Fun w/Loft! Beach ~Nature Trails ~Grill~ Firepit ~Indiana Dunes National Park

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Entire home

This enclosed porch space is our favorite!

Our path, just 3 blocks north, to the 2.5 mile stretch of beach, along Lake MI.

The outdoor space includes a fire pit, gas grill, hammock, outdoor table, & fun!

Welcome to The Hummingbird Cottage - fun, colorful, & cozy😊

The master bedroom, with a ladder to the loft.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 7549.0 sq ft

Popular amenities

Dryer
Washer
Barbecue grill
Parking available
Kitchen
Outdoor space

Explore the area

Gary, IN

Marquette Park
‪10 min walk‬
West Beach
‪5 min drive‬
Ogden Dunes Beach
‪9 min drive‬
Gary, IN (GYY-Gary - Chicago Intl.)
‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bunk Bed

Master

1 Queen Bed

The Loft

3 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Garden

About this property

~Short 3 block walk (10 min) to an incredible 2.5 mile stretch of Lake MI beach
~Surrounded by the Indiana Dunes National Park - lots of trails to explore
~Bayless Dune Hike is 1 block south
~45min drive to Chicago city center
~Fast wifi-95Mbps
~Beach towels, beach chairs & umbrella, wagon, life jackets, & beach toys provided
~Included: Weber gas grill, keurig duo, kettle, crockpot, cozy beds, firewood (outdoor firepit), 2 Roku TVs, +more
~Close drive to train station -South Shore Line goes from Chicago-South Bend/Notre Dame
~When you stay with us, you can get lost in nature or the big city (Chicago) - or you never have to leave:)
*PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE STAIRS (APPROX 15) FOR ENTERING/LEAVING THE PROPERTY*
*ADDITIONAL NOTES:
1) The bedrooms don't have doors - the master & bunk room have curtains separating the rooms from the main area. The loft is open to the master.
2) The indoor fireplace (under the TV in the living room) is non-functional - it is just for looks.

Property manager

Robin Secord

Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Children under 5 years are not allowed in loft.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

-No parties, illegal drugs, smoking/vaping, pets, and/or fireworks allowed on property -Children under 5, are not allowed in loft. -Swim at own risk

-Booking guest is responsible for the safety of all guests. Owner is not liable, should anything occur during the stay, on or off the property.

-Quiet Hours are 10pm-9am. -Rental Agreement must be completed to gain access. -Host reserves right to cancel (penalty free) if guest has bad review.

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

Long-term renters welcome

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Gary

Located on a lake, this cottage is in Miller Beach, a neighbourhood in Gary. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan. Travelling with kids? Consider Deep River Water Park and Team Combat LIVE. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Gary, IN

What's nearby

Marquette Park - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Marquette Beach - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
West Beach - 5 min drive - 2.8 km
Ogden Dunes Beach - 9 min drive - 6.3 km
Portage Lakefront Beach - 10 min drive - 6.9 km

Getting around

Portage - Ogden Dunes Train to Chicago - 5 min drive
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

‪Flying J Travel Center - ‬8 min drive
‪John T McCutcheon Travel Plaza - ‬14 min drive
‪Denny's - ‬8 min drive
‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
‪Polekatz Indiana - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Fun w/Loft! Beach ~Nature Trails ~Grill~ Firepit ~Indiana Dunes National Park pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Fun w/Loft! Beach ~Nature Trails ~Grill~ Firepit ~Indiana Dunes National Park ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Fun w/Loft! Beach ~Nature Trails ~Grill~ Firepit ~Indiana Dunes National Park ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Fun w/Loft! Beach ~Nature Trails ~Grill~ Firepit ~Indiana Dunes National Park located?

This family-friendly Gary cottage is located on a lake, within a 10-minute walk of Lake Michigan and Indiana Dunes National Park. East Shoreline and Marquette Park are also within 15 minutes.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Monika W.

