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The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House

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Miscellaneous
Exterior
Exterior
Exterior
Fireplace

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Highlights

  • A quiet escape
    Guests like the location for the peace and quiet.
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Onsite parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Hessel, MI
  • Place, Les Cheneaux Islands
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Place, Sandy Cove
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Place, Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Airport, Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.)
    ‪38 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House

Welcome to The Westender Retreat—a charming cottage tucked away on the serene west end of the Les Cheneaux Islands, offering breathtaking views of Lake Huron. Unwind in the cozy main cottage with a crackling fire in the classic fieldstone fireplace, or head to the guest house for an additional private space to relax, sleep, or gather. Down by the water, you’ll find a screened-in dock house—the perfect hangout spot for meals, games, and late-night chats by the lake.

Bring your boat and explore all that the Les Cheneaux Islands have to offer from the water!

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 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

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Must be 25 years or older to rent.
No smoking in premises.
Quiet hours between 10PM-8AM.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 4518966vb
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Hessel

Located in Hessel, this cottage is on the beach. Fort Mackinac and British Landing are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Huron and Les Cheneaux Islands. The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House & Insect World and Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory are also worth visiting.
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Map
Hessel, MI

What's nearby

  • Les Cheneaux Islands - 18 min drive - 17.2 km
  • Sandy Cove - 19 min drive - 21.3 km
  • Castle Rock - 28 min drive - 50.7 km
  • Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace - 29 min drive - 50.3 km
  • Mackinac Bridge - 35 min drive - 64.4 km

Getting around

  • Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Les Cheneaux Distillers - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Snows Bar and Grill - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Tipper Room - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Ang-Gios - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Islander Bar - ‬18 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House?

As of 24 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House on 8 Sept 2026 start from AU$811, 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 The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House located?

This Hessel cottage is on the beach, 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Lake Huron, and within 12 mi (20 km) of Sandy Cove and Les Cheneaux Islands. Castle Rock and Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

8.0

Very good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 3 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 3 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 3 reviews

6.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

6.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Katherine S.

Our favorite spot!

The Westender has become our favorite vacation spot. Wonderfully relaxing atmosphere with access to most amenities you could need on vacation. The boathouse provides a nice hangout spot with a calm breeze. We’ll be back for sure!
Verified

4/10 Poor

Travis S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
We were not made aware of the cameras on the property and the one that overlooks the beach where we were all spending quality time was uncomfortable. Had this been clearly stated in the listing we would have passed on the rental. Also, the owner and his family used part of the property throughout our stay and it didn’t feel like the much needed private getaway we were going for.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jan 2026
Hello - We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear this was your experience. First and foremost, I just finished our annual meeting with the owners and have confirmed that the camera facing the beach was for offseason security and is not operational, however it has since been removed. The owners did have another property across the street which is likely how you ran into them, but that has been sold so this should not be an issue moving forward. Thank you again for the feedback, we hope to get the opportunity to host you again and provide a better experience.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Katherine S.

Another Great Year

We have been visiting the Westender for several years now. It’s always a wonderful vacation. Located in a quiet spot, but close to lots of fun things in Hessel and Cedarville, as well as within a reasonable drive for lots of other adventures. We are already looking forward to visiting again!

About the host

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