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Summer Sand & Fun Beachfront Vacation Traverse City In Cottage

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RELAX....you're on vacation!
Beautiful Vista overlooks Lake Michigan with stairs leading down to the beach.
Lake Michigan is crystal clear and blue. No salt, No sharks, No problems!
Living area
Living area

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 82000 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Traverse City, MI
  • Front Street
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Village at Grand Traverse Commons
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Traverse City Beach
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bunk Room

1 Single Bunk Bed

Living Room 1

1 Queen Sofa Bed

Master

1 King Bed and 1 Single Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Master Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Summer Sand & Fun Beachfront Vacation Traverse City In Cottage

Traverse City.......Pure Michigan at its finest! Welcome to our quaint Traverse City family Cottage was built in 1954 overlooking Lake Michigan, and perfectly placed 4 minutes north of Traverse City on scenic M22. The Cottage offers the quaint design, comfort, and living of a vintage cottage blended with some of today's modern conveniences.

Enjoy the tranquility and inspiration of the early morning sunrise as it lights up the day. Sit in the living room and look out over the crystal-clear blue water of Lake Michigan. Relax in the family room with the 65" flat-screen TV above the stone fireplace, with access to DVDs, books, & games on hand for hours of family enjoyment.

Across the street and down the wooden stairs you will find crystal clear blue water, a large sandy beach with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. Enjoy drinking your morning coffee, family time with your children, or sipping your evening cocktail while relaxing in the Adirondack chairs along the beach.

After a great day in the fresh air of Northern Michigan recharge in the comfort and privacy of one of the quaint Bedrooms. Open the windows and relax with the evening breezes coming into your room off of the lake as you lie down and fall asleep in the rich comfort of memory foam mattresses and 100% cotton sheets for every bed.

Our Cottage is a 2000 square foot 4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom home with a Living Room, Full eat-in Kitchen, and a Butler's Pantry off of the very spacious Family Room. The Cottage will comfortably accommodate 2 adults/bedroom—occupancy is 8 adults plus up to 2 children under the age of 5. [AS PER TOWNSHIP SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE: Only 2 adult guests per room and no guests to sleep on, air mattresses, or in tents.

Our Cottage is perfectly located just a few miles from world-class dining, entertainment, shopping, and outdoor activities of Traverse City, plus to the North of the Cottage is the quaint towns of Suttons Bay and Northport.

Enjoy convenient access to the very popular and well-traveled route M22, which is one of the beautiful scenic shoreline drives from Traverse City to Suttons Bay and onward to Northport. Continue a little further North beyond Northport to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula where you will find Leelanau State Park. Discover the historic Grand Traverse Lighthouse offering tours & sweeping views from the Light Tower overlooking Lake Michigan.

The opportunity for amazing day trips is endless. In very close proximity there is incredible access to renowned wineries and affiliated tours. Within an hour's drive arrive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Charlevoix, or Boyne City. In less than 2.5 hours enjoy a scenic drive and arrive in historic Petoskey or North to Mackinac City where you can catch a ferry to Pure Michigan's #1 Tourist destination Historic Mackinac Island.

Property manager

Jeffrey Smith
Premier Host

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
ABSOLUTELY NO PARTIES! NO EXCEPTIONS!
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING inside the cottage!
Please ensure all dishes, utensils, pots & pans are clean prior to checkout.
Please bring your own chairs, beach towels, and blankets for outside use. Please do not take any of our blankets, towels or chairs to the beach.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Note from host: ABSOLUTELY NO PARTIES! NO EXCEPTIONS!
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 and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 2025-46, 2023-29

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this holiday home is on the beach. Shoppers can check out Front Street, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. Great Lakes Children's Museum and Great Wolf Lodge Water Park are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

  • Front Street - 8 min drive - 8.7 km
  • Munson Healthcare - 9 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Village at Grand Traverse Commons - 10 min drive - 8.8 km
  • Great Wolf Lodge Water Park - 11 min drive - 11.5 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 15 min drive - 14.4 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪North Peak Brewing Company - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Barrio - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Folgarelli's Market & Wine Shop - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Loco Boys Brewing Company - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Slabtown Burger - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Summer Sand & Fun Beachfront Vacation Traverse City In Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Summer Sand & Fun Beachfront Vacation Traverse City In Cottage?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Summer Sand & Fun Beachfront Vacation Traverse City In Cottage?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Summer Sand & Fun Beachfront Vacation Traverse City In Cottage located?