12 Jan, 2025

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

Quick winter visit

The place is incredible, stayed in January when it snowed but the cottage is well insulated and heater works flawlessly. Super clean, colorful and we can only imagine how awesome it would be in the summer. Great communication, great accommodating host.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric B.

25 Jun, 2023

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

Quick family getaway

Perfect little spot for a quick family getaway. We loved the fire pit and the screened in porch!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim Z.

24 Apr, 2023

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

Couple nights away

Property is clean and well stocked. The host is wonderful and easy to communicate with. Had a great stay!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Mike H.

22 Oct, 2023

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

Super cute and colorful

This place was a great little place full of color and fun. Kitchen was very well stocked. We really enjoyed our stay

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dave G.

7 Aug, 2023

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

Hidden Hummingbird Gem!

This house is fabulous from the decor, amenities, and location!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

JEFF M.

25 Jul, 2022

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

Very cute house!

It is small but very cozy, and the screened in porch really helps add to the size. The kids loved the loft area and that really helped add to the sleeping arrangement as well. I would stay there again.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emilee H.

12 Aug, 2023

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

Fun house

House is great for a family! Kids loved the loft area. Short walk to the beach was perfect. The outdoor/patio area was fun.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

5 May, 2023

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

Fun times

The place is very bright and colorful. Good vibes ! Would stay again

Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

josina m.

9 Jun, 2023

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

The best

Our whole family ages 3 to 73 had a great time! We love what my kids call “the colorful house!”

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tina D.

13 Jul, 2023

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

Super cute cottage

Super cute cottage! Small, but they have used the space well. Walking distance to a beautiful beach that is pretty much private. Owner is very communicative and cottage was very clean.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hollie M.

29 Oct, 2024

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

Want to come back again

Very clean, fun, festive place to stay. Plenty of beds for our family of seven. And more space than expected for us all to spread out and do our own thing if we wanted to. Extremely impressed with the communication and accomodations made for us while staying from the Host, Robin. Thank you so much for everything. It was a great weekend away. Kids had a great time at the cottage as well as at the beach which is so close you can hear the waves from the screened in porch which was awesome!!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

20 Oct, 2023

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

Great house and great location

House was perfect for four of us for 4 nights. House was located close to Indiana Dunes State and National Parks. Online description was very accurate and the house was well stocked with everything we needed. Communication with the host was excellent!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Emily W.

1 Apr, 2023

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

Close to beach with great a kiddo/family friendly stay

Robin communicated very well with our family. The rental is so charming with fun bright colors, full of family board games, a kitchen with everything you need and a yard screened porch for guaranteed relaxation. Rental is close to the Indiana Dunes National Park which was our main reason for staying in the area. We would for sure stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristin C.

18 Oct, 2024

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

Adorable place

This place was so cute and clean. Lots of lively extra little touches, like a coffee and tea station and pretty much everything you’d expect if you were in your own home. I even found scissors so I could hang birthday decorations. Although the host beat me to it by leaving my kiddo some birthday supplies, treats and even a card! Excellent communication from the host as well.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Barbara

12 Aug, 2022

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

The house was quaint and the kids loved it. They really try to provide you with everything to make your stay enjoyable. Property manager was phenomenal. It was a nice get away. Loved that the beach was a short walk away. We enjoyed watching the sunset on the beach.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

14 Jun, 2023

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

Dunes get away

Me and the boys had a great time staying at the Hummingbird. It was very close to the beach and had lots of room to run and play. The description of the property was spot on. The decorations were awesome and the amenities great. If we are in the area again, we will choose this location again!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rona B.

1 Jul, 2024

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

Cute and Cozy

Our group thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this cute and cozy cottage. Robin, the owner, is easy to communicate with and provides a lot of helpful information not just on the property but also the surrounding area. The large screened in porch and lovely garden area gives this property several spots for a group of 6 to spread out so we never felt cramped. It is close to the National Park and Chicago and is also walkable to the beach. I would not hesitate to stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melanie S.

