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Upper Silver Lake Retreat

Photo gallery for Upper Silver Lake Retreat

A lakeside setting with boats docked, a sandy beach, and a small dock area.
A dining area with a wooden table and white chairs, large windows with dark valances, and a view of trees outside.
A wooden deck leading to a dock with boats, surrounded by trees and a calm lake.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a white refrigerator, a microwave, a stove, and a coffee maker.
A cabin with a deck, surrounded by a wooden fence and trees.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Bring your furry friends
    Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Upper Silver Lake
Sleeps 10•2 bedrooms•3 beds

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Mears, MI
  • Place, Upper Silver Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Silver Lake State Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry
    ‪33 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

2 Single Beds and 2 Double Beds

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Upper Silver Lake Retreat

Relaxing, older, 2 bedroom cottage located in a great location on "all sports" Upper Silver Lake! Sleeps 10 and ONLY 10. No tents or campers allowed.1st bedroom has queen bed with a flat screen smart tv. 2nd bedroom has 2 bunk beds with lower bunks being a full bed and upper bunk being a twin - this bedroom sleeps 6. NEWLY REMODELED, full bathroom with tub and shower and washer and dryer in the bathroom. Open kitchen (there isn't a dishwasher, gasp!) dining room and living space. Living room has 2 couches that are both queen sleepers. Dock your boat or use the two kayaks or two stand up boards which are included in the rental to explore Upper Silver Lake. Enjoy swimming, playing in the sand, water sports or fishing off the dock (beach and dock area are shared with one neighboring cottage that we also own). End your day on the deck or the beach with your favorite beverage. Create wonderful memories with family and friends at our large private fire pit under the beautiful stars! We are located 2 miles from the dune entrance and our driveway is large enough to accommodate your dune toys. Please be aware that this is pet-friendly and has beach sand surrounding it. You may find a stray dog hair or traces of sand even though this place is cleaned by a professional cleaning company and laundry is professionally cleaned. If that is unacceptable to you, please find another house to rent. This one isn't for you.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 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
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No parties No smoking No fireworks

Important information

You need to know

Property # 993063vb
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

Mears

Located in Mears, this holiday home is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Silver Lake State Park and Lake Michigan. Travelling with kids? Consider Craig's Cruisers Family Fun Center and Corn Maze. Power boating offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding nearby.
View more Holiday homes in MearsOpens in a new window
Map
Mears, MI

What's nearby

  • Upper Silver Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Silver Lake State Park - 4 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Silver Lake Sand Dunes Area Chamber of Commerce - 9 min drive - 10.4 km
  • S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry - 33 min drive - 52.4 km
  • Michigan's Adventure - 34 min drive - 63.2 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Frickin' Chicken Shack - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Golden Sands Bucket Bar - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Open Hearth Grille - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Golden Eatery - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Upper Silver Lake Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Upper Silver Lake Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Upper Silver Lake Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Upper Silver Lake Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Upper Silver Lake Retreat located?

This family-friendly Mears holiday home is located on a lake, within 2 mi (3 km) of Upper Silver Lake and Golden Sands Golf Course. Craig's Cruisers Family Fun Center and Silver Lake are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

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. 69 out of 76 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 76 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 76 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 76 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 76 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jarrod H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved that it was dog friendly! Cute little cottage at the end of the inlet. The kayaks and paddleboards were nice to use even though a paddle is missing and we had to borrow from a neighbor. It would have been a nice touch to have the air turned on on the day we arrived it was so hot and stuffy and took an entire day to cool down inside. Several items have broken handles, etc but still work. Dryer is very loud and squeaky. The driveway is huge and we could even play pickleball on it with our net. Close to silver lake dunes!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Erin A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location for fun and family with dogs. Enjoyed our time.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jessica R.

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

Great family spot

Great family spot to get away for a quiet vacation
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Deborah D.

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

Silver lake

Had a great stay! Perfect location-close to silver lake amenities.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nick M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
That was a much needed peaceful weekend. Love the beach and lake access. Will definitely look to possibly rent this property again. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Carly E.

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

Great Place

The property was clean and easy to get into upon arrival. I would stay there again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amanda E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved it!!! Fun place to be
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tamara G.

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

Nice weekend get away

Great little pet friendly cottage on canal that suited our family. Close to town and dunes which was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jess Z.

