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Northern Michigan Lakeside Family Retreat - sleeps 12

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Photo gallery for Northern Michigan Lakeside Family Retreat - sleeps 12

Outdoor dining
Sun-loungers, beach towels
Exterior
Smart TV, fireplace, books, stereo
Interior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

6 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Alanson, MI
  • Pickerel Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Crooked Lake
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Odawa Casino
    ‪33 min drive‬
  • Pellston, MI (PLN-Pellston Regional)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Room options

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Northern Michigan Lakeside Family Retreat - sleeps 12

My Northern Michigan paradise, on the shore of Pickerel Lake. Quiet, relaxed vacation spot ideal for extended family or friends. Six bedrooms, including a secluded master bedroom with a queen and private bath on the first floor. Five cozy, cottage style rooms upstairs with two twins each in four rooms, one of which is a trundle bed, and a queen in the fifth room. The upstairs has dormered 6.5 ft ceilings. Open the windows at night to bring in the cool night air and let the waves lapping at the shore lull you to sleep.

There is a bathtub upstairs for bathing little ones, a second full bath on the first floor with shower in addition to the master bath with shower. Laundry room on the first floor.

The large great room has a glass wall facing the lake, a 65 inch smart HDTV, a large sectional and a fireplace for inviting family time.

There is a fully outfitted, open kitchen perfect for hanging out and cooking together with an adjacent sitting area because we know everybody likes to hang out in the kitchen.

The lakeside includes a fire pit just begging for marshmallows and some world class stargazing, or you can relax at the end of the dock on a pair of Adirondacks (my favorite spot for morning coffee) Enjoy one of the best fishing spots on the lake right off the end of the dock. We have mooring posts waiting to tie off your boat and 2 kayaks available. Lovely swimming with a sand/silt bottom and a gradual drop off.

30 minutes from Boyne Highlands and Nubs Nob Ski Areas, with unlimited opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Ideal for your next winter, as well as summer, get away.

Board games, books, badminton, bags, a frog pond, and high speed Internet available to round out your recreational options. The surrounding area includes some outstanding attractions, if you can pull your family away from the lake. Attractions include wineries/breweries, the Headlands International Dark Sky Park, charming resort shopping districts in Petoskey and Harbor Springs, too many to list fabulous restaurants and historic landmarks, including the incredible Inland Waterway (which can take you from my dock all the way to the Atlantic Ocean if you’re so inclined), The Inland Waterway Museum, Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw Island, Legs Inn and the Dam Site Inn just to mention a few. Also biking, hiking, zip lining, river rafting, and fall color tours - whew, you’ll definitely need to come more than once to enjoy it all, welcome!

To clarify: 7-night, Friday-Friday bookings from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 3-night minimum stay the rest of the year with flexibility concerning arrival and departure days. Maximum of 12 overnight guests, no RV’s or tents allowed. The neighborhood quiets down after sunset and respect for my lovely neighbors peace and privacy is required at all times.
During your stay at this holiday home, you're just a quick walk from Pickerel Lake. Free WiFi and a kitchen are available in the holiday home.
  • The holiday home offers a kitchen, a washing machine and a fireplace
  • Free WiFi
  • On-site recreation includes tennis courts
  • Steps from Pickerel Lake and 8 minutes by car from Crooked Vine Vineyard and Winery
Northern Michigan Lakeside Family Retreat - sleeps 12 offers its guests barbecue grills and a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property manager

Valerie McKenna

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 6 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Printer

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoke outside only

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Golf
  • Kayak
  • Snow sports gear
  • Tennis
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: Pack n' Play and highchair available

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

House
Vrbo Property
Lakeside Family Retreat Sleeps 12
Lakeside Family Retreat - sleeps 12 Alanson
Lakeside Family Retreat - sleeps 12 Private vacation home

Northern Michigan Lakeside Family Retreat - sleeps 12 Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 31 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 31 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 31 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Pickerel Lake
Great location. Comfortable accommodations.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun fun fun
This was a lovely property with a huge back yard to play in. The fire pit was really nice and so was the dock to the water. The kayaks were a plus and several of the people in our group enjoyed them. The house was nice and clean and the living room was great for our time family
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Pickerel Lake Beauty
Great place for 6 adults and 5 grandchildren. Big yard for kids to play. Beautiful landscaping.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Joelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice place
The house was in a great location and the owner was extremely accommodating. We were a little disappointed there wasn’t a beach though we may have just assumed there would be an easier water entry point. Really a nice little affordable place for a family vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eric S., Medina, Ohio USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Pleasant Pickerel Lake Vacation
Had a wonderful week's vacation Up North on Pickerel Lake at this very nice waterfront home. The home is large, very comfortable and well suited for a large group to enjoy all Northern Mi has to offer in the Summer. The exterior grounds and decking are expansive (and beautiful) so whether you want to grill out/have an outdoor meal, play yard games, lounge by the water, swim, kayak or do water sports - its all there to enjoy. The house is well appointed so you can literally just come with your clothes and not much else. The owner, Valerie, has done a great job in making sure everything you may need is available, has provided very good instructions on how to use the entertainment systems, where to find things, etc. and is very responsive to any questions that may arise. The lake is also a nice size and the homes are all on decent sized lots - so you are fairly secluded from others - not right on top of everyone else - so can do whatever floats your boat and not intrude on others. Its also very close to civilization - so grabbing groceries, going out to a restaurant, etc. is a quick hop away in the car. Although we did a fair bit of traveling around during the week - we did spend a couple of days just at the house - "Lake Days" as we call them - and had some of the best time we have ever had at any VRBO rental. Very sad when we finally had to leave after the week was up. I would definitely recommend staying here if you are in the area. You won't be disappointed.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great family vacation.
Nice house with a lot of room for our family to spread out. Beautiful landscape and decks.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chad S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great for families
The place was spacious and clean. Valerie is wonderful to work with, and has thought of everything.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Pickerel Lake 2023
Had a really great time. The cottage was very clean. The lawn and landscaping were beautiful.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erin E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Family Vacation
Everything was as described, great location and well stocked. Our host was very responsive and attentive.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dennis L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family vacation
Lots of room to spread out for our family group of 11. Nice living room to seat all of us in comfortable furniture. Beautiful property with ideal place to dock our boat. Only the weather could have been better! Nothing we could do about that!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Todd D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Setting-Perfect For a Group
Our group enjoyed the property immensely. The owners were very accommodating and helpful. Communication was quick and helpful. We would certainly stay at this property again!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chad S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Hoping to stay here again
We enjoyed the spaciousness of the cottage. Valerie was very thorough and responsive. It was everything we were hoping for.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alfred D.

Liked: Cleanliness
BEAUTIFUL!!!
This property delivers on all aspects.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

richard i.

Liked: Cleanliness
The perfect set-up for fun!
This lovely home offered everything our family of nine needed for a fun-filled vacation. It is nicely appointed and spacious. The large yard provided plenty of room for a multitude of outdoor activities during the day and the dining room table was our gathering spot every evening for family games. We enjoyed watching the lake from the deck. We have rented this home twice and are hoping to rent it again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sandra C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful week!
Our three generations family of nine all thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this lovely home on Pickerel Lake. The house felt very homey and was stocked very well with anything you might need. The owner was quick to respond to any questions and left a detailed manual in the home with information also. Property has a beautiful lawn that was perfect for game playing and there was nice patio furniture and two great Adirondack chairs at the end of a long dock to sit and admire the beautiful scenery. Seating was also plentiful inside for a large group. Lake has a nice sandy bottom from shore to right beyond end of dock. Grandchildren had a fun time enjoying the lake. It was a perfect lake vacation! Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Pickerel Lake
This is a great place to spend a week. Great cottage, yard, and beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathy O., Hastings, Michigan, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Best VRBO Ever!
Better than we expected even with the excellent on-line description. Lost a pair of glasses, looked everywhere, even under the beds, and between the sofa cushions. Not a speck of dust anywhere! The host really does have everything! We even found a magnifying glass when we wanted one. Staying here felt like staying at a friend's home. The personal touches made it so special. Add the beauty of the location, glorious weather, fall colors and good friends, and you have the recipe for a perfect vacation. We highly recommend this home and this host. Better than 5 stars!!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Monir Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful place
It's beautiful place to stay and relax with friends.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gwynne S., Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property on serene lake
Spacious living room with beautiful views of Pickerel Lake. Kitchen was well-equipped with anything we could have wished for to prepare meals. Plenty of beds to accommodate a large group. Enjoyed time out on the large deck and fishing right off of the end of the dock. The hostess Valerie is incredibly gracious and she went out of her way to ensure we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Great location close to Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Looking forward to staying here again next summer!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Janet C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Another relaxing week at the lake
This is our second time staying here. Did not disappoint. Peaceful, plenty of room, clean, comfortable, everything we needed; and easy drive to Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

nelson s., grand rapids, Michigan

Liked: Cleanliness
family time
The property fit all our needs and then some.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Up north at Pickerel
We had a great time. The cottage was clean and comfortable and the owner did everything necessary to make sure we had a very nice stay. Highly recommend this place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nathan W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Summer time in Northern Michigan!
The property was well kept, a fantastic northern Michigan cottage experience! There was plenty of room for our 9 guests to spread out. The house was well stocked and very comfortable. We spent most of our time outside in the fabulous backyard and on the lake. The owners were very accommodating and had great communication with us prior to the trip and during our stay. I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking to experience a true Northern Michigan summer vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carol B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic
Everyone had a great time. Plenty of space for all to relax and enjoy. Kitchen had everything we could need.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dan P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome experience!
We could not have been more pleased with our experience with this rental. The beautiful home was more than prepared to host myself and my family. We enjoyed a few days adventuring throughout the upper peninsula and coming back to this rental made our day even more special.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020