Dream Retreat Private Guesthouse, Lac Mich., Dunes, Chicago

The unit was very clean. Close, easy access to the lake. Owners were very easy to work with.

Five of us stayed here comfortably! Loved the easy access to the beach and dunes.

We loved staying in this charming Dream Guesthouse to celebrate my Mom’s 60th birthday and the town of Miller Beach was quaint and fun.  It was the perfect spot for the 7 of us total, 4 adults and 3 kids, from Dayton OH.  We have stayed at several other beach rentals and this one was well worth the price for what you get!  It was very clean and sunny and offered everything we needed.  The kitchen was perfect, and outdoor grill was nice (even in Winter).  We enjoyed the large TVs and watched old movies on Netflix while the kids played Xbox in the other room.  Beds were very comfortable and linens and towels were good quality.  Mom loved the jacuzzi bathtub too. 

The views from the deck of the dunes and lake were wonderful and we even saw 2 deer!  We spent several hours hiking through the dunes and on the beautiful beach.  It was truly magical!  Even though it was Winter, the beach was very pretty and the Chicago Skyline was breathtaking! 

We especially loved dining at the fancy Miller Bakery Café.  Mom had roasted duck and loved it.  We also had good pizza at Flamingos one afternoon.  The neighborhood was quiet and peaceful with virtually no traffic since it’s a no outlet street, we didn’t have to worry about the kids and traffic. 

Everything was set up perfectly for our arrival.  We got a little tour and a binder full of Jim’s family’s favorite trails, places to see, and other info.

Thank you very much Jim for making our Mom’s birthday truly memorable!

Although comfortable, clean, and well-equipped, and close to a good hiking trail and the dunes, the "guest house" for this rental lacks many of the key amenities that make the larger property seem attractive. There is virtually no view from the guest house (the guest house is over a garage facing a suburban street, rather than the dunes or the lake) and has no real deck. Given that we were paying a rate appropriate for a lakefront home with a view, this was disappointing to us. Miller Beach is also a very industrial part of the Indiana lakefront in a part of Gary that has seen better days, so be aware of that. (We have stayed at other rentals in Indiana in towns such as Porter Beach, where you also see the power plants and the steel mills, but they are much further away so the setting is quite different).

Can't comment on the main home, which seemed nice from the outside, but for smaller groups renting only the guest house just be aware of what you are getting, and not getting, for the rate. If you know the area and like it, and rent the full house, could be a good option. But this was not an appealing property overall for our interest in a lakefront rental with a nice view for 2 people.

My family of six, wife and four kids, seek out vacation rentals throughout the Midwest and have never found a place that is so well-equipped for the price than this cottage! All our expectations were met and more. Wife cooked our favorite meals in the kitchen while I grilled on the Weber. Kids swam in the lake and made sand castles all day. Jim met us on site, gave a tour and binder of all his favorite haunts in town. We loved Flamingo pizza (25% off on Monday’s) the best. We highly recommend this place to anyone seeking comfort and value for your dollar. It is right on the national park and beach which is also very convenient to the casinos. We will be back again soon!