We had a truly wonderful stay at The Sandbox. This charming little cottage was exactly what we were looking for: cozy, peaceful, beautifully maintained, and perfectly located for a quiet Lake Michigan retreat.The cottage sits at the edge of a small neighborhood but feels secluded and private because of the way it is nestled right up against a towering sand dune; from the top of the dune it feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere. The dune was an incredible place to take in the view or watch summer storms roll across the lake. Climbing over the dune and hiking the trails through the dunegrass brings you down to a gorgeous, uncrowded stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline. Our daughter had the best time running up and down the sand, and we all spent hours enjoying the beach.The beach itself was a beautiful mix of clean sand and smooth, colorful rocks, perfect for rock hunting. To our delight, we even found a Petoskey stone, which we didn’t expect to see this far south. It was such a fun surprise and added to the magic of the trip.The dune climb up from the cottage is steep, and we were very grateful for the built-in stairs and the rope that helps with the final stretch of loose sand. It’s definitely a challenge. For anyone with mobility concerns, we’d recommend accessing the water via the nearby ORV trail for an easier (but still steep and sandy) hike, or taking the quick bike or drive to Van Buren State Park, which offers very easy water access. Van Buren was also a great