16 Aug, 2023

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

Melanie Sharp

Property was well maintained. Easy check in and out process. Sand Dunes, trail, beach and Lake Michigan were amazing. Great communication with property manager.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shawn T.

11 Oct, 2023

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

Cozy

Great little place tucked away in a gully. Very vibrant colors. Everything you need for your trip to the beach or to hang out and have a campfire. The beach is a 10 minute walk away. And 15 minutes to Indiana dunes. Great little gem

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Britni S.

31 Jul, 2023

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

Family trip

This was one of the cutest places I have ever stayed!!! So much was provided that you normally never get anywhere else you go!!! Items provided ranged from beach toys such as boogie board and paddle board and more beach stuff to shampoo and conditioner and all the way down to have seasonings to cook with!!! We absolutely loved it and will book again in the future!! Thank you so much for everything you supplied!!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew R.

16 May, 2023

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

Fabulous Springtime Cottage

We booked this cottage for the quirky colors and the loft space we knew our kids would love sleeping in (which they did, of course). What came as a pleasant surprise was the kitchen, equipped with everything you would ever need and more. We brought in two days worth of meals and were absolutely able to make good use of what we brought. We also loved the hammock, the fire pit, the completely charming front yard, and the on site washer and dryer. A great experience and a great location!

Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Staci S.

1 Jun, 2024

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

Fun Beach and Hiking Getaway

Our fam of five 6, 8 and 12 year olds LOVED our quiet little getaway. We knew the water would be a bit chilly on Lake Michigan but boy was it beautiful...and only a few blocks away! Our kiddos slept in loft. We made every meal there, hiked some trails, played some of the games there and some we brought. There were plenty towels, bath and beach as well as kitchen accessories. It was a perfect getaway before our busy theatre rehearsals and sports camps begin! We definitely hope to come back!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammy K.

4 Sept, 2023

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

The hummingbird cottage exudes happiness

This little cottage far exceeded my expectations. The outdoor space was a tucked away oasis. The decor in every room was designed to make one feel happy—the colors and use of space astounded me. We played games that the owner supplied. We enjoyed the screened porch, really everything. There was everything we could have needed. The owner was so friendly and excellent with communication. Loved this place!! Loved the easy access to the beach.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Caroline C.

17 Jul, 2023

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

Weekend Getaway

We stayed at Hummingbird Cottage for a long weekend family getaway. It’s so cute and cozy! Nearly everything you could need was at the cottage. The beach was a short 3 block walk and not crowded at all. We visited some local restaurants the first day and then made the short drive to New Buffalo, Michigan for dinner on day two and Michigan City on day three. The cottage is super close to the Dunes National park and a short drive to the Dunes State park. The cottage accommodated our family of 4 (2 adults and two teens) well. I would warn that if you have very tall guests with you, some of the sleeping arrangements could be challenging. We had a great time and would happily return!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karri A.

8 May, 2023

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

The best 2 day vacation!

I dont know where to begin with this properity. The hidden back in woods look, the beach (literally down the road) looking at chocago lit up while laying on the beach while the kods fish, or the cute little kitchen with a bar look with cute little stools to have a perfect grill night and fire while kods play large padio tic tac toe. I couldnt find one thing bad about the hummingbird cottage. I felt at home. And so did my family. Owner was very responsive when asked a question, and very friendly! Was a perfect stay. 👌

Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

About the host

Hosted by Robin Secord

We love to travel & want to be able to share our love of travel with others.

Why they chose this property

This property is so fun, plus the location can't be beat! The location is perfect if you want to get lost in nature or the big city, of Chicago:) We hope you enjoy your stay, as much as we enjoy the area.

What makes this property unique

You feel like you are in a different world when at the house, but you have access to anything & everything right outside.

It is also a great beach escape from the hustle & bustle of the big city or the chaos of a Notre Dame football game @ the Notre Dame Stadium.

We also have a fabulous guide book, full of local ideas to keep busy with (if that is what you prefer). There is everything from a local festival guide, the beach swimming flag color of the day, U-Pick farm suggestions, & local favorites.