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

Family weekend

We had an amazing time.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Jenna B.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was large enough to fit our family and it was nice to be on the canal. The fire pit area was comfortable. However, the abundance of ants and lack of household amenities was inconvenient. There were two kayaks and two paddle boards but only one ore and two paddles. We had to borrow an ore from the neighbor. There wasn’t a lighter or marshmallow sticks for the fire pit. The dryer vented straight into the bathroom - which was very uncomfortable without central air. The outdoor space was spacious, but the furniture and deck were unkept - it took us some time to cleanup to make it usable. There was an issue with ants everywhere and the situation with the HOA put us on guard and nervous about interacting with anyone in the neighborhood. Our family loves the dunes and we made the best of our time.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kasie S.

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

Great getaway!

We had a great long weekend! The owners were very helpful and responsive before our visit. The house was perfect for our family and it was located on a very quiet part of the lake. The kayaks were a great addition and fun for everyone!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Aaron B.

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

Upper Silver Lake

Enjoyed our stay on Upper Silver Lake again this year. We had fabulous weather and a great time.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ryan E.

Awesome Spot!

We had a great time this year staying at this amazing cottage (again)! The fishing was fantastic all weekend on the lake and the cottage is close to the dunes so we could enjoy our dune toys! Thanks again for having us!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Janice L.

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

Clean and Neat.

Nice size deck for the family to eat and hang out.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Susan S.

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

Short family vacation

We enjoyed our stay very much. Clean and homey! The kitchen has everything you may need to cook and eat off of. The kids enjoyed fishing right outside the home. Close to the dunes etc. Would stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

James ; Susan R.

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

Clean and upscale lake house in a great location

Everything we needed was here, and many outdoor spaces to sit and socialize. Perfect for a family gathering and to keep everyone close and comfortable. The host was great to work with and it’s obvious that she pays close attention to this property.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Griselda L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was as expected & we had very clear directions from the owner. The location was perfect, close enough to Silver Lake but away from the crowd. Using the kayaks and fishing rods was a fun family experience. My only caution is use of firepit may drive bugs into the bedrooms, since they are close by and use window a/c units.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jaime h.

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

Great place to stay for the Jeep Invasion

We stayed at the property with 3 dogs and 8 adults. We had enough room for sleeping. We spent most of our time in the back yard fishing and using the Kyacks or playing on the sand dunes down the street.We wouls stay here again!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

marc r.

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

June vacation

Great place for the price that allowed pets . It was cold so we didn’t use the water access but parking was good for two pickups and trailers with the dune toys and the Jeep
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Holly E.

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

Family trip with dogs

It’s was everything that the listing said! Great little cottage that’s dog friendly with wood floors. Only negative is sharing beach / dock with neighboring cottage.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

William B.

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

Upper Silver Lake Cottage

Great cottage on beautiful Upper Silver Lake!! We made use of the paddle boards to explore the Lake. The cottage is on a canal leading to the lake and has a very nice beach and Dock. The Cottage is very nice and has everything you need. For sure would rent again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

JayHawk M.

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

Father son’s fishing getaway

This trip was one that was needed to have for a father, son’s & grandson’s bonding. We were able to walk out the back door and throw our fishing poles right in the water and fish. It wasn’t far at all from Silver Lake Dunes.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sheri S.

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

Perfect little get away!

Property was very clean! They provided almost everything you may need that you don't think of. Everything from paper towels to trash bags. Laundry soap was the only thing we wished we had! I would definitely recommend staying here!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tammy P.

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

Cottage on the lake

We had a great time! The cottage was very cute and directly on the water. Having the paddle boards & kayaks on site was a huge plus! We go to the dunes at least once a year but have never stayed on upper silver lake. We definitely will again. The owners were very nice and very quick to respond. The cottage had everything we needed!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

About the host

Hosted by Melissa Gowell

Host profile image
We call ourselves the Gowell Gang and we currently reside in Milford Michigan. My husband grew up on Silver Lake in a family owned cottage and then spent his summers on Lake Michigan just down the road from there. As a family we have vacationed/visited this area for the last 30+ years. When we don't have this place rented out - we will be the family staying here and enjoying Upper Silver Lake!

Why they chose this property

We bought this property because we love the Silver Lake area. Upper Silver Lake is a quiet and beautiful lake that is just around the corner from all the fun activities at Silver Lake (dune rides, go carts, shopping, etc.)

What makes this property unique

Our home has plenty of parking for you and your guests. Beautiful brick fire pit for bon fires under the stars! Bring your own boat or jet ski and dock it right outside the door at our dock. We own this cottage and the one next door (to the left if you are looking at the lake). You will be in your own "space" but we do not have property lines on the beach area. If you want shade, you can go towards the left and if you want sun, you can move towards the right. Our dock is labeled one and two for identifying where to park your boat if you should bring one.

Languages:

English

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