New! Lake Michigan Hideaway - Very Cute, Safe, Family-Friendly, and Great Location!

Lake Michigan Hideaway is a very cute, fun, safe, and family-friendly cottage that is in a great location for exploring Elberta, Frankfort, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Lake Michigan and its beaches, and all of the northwestern corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It's located right below the famous Elberta Dunes and it's also a great spot for outdoor sports and nature enthusiasts. Also has a charming front porch for relaxing and people-watching along with a lovely backyard deck.


INTERACTION WITH GUESTS:

We have a local property manager that lives nearby in Elberta and is available to address any questions, issues, or concerns that may arise.


NEIGHBORHOOD:

Elberta is a delightfully eclectic little town on Lake Michigan just south of Betsie Bay (which is also called Betsie Lake). It is just across the bay from nearby Frankfort. (Downtown Frankfort is just a 5-minute drive from the house.) Elberta is famous for its huge natural sand dunes, which are between the village and Lake Michigan. There is a wonderful hiking trail through the dunes (Elberta Dunes South Natural Area) that starts just 0.6 miles from the house. There is also a great bike trail (the Betsie Valley Trail) that goes right next to downtown Elberta and is less than one-quarter of a mile from the house.

Downtown Elberta is just a short walk from the house and it has a wonderful traditional breakfast cafe (The Lighthouse Cafe) along with a few shops and restaurants. Elberta has a fun collection of different sizes and styles of homes, including several large and beautiful historic homes. There is a public kayak launch in downtown Elberta for kayaking around Betsie Bay, including the option of kayaking out to Lake Michigan or else up the Betsie River. There are 2 marinas in Elberta on Betsie Bay, both of which are less than a mile from the house. Between the 2 marinas is the famous Cabbage Shed historic restaurant, which is a great place for dining outside on the water and enjoying live music.

Elberta has its own beach on Lake Michigan (Elberta Beach), which is only 1.1 miles from the house. Elberta Beach is dog-friendly, allows bonfires at night, and does not get a lot of traffic as it is somewhat hidden behind the beautiful dunes. There is also a waterfront park on Betsie Bay in Elberta that has playground equipment for kids and has live music in its amphitheater on Monday nights in the summer.


GUEST ACCESS:

Guests have access to the entire property except for the detached garage.


THE SPACE:

The home is very cute and charming, but it's also quite long and narrow, which makes the layout a bit unusual in several respects:

1) The largest bedroom (Bedroom #1) is located just inside the front door (i.e. the front door basically opens into the main bedroom). As such, it is recommended that guests do not utilize the front door and just use the back door as the main entrance.

2) Bedroom #2 (the smallest bedroom) is only accessible from Bedroom #1.

3) The main dining area is very cute, but it's basically in the middle of the kitchen.

4) The bathroom only has an antique bathtub. There is no shower in the bathroom, but there is a shower in the "laundry room" that is entered into when walking into the house from the back door. The kitchen is entered into from the laundry room, but there is curtain that can be pulled across the entry between the laundry room and the kitchen for privacy when using the shower.


TRANSIT:

There is public transportation available via The Benzie Bus, but it is highly recommended that guests have their own means of transportation.


PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1) LAYOUT: Due to the home being long and narrow, the layout is a bit unusual. Please read "THE SPACE" section of the listing to make certain that you understand the layout and that it will work for you and your group.

2) PET POLICY: All pets are strictly prohibited at this property.

3) QUIET HOURS: For the sake of neighbors, we ask that guests maintain quiet hours from 10:00 PM until 8:00 AM.

4) NO AIR CONDITIONING: Please note that the property does NOT have air conditioning. As such, it may get warm in the house during the summer if it is warm outside.

5) NUMBER OF GUESTS: Please note that our pricing is based upon the number of guests, with pricing being higher with each additional guest that is included on the reservation. Please make certain that the correct number of guests is specified on the reservation so that the pricing is correct.

6) EARLY CHECK-IN: Our policy is to allow early check-in on the day of arrival if the property is available for check-in. We will not know until the day before arrival whether or not the property will be available for early check-in or not. You can check with our local property manager the day before arrival or on your arrival day to see if the property will be available for early check-in or not.

7) LATE CHECK-OUT: We maintain a very strict and structured cleaning schedule. As such, late check-outs are strictly prohibited.

8) DETACHED GARAGE: Please note that guests do not have access to the detached garage.

9) TELEVISION: Note that there is no television shown in the living room photos, but there will be a television in the living room by May 1, 2026.