Warm late summer dates still open in Sept 2025: 1-4, 7-11, 15-19, 21-26. Enjoy!

Relax, Enjoy, Pamper. Walk to Beach, Pool, Food, Grocery, Library. Ditch the car

Enjoy your the Gecko Cottage

Out the back door it's two houses to your right to the private pool area with comfortable lounging furniture for exclusive use by Merchant Cottage guests.

All trash and recycling is taken to the room around the pool house to the right. Please be tidy and compact as needed.

Easy 4-5 minute walk to the bridge.

Past the pool turn left at the RR track, and one block to restaurants & shops. Over the Galien River Bridge you'll see the marina, river and lake. You're arrived at our lovely Lake Michigan beach and dune promenade. Ahhh, Enjoy...

Entering the Gecko Cottage you’ll love the luxury and beauty of a newer home: including high ceilings, lots of sunlight from windows and skylights, modern kitchen and bathrooms, spacious front and back porch, fireplace. Added bonus loft for children's play area.

Well stocked kitchen. Linens, towels, and cooking needs are provided. Drip coffee maker, French press (no Keurig).

The Space
Walk up to the spacious porch, which may become your hangout, through the door and into your open plan main floor.

Deep cushions of the wrap around couch, living room, fireplace, open kitchen, with bar counter await you.

This is the main hub. Past the guest powder room with it's comfort bidet, there is a cozy conversation nook to the left. Ahead lies the beachway exit. To the right is the private main suite, with a private bath.

From airy main floor, accend the stair, to the landing with it's library stocked with lake, boating, Michigan travel lore, and games.

Reaching the 2nd floor, it's kids room to the left 2nd floor bath ahead and queen guest room to the right. That is almost to the right, on the immediate right is the ladder to the bonus loft for an extra guest.

Kids room features a bunk bed a twin bed, and play area including tumbling mats.

Queen room is a quiet getaway space with a lounge for quiet reading.

Cozy, clean, comfortable. Close to town, shopping & beach.

Interaction with Guests
You'll have full private access to the cottage, but your hosts are a call or text away to help with suggestions as needed.

The Neighborhood
Lots to explore, uPick Bluberries, Canoeing, Local Artists. Walk for miles on the sandy beach. Bike and walking paths.

Step out the back door, and two homes downa to the exclusive pool.

Just a block away is the new library with both an entire floor dedicated to a kid comfy zone, and perfect spaces for remote computing.

Enjoy afternoon coffee with a book on the cottage front porch or back patio.

Getting Around
Take Amtrak from Chicago or from Ann Arbor/Detroit and walk five minutes to your cottage. Wow! Free parking in front or back. Once you arrive, put away the car keys and walk to the beach, upscale grocery, shopping and a brand new library.

There is additional hourly commuting access to Chicago on the Shoreline Train from Michigan City ( 8 miles away)

Other Things to Note
Kids and teenagers love the loft.

Great Wineries tasting and tours. We love Lemon Creek!

Casino fun on rainy days. There is a fun, well supervised, area at the casino where they will watch, feed and entertain the kids for a reasonable charge. The buffet and restaurant are great also.

*Please remove shoes before entering the cottage and leave them on the front or back porch, or inside the door.
**Notify us immediately if you have any concerns during your stay. We're here for you.
**Note that we are a pet-free property.
**You must notify us in advance if there will be more than the reserved number of guests

Other:
The pool will open in the spring as soon as weather permits in the spring and stay open in the fall as long as weather permits. The pool is private and shared only by our association of 23 homes.

Love the beach. It's 5 minute walk to the bridge. Once over the bridge you're at the beach parking. Very nice and convenient. I swim every day when we're here.

The cottage is cleaned and freshly for the season and there are many large and small improvements.

BBQ & small firepit.

Family Fun
Lower level rec room with the professional ping pong table, and Streaming/YoutubeTV on the big screen TV. Couch rocking chair & huge comfy beanbag that can unzip into comfy queen futon. (please zip back into bean bag before leaving).

*Gather mornings and evenings in the front porch.
*Lounge on the back porch, Lunch or Dinner outside at the table, under the umbrella.

*Well equipped kitchen open to livingroom - dining room table and comfortable. A great place for gathering and games.

For more ideas to jazz up your stat...checkout https:\\newbuffaloexplored.com

*Bar-B-Q on the Weber grill, or toast marshmallows on the petite grill.

*Use any of the beach toys, chairs, umbrella, sunshades that you'll find in the garage.

*Feel free to use the bikes at your own risk, but please bring your own helmets.