Nestled on the beach, this Traverse City holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Brengman Brothers and Lake Michigan. West End Beach and Clinch Park are also within 6 miles (10 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. 89 out of 109 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 19 out of 109 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 109 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 109 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 109 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

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

The perfect gathering spot

This was the gathering spot for 4 couples from all different locations in Michigan visiting for the wine and Mac & cheese bake off! We had a wonderful stay here! It was beautiful home with many places to hang out, including the big cozy couch we all loved. There were plenty of sleeping options and everything we could need stocked in the kitchen. The house is beautifully decorated. Since we visited during the cold winter, the house was FREEZING when we arrived. There were 2 nest thermostats that we cranked up. I’m not sure they are able to adjust via Bluetooth but that would be nice to have it warmed knowing renters are staying. It took a bit for the house to really warm up so we hung out in our coats for a while. We thought we would start a fire to help warm the place and give a cozy ambiance to the evening. The amenities listed the fireplace so we were pretty excited! Sadly there was no firewood to be found. I did reach out to Jeffrey who replied within moments. They did not have any. So, we ended up just purchasing wood from the gas station the next day. I would recommend maybe bringing your own if you have your heart set on using that feature. Overall we would absolutely stay again and hope to try it during the warmer months to get the beach vibes!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura L.

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

Cozy Retreat

Excellent! The owners made a place that was a home away from home. We all enjoyed our time at this very nice getaway. The owners went beyond by giving us suggestions for places to dine. The house is at an excellent location with a beautiful view. Loved hanging out after our wine tour in the great room. Will stay again!!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura B.

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

Great location

The house was great. Steps away from the beach and you can watch the sunrise in the morning. A short drive into town and also on the route for wine tours to pick up/drop off directly at the house. Jeff was a great host and in contact throughout the planning process. Easy check-in and had great recommendations.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

S E.

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

Fall color and winery visits

We had a great stay and loved your home, especially the views out the front windows. Very comfortable and nicely decorated. Plenty of room to spread out. Great location to Traverse City, Suttons Bay the wineries and restaurants. Host was very helpful providing information about various places to explore
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bill S.

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

Buckeyes enjoying Michigan!

Outstanding home, spacious and comfortable, great location. 5 min to TC. Suttons Bay and Mission Peninsula very close. Host was amazing and gave us great recommendations for restaurants, vineyards, things to do. All exactly what we were looking for. My wife and I plus two other couples drove in from Ohio and Wisconsin Weather was perfect and place was beautiful. Can't say enough good things about our experience. Look forward to our next visit. Thanks again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B.

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

Girls Weekend Getaway

The Summer Beach Cottage is the perfect destination for a friends' weekend getaway! Jeff, the host, is a great communicator and was very fast to return text messages and phone calls. The views of the bay were breathtaking. The cottage is very spacious and beautiful. The fire pit in front was a perfect place to decompress after long days of shopping and wine tasting. We plan on returning!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chad C.

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

Amazing!

This was an ideal location and ideal size for me and my friends. We played Bahle farms twice and it was a short cruise to the course. Also plenty of great food nearby. An overall win!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Allison M.

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

Great family place!

We had a lovely time bringing our family up to Traverse City. The home was perfect for a larger family and the decor and furniture was all lovely. Communication with Jeffrey was wonderful as well. Extremely helpful and accommodating. Would love to come back again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

michelle h.

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

Traverse city!

Enjoyed many beaches,lakes,& wineries in this beautiful area
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah R.

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

Gorgeous, spacious place!

Jeff's home is absolutely lovely. Comfortable furnishings, spacious home for having meals together, movie nights, and spreading out. Plenty of room/beds for everyone. The bunk room is kind of a hallway with just a curtain for a door/wall. Something to keep in mind if you have kiddos who are light sleepers. Worked out a-ok for us! I slept so soundly in the bed, it was very cozy. Short jaunt across the street took us to the private beach, which was beautiful and the lake quite shallow for the kids to play and swim in. Overall fantastic experience, and Jeff was a wonderful host!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike K.

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

Traverse City stay

The property is well stocked with all you will need, the beds were comfortable. It is an older house, but very nice. Jeffrey is a great host, his communication is superb. He provided lots of information on the home and the area, which was very helpful! The highway outside has constant traffic, but the noise was minimal inside the home. The views of Grand Traverse Bay are really exceptional. We stayed in October and the fall weather was mostly gray and chilly, in the 50s during the day. Day trips to Mackinac City and to Sleeping Bear Dunes were really exceptional. It was a great stay for us.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anna S.

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

Great place to stay!

This lovely home was perfect for a long getaway weekend with family. House is set up well for families to share and the location is wonderful Beautiful views of the sunrise!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Rosemarie J.

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

September get away weekend

The owner was very pleasant and eager to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. He was receptive to a few suggestions we had for future renters based on our past experiences. Overall a good location to explore Traverse City with beautiful views of the bay.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Felicia S.

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

Late check in.....

Overall positive-we stayed Friday to Sunday. Check-in wasn't until 5pm (later than most we've stayed at) and check out 10am. The road is extremely busy throughout the night, need to be able to sleep with the traffic noise. Kitchen could use some quality pans and pot holders.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Claire B.

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

Awesome experience

We had an amazing stay! The place was clean and organized, was in a great location - close to downtown Traverse City and had access to the beach, and the owners were friendly and responded to questions quickly.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leann C.

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

Loved TC!

The house was great and our beach was perfect for the kids!!! Super chilled out and wonderful experience
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Debbie p.

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

Family Memories

My family and I enjoyed this property so much. The house was clean, has an amazing view and close to so much to do. We enjoyed the beach and the deck so much. Played yard games and had a fire each night. Family memories are so important to me. Thank you for sharing your home.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Kelly S.

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

Good family place

Nice house right across from the lake. Worked out well for the 8 adults on our group. I would have probably given it 5 stars, but a new refrigerator was delivered right in the middle of our stay, and we had to unpack everything and take stuff to the detached garage, which was an inconvenience. Beautiful lake views and beach though.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Emily J.

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

Great location

We loved our stay here. It was close to everything and we loved the private beach access. The layout of the house was perfect for a bigger group too.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

JEFF R.

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

Plenty of Room And a Great View

There were 9 of us staying at “The Smith-sonian.” We had enough room to accommodate everyone. Our group used the giant deck and large family room quite a bit. The view of the bay was impressive. We also loved the beach access across the way. Jeff was more than an accommodating host and made our stay enjoyable. He met each one of our requests. We would definitely stay at the property again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kate P., Morgantown, WV

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

In town for a family wedding...

Such a nice weekend. The location was perfect! Easy access to Traverse City and a host of other beautiful sights in the area. Being on the water was great too. We rented paddle boards and the kids had a blast.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Amazing Stay for family

We absolutely enjoyed our stay in Traverse City and at this wonderful property. Location is great and lake views are amazing. We watched the sun rise every morning. Additionally, my daughter left a precious item behind. Jeffrey was quick to check and see if it was found and it is being mailed to us. A great property with very caring owners. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy P.

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

Great family location

We enjoyed staying in this spacious cottage! We had three generations there and it was wonderful to have room to spread out and get our own space. It had everything we needed. It was easy to travel into Traverse City, Mission Peninsula and Suttons Bay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristen R.

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

Beautiful spot near Traverse City!

This house is perfect for a getaway. It was very clean and well-taken care of! We loved having easy access to the beach and the short drive into Traverse City. I definitely recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Trish B.

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

Great for a Group!

This was a fantastic place for a group. Plenty of beds, bathrooms and kitchen space. Outside space an location of house is excellent!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

About the host

Hosted by Jeffrey Smith

Host profile image
We are the Smith Family. Jeff is born and raised in Michigan and he is a Wolverine (Go Blue)! Anna was born in India but came to the U.S. with her family to start a new life when she was 6yrs old. We met at college and have been very happily married for over 30 years. With three wonderful sons all in college, we are constantly on the run having fun as a family and spending time with close friends.
Currently, we share our time in Traverse City and Dallas, Texas. We love it when our friends come to Michigan for the very first time. To see their reaction to the fresh clear water and the grandeur and beauty of nature at its finest makes us proud to be here in the Water, Winter, Wonderland state we know as Pure Michigan.
We love being out on the water, hanging out on the beach, or traveling. Our Boys love to travel and always find new places to discover with and without us.
We named the Cottage "The 'Smtih'sonian". Many of the furnishings, decor' and assorted items in the Cottage have been in the family for 70+ years. They have deep meaning wrapped up in deep-seated memories, and we hope you will take great care of them during your stay.

Why they chose this property

After spending 57 years in the beautiful Les Cheneaux Islands every summer (which I would recommend everyone visit) we decided to find a quaint vintage Lake Cottage in one of our favorite places in Michigan.
We bought our Cottage May 2019 from the original family who built this home in 1954. If you're in tune with vintage details there are a few you will notice. This cottage has retained its hand built kitchen cabinets, the handcrafted plaster ceiling detail found in the Living Room, the original storm doors, many doorknobs, and the Andersen Windows from 1954. We could not be more excited and honored to be the 2nd generation in ownership and the caretakers for at least the next 75 years.
In the Fall of 2019, we will be removing the carpet so we are able to restore the original hardwood floors hidden beneath. This property gave us the vintage Cottage we were looking for, as well as the views and the private beach that was so essential in spending time UP North!

What makes this property unique

The convenient location to everything is amazing.
The private beach for children and adults alike, depending on the depth of Lake Michigan.
The large Family Room for relaxation with the whole family.
We offer Concierge Services.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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