The home serves as a guest quarters for the owners, and worked well for a friend get together on the lake. The location is nice as it's an hour drive from a lot of other popular destinations like the Sturgeon and Au Sable rivers for an avid paddler like me.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael K.

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

Great Property Beautiful Lake !

We enjoyed our stay at the property. The home was very clean. The home was well appointed and contained all the necessary items for a fun and stress free vacation. . We really enjoyed meeting the property owners and the conversations we had with them. Avalon Lake is beautiful and offers a shallow entry for swimming in the crystal clear water. The area has a lot to offer as well. Overall a great visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Autumn D.

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

Wonderful Stay!

Gil and Laurene are wonderful - the most accommodating hosts we’ve ever had in our VRBO experiences. The house is simple and clean and the bed was super comfortable. The short little walk down the hill to the lake leads you to what looks like Caribbean water - amazing!! Beautiful and clear - straight down to the bottom. The water is shallow and great for small children. We look forward to returning!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Richard L.

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

Lake Avalon

Me and my family had a great time visiting this property on Lake Avalon. It was very cozy and had everything we needed. The lake was a thirty second walk from the back door. The lake was very clear, clean, with a sandy bottom, perfect for the kids to play. Would definitely recommend and would visit again. Gil met us as we arrived and was very nice and pleasant.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

2/10 Terrible

mary k.

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

Hickory House

not as stated in the property information.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carol R.

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

Summer vacation with the family

What can I say….Our family enjoyed our time at Hickory Hollow cottage. With the great weather all week, we took advantage and spent lots of time together on Lake Avalon. In the evenings, played games, caught up on the Olympics, and had a couple of bonfires for s’mores. Our furbaby had a blast in the water too. The cottage was comfortable. The lake and sunsets were beautiful. Gil and his wife are very nice and helpful. Overall our family had a pleasant time together at your cottage. Thanks again for everything ☺️
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Sandy R.

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

Good

The cottage overall was fine. First level was very cold. View to lake wasn't very good, and we were asked to make the beds for the next guests. Thought that was strange.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Keith M.

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

Mostly as expected

Clean and spacious home. Kitchen was bigger than expected. Nice deck as well. Newly rebuilt dock so have own area in water. Use of the fishing boat was nice as well. Beautiful lake. Overall nice place to stay. To clarify a few things: the house is not on the water but has access to it. The room in the basement is the basement itself so do not be surprised by that. Gil was very nice and checked in with us as he does live next door. I would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brenda P.

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

Nice quiet location with a nice lake

Unfortunately we had to cut our vacation short due to illness. Hosts were nice and accommodating. I think the parking of the boat trailer needs to be included in the listing. The trailer was taken offsite to a different residence. If you bring a pontoon, the dock situation isn’t ideal but we worked with Gil to insert polls to tie our 22 ft pontoon to during our stay. The water is perfect for swimming but somewhat shallow for our toons. We tried fishing a few times but didn’t get a bite. It may have been too warm for fishing. The house was clean. Many stairs to climb if you are looking for handicap accessibility to the house or lake you may find this challenging. Thanks to the host for providing a pillow for our long ride home. It really helped with the back pain. Fun house for two couples.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chuck L.

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

Everything we wished and more!

We had a grand time at the Hickory House Cottage! We could tell it was not our host's first rodeo renting vacation places - We did not want for anything! Everything we needed was there ...it was nice n cozy , clean , and peaceful. We loved looking out every window to see trees...and being so close to them on the deck. It was just a short walk down to that most BEAUTIFUL lake...and having our own dock was perfect! Although we are 60-something we played in that water like a couple of kids...and as soon as we left , we missed it! Our hosts were kind and gracious even when we had a little issue, and Gil and Laurene were so kind and understanding. It was so very nice to meet you both...and to return to the amazing "Lake Avalon". We pray for continued Blessings to you and yours!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

anne s.

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

Thank you

Thank you Gill and family for a wonderful stay. The property is so clean and has everything you need. Lake Avalon is so pretty and clear. Great place to stay
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon S.

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

All good

All good
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christian K.

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

Just what we needed

Lake Avalon is beautiful and has excellent shallow/swimming for kids. The Hickory House was perfect for us and has everything you need. The Potters are wonderful people and made our stay very enjoyable.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Michele W.

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

Great family time

The owner/ manager was very friendly and informative. The lake was sandy and refreshing, just wish there was more of a view of the lake, but the deck with the trees were nice. I knew all the stairs in the cottage, but the stairs at the lake access was a little disappointing for getting my mom to the lake. That didn't stop us from having a great time with our family.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Gil & Laurene Potter

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

Not rustic... very modern and comfortable with an open floor plan. Nicely appointed kitchen and two full bathes. We are the eastern most point on the Lake (gorgeous sunsets) with easy convenient access to the public landing.

What makes this property unique

Your own dock, deck and swim area... sandy bottom and shallow enough for swimming.
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