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Arbutus Lake Cottage

Photo gallery for Arbutus Lake Cottage

Miscellaneous
Terrace/patio
Exterior
Outdoor dining
Beach

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 674.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Traverse City, MI
  • Arbutus Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Spider Lake
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Traverse City Beach
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Arbutus Lake Cottage

Beautiful 3 bedroom cabin on Arbutus Lake with shared 400' of sandy, private (resort guests and owners only) beach with private boat launch and docks. This little cabin is nestled right next to Brown Bridge Quiet Area with great year-round activities like boating, skiing, biking, and fishing. Don't be fooled with how quiet it is here, many activities and amenities of Traverse City are just down the road.
-Visit Lake Michigan or the Sleeping Bear Dunes
-Take a drive down one of the peninsulas for a wine tour
-Shopping and Restaurants - Downtown TC
-Kayaking down the Boardman River
-Floating down the Platte River


Our house comes with two kayaks, yet there are more shared kayaks at the beach on a designated shared kayak rack. Outdoor seating with fire pit, second fire pit on the beach.
Inside fireplace and A/C unit (window unit in the middle room). Sleeps 6 comfortable, 2 bedrooms have queens, the other room has two twins. Full-size gas range in the kitchen, microwave, coffee maker and K-Cup maker, and a full-size refrigerator and freezer. Rowboats and kayaks are available with the rental, feel free to bring a trolling motor or small hp outboard motor for the shared rowboats which are on the beach. A personal friend of ours rents brand new Tri-Toons in the area. He includes life vests and watersports gear, delivery, and a discount when my name is mentioned. (He is who I personally recommend, there are other rental outfits in the TC area) Please contact Max directly for pricing and availability.

Maxwell Janis
(231) 499-6773
b.bmarinetc@gmail.com

Please plan ahead and feel free to ask questions!

Property manager

Dave

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:30 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
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Outside only.

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 deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this cabin is on the beach. Shoppers can check out Front Street, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Traverse City Beach. Centre Ice Arena and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf are also worth visiting. Take the opportunity to explore the area for water adventures such as power boating and other activities like winery tours.
Map
Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

  • Arbutus Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Spider Lake - 7 min drive - 5.8 km
  • Centre Ice Arena - 12 min drive - 10.1 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 18 min drive - 16.5 km
  • Traverse City State Park - 18 min drive - 16.5 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 14 min drive

Restaurants

  • Peegeo's
  • The Village Cafe & Ice Cream Shop
  • ‪K I Bar And Grill - ‬10 min drive
  • That'sa Pizza
  • ‪Village Ice Cream Shoppe - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Arbutus Lake Cottage pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Arbutus Lake Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Arbutus Lake Cottage?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is Arbutus Lake Cottage located?

Nestled on the beach, this Traverse City cabin is just steps away from Forest Lakes and Arbutus Lake. Spider Lake is 2.8 mi (4.4 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

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. 59 out of 69 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 69 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 69 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 69 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 69 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mark C., San Antonio

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

It was just awesome!

One of the nicest cabin's and area we evered stayed. On top of that the weather was also nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charles M.

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

Great time

My family and I enjoyed our stay. We were close to Traverse City. The beach at the cottage was great.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Adrian E.

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

Family vacation

Very cute place. Love that dogs are welcome and the beach. Short drive from town.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Denise B.

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

Perfect lake getaway

Exactly what we were looking for. Enjoyed the beach, lake, kayaks and fire pit. Easy to eat in or dine out. Lots of places to explore within an hour drive.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dave T.

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

Incredible Cabin for a getaway

Emily and Dave were very responsive and helpful with any questions we had. Their cabin is clean, kid friendly and would have any wooded cabin seeker looking to come back after their stay. Everything is as listed with this property.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

City Guys

The resort was a nice community. The property itself was really chill and homey. It had all the amenities a family or group of friends would need. There was a fire pit and kayaking available and it was close to Sleeping Bear Dunes for hiking. Everyone in the resort area was friendly and helpful with one thing or another. I’d for sure recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura L.

