The cabin is located on a beautiful property that is surrounded by nature. We heard loons and owls most every everning and morning. The location is perfect for exploring the nearby towns and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The cabin had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The kitchen had all of the essentials, the bathrooms had extra toiletry supplies, and there were plenty of linens, towels and blankets. We had a wonderful stay and would love to return!
We had a fantastic time staying at this cabin. It was clean and as described. The weather was quite warm the day we arrived, but despite no A/C, using the fans and opening the windows at night cooled it down quite quickly and we were very comfortable (and my husband is notoriously picky about his sleeping temperature!). Linens and beds were comfortable. We loved the screened in porch. We were visiting with local family, so did not really use the kitchen other than making coffee in the mornings. There was both a Keurig and regular coffee pot though!Location was great- 9 minutes to Esch Beach (highly recommend!), 11 min to Empire and Sleeping Bear, maybe 20 min to Glen Arbor. This was our first time Up North and we hope to return again. Would definitely stay at Phil and Ginny's cabin again!
It was wooded and off the beaten path which we liked. The inside is cozy with comfortable sleeping. The screened in back porch is certainly a plus. Weâll be back next summer!
Excellent location for a quintessential Michigan vacation! Very cozy and personable cabin - felt like staying at Grandmaâs, not just a rental. Highly recommend.
Very private and peaceful property. My dog and I enjoyed walking the trails, listening to the coyotes and owls. Beds were comfortable. Plenty of outlets for charging electronics. Conveniently located to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Honor, Empire and anywhere else in the area you want to venture to.
What a wonderful cabin in the woods with opportunity to visit so many areas of Michigan. Also opportunity to sit back and enjoy nature at its best and donât forget those lovely night skies. Enjoyed every minute of our time and thank you for sharing your lovely cabin. We hope to visit again.
Stay in nice cabin in great location disrupted by bats
Our family was surprised to find several bats flying around the screened-in porch (which is connected to the main floor living room and kitchen area) during the first hours of our stay. Â We packed up and rented rooms at another local hotel that evening. Â Phil acknowledged the bat issue and apologized for the inconvenience, and he was working to fix the bat problem the morning after we reported the issue. Â He refunded the money he received from our rental. The cabin is very nice and located in a great location. Â Phil was very responsive and promptly attempted to remedy the bat issue, both by agreeing to refund our payments and take measures to prevent bats from infiltrating the cabin in the future. This would have been a great place to stay during our vacation, except for the bats.
Cabin was very well supplied--was helpful to find paper products and cleaning supplies along with a well stocked kitchen. Phil answered all questions almost immediately from inquiries pre-booking through our stay. The house is truly a cabin in the woods with that outdoorsy, rustic feel. We were there through a period of exceptionally hot weather and, while nights in the area are typically cool, it was not the case July 2024! The house, like most in the area, has no AC. When we asked Phil for some fans to bring some relief, he appeared within the hour with two brand new box fans which were most appreciated. Thanks Phil!
I felt a little misled about the "4 bedrooms". There are 2 bedrooms. I don't think futons should count as beds for adults, especially in open spaces. I would adjust listing to avoid bad reviews because the place is very sweet with a great property and location.
The cabin is gorgeous. Inside had everything you needed to cook and eat in. Outside had trails and a beaver dam my kids loved. Very close to sleeping bear dunes, empire beach and riverside canoe rental! We will definitely be back!
Advertised as a 4 bedroom. Reality, 2 bedrooms and futons in livingroom and loft. Futons were very uncomfortable and old. Pillows were flat, hard dirty snd old. Not one comfortable seat in the house. Mice in masterbedroom, a bat on the porch. No window treatments so you get up at sunrise. It was miserable.
Phil made us feel welcome and worked with us to try to rebook as the rest of our family were ill and not able to come up . Although we were sad to not have the kids enjoyed our time in this special home. Wildlife is served included beavers, deer, owls, many birds, and a neighborhood bear!
Thank you Lavendarâs and we hope to return with our children and grandchildren!
The property is lovely, very private and quiet, and great location for enjoying the dunes. I left my dog at home but this would be a perfect place for pups. Firewood is provided and there is a great screen porch to hang out in if you get a rainy day.
Only downside is that there are really only 2 bedrooms. A futon in an open loft and another in the living room do not equal bedrooms. That said, I slept on the futon in the living room and it was very comfy.
Ideal location for visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes and local towns. Property is private for those wanting time away from crowds to enjoy nature. Wildlife, especially birds, abound. Owners very responsive to questions.
We had an excellent stay at the Lavenders' home! The cabin was clean and well-appointed with everything we needed. We loved the screened in porch and fire pit, and the fact that we saw a bear lumbering by in the road one morning. Our dogs loved running around the yard and playing in the creek. It was remote, but with easy access to all sorts of things - we went tubing on the Lower Platte, played at Sleeping Bear Dunes, and spent a couple rainy hours at Cognition in nearby Empire. Phil was very responsive to our questions, and we felt very welcome.
Phil and Ginny Lavender are the property owners. We are both retired and would love to share our new vacation home with you. Our primary home is in Lake Orion, MI. although we both were born and raised in western Michigan.
Phil's mother and grandparents grew up in the area and Benzie County has always been a second home. The family cabin, built in the late '30's is located just a few hundred yards away. Building our own log cabin has always been a goal for Phil and his sister who also built 2 cabins nearby.
Special attractions to our place are the birds and other wildlife, the closeness of Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Little Platte Lake and the Platte River. We have no neighbors close- by so it provides a very private, quiet, peaceful setting. We especially enjoy our back porch overlooking a quiet stream and woods. We also enjoy evening campfires and back-yard barbecues.