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Waterfront Cottage on the Boardman River

Riverside holiday home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Waterfront Cottage on the Boardman River

Exterior
Boardman River in the summer
Sunny day on the river
Boardman River in the fall
Sunrise in the backyard

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8130.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Turtle Creek Stadium
  • Place, Front Street
  • Place, Traverse City Beach
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bed 1

1 Queen Bed

Bed 2

1 Double Bed

Bed 3

1 Queen Bed

Bed 4

2 Double Beds and 1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms

Main level bath

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upper Level bath

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Waterfront Cottage on the Boardman River

Enjoy rural Traverse City's outdoor haven with this riverfront non-smoking home situated directly on the Boardman River just 15-20 minutes south of downtown Traverse City. Hop in the river and kayak or float the spring-fed Boardman River! This home is only minutes away from off-roading in Chums Corner and is a short drive to winery trails up the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. Visit Traverse City's bustling downtown area that is home to many restaurants, charter boat companies, and TART trails. Take a drive northwest to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes for a day. This home is far enough away from the city to enjoy peace and quiet at the fire pit right next to the river or lounge on the new 600 square foot back porch, but plenty close enough to enjoy what Traverse City has to offer! Home is equipped with central heating and air conditioning! This property is about 45 minutes away from Crystal Mountain, one hour away from Caberfae Peaks, and 1.5 hours away from Boyne Mountain. For snowmobilers, this home offers a close place to stay being only 5-10 minutes away from Mayfield's snowmobile trailhead! Outfitted with central heating and air conditioning. This home is not wheelchair accessible - there are stairs to the entry door and narrow halls and doors inside, as well as stairs to the second floor. NO PETS ALLOWED. NO SMOKING ALLOWED. THERE WILL BE A $500.00 ADDITIONAL CHARGE IF PETS COME TO PROPERTY.

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Do not book this property for your kids who do not meet the minimum age requirement if you are not going to be staying at this property with them.
Absolutely NO pets allowed. $500.00 fee if pets are brought to property.

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
Long-term renters welcome
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Shoppers can check out Front Street, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Traverse City Beach. Centre Ice Arena and Great Wolf Lodge Water Park are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

  • Arbutus Lake - 9 min drive - 8.3 km
  • Turtle Creek Stadium - 9 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Grand Traverse Mall - 13 min drive - 13.7 km
  • Front Street - 18 min drive - 17.9 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 18 min drive - 19.8 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Culver's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Cracker Barrel - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Waterfront Cottage on the Boardman River pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Waterfront Cottage on the Boardman River?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Waterfront Cottage on the Boardman River?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Waterfront Cottage on the Boardman River located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within 6 miles (10 km) of Forest Lakes, Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve and Turtle Creek Stadium. Arbutus Lake and Centre Ice Arena are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

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. 98 out of 100 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 100 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 100 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 100 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 100 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

christina s.

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

Family tradition

Our stay was nothing but perfect! Very peaceful, great communication and beautifully updated year to year! A nice get away for my family from the hustle of day to day. We have made this our family tradition for years. We are looking forward for many more to come
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine C.

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

Amazing!!!

This was more than we could have ever expected... the beautiful river, lawn, deck were all exaordinary. And indoors, the cleanliness, AC, every amenity you would need from s'mores to coffee to shampoo. I travel the world and this was a special special place. We are rebooking immediately for next year the same week.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Olivia C.

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

This place was beautiful

We had a great time, we played some games, enjoyed the deck and beautiful view. Checking in was easy and checking out was easy! Pretty close to downtown TC and even to the wineries, we had the best weekend. If we had any questions they were quick to answer! Highly recommended!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott S.

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

Great relaxing oasis

Loved the outdoor space right by the river.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jenna G.

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

Perfect stay on the river!

We loved staying at this property! It was extremely clean and Heather and Allison were so attentive and kind. I look forward to staying here again. Location was great and the house was so comfortable. HIGHLY recommend
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Guy R.

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

Great place for a getaway to Traverse City.

We really enjoyed this location for a peaceful home base to explore the Traverse City area. We had a great time hanging out by the fire pit in the evenings. The host made sure that we had everything we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Peggy H., Brighton, Michigan

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

Waterfront cottage on Boardmen river

We spent a long Father’s Day weekend at this very clean and well stocked riverfront cottage. The beds were really comfortable and the large deck was great place to hang out near the river. The house is minutes from “Wheels on rails” which just opened this year. Allison the property manager was helpful and nice. We’ll definitely try and stay here again when in the Traverse city area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay M.

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

Gorgeous home on the river

I stayed here with my husband and 2 other couples for a long weekend getaway. The house is newly remodeled and aesthetically pleasing. We enjoyed sitting by the tranquil river, chatting around a bonfire, made dinner on the grill, and played board games in the comfy living room. The host made everything SOOO easy - to check in, check out, and if we needed anything in between. It was a short drive to downtown TC, Old Mission Lighthouse, and Torch Lake. We all agreed we’d love to stay at this Vrbo again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marcy E.

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

Best place ever! We did not want to leave!

From start to finish, our stay was incredible! Allison reached out to us before we came to let us know what to expect, asked if we wanted her to pick up firewood and drop it off (she did that for us before we arrived!), and made herself available. We arrived to an immaculate home; it was so clean, spacious, bright and welcoming! Loved the picture frames throughout the house explaining how to work appliances, blinds… the huge yard ended with an amazing fire pit right on the river. House was totally equipped with all the kitchen stuff we could ever want, games, books, and even soap and shampoo. There was plenty to do in Traverse City as well as surrounding towns that were all easy to get to. Six of us (all good friends) had such an amazing time and we did not want to leave! We can’t wait to visit again and will definitely stay here next time!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nancy L.

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

Family reunion in Traverse City

We were traveling to Traverse City for a family reunion. The other 10 people going to the reunion were staying in a hotel on Lake Michigan in Traverse City (very expensive I might add). Our group of 8 decided since we had a 3 and 5 year old in our group that a house might work better for us. I found this VRBO that was absolutely PERFECT for my husband and I (grandma & grandpa), my son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandkids, and my daughter and son-in-law. There were plenty of bedrooms for all of us - with room to spare. The spacious yard was nice for the kids to be able to run around in. The river in our backyard was great for the kids to fish in and for us to wade around in to cool off. I could not have chosen a better spot for our group to stay in. It was very clean and the beds were comfortable. The kitchen was well equipped. My grandsons were thrilled with the DVD collection they had to choose from. Heather (the owner) and Allison (the property manager) were very easy to communicate with - answered any questions we had promptly. This property gets a 10 out of 10 for sure!! We would definitely stay here again if we come back to Traverse City.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

erinn w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house is a hidden gem! Anything we needed they had. Anything we wanted, they had. The property was beautiful and the house was spotless. It was like home. Everything was clean and warm and inviting. They had puzzles, games, books and netflix. The management even called on the way there to see if there was anything we needed and make sure we had her number in case of an emergency! We are definitely coming back and spending more time next time. One of the best rentals I've ever had! Way to go management! You're killing it!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rene O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean , wonderful patio and amenities A short drive to Traverse city
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Barbara B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Heather and Allison were the perfect hostess. We had everything we needed at the house. The house beautiful and cozy. Allison called me before we arrived, she left us house warming gift, she explained everything. We will definitely come back again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was clean and even stocked with some basic condiments. The area was quiet and restful, just what we were looking for. On the other hand, there the big grassy yard that would have been wonderful for a family gathering with children of all ages who wanted to run around and play games.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tracie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was very clean and well maintained! One of the best stocked VRBOs I have stayed in! We were there for a wedding and the location was close to everything! Heather was a great host, we got a phone call on the day of our arrival with instructions and asked if we had questions, very impressed and would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matthew L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I highly recommend this property as it is very clean, has everything you need for a comfortable stay and the property manager is easy to get a hold of if ever needed. Book with confidence!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Les M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is the second year in a row in which our family stayed at this home for a weekend of fun and memory-making in the Traverse City area. It was so perfect for us last year that it was a no-brainer to book it again this year! Once again, the home and Heather and Allison's attention to detail did not disappoint!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jill G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place to stay! Secluded, quiet, loved the firepit right on the river, beautiful deck. Not far from Traverse City. Heather immediately answered our question about nearby pizza. Allison called us about 2 hrs before check in with some details and to see if we had questions. The kitchen had everything you could need, spacious and comfortable bedrooms, pretty decor and very clean! It was perfect for 6 of us!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Macy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing property, very thoughtful and accommodating hosts! Everything was super clean and well stocked!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

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

More than we expected!

This property is absolutely beautiful. We are from Florida and came to Michigan to visit family for a week. We didn't know what to expect, but the photos looked nice. When we arrived the property was EXACTLY as advertised... And More! The linens were soft, beds comfortable, lots of space, kitchen fully stocked with utensils, coffee, all the extras we have in our own home. The deck and yard is wonderful and leads out to a pretty river in the back with a fire pit we used every night. The kids loved it... So did the adults. We felt right at home and it was close to the Cherry Festival. Such a great trip. We will definitely come back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

tim p.

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

Amazing

We stayed for a long weekend for a softball tournament in traverse city. The house had everything that you could think of to make it feel like home. By far one of the most stocked properties that we have ever stayed. Check in was great and we would definitely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Les M.

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

An AWESOME place!

My family, which included me and my wife, our two adult sons and daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, had such a great time together and this home was the perfect place for all of us to hang out together for the long weekend! We cannot say enough good about our stay at this home on the Boardman River!! Heather and Allison were prompt, thorough, and friendly with all of their communications. This house had everything, with ample amenities, and then some! The location was perfect for day trips but we also had plenty to do and enjoy at the house and on the property! We will definitely stay there again the next time we plan a trip to Traverse City!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

christina s.

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

Making memories

Absolutely wonderful! Became a family getaway four times now, making memories. Great communication with manager! Fully stocked, very clean, great location!!! Can’t ask for better.!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Fabulous house!

Beautiful house just 20 minutes from Traverse City. Very clean, kitchen well stocked, everything labeled and clear directions. New patio and fire pit were a 10. Looking forward to coming back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ann T.

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

Adorable Cottage

We had an amazing stay at this adorable cottage. Being here allowed family from the West and East coasts to enjoy a little get away together without anyone having to “host”. The home was stocked with everything we needed, it was very clean & had a great patio with lots of fun games to enjoy too. Being on the river was so peaceful and relaxing. Thank you to Allison for being super helpful and kind throughout our time here. We will absolutely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

About the host

Hosted by Heather

Host profile image
I grew up in northern Indiana and have always loved the appeal of a home in a serene location that offered wooded area, waterfront capabilities, and the views of animals from my living room window.

Why they chose this property

I purchased this property when I made the decision to move to Traverse City to further my education. When I finished my degree and was ready to move back home, I decided that I couldn't quite part with this home because I fell in love with the area, my neighbors, and the property overall. Now, not only do my family and I get to continually enjoy what this property has to offer, but renters from all over the country get to fall in love with it too!

What makes this property unique

This property gives you a full-scale view of the free-flowing Boardman River, with a peaceful location on the end of an unpaved private road. There is plenty of wildlife to see from the living room window as well as in the backyard on the river.

Languages:

English

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