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

Great little quiet getaway

What a great cottage! It was perfect for our family of four (two adults, a 14 and an 11 year old). A very relaxing location in a quiet little cottage community with an easy drive to Traverse City if you want to get out and about. The hosts were very nice but also not at all intrusive. The cottage had all the amenities we needed (kitchen equipment, a propane grill) and some extra thoughtful touches (firewood!, nice hand soap, ample towels, a few toys, games and books). The use of kayaks was great, and the small beach was perfect. Once we figure out next summer’s vacation schedule, we hope to book again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robin S.

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

Quiet family vacation

Property is small but clean and nice. 2nd twin is a trundle stored under the other twin. We could only get one tv to work. Beds were comfortable. Close location to lake. We kayaked almost every day. Very relaxing. Property has two kayaks but there are more on the beach for use. Kitchen had dishes for cooking at home and a grill. Very quiet and safe area. Close to Traverse city.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen H.

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

A short stay reuniting old friends

This lovely cozy cottage served as a meeting place for old college friends to meet up and enjoy a few day together. The cottage had everything we needed. Pots, pans, towels, etc. the fireplace was warming and welcoming. The views of the lake were astounding. I would recommended this cottage to anyone visiting the greater Traverse City Area. It’s - short 15 minute drive to the heart of Traverse City and a just a little further to Michigan’s wine country

10/10 Excellent

Cameron W.

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

Half-Marathon Oasis

My group of friends and I participating in the Bayshore Half-Marathon this year wanted a place outside the heart of Traverse City to avoid the hustle and bustle of the holiday crowd, but close enough to justify trips into town for meals and supplies, and boy was this place perfect! The host was very responsive leading up to the reservation with all the questions I had. It was a little tricky to find, but we got very specific instructions on how to get there and what to put into Google Maps to get us there and we managed. My whole group and I agreed that the photos do not do it justice and the place is even nicer in person. We all slept comfortably and didn’t feel like we were on top of each other in the main living space (six of us in total). We were able to enjoy a day on the water with the kayaks on site and had a lovely fire in the fire pit next to the cabin. Honestly, it was the escape we all needed and I could not recommend it anymore. If anyone needs an escape, this is the place to go to!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Mona M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Arbutus lake stay

More directions on finding cabin would help!! Maybe turn left at Pineview resort sign! There was a truck parked in front of street sign so we kept going straight!! Turned around and found on way back! Property manager was great to deal with!! Quickly answered any questions we had!! Kitchen could use more lighting and coffee table in front of couch would be a nice addition! Overall great stay!!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Donna L., Avoca, MI - United States

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

Weekend getaway made perfect with comfy and cozy cabin to recharge -

What a lovely cabin - complete with Halloween decorations and comforts that quickly made me feel at home after two days of Traverse City explorations with my hiking partner golden retrievers. Clean, cozy and extremely comfortable. The lake was Beautiful! Definitely plan to return next year!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kevin K.

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

Very nice and cozy house and the fall colors around the lake were absolutely stunning..

The house was very clean and comfortable beds as well. Perfect fire pit and chairs. Also the store just a couple miles away have breakfast, lunch and dinner.. yes we all were very happy and didn't want to leave.. cheers and until next time..
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brooke R.

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

Great getaway!

Came with husband and pup for a weekend getaway in the fall. The space was cozy and family friendly. Loved the property. We arrived after dark and weren't familiar with the area. The sign for the Pineview Resort wasn't easy to see in the dark, so "up the hill" means turn left to go up the hill to get to the street with the little red house. Would also appreciate a map of the resort with where the dump was. We found it, but a map would be helpful to make it less of a guessing game. Loved our stay and would return in another season! Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Caitlin S.

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

Clean cottage

Super clean and cozy. Beds were comfortable and plenty of clean towels and blankets. We really enjoyed our stay here!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Wendy F., Ann Arbor

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

Fabulous

The cottage was beautiful, comfortable and well appointed. Loved all of the special touches such as succulents, fire pit with wood and lovely dishes for kids and adults. Definitely recommend and will stay again. The host was very attentive to email questions. All of them. 😂
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sharon B.

