Cabin

Pet-Friendly, Betsie River Retreat - Sleeps 10 - Ski, Fish, and More!

Riverside cabin with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Pet-Friendly, Betsie River Retreat - Sleeps 10 - Ski, Fish, and More!

120' of gorgeous Betsie River frontage
Welcome to Life is Better North!
Ample seating with deck overlooking the river and roomy fire pit area.
Deck overlooking the river with charcoal grill and chiminea.
Firepit area with ample seating space

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10148.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Thompsonville, MI
  • Place, Crystal Mountain
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Mountain Ridge Golf Course
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Michigan Legacy Art Park
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪50 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

3 Single Bunk Beds

Bunk Room (2)

1 Single Bunk Bed

Porch

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Pet-Friendly, Betsie River Retreat - Sleeps 10 - Ski, Fish, and More!

This cozy cottage in a secluded, wooded setting has easy access to many of northwestern Michigan’s favorite attractions. Life is Better North offers a true “up north” getaway for groups of 6-12 people. Accommodations include:

• over 1600 square feet of comfortable, roomy living space
• master bedroom with king sized bed
• 2nd bedroom with full-sized bunk bed and 3rd full-size trundle bed
• NEW FOR 2022 - 3rd "bunk room" style bedroom with twin bunk beds
• porch area is furnished with a queen-sized futon couch, converting to a fourth, private, sleeping area for 2
• additional sleeping accommodations include a full-sized sleeper sofa in the living room, as well as twin-sized sleeper sofa in the sitting area.
• NEW FOR 2022 - 10x25 bonus room with XL sectional couch, smart TV, & games
• 2 full-sized baths
• fully furnished kitchen with refrigerator, stove, and microwave.
• wood burning fireplace
• satellite television
• high-speed internet
• DVD player
• washer and dryer
• ample parking (outdoor, hardwired outlets are available for additional RV parking for large groups. Please inquire with owner.)
• pets considered

There is a security camera located in the parking area. This camera is inactive while the property is occupied.

Winter activities:
Life is Better North is located just 4 1/2 miles from Crystal Mountain ski resort, offering 39 trails and 5 state-of-the-art lifts. Groomed snowmobile trail system access is less than a mile away. Snowmobile rentals are available just 4 miles away at Crystal Adventures. And with over an acre lot, there is plenty of room for sleds, trailers, and vehicle parking.

Iron Fish Distillery is located just over a mile up the road.

Local lakes and trail systems also offer snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, and more for the winter sports enthusiast.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Fun:
Enjoy world-class salmon and fly fishing with 120 ft of river frontage at one of the deepest bends of the river! Or relax and enjoy the serene beauty of the Betsie with a kayak or tube trip. In the fall, experience the gorgeous foliage and fabulous winery tours on Leelanau or Old Mission Peninsula, and the quaint shops and restaurants of nearby Traverse City. Incredible hiking and biking is available nearby with the Betsie Valley Trail, Betsie River Pathway, Manistee National Forest trailheads, and many more local trail systems.


Local attractions include:
Crystal Mountain ski and golf resort & spa – 4.5 miles
Iron Fish Distillery - 1.5 miles
Arcadia Bluffs golf resort – 18 miles
Lake Michigan beaches – 15 miles
Empire Beach (an awesome beach for families) - 22 miles
Beulah: brewery, groceries, and shopping - 15 miles
Frankfort: quaint town with great restaurants, shopping, beach - 22 miles
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park – 25 miles
Traverse City shopping, restaurants – 37 miles
Winery tours – 40 miles
Casino- 25 miles
Interlochen Fine Arts Center – 19 miles
Betsie Valley Trail system – 5 miles

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
Pre-approval required
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Pets

Pets allowed
Pre-approval required
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items and remove leftover food and drinks
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

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
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Pre-approval required
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Thompsonville

Located in Thompsonville, this cabin is on the waterfront. Crystal Mountain and Iron Fish Distillery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Michigan and Misty Acres Preserve. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Thompsonville, MI

What's nearby

  • Crystal Mountain - 5 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Mountain Ridge Golf Course - 5 min drive - 4.4 km
  • Michigan Legacy Art Park - 6 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Crystal Lake Golf Club - 22 min drive - 26.3 km
  • Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course - 28 min drive - 32.9 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rosie's Country Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Iron Fish Distillery - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Thistle Pub & Grill @ Crystal Mountain - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪A. Papano's Pizza - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The 231 Bar & Grill - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Pet-Friendly, Betsie River Retreat - Sleeps 10 - Ski, Fish, and More! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Pet-Friendly, Betsie River Retreat - Sleeps 10 - Ski, Fish, and More!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Pet-Friendly, Betsie River Retreat - Sleeps 10 - Ski, Fish, and More!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Pet-Friendly, Betsie River Retreat - Sleeps 10 - Ski, Fish, and More! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from Iron Fish Distillery and within 6 miles (10 km) of Crystal Mountain and Misty Acres Preserve. Michigan Legacy Art Park and Glovers Lake are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 159 out of 173 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 173 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 173 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 173 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 173 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Chris P.

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

great, chill place

Clean, chill, accomodating location for our family and furry friend. Right next to Iron Fish distiller, which was lots of fun!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle K.

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

Great Family Get-Away

This is our third stay at this property. It is always clean and well stocked for all our needs. The amount of sleeping options fit all the needs of our group. We look forward to staying here again in the future.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Greg W.

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

Up north is a way of life

Love everything about being up north this location is perfect for all of it!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shaun L.

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

Fish Camp 2024

Good time, good friends and great cabin to spend time at. Everything that you need is here!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roman N.

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

Family Fishing Trip

Great cabin to just get away from it all! Great access to the river, close to multiple quaint “up north “ towns. The weather didn’t cooperate but the cabin had everything to keep us all busy!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

JOEL H.

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

Nice rural setting

Nice rural and wooded setting. All amenities needed. Nice riverside stairs/platform to view river. Would return again if in the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

George Y.

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

Betsie River

The property itself was an exceptional indoor/outdoor experience. The children took advantage of the river. The house was a comfortable arrangement for all. Downside: noisy neighbors next door downstream, first a group of women, then several families playing loud ethnic music and setting off firecrackers. The acoustics in the woods is too good.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Justin B.

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

5 stars all around!

We have a group of 5 fishermen that have been staying and fishing by the Betsie River for the last decade. The past two trips we stayed at Jason and Melissa’s house. It is our new favorite place to stay. The property is located is a very peaceful location right on the river and very close to Iron Fish Distillery. The house has plenty of beds and room for a group twice our size. The house is very well maintained and impeccably clean with all the necessities included. The owners immediately responded to any questions that I had. The new dining room table was a great addition on this trip also. Highly recommended and I can’t say enough. Can’t wait to get back in the fall.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Ronald W., Barrington, Illinois

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in

Nice home, not quite what I hoped for

The home is clean and comfortable. Nice quiet location and wooded area. It’s a bit of a drive getting to most activities areas except for Crystal Mountain. Would be great for winter activities, a bit harder for summer activities…but the drives are somewhat scenic. River was not suitable for fishing unless you want to use waders and look for small trout. Might be ok during salmon run but not a lot of room to fly fish. Good home for 4-6 in a family. More would be a bit of a squeeze.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great cabin, with lots of stuff to make the stay like home.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Barbara W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very pet and family friendly. Beds were comfy very clean. Loved sitting around the fire ring making somores. Had a great long weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christine M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Large home for family to spread out in. Fire pit was fantastic.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

George Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very good. The house accommodates my family just right. I especially like my early morning coffees on the riverside deck, and the easy and shallow access to the water for the kids. Also, given my familiarity of the area already, we are able to plan multiple activities in NW Michigan and stay busy every day.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Trish M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful time with beautiful accommodations! 10 out of 10 for sure!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle K.

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

Family 4th of July Vaca

Great location to all we want to do.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Another amazing stay

This property is clean and well maintained. We have stayed here twice and loved it both times. Lots of room for our whole family. Plenty of towels and sheets to use. We love having access to the river also. It's peaceful and wonderful to sit on the edge of the river and enjoy the day.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

vincent d.

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

Fishing

Annual steel head fishing trip was a success. Thank you for the accommodations
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rodney M.

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

Beautiful property!

Winter was in full effect and the Betsie River was Spectacular! The property was wonderful and cozy!!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

T H.

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

Great north trip

Place was awesome, we'll be looking forward to coming back 😀
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karl J.

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

Fishing vacation

Had a great time. Clean cottage lots of salmon, caught a few, great location!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ted L.

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

Even better than advertised

Undersold and overdelivered. Beautiful North woods setting! Loved the clear, cold water of the fast moving, shallow river. Bald eagle swooped down to 20 feet for a closer look. Kids caught dozens of crayfish and played in the calmer spots. Humble exterior belies the spacious, clean and very well equipped interior. We had perfect weather but there are so many games to play and places to curl up with a book that it wouldn’t have mattered. Multiple TVs and entertainment options. Ample linens, towels, and supplies. Only need to bring food! Crystal Mountain very close and short, pretty drive to Lake Michigan and many hiking trails. Iron Fish Distillery is a must visit … it’s not even 5 min away. Perfect family cabin. Responsive hosts that made us feel welcome. We all just loved it!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dan P.

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

Second stay as great as the first

Great time as usual
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joshua B.

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

Off The Beaten Path

Overall great location, nice home, pleanty of room. I had no issues cooking food for over 100 people for a graduation party due to the well stocked kitchen. Only thing we missed was bandaids, shampoo, but close enough to make a quick purchase. The property is nice but neighbors who also appear to rent had a large frat party two of our nights.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anne G.

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

Winter ski trip

We had a great time overall! Clean accommodations and just an at home environment. I would love to come back in the warmer months to enjoy the river and the beautiful outdoor spaces!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ryan C.

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

Clean and Comfortable

Great find for our family ski trip to Crystal Mountain. House was clean, well stocked, and plenty of room for our party of 6.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

About the host

Hosted by Melissa Balavitch

Host profile image
Our family enjoys skiing, hiking, kayaking, tubing, boating and the relaxed atmosphere of northern Michigan. Our primary residence is in Spring Lake, MI and this is our winter retreat from school and work.

Why they chose this property

We purchased this property because of its proximity to Crystal Mountain Resort as well as the peaceful riverfront setting.

What makes this property unique

With this 1600 square feet ranch style home, it is easy to find a space of your own to relax. Whether it is the four season front porch, front deck overlooking the
Betsie River, or on one of the benches built into the stairs leading down to the river, you are sure to find your own private place.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests