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Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub

Waterfront cottage with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub

Over 100’ of sandy shoreline with a gentle slope into the water. Great for kids.
The lake-facing deck is enchanting in the evening.
Terrace/patio
Cozy white pine interior. Entertainment center equipped with streaming options.
Comfy couches for movie nights and rainy days.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6139.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Traverse City, MI
  • Place, Forest Lakes
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Traverse City Beach
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Front Street
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bunk Room

1 Single Bunk Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub

Welcome to Island Lake! Our cozy cabin is nestled on a quiet, wooded lot with over 100 ft of private, sandy lakefront. The property is newly renovated, and it features a Scandinavian styled interior, spacious lakeside deck with inset hot tub, and cozy design elements throughout. Enjoy hiking trails right out the backdoor, paddle the lake in our two included kayaks, or take a 15-minute drive to explore nearby Traverse City – all from an idyllic, nature-oriented location.

Inside the cottage, you will find a smart tv, logged into most major streaming services (netflix, hulu, hbo max, disney+), an air conditioning and heating unit with remote control if the temps get too hot or cold, a fully stocked kitchen will everything you need to make a home-cooked meal and washer & dryer.

Outside, you will find an outdoor dining table, Adirondack chairs and an outdoor couch along with a flat top grill for all your outdoor cooking needs. Enjoy a campfire in the fire pit near the lake, take the kayaks or canoe out to explore or play in the sandy bottom lakefront. At night enjoy a warm soak in the hot tub.

Traverse City has something for everyone. The area is filled with breweries, distilleries and wineries, has a wide variety of restaurants, offers cute, downtown shopping and you can find almost any outdoor activity you can think of (mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, atv trails, bike trails, swimming, paddle boarding, boating, etc).

We love this place with all our hearts and we’re certain you’ll love it too!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 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
Quiet Hours – Out of respect for neighbors we require our guests to observe "quiet" behavior after 10:00 pm. Outdoor activity is fine at a low volume.

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this cottage is on the waterfront. World's Largest Cherry Pie Pan and City Opera House are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Mt. Holiday Ski Area and Centre Ice Arena. Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and Music House Museum are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and sledging.
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Map
Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

  • Forest Lakes - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 14 min drive - 15.6 km
  • Front Street - 19 min drive - 19.9 km
  • Great Wolf Lodge Water Park - 23 min drive - 23.6 km
  • Torch Lake - 30 min drive - 39.6 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Burger King - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Peegeo's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Bayview Inn Bar & Grill - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Season's Buffet - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Smoke And Porter - ‬19 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub?

As of 22 Dec 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub on 31 Dec 2025 start from AU$1,127.73, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Picture-Perfect Lakeside Cottage with Hot Tub located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is steps from Forest Lakes and within 3 mi (5 km) of Twin Lakes and Rennie Lake. Twin Lake and Spider Lake are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 14 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Katie T.

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

Second time staying at this property

I can’t recommend this property enough. This is our second summer visiting and our boys are just in heaven there. Perfect spot for families with younger kids. The sandy beach and shallow clear water plus amazing fishing prove ample entertainment and it’s on a great location when visiting other spots like traverse city or sleeping bear.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My wife and I had a very peaceful week at your home! The lake is beautiful and the home is set up with everything you would need to cook, relax, and in nature with the heavily wooded area. We spend our evenings at the fire pit and on the deck. Travel to Traverse City is 20 mins for great food and drink! Highly recommend!!!!Bob
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Whitney E.

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

Stay at lake

Our family had a great time. Property is beautiful and peaceful and kids loved the lake. Short drive to Traverse city
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jacqueline H.

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

Beautiful and clean

Our favorite VRBO to date! The house was clean, cozy and had everything we needed. We woke up to beautiful sunrises each morning and had magical nights on the back deck. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shawn T.

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

Fantastic!

The house is breathtaking!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Corey M.

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

Getaway Trip

The home was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed. Beautiful view of the lake from the deck. Very relaxing and quite.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela R.

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

Summer time- lake vacation stay

Super clean and very nice. Loved the lake and all the amenities. The canoe was fun and we loved fishing off the deck. Great little beach area. We had alot of fun.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Courtney W.

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

Perfect lake house getaway

My friends and I had a wonderful time at this property it has everything you need for a perfect lake weekend. It was easy to go into town but not too close so we could really enjoy just being in the woods. The house was stocked with everything we needed it was so cute! We hope to make a trip back and would definitely recommend this stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matt W.

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

Perfect Getaway

Took the family to this beautiful home on a small and very peaceful lake. Private beach, dock, kayaks, canoe - the kids and mom and dad had a wonderful time. We will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kerrie M.

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

Girls Weekend

Beautiful view on the lake. Newly updated home. Perfect weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ashley S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had the best stay! If you’re looking for a peaceful, beautiful, and quiet up north stay, you will not be disappointed. Our group fell in love with this cottage. It was clean, had everything you need (including an incredible espresso machine that added that extra touch), and the hosts were helpful and responsive. The only minor complaint we had was that the Queen bedrooms faced the sunrise, so in order to sleep in you need a good sleep mask! The sunrises were beautiful, though. We’d definitely come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrea K.

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

Family time

We really enjoyed our stay! Beautiful property and lake which we enjoyed in the kayaks. Our grandson loved the beach and slept great in the front bedroom since it was so dark in there! Kitchen and grill were fantastic! The only thing I would improve is the main bathroom. You have a winner in this property!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Saundra v.

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

Couldn’t be happier!

Where to start! First, this house was even better than the pics. So many updates that the pics don’t even give justice to. The property is absolutely gorgeous. The amenities available were so convenient. Everything was so high end. You can tell the owners put a lot of love into this home. And waking up to that view was priceless. We loved this place so much, we’ve made plans to come back next year and so many years after that! Thank you so much!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Lisa M.

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

Girls weekend

It’s a great cottage, love the updates. There were a couple issues, I am not sure the cleaning crew did a very good job, felt like we may have been the first guests of the season-there were a lot of spiders hanging around, which we had to kill. Yuck I hate spiders, we all did! We did enjoy our weekend regardless of these couple of issues. I would stay again, but maybe they should treat for spiders. They can stay outside, just not inside.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

don o.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Great Location

Location is fantastic, the lake is private and beautiful. The kayaks and canoe on site were a lot of fun. Needed improvements.. the two main bedrooms do not have any closet space. Screen door on the main slider was completely ripped so bugs can get in, we had to keep the slider closed which was not ideal. The grill only had enough propane for one dinner, both tanks empty. Deck was badly stained (black tar looking stuff). You can find wood a short distance down the road. Better VRBO opportunities out there for this area.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eric S.

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

You'll Never Want to Leave!

Property was even better than the pictures suggest. The interior finishes were stunning and the large porch created ample indoor/outdoor living opportunities. Setting this property apart from others are the small details that are perhaps not prominently featured in the listing itself. We used the coffee machine to enjoy morning cappuccinos, lattes, and Americanos, the record player to listen to albums while we relaxed, and the dock-mounted basketball hoop to occupy our two sons - who would, occasionally, finagle one of us into playing a game of PIG - which we would inevitably lose. This is the perfect property for those seeking a truly relaxing vacation. You'll while away your days, splashing around in the warm, shallows of the lakeshore, sunning on the beach, dining on the patio, and assembling s'mores around the fire ring. Definitely recommend this property!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Teresa Johnson

Host profile image
Hello! We are a family who loves to travel and spend time together. Our properties are a reflection of the things we care about: friendship, community, nature, and quality time. We are a multi-racial family who value diversity, and we love hosting guests from all walks of life.

Why they chose this property

Having a cottage of our own has always been a dream for us. Over the years, we have realized that as much as we prioritize spending time together, quality family time can be difficult to create in the midst of daily commitments to work, school, sports, and social activities. For years, we rented cottages as a "life hack" that forced us to slow down and be more present. We loved the way a cottage inspired deeper connection between us and our kids. We wanted to invest in our own property... which in turn would allow us to invest in our family.

Our Island Lake cottage is this dream come to life. When we purchased the property, it was a bit of an aesthetic mess, but over the years we've worked to transform it into a cozy haven – intentionally designed to facilitate family fun, friendship and community.

For us, every visit is a joy. We hope it is for you as well.

What makes this property unique

This cottage is unique in that it has recently been renovated from top-to bottom. The brand-new back deck runs the entire length of the cottage and offers the most gorgeous views of the lake by day, and the coziest, string-light illuminated hangout spot at night. We live a few hours away and our family enjoys the cottage as often as possible. As a result, it's not just another short-term rental – it's a one-of-a-kind getaway designed to be the perfect cozy escape. It's our favorite place on earth... and we think it will be yours as well.

Languages:

English
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