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

Loved it. Will be back!

Cabin was as described, great communication with owner!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nancy A.

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

Quaint cabin short walk to Lake Arbutus sandy beach.

We had a great time! Enjoyed close proximity to sandy beach on Lake Arbutus, quaint setting. The cottage had everything we needed to cook meals 'at home' and had kayaks and canoe to enjoy the lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

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

Wonderful family vacation

Check-in and communications with the host were smooth and easy. Very responsive. Perfect fit accommodations for our group (shower was a little small for our 6'3'' son-in-law). Pineview is a great place for families and this end of Arbutus Lake is very quiet and peaceful. Fishing was excellent - we caught 5 different species, ranging from 3 lb largemouths to as many bluegills as you can handle. Also some nice perch, rock bass and sunfish. Only 15 minutes to downtown TC and 50 minutes up to Leland. Thank you for your hospitality and a great stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenn W.

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

Peaceful Retreat

What a lovely stay! Everything about this property and location brings all the traditional feels a cottage on the lake should bring. It was a great stay. I hope to be back again some day!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

webfowler

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

Great Hidden Gem of a Cabin

We rented this property for a week to celebrate my sister's 50th birthday. Loved the location, as the weather was not very sunny and a little rainy for the week that we chose, so we went wine tasting, hit the local breweries, and did some shopping in Traverse City and Sutton's Bay. The property had everything we wanted and needed for our stay, a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, nice sitting areas inside and outside, loved using the fire pit. Would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice quiet place to vacation.

10/10 Excellent

Jesse K.

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

Lovely place

Easy beach and lake access. Lovely place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

michelle m., Charlotte

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

Great time had by all

Great pet friendly cottage location with usage of plenty of kayaks and canoe. At most we had 5 guests and it was a good size for that. Nice side decking with plenty of seating and parking gravel. Guys gave 2 thumbs up to the grill, everything that came off of it was delish! Although we purchased a couple of small wood bundles in town, the owner provided wrapped firewood for purchase next to the fire pit which made fire pit usage way more easier than us running around trying to find it on vacation! Plenty of hot water and shower pressure. Sheets and towels were clean. I add this because yes we have run into the opposite in a very expensive rental in the mountains. Our first week weather was heavenly. When the family showed up the second week a heat wave rolled in being in the 90's. As up north would have it, there is one smallish window unit in a bedroom so we used 2 small fans we brought to push the cold air through the cottage closing all windows and doors. Another window unit would be awesome but it would probably block the water view from the kitchen. Bring fans if weather calls for it! The lake water temp was absolutely perfect in June and we rented and had delivered a pontoon from H2O water rentals that allowed our dog. We loved the small community feel and got to know the neighbors. The owner was very responsive! Only downside is the dirt road that the cottages are on blows a lot of sand around with windows open but that is the cottagey feel and part of the up north experience. Additional family rented the smaller yellow cottage next door. With the 2 long picnic tables and pretty flowers on both properties ~ Plenty of family memories were made!
Stayed 13 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle W.

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

Weekend Trip

We had a great weekend here! We did lose power for a short period of time, but Dave was very quick in getting back to me about the estimated time of restoration and the neighbor helped us get the heat working. We would definitely stay here again!

10/10 Excellent

Nancy M.

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

Fall Color Getaway

My adult son and I were extremely impressed with the tranquility and beauty of the property. We have two large dogs and it was an ideal place to walk them. The cabin was extremely well equipped with everything we could possibly need. The location was ideal for exploring the peninsulas and Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore. We hope to return since the area and the cabin was great.

About the host

Hosted by Dave

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

This property is great because of its proximity to downtown. Only 10 mins from downtown Traverse City. If you need to relax, the resort and Arbutus lake are so peaceful, feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. If you forget a cold drink or need ice cream, the party store is a mile down the road. Note: we are on well water being on the lake, which is safe to consume but bottled or filtered water may be preferred for drinking.

Languages:

English
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