We bought this 3 bedroom, 2 bath house because it is perfect for our family and it was in the perfect location for a family get away. To us, this house is a refuge from our day to day lives. We arrive and are able to relax and take the days at the pace we wish. Our three boys keep us hopping most of the time, so we simply love arriving in South Haven, relaxing, and taking the days as they come. Most summer days I head out before anybody is out of bed and comb the beach for fossils. Once everyone is up, we generally spend the middle part of the day at the beach---set up umbrella and chairs, build sand castle and walls, swim, run, dive, throw balls in the surf, and look for more fossils! We often leave our gear on the beach and walk back for lunch at the house, then return to the beach for a bit longer. We often play wiffle ball and other sports, in the side yard, with kids in the surrounding homes. The park is one block away and our three boys (14,12,and 9) come and go from park to house (with permission) whenever they wish---safe and no busy streets to cross.
Our house, as mentioned, has 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms. With aging parents (we're not getting younger either), it was important to have one ground floor bedroom. So, our layout is one bed and one bathroom on the ground floor and 2 bedrooms and one bathroom upstairs. The upstairs also has a loft with a futon, for additional sleeping space. The home was built in 1890's by a Lake Michigan ships captain (see info in house to learn more about this unique captain!). We have radiator heat in the shoulder/winter seasons---as well as some mobile space heaters to target high use areas. In the summer, we put in window air conditioners, which are needed some days and other days are not. We have a dining room and fully equipped kitchen. The kitchen does have a dishwasher and microwave. There is a patio table and chairs off the back of the house and a gas grill for your use. We are in a family neighborhood. This is not a party house and should not be rented for purposes beyond family vacations. Also, this house is an original. If you want a cookie cutter new house, look elsewhere. Yes, updates have been made over the years, but it is still just a cottage built 125 years ago....give or take! If you require a new or renovated place, look elsewhere......our house is a fairly original and perfect for us or unpretentious guests. :) Rent is 2100 a week in the summer.......1400 per week any other time. 150 cleaning fee. This rental info is accurate....if the system spits out something else, ignore it and just contact me. Rentals are Saturday to Saturday in summer. More flexible off season. I do not use the 'instant' booking option, as I like to have some interaction with guests before signing off on a rental. So, send a request and provide enough info that I understand a bit about your family and intentions.
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This home is for family vacations. Respect the house, yourself, your neighbors, and the town.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 455894vb
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
About the area
South Haven
South Side, a neighbourhood in South Haven, is home to this cottage. Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum & Gardens and Michigan Maritime Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Southside Municipal Marina and Warner Vineyards. South Haven Center for the Arts and The Fun Park are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as ice skating and sledging.
South Haven Center for the Arts - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
Warner Vineyards - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
Michigan Maritime Museum - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
Getting around
Bangor Station - 18 min drive
Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 51 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 17 min walk
Cafe Julia - 15 min walk
Burger King - 14 min walk
Little Caesars Pizza - 3 min drive
Six Chicks - 14 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Family Friendly Lake Cottage pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Family Friendly Lake Cottage ?
As of 11 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Family Friendly Lake Cottage on 16 May 2026 start from AU$315, 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 Family Friendly Lake Cottage ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Family Friendly Lake Cottage ?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Family Friendly Lake Cottage ?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Family Friendly Lake Cottage located?
Located in South Side, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of South Beach and Lake Michigan. Southside Municipal Marina and Warner Vineyards are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We loved the house and location to the all the nearby beaches.
It was clean and very comfortable-we loved the screened in front porch too!! The host was very friendly and always available for any needs. Great location to get to fun and lovely beaches.
Diane M.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2020
Thanks for proving a review, Diane! Glad it was a good experience for your family! :)
Regards, Matt
It was in a great location. The house was very clean, well maintained and inviting. The property owners had excellent communication!
Emily B.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Oct 2023
Thanks for helping future visitors by reviewing the property, Emily! So glad you and your crew had a nice week in the house! See you next year!
Regards, Matt
Our family of five had a great stay in the pink house as my 4 year old called it. Amazing location to the beach and playground!! Matt was an excellent communicator and superior host. House had everything we needed and more! Highly recommend!
Ellen E.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2023
Thanks so much for the kind review, Ellen! So pleased it was a great week for your family!!
Regards, Matt
We had a great week at the pink house! The location is awesome. One block to kids corner and two blocks to the beach. The house was listed accurately. We loved the shopping and restaurants downtown and it is just blocks from the house. The sunsets at night were amazing!
Jacqueline H.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 June 2024
Jackie,
Thanks for taking the time to write a review! I, and future renters, appreciate it. :)
So glad you folks had a nice time in the house/town/area!!
Regards, Matt
Everything was perfect about this vacation home from the proximity to beach and town, to the amount of space! We spent every evening(after ice cream at the South Beach Cafe of course) talking on the front porch. We hope to make this an annual trip for our family!
Nolan M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 22 July 2022
Thanks, Nolan!!! Sure hope a family visit to South Haven does become an annual experience for your family!
Thanks for visiting our house and taking the time to submit a review.
Regards, Matt
This was our first vacation to Michigan. It was recommended by some friends of ours, and it did not disappoint. The house was perfectly described. It was an older home with a lot of charm. It was great. Great location to Kids Corner, the beach and downtown. We will definitely rent this house again
TJ S.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug 2020
TJ!!
Thanks for the kind review. We love when guests visit and immediately know they want to return to the house!!
Appreciate you helping out potential guests by writing a review!
Hope you and your family continue to be well.
Regards, Matt
Love the house, the location and the bikes! The house is close to the beach and a nice playground. Downtown is very family friendly with candy, ice cream and toy stores. The owner communicates well and provides plenty of soap, shampoo, paper towels & TP. This was our second stay & we can't wait to go back again!
Rob D.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2023
Thanks for the review, Rob!! I do hope you return. Always nice to have quality repeat visitors, like you folks!
Regards, Matt
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Jamie B.
22 May 2017
Birthday/girls weekend
The Bailey cottage is a wonderful well equipped, clean getaway for a long weekend! There were 8 adults & the cottage had more than adequate space, beds, bathrooms for all of us. Loved that it's close to the beach, downtown & trails for biking, running/walking. All the ladies kept commenting how comfy & homey the cottage felt, especially the front porch!
Jamie B.
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar 2020
Thanks for the kind review!! Glad you ladies enjoyed your time in South Haven!
Regards, Matt
This home was just as described, & it was wonderful!! We were with our 3 young sons (8, 6 & 4) and with this amazing location, it was easy for us to walk or ride bikes everywhere we went. The bikes, beach toys & other extras in the basement were an awesome addition. The screened in porch was a favorite spot of ours to sit & relax…the breeze coming through felt amazing. We would absolutely recommend this house!
Colleen L.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2023
Thanks, Colleen!! What a great age to bring the kids for a visit! I appreciate you submitting a review.
Regards, Matt
Easy access to South beach, downtown was a 15 minute walk and right on the Van Buren trail. Kids corner 1 block away and can see from house. Loved the screen porch for evening conversations.
Amy P.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2023
Thanks for visiting, Amy!! :)
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Carrie C.
7 Sept 2015
Wonderful cottage!
This cottage is quite simply fantastic. We've stayed at a number of different places in South Haven over the years, and this house was the best. Fully stocked with everything you could want. Clean, comfortable, and a front porch that makes you want to sit back, relax, and stay there forever. An added plus - the owners are great! Very responsive and easy to work with. We barely pulled out of the driveway at the end of our stay before we decided to book again for next year!
Carrie C.
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar 2020
Thanks, Carrie!!
You folks went above and beyond as renters---and we much appreciate it! Certainly look forward to you staying at our place again next summer. Nothing is better than knowing good families are in our house and enjoying it as much as we do.
Regards, Matt
This was our 3rd year with this property. Everything about it is awesome. Nice neighborhood, great location and nice house. We will continue coming back to the pink house! Matt is very easy to deal with and always willing to help with any questions.
TJ S.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug 2022
Thanks, TJ!! Appreciate you folks being such great guests. See you next summer! 😃
Regards, Matt
When we asked our grandchildren what they wanted to do this Summer, they said “ Go back to the pink house!!” So we made arrangements to book again! We had a fantastic time! The proximity to the playground and the beach is so perfect. Every morning we sat on the porch and sipped our coffee while the kiddos were still sleeping. It was so nice to see the people walking about and riding bikes in the quiet neighborhood. It’s just delightful!
Julie M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2023
Thanks for visiting again!! Always a pleasure to see your name pop up in my inbox!
Regards, Matt
As an annual visitor, we were so happy to see South Haven flourishing this summer with new construction and store fronts full, but our family will always prefer the history and charm of older homes like this one. We appreciated all the extras provided by the owners that feel missed in cookie cutters - like tupperware for beach snacks, twinkly lights for evening porch sitting, a clothes line for towels and such, and bikes of all sizes! This house was extremely well stocked, window units and fans kept it sufficiently cool, beds were comfortable, and the proximity to the park and beach made outings easy. There were so many beach items available that we didn't even unpack our own! We would recommend this house for families with children who also want to host grandparents or other guests in the downstairs bedroom (noting that the downstairs bath is overall quite small). We hope to return!
Emily R.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 24 July 2022
Thanks for the review, Emily!! Glad the house worked well for your family!
😃
Regards, Matt
I will preface this review by saying we were traveling with a 3-year-old and two 13-month-olds. We took a chance by visiting South Haven the first week in September and it did not work out in our favor. The weather was chilly and damp, so we were inside a lot - not much fun with 3 small children. The rental was in a great location, walking distance to kid's corner and the beach, and a short drive to downtown. The only downside to the rental was that it was not cleaned well, which again, is problematic with very small children who pick everything up off the floor and put in their mouths. I'm sure this is no fault of the property owner, but rather the cleaning company. Overall, though, very happy with this rental for our first trip to South Haven!
Alyssa M.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Sept 2020
Alyssa,
Thanks for the review. I knew someday we'd get a poor (non 5 star review). And---from our previous communication, I'd say the review is fair. Certainly sounds like the house should have been more clean than you found it.
I love rainy cool days in South Haven, but I get that is harder when you have little ones. They tend to be very active and don't love being stuck indoors.
Thanks again---I do appreciate the honest feedback!
Hope you and your family continue to be well.
Regards, Matt
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Carrie C.
1 Sept 2017
Our favorite part of summer!
If I could give this cottage 10 stars, I would!
This year was our fourth consecutive year of renting this wonderful cottage and words can't really express how much we love the place. It has become our family's happy place. The location is perfect, just a block off Kid's Corner, two blocks from the beach, and an easy walk into town. The house really feels like a home away from home; fully stocked kitchen, comfortable bedrooms - you can tell that owners love the place and take great care of it. The few minor things that have come up while we've stayed at the house over the years are always addressed quickly - the cleaning staff has even brought us a bushel of fresh-picked peaches during our stay! Probably our absolute favorite part of the house is the front porch. We spend every night of our week in South Haven relaxing on the porch, drinking great local brews (there's now a brewery in town!), listening to music, and catching up with old friends. Thank you, Matt & Denise, for opening up your home to us - it truly is our favorite part of summer! Can't wait to be back next year!
Carrie C.
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar 2020
Thanks so much for the review! Really appreciate that you value our home and enjoy returning year after year! See you next season! :)
Regards, Matt
We had a great week in SoHa! The house is in perfect proximity to the beach - two blocks and less than 5 mins away. It’s an older house (1800s) so don’t expect perfection but you will find plenty of charm and character. Kitchen is well stocked and lots of added necessities are included such as paper towels, fresh scouring pads, dishwasher and laundry detergent, soap etc (it might surprise you that a previous rental left the bare minimum TP!). The owners truly want you to enjoy your home away from home and a quick visit to Aldi’s nearby in one trip meant we didn’t have to go back a second time.
Beds were comfy and there were plenty of towels for the week. Access to bicycles (there’s a great trail right by the house!) and buckets and spades for the beach really were a great and welcome touch - along with games for the kids (uno in particular lost me some money!).
The porch is such a treat! We all enjoyed sitting out there with our morning coffee or late in the evening. It’s nice to see fellow vacationers pass by on the way to the beach and everyone is very friendly.
The area is very clean and well maintained - quiet in the evenings which is a must when you have kids.
Finally, we had some questions for the owners and both Matt and Denise were very quick to respond, even with a time difference, and issues were resolved quickly (we had a ‘user malfunction’ with the stove).
All in all, a great trip and we look forward to going back!
Loraine D.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2021
Thanks for the kind review…. and for sharing insight that will prove useful to future guests!
You and your family were fabulous guests! Much appreciate the communication we exchanged and your approach in general! Keep traveling!!
Regards, Matt
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Allison L.
2 Aug 2017
Amazing house and location for family trip!
We had an amazing week staying in the Bailey lake house in July 2017. The owner emailed with us to answer all our questions and give us recommendations for our family's needs. The instructions were clear and we knew exactly what to expect and what was expected of us.
The adult bikes that were in the basement were in great condition for my husband and myself. We brought our kids' bikes with us and I'm so glad we did! This house is directly on the bike path! We enjoyed a family bike ride every day. The park a block away is an amazing adventure for kids. Our boys are 6, 5 and 1. They all loved the park and never got bored.
The short 2 block walk to the beach was no problem for any of us. We parked our stroller and walked down to the beach every day with no issues. The beach is clean and not overly crowded even on the weekends. We brought beach toys from home, but we really didn't need to because there were a lot of shovels, buckets, boogie boards, etc in the basement.
We also enjoyed riding our bikes to the beach at Van Buren state park, the beach there was fun because it had a ton of rocks that my boys enjoyed playing with for a change from the beautiful, soft sand at south haven's beach.
The house was clean and updated. We found everything we needed in the kitchen to prepare our breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Our (the adults) favorite spot was the screened in front porch in the mornings and evenings. The kids favorite part of the house were the bunk beds! So fun for them.
During a couple rainy points we stayed in the house and the boys found books and toys to entertain themselves with as well as movies on netflix.
We felt right at home away from home.
Allison L.
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar 2020
So glad your family had a good week, Allison!! Pleased to hear you utilized the bike trail as much as you did. I love the ride to Van Buren State Park so it is always nice to hear that others also enjoy it.
Thanks for the kind review and sharing your thoughts with other potential renters.
Regards, Matt
This 3 bed 2 bath home is in a great location for beach access. Especially good for families with young children (elem to middle school) as the walk to the beach is short and the walk to the park is even shorter! An older home but with all that a family needs for a nice stay in South Haven.
The Bailey’s family cottage was just what our family was looking for! 1 block to Kids Corner park, 2 blocks to the lake. Our littles had a blast using the beach toys provided and the bunk beds were a hit.
We will be back!
Being within walking distance of the beach was wonderful! Working with Matt was great, he was so helpful and communicative. We knew the home was older and they have done a good job keeping it up. It looked a bit more updated in photos than it was in person. But overall our stay was good, we enjoyed our time at the beach and the location you get for the price is excellent!
Crystal E.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug 2021
Pleased the vacation week was so good!! :)
About the host
Hosted by Matt Bailey
We have three boys. We love to travel.
Shoot me an email if interested....or if you have questions! Read the description! Regards, Matt
Why they chose this property
Location! We had rented in South Haven for years and when we decided to buy, we knew the area that we wanted. If you are like us, most of your memories will be about the beach/park and hopefully just spending time together away from the chaos of normal schedules. That is why we chose this house. Very close to the beach that we like and even closer to the best playground in town. Our house in South Haven put us in an ideal location to do the activities that we enjoy doing!
What makes this property unique
Our mix of location and a price point below the market average are what makes this listing unique. The house, town, beach and park are all what you make of it. We are owners that do really value being able to allow other families to enjoy our home. The house is special to us and we hope it'll become an important memory maker for your family.