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Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches

Family-friendly holiday home in Empire

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Beach towels - Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches (Empire)
Smart TV, DVD player, table football, ping pong - Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches (Empire)
Exterior - Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches (Empire)
Property grounds - Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches (Empire)
2 bedrooms, WiFi - Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches (Empire)
Perched within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakshore, this property offers a serene retreat with scenic views of nature and historic Leelanau County. Relax by the campfire or on the front porch, and unwind in the full kitchen, living room, or one of three cozy beds upstairs. Laundry facilities are also available for your convenience.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 61000 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches

The property is located within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, close to hiking trails and beaches. Empire beach, only two miles from the property, was named one of the top 21 beaches in the world. The Village of Empire is just a couple of miles up M-22 and includes restaurants, coffee and shopping. Enjoy open views by sitting on the front porch or by the campfire (firewood included) and all that Leelanau County has to offer— dune bluffs, rivers for kayaking, and amazing views of Lake Michigan.


The house features one master bedroom (queen) and an open loft upstairs with three beds (2 twin and 1 full size). There is a full size kitchen (cookware included), living room, and one full bathroom. The laundry room includes a washer and dryer for you to use. We provide towels but do not provide bed linens nor pillows— please bring bed linens and/or blankets. Central A/C, satellite TV and Wi-Fi are provided. There is a smart TV in the living room and master bedroom. The living room TV includes a DVD player and a long list of DVD movies you are more than welcome to enjoy.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • In a rural location

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Foosball table
  • Table tennis
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,000 square feet

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  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 12:00 PM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
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 and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Located in Empire, this holiday home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Travelling with kids? Consider Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Burnett Park. Power boating and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and ecotours nearby.
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Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Empire Bluff Trail - 4 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Front Street - 35 min drive - 48.9 km
  • Crystal Mountain - 35 min drive - 46.6 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 42 min drive - 55.4 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Joes Friendly Tavern - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Trattoria Funistrada - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Food For Thought - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches located?

This family-friendly Empire holiday home is located in a rural location, within 2 mi (3 km) of Empire Bluff Trail and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Lake Michigan is 2.1 mi (3.4 km) away.

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Quiet and charming, views of historic Leelanau county, close to beaches Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 81 out of 88 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 88 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 88 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 88 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 88 reviews

9.4

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

Reviews

8/10 Good

John W.

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

Stormer Stay

Great location close to Sleeping Bear.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peggy M.

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

Awesome as always

Once again this cabin in the woods did not disappoint. Everything is well maintained and perfect for a serene and fun stay. We absolutely love it here. Thanks for allowing us to stay in your little slice of paradise! PM
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Natalie M.

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

Quiet and economical

We have stayed here with our family multiple times over the past ten years. It is always clean, secluded, and so close to all of the attractions we love, like the national park, beaches, etc. The owners are great to work with, clear amd friendly communication. We have stayed at a good number of cottages, this location is the best.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan B.

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

Summer getaway

We truly enjoyed our stay…. So much to see and do … every night we spent time on beach with a fire and watched the stars come out… the house was perfect for us .. only little thing was one bathroom made it somewhat difficult with family of 5 … we would definitely go back again !
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

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

Beautiful place, great location

This beautiful house was perfectly located for all of our adventures in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Comfortable beds and very quiet. Kids loved the ping-pong table in the basement and swing outside. Loved the firepit for cool evenings. Just off the beaten path but close to everything.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chelsie M.

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

Cute house in the country

Incredible property located in a private setting. Excellent location to Empire, Glenn Arbor and Glenn Haven. Enjoy hiking sleeping bear sand dunes and the beautiful sand beaches and clear water. Upstairs of house is a great layout for kids to sleep. Yard is fun for exploration and riding bikes up and down the gravel driveway. We hope to be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Adam G.

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

Just about perfect

The house is very well described, and the owners make it easy to “do the right thing.” (If you are rule follower like I am, you will appreciate knowing how to handle things like trash day.) It is the perfect house for a family with up to four kids, or a grandparents/parents/two kids situation. The sleeping loft (queen + two fulls) is charming, and there is a finished basement with a ping-pong table and other games. The kitchen is very well stocked with most everything you might need to prepare and serve your own meals. (Different from our experience with some other properties we’ve rented, which imply a full kitchen but then you show up to find four mismatched cups, a small frying pan and something really random, like a juicer.) For the kitchen, you will have to bring only cooking oil and any spices/condiments you might need. Note to those flying in: although the hosts warn that there are no bed linens, there was in fact a comforter, an afghan-style blanket and three pillows with cases, plus a spare pair ofcases. For the two of us, we needed to bring just a set of sheets, which we easily did in our carry-ons. BTW if you’re curious about the no-linens rationale, the owner has a generously late check-out (noon) / early check-in (3 PM) policy which leaves only a narrow window for the caretaker to get in there in between guests. We thought the house was excellent value and it’s clear from the guestbook that others think so — many, many return guests. We hope to join that group!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cecile W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place for a peaceful stay.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

John W.

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

Sleeping Bear. Always Great

Stayed here many times and always enjoy it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

John W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Been staying hear for a week or two for several years. Will return again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

carol c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location. Very quiet. Comfortable house. Is
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kylie P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great week at the house and can’t wait to come back again! Everything was clean and plenty of basic supplies were available. We enjoyed the porch swing, firepit, ping pong table, and grain bin areas. The location is the perfect mix of quiet seclusion while being close to the beach and plenty of restaurants and shops.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place was just what we wanted , close enough to easily get everywhere we wanted to go but far enough away from the hustle and bustle for a quiet night's sleep. Check in was quick and easy, an email with instructions on how to get into the property and a small log book on how everything from stove to air conditioner were set up for operation. Kitchen was very near to what we have at home so we were familiar with everything. Overall we had a great stay and hope to reserve the house again next year
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

John W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sleeping Bear Cottage

We’ve stayed here 7 times and keep coming back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

John W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stormer Road

Stayed 7 days. Repeat stay. Will stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

John W.

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

Empire Stay

Very nice quiet secluded location
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

john h., grand rapids mi

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

Very nice house , secluded and near Sleeping Bear

This house was a nice place to stay, it's secluded and near Empire, easy drive to all the places you want to go around Sleeping Bear. Remember to take your own sheets and pillows. There is no place to buy them nearby.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carrie A.

Wonderful family time!

We couldn't have been any happier with our stay. The place was exactly what we needed for our family of five. We loved the close proximity to the beach & Sleeping Bear Dunes. We also loved the peaceful quiet at the house. We enjoyed using the fire pit & porch swing. The kids loved playing basketball & swinging on the swing. Thank you for sharing your home with us! We hope to be back!

10/10 Excellent

Scott L.

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

Fall vacation

Clean comfortable place close to a lot of available activities. Highly recommend
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Peggy M.

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

Awesome

Perfect in every way. Would give ten stars if possible. Location can’t be beat.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia W.

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

Exceeds Expectations. Treasure the privacy

Lots of room and very comfortable. Easy to find. Treasure the privacy. Has everything you need. Thoughtfully equipped. Appreciated the kitchen supplies, paper towels, laundry , fire wood, info about attractions. Superb job to make this a welcoming property.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

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

Home away from home

Very cute and clean house in the best location ever. We have stayed in numerous houses in the same area over the years but this by far is one of my very favorites. We loved sitting outside and enjoying the evening sunsets on the front porch swing. The house had everything we needed and having a washer and dryer was awesome. Would recommend and will stay there again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melanie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Peaceful oasis!

We truly enjoyed our stay at the house. It was close to so many areas around Sleeping Bear Dunes! Our boys loved all of the toys and beaches items they had for kids. Can’t wait to come back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

clare g., ROCHESTER HILLS

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

A nature lover’s dream.

This is a gem of a cottage nestled in picturesque surroundings. A perfect location to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility or explore all the wonderful beaches and trails in the area. The cottage is equipped with everything to ensure a comfortable stay. All credit and thanks to Nate and Jenny for their attention to detail and for being wonderful hosts.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

doug w.

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

Quite peaceful

This place is perfect for us looking to rent it again
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021