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Enjoy peacefulness & nature in our pet friendly cottage along the St. Joe River.

Photo gallery for Enjoy peacefulness & nature in our pet friendly cottage along the St. Joe River.

Open field at the end of the trail to the river.
Yard fire pit with river view
Trail from the cottage to the river.
Private Road to Cottage.
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 51200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Sodus, MI
  • Lakeland Regional Medical Center
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Lake Michigan College
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Silver Beach
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Benton Harbor, MI (BEH-Southwest Michigan Regional)
    ‪9 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Enjoy peacefulness & nature in our pet friendly cottage along the St. Joe River.

This two bedroom home with central AC and clean, sanitized, comfortable accommodations is under 2 hours from Chicago. On the St Joe River, this wooded setting on 10+ acres is great for a relaxing retreat or fun with friends and family. The 1000 ft. of river front is easily accessed from a nature walking trail through the wooded property or enjoy the view from the screened porch. Bring your fishing poles, tubes or Kayaks. 15 minutes to downtown St. Joe, award-winning Silver Beach, and Harbor Shores Golf Club and many other fun distractions. The Cottage sleeps 4 with one queen and one full bed. Fresh linens and towels are provided.

This cottage is a real charmer. The setting feels remote, but you will have easy access to shopping, downtown St. Joe and the Arts District in Benton Harbor. Awesome beaches, antiquing, winery tours, breweries, restaurants, barn sales, ad golfing are all close by.

Some of the best activities are on the property: fishing is right at your doorstep, hiking through the forest, a ball game in the open field, building a cool fort, hanging out in the storybook playhouse (see photos) or simply wading in the plastic kiddie's pool. Great spot to enjoy a good book, play board games, cook a nice meal or just enjoy a campfire.

Property manager

Mike Hillgamyer
Premier Host

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 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: limit 2 total
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
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 first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number C18000035646

About the area

Benton Harbor

Located in Benton Harbor, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Silver Beach. FuzzyButz Pet Bakery and Free Run Cellars are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Sodus, MI

What's nearby

  • Lakeland Regional Medical Center - 8 min drive - 7.1 km
  • Lake Michigan College - 9 min drive - 6.3 km
  • Harbor Shores Golf Club - 10 min drive - 8.8 km
  • White Pine Winery - 12 min drive - 10.2 km
  • Silver Beach - 13 min drive - 10.6 km

Getting around

  • St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Station - 12 min drive
  • South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Grand Crossing - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Good Fortune Restauran - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪La Perla Produce - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Arby's - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Enjoy peacefulness & nature in our pet friendly cottage along the St. Joe River. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Enjoy peacefulness & nature in our pet friendly cottage along the St. Joe River.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Enjoy peacefulness & nature in our pet friendly cottage along the St. Joe River.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Enjoy peacefulness & nature in our pet friendly cottage along the St. Joe River. located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within 6 miles (10 km) of Intercare Community Health Network, Lake Michigan College and Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Harbor Shores Golf Club and St. Joseph Dog Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

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. 80 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mandy M.

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

Relaxing

This is a great property tucked away in the woods
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ivanka S.

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

We had a wonderful stay

Everything was organized and clean when we arrived, the hosts were very gracious and available when needed. The location is nice and quiet and has some great views of both nature and wildlife. Thank you again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Holly R.

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

Great get away

Loved the place. Close to beach but felt like you were in the woods. The playhouse was a big hit for our toddler.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Magda M.

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

Lovely cottage

We spent three weeks at the cabin and enjoyed very much. The house is comfortable, the kitchen is well equipped and the surrounding area is beautiful. Loved our walks on the trail and seeing wild life! The location is convenient to shops, restaurants, St. Joseph and other attractions. Thank you for your hospitality!
Stayed 20 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenna S.

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

Fabulous Cottage

Beautiful cottage, Nice area to relax but still close to the beach and shops. The trail to the river was great Wonderful vacation spot!.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mitch B.

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

Excellent Retreat

The house and property were everything we needed in a getaway. It was equipped with nice dishes, grill, charcoal, appliances, furniture, etc for a great time. The host was super easy to work with, communicated well without being intrusive. Highly recommended.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley L.

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

Secluded Perfection

This was a great stay, with the feeling of being secluded however in close proximity to pretty much everything. The house was clean and comfortable. All of the necessities are provided! Communication with the owners was very easy, even if we didn’t actually need to reach out much. The fire pit is lovely and it’s really sweet they provided smores supplies! We truly enjoyed our stay and would stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian M.

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

Low key fam vacation

Just what we wanted. Great location close to St. Joseph and ice cream
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christina R.

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

Perfect

This rental was very well equipped with things to help in case you forgot your essentials. They also provided a s'mores kits. They really were exceptional host.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jeff H.

Great vacation cottage for St. Joseph / Lake Michigan visit

Cottage was well-equipped, clean, and had everything we needed for our visit. The location is convenient for St. Joseph / Lake Michigan beach and attractions, but also off the beaten path enough to be a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the town and lakefront on a busy summer weekend.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Chanahl K.

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

Beautiful weekend get away

This property was beautiful and the walk down to to the river was perfect for our dogs to splash and enjoy themselves as well! The cottage was very clean and Mike and Joe supplied basically everything we needed for a comfortable stay. We would definitely come back and would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice, peacuful get away!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tish M.

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

Beautiful and Serene

This was a perfectly laid out cottage. For it's size it was very spacious. The owners are great and were available to help with anything you may need. The house had everything you needed.Very close to town and to stores and restaurants. Beautiful property!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Lovely Wooded Setting

This was a charming cottage, well stocked with all we needed and more. The owners were attentive and kind. We loved the retro vibe and it was newly updated. Very thoughtful touches such as a fire built and ready to light complete with smores makings. Great stay and hope to return.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Natalia F.

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

Nice place

This place is a really peaceful, lots of birds, deer family always around with a cute baby :). House clean and comfortable, outside area - wonderful, beautiful view. Not so far from Michigan lake beach around 15 min drive. Nice cafes .. I would definitely recommend this place 👍
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rosie G.

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

Girls weekend

Spent the weekend with my daughter, and our best friends at the cottage. It was secluded, quaint and exactly what we were looking for. We enjoyed sitting on screened in porch and the drive to beach was very easy and quick. We will definitely be back!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Keith and Marlene A.

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

Very clean, well kept property that is relaxing and enjoyable and close to many activities!

Mike and Joe have thought of everything possible to make your stay an enjoyable one. Right down to fresh flowers on the table and candy on the beds. We even had a wonderful sign painting to "Welcome" us to the home. We will certainly be going back again and look forward to returning in the fall for the beautiful colors!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Lyndie H.

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

Hidden retreat

The house was exactly as described. Eclectic decorations, comfortable (although not matching-didn’t bother us a bit) furniture and everything we needed for a quick retreat. We spent our days exploring Saint Joseph and evenings on the screened in porch.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Eric L.

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

Perfect for our family

We loved our stay at this cabin on the St. Joe River. We are familiar with the area, and we were happy to be able to have river access for fishing as well as an easy 15 minute drive to some of the best Lake Michigan beaches. Our daughter loved the fairy playhouse, our dog loved the walk we took down to the river or up the drive, and Mike and Joe were so friendly and accommodating. We highly recommend Silver Beach Pizza and Silver Harbour Brewing Co, browsing the shops in downtown St. Joe, breakfast at the Mason Jar in Benton Harbor, and pastries at Caffe Tosikpphhhyyfyfyygl
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

kathy b., phoenix az

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

Cabin in the trees

Beautiful property owners super nice house was stocked with you name it it was there
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephen L.

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

Peaceful Paradise

If you’re looking for a peaceful, private slice of heaven tucked into the woods, this is it! Close enough to any convenience you might need but situated on a very private property tucked into the woods. The cabin has everything you need for an extended stay. It’s spacious and very comfortable. Our hosts, Mike & Joe, are wonderful people and they feel more like good neighbors then property hosts. We would definitely stay here again. I highly recommend checking out this property if you’re going to be in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area.
Stayed 16 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

heather B., Indianapolis

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

St. Joesph River Fun!

The hosts treated us like we were old friends! They were so attentive, responsive and even warned us when a severe storm was on the way. They helped let us know the best place to launch our canoe - and we canoed and fished the St. Joe's river almost every day with success! The house was very comfortable, cool and clean and they left little treats as such a warm touch! Thank you for the best time, we would love to come back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marlo M.

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

Eclectic cozy woodland cabin!

This wonderful cabin was in a beautiful surrounding, sitting in the screened porch enjoying nature and the view of the river was one of my favorite things. You feel secluded here and can hike down to the river but you are minutes away from town and Lake Michigan. They cabin was wonderfuly appointed with everything you need for cooking a meal, on an amazing vintage stove. So many games to choose to play, lots of pillows, blankets, towels and even toiletries you may need but forgot. The best part were the small personal touches, chocolates on our pillows, everything you need for s'mores, stuff for a dog washing station and dog treats. Thank you for sharing your wonderful property with us.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Annalise H.

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

Fantastic getaway that exceeded our expectations!

My two adult children and I had a fantastic stay. As others have noted, the house was very clean and comfortable and has everything you need and more. The kitchen is very well-equipped (we cooked most of our meals and were able to pick up groceries at the nearby Walmart.) The location was perfect for day trips to St. Joseph and the Warren Dunes. The nearby mini golf was perfect on an overcast day. We enjoyed the fire pit in the evening. The hosts were so responsive for even minor questions. We can't thank them enough for their hospitality. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stacy M.

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

Loved this place!

This cozy place, nestled in seclusion was perfect! The description and amenities were exactly as described. Goodies were left on our pillows, bug spray and lantern, and many extras for our visit. We didn't get to walk to the river but would have if we had time. It is down a hill with a cut path. You can view the river as you sit by a bonfire.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tracy B.

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

Family

This cabin is just far enough away from the city to make you feel “off the grid” which is exactly what my family needed. We spent our days exploring surrounding St Joseph, South Haven, and Saugatuck to then return to the cabin for family game time, walking to the river, and storytelling. Much over due! Thanks so much for the wonderful hospitality.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

About the host

Hosted by Mike Hillgamyer

Host profile image
We moved here full time after retiring in 2014. We live in another home at the far end of the property, so we are here if you need anything, but far enough away to ensure your privacy. We love the beautiful and serene nature that the property offers and know that you will love it as well.

Why they chose this property

The main house was built in 1939 and we are its third owners. We first bought a home next door and got to know the previous owners over time. When they chose assisted living nearby, they offered to sell us this property which we so loved to visit. We were enthralled with the setting and how remote it felt while offering easy access to everything we need. We truly enjoy its proximity to Chicago where we visit family and friends often.

What makes this property unique

Secluded peace and quiet with loads of wildlife, comfortable central air and heat, clean and functional living spaces, large eat-in kitchen with plates, flatware, serving pieces, pot/pans and cooking utensils, washer/dryer, near a great many fun outdoor activities, attractions, shopping, local events and festivals, winery tours, farm stands and antiquing!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests