Entire home·Private host

Serene Wooded Retreat 🍁Close to Town: Walk to Beach

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December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Serene Wooded Retreat 🍁Close to Town: Walk to Beach

Beach nearby
Smart TV, fireplace, video games, DVD player
Beach nearby
A heated pool
Interior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12246 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Pool
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Map
South Haven, MI
  • Porter Legacy Dunes
    1 min walk
  • Pilgrim Haven Natural Area
    7 min walk
  • North Point Conservation Area
    14 min walk
  • Benton Harbor, MI (BEH-Southwest Michigan Regional)
    26 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

About this property

Entire place

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

Serene Wooded Retreat 🍁Close to Town: Walk to Beach

Serene, poolside getaway; 1/2 mile walk to beach, 5 minute drive to all South Haven offers. This posh home has views for days out the floor to ceiling windows and is the ideal spot to enjoy time together in a beautiful environment! The primary suite WOW👀 but the rest of the home is no less impressive.

This isn't just a place to rest; if the pool, walks to the beach and roasting marshmallows isn't enough - Break out a board game or a book, there are cozy nooks for a bit of quiet and gathering spots for the whole gang - whatever the mood. Into biking? Hit the Kal-Haven trail. Off-season, enjoy the electric fireplace inside, bring the sleds, or just snuggle in for a cozy, peaceful getaway. Whatever the days adventure, circle back to this Hidden gem for a campfire or soak in the spa tub to end the day.

This property has a fenced in, in-ground heated pool (heated to 80 degrees) open Memorial day to ~Sept 11

ACCESSIBILITY
This home offers access without stairs with the exception of a 6 inch threshold into the home. The main section of the home - including (3) of the 4 bedrooms, (1) full bathroom, kitchen, and great room are on the entrance level. There are (2) stairs to get to the laundry area and second full bath, and another 4 stairs to the primary suite.

GREAT ROOM
The living/dining room affords views of the woods in every direction, with floor-to-ceiling windows. This graciously sized room houses plenty of seating for watching a show after a long day of fun in the area. An extra-large dining table supports meals and games, with a bar-height bistro table for a second option. The galley kitchen, situated right off the dining area, is efficiently designed and has all new appliances.

BEDROOMS (4 total plus bunks in hallway)
Split floor plan with
- Primary suite (bedroom 1) on its own on the south side of the home (w ensuite spa bath) - king bed, sitting area, deck, coffee/wine bar w sink and wine fridge
- Three additional bedrooms on the north side of the home with second full bath
Bedroom 2 (King), Bedroom 3 (Queen), and the final bedroom offers (2) full
beds
- Overflow to the (2) bunks in the hall (2 narrow twin)

A stunning, 700+ sqft primary suite on the south side of the home may convince you never to leave. A king-sized bed, power reclining couch, 65-inch television, bistro table, and coffee bar with its own sink and mini-fridge are all within this lovely space - it's own wing away from the rest of the home. A small desk tucked away offers a quiet spot to work on that novel or take a work call.

Step right out on to your private deck overlooking the pool and lounge area, or sneak out for a midnight swim while the rest of the house slumbers! This light-filled space was once an artists loft and is quite a treat, right down to the new spa bath with a soaking tub, tile shower, and two vanities. This suite allows early risers or night owls to enjoy their own mini-vacation on vacation, although if the mood strikes invite other in to enjoy the sitting area as a nice option for a gathering spot!

BATHROOMS (3 total)
- Ensuite spa bath in the primary suite w tub and separate shower
- Full bath in the north end bedroom "wing" (shower only)
- Full bath by the "pool" exit door (shower only)
- Outdoor shower available (de-sand before hopping in the pool or going in the house)

OUTDOORS
Tucked into the woods, this property offers patios off of all the bedrooms.

A 40x20 in-ground pool is fenced in, heated to 80(ish) degrees and open Memorial Day weekend through Sept 15, depending on weather.

A covered outdoor lounge area near the pool includes a bar and seating with a nearby dining table and grill. The wooded area at the back of the home offers a different vibe with a wood-burning firepit - guitar and marshmallows optional.

OTHER AMENITIES
The kitchen is stocked and includes a crockpot, toaster, hand mixer, and blender. A frozen drink blender is also on site, for fancy concoctions made up by the kids - or easy icy drinks whipped up for the adults, salt-rim optional. Carafe and single brew options are both available for coffee drinkers, we also have an electric tea kettle and plenty of wine glasses. We keep kid-friendly dishes on hand as well!

We can refer you to a Private Chef to help make your stay even more special!

Guests will enjoy a number of board games, books, a full-size Pac-Man arcade game, three televisions - one in the living area and one in the bedroom with (2) full beds and the third in the owner's suite. In addition to Direct TV and streaming options, each television has a DVD player and a library of DVDs is available. An Xbox - Kinect with a few games is hooked up in the back bedroom.

SATELLITE INTERNET is available and is usually sufficient for a Zoom meeting if you can't leave work behind - but not multiple at once. Cell service is variable - wifi-calling is a good alternative. A cell booster was recently added to provide more reliable service as well.
A slower pace is to be found at this oasis - and satellite internet keeps you connected, but perhaps not glued - this is not city internet; if your group is used to streaming videos and living on internet, please know this is not going to be your experience at Hidden Haven. Its enough to check in and stay connected, and I do run zoom meetings for work (with a slight lag) from here. We have added a cell signal booster as well. If fast internet for a crowd is a must, this is not going to be the spot for you! We have direct tv, although there is a streaming option our experience with streaming has been variable.

LOCATION
Hidden Haven is less than a mile to Van Buren State Park and 1/4 mile to Pilgrim Haven Nature Area and the beach (which is pretty rocky at Pilgrims Haven, water shoes are recommended). The back of the property butts up to Porter Legacy Dunes, which is planned to connect up with walking trails to Pilgrim Haven Nature Area and is a public nature preserve. The walking trails off Ruggles Road not yet to Van Buren State Park offer great hiking and amazing views as well.
We are about 3.5 miles to downtown South Haven.

WHAT TO BRING
The property has plenty of parking for your trailer(s), and bringing bikes is a great idea given the proximity to the beach and Kal-Haven trail. Bring your personal effects, food, and drinks, and rest easy knowