Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town

Photo gallery for Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town

A room with white wicker furniture, a small table, and hanging plants.
A marina at sunset with boats docked and a wooden pier.
Two people toasting with wine glasses, a picnic table, and a scenic view of a field and sky.
A two-story house with a front porch, a driveway, and a white picket fence.
A living room with a light grey sectional sofa, a wooden coffee table, and a teal accent wall.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • At the centre of it all
    Stay in a top rated central location, steps from the best attractions, dining, and entertainment.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Lake Michigan

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Arcade/game room
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet

Explore the area

View map
Elk Rapids, MI
  • Place, North Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Grand Traverse Bay
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Elk Lake
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪23 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Game Room (See Description)

1 Double Futon

Master Bedroom-1st floor

1 Queen Bed

The Butterfly Room

2 Single Beds

The Pink Room

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

The Seashell Room

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Living area
Huge corner lot, home is a 2-minute walk to beach, playground, and park
Elk Rapids
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (86 reviews)
Huge corner lot, home is a 2-minute walk to beach, playground, and park

About the area

Elk Rapids

Elk Rapids is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Torch Lake. Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum and Music House Museum are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging and snowmobiling.
View more Holiday homes in Elk RapidsOpens in a new window
Map
Elk Rapids, MI

What's nearby

  • Veterans Memorial Park - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Elk Rapids District Library - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • North Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Grand Traverse Bay - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Elk Lake - 18 min walk - 1.5 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Oasis Tavern - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Johnny's Torch Riviera - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Dam Shop - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Riverwalk Grill and Taproom - ‬11 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town located?

Situated in Elk Rapids, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Rotary Park and Lake Michigan. Veterans Memorial Park and Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor are also within 10 minutes.

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. 56 out of 64 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 64 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 64 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 64 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 64 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Easily, the best rental property and experience I’ve had. Highly recommended this house/location
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a cute cottage, perfect to host a chill bachelorette party. Walking distance from downtown and the beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and comfortable beds. Had trouble with setting the thermostat, upstairs was hot. No bathroom upstairs. Two full bathrooms downstairs the tub was old, afraid to use it due to visible cracks in it. Plumbing worked nicely. Liked the modenized kitchen and laundry room.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic location and a comfortable, well-equipped house where we could spread out and relax.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great spot

Great location just a couple blocks from downtown. House was spacious and accommodated 4 adults and 4 kids comfortably.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great location!

We loved the proximity to the downtown district! Property manager was great!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family lodging for a destination wedding

Loved the place and location. The owners were a pleasure to deal with.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Stay

Very short but wonderful stay! The house is beautiful and spacious, very clean, and comfortable. Will definitely return!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family memories

We love staying in this cute town. The cottage is friendly and inviting.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Place

My husband and I had a fantastic week at your beautiful home. Thank you so much for a flawless stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house was perfect for a family vacation up north. The location was so close to walking in Elk Rapids, tennis, and the beach. The kitchen was very well stocked with what we needed for two very large family dinners. Thanks!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Vacation Home

We had a blast in Elk Rapids. Walking distance to everything. House was great and had everything we needed for a wonderful week.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 24 July 2020
Thank you Korrie for your kind review. We are so happy that you and your family were able to enjoy a much needed vacation. Sounds like you made some wonderful memories, too! We hope to see you back in Elk Rapids in the near future. Have a wonderful summer!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Ladies Wine Weekend

There were 7 of us that stayed here for a weekend touring the wineries. The town was adorable and close to the peninsula. It was a perfect place to unwind and enjoy our time away.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful winter weekend

Great gathering place to enjoy all that Elk Rapids has to offer - dining & skating at the Dam Shop, doughnuts from the Flower Pot - all within a nice winter walk. The house was cozy, but plenty of room for everyone to be together for meals.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Elk rapids charmer!

We had a lovely stay. Very nice home with a great location. Home owners were responsive.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar 2020
Thank you, Kris!! We are so happy you enjoyed your stay. We hope you will come back and visit Elk Rapids again in the near future. Best, Val & Paul
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Sunshine

We just returned home from this vacation and loved it. The house is beautiful and clean with so much space. The living room is very comfortable, which is hard to find in some rental cottages. We loved the location of this as well - you can quickly walk or bike to town or beach. Would happily rent here again!!
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for your review! We are so happy you had a great vacation in our home. We really have tried very hard to make our home a great vacation spot. We would welcome you back anytime!
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Cute house in Elk Rapids

This house is centrally located to all the fun things in northern Michigan. Elk Rapids is a darling town and you can walk to the beach, shops, restaurants It’s a renovated old farmhouse, which we’re good with. The pictures are spot on.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jan 2021
Thank you for the review Debra. We certainly hope you enjoyed your stay. We strive to make sure our renters are comfortable and satisfied with their experience. I noticed you ranked us 4 out 5 stars and would appreciate further feedback of how we could’ve improved? We are a premier host and usually receive 5/5 stars. When we get under 5 it goes against our premiere status and could jeopardize that ranking. We would appreciate the opportunity to correct whatever it is that caused the rating. Thank you again for visiting Elk Rapids.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Vacation!

We had the best time at this home! There were two families, with 5 kids total, all under age 8. The layout worked well, everyone had their own space. The location was the best part- about a 5 min walk from town and the beach. We had a great time hanging out outside by the fire pit at night. Overall, great house and experience!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 23 June 2021
Thank you, Nicole! We are so happy that everyone had a great time. Please visit us in the near future. Have a great summer! Val
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Charming up north home!!!

This home had everything we needed for our week stay and then some. We had plenty of space and the kitchen was very nice for making our morning meals in. The bedrooms had comfortable beds and lots of room. The fire pit in the background was a bonus too. The house was only 3-4 blocks from the beach and from downtown stores and restaurants. We definitely would come back and stay again!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar 2020
Thank you for the wonderful review!! We are so happy our home met your family's needs and that you made wonderful memories. Please come back and visit us again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Third Time and Still Charming!

This house is the perfect size for us and the perfect location! Three or four families rent houses in ER annually and this is still my favorite. It is spacious, nicely furnished and comfortable. I live the kitchen open to a large table where we all gather for meals, cards or a puzzle. We feel relaxed when we hit the front door!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug 2023
Thank you Lindsay! Always a pleasure hosting you and your family! We hope you continue to make memories each year in Elk Rapids. 😊
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely, note the bathrooms are downstairs

This house in elk Rapids was lovely. It was clean and pretty and had lots of space. It would be particularly lovely in the summer with the back deck & the front enclosed porch. It would be easier for guests if there was a full stairway banister, since most of the bedrooms are upstairs and both bathrooms are downstairs.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved staying in Elk Ridge! The location was great for day trips to Traverse City, Mackinac, Charlevoix, Torch Lake... And the downtown shopping/dining area in Elk Ridge was our favorite. A short walk to the beach, and so much beautiful landscaping. The next door lot was a little sketch, but we never saw anyone there or had any issues. Also right across from the police station which was reassuring :) The house is historic, so a little less posh than we are used to. We had everything we needed and were very comfortable, but having no bathrooms upstairs was a bit of a hassle for us older ladies. The front porch/sunroom was our favorite spot to hang out. We had a fantastic trip -- thanks for hosting us!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Handrail

A handrail at the front door would have been helpful. One of the guests fell on the steps.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Bank President and Media Consultant

Dear Val and Paul, Your cottage reminded us of our stay in Maine. It is so beautifully decorated and so serene at your home. We enjoyed the surroundings and downtown Elk Rapids. We loved walking along the beach viewing the crystal clear Lake Michigan. The shops are so quaint and the people in town are so down to earth and nice. The wine shop had some great wines I never heard of. You are so close to the lake and there is so much to do. We were centrally located, so we rented a boat and went pontoon boating, wine tasting, We took the kids to several places. We loved your place and hope to come back annually. I could live up here all summer long. Thank you so much for opening your beautiful second home to us. Regards, The Cuttles
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar 2020
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're glad that our home met your needs; the city of Elk Rapids is really a magical place with so many things to do or just going to beach for a peaceful read of a favorite book. Thanks again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

It felt like it was our home!

This cottage could not have been much better! The location in the town of Elk Rapids is perfect- walking distance to everything. The house is comfortable and roomy. We spent a lot of time with family from other cottages and often found ourselves around the large dining table with chairs pulled in from around the room. The large laundry room gave us a spot to drop beach gear without tracking sand through the house. The amenities are just right. Nice enough dishes, glasses, etc. without feeling nervous about using them! The deck was a nice spot for morning coffee. We were sorry there wasn't time to use the backyard fire pit, or to organize a tetherball tournament!! AC was a nice treat during this hot week! Family members have rented this cottage before and we were lucky enough to snap it up first! We are definitely coming back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar 2020
Thank you for the wonderful review!! We are so happy our home met your family's needs and that you made wonderful memories. We look forward to having you again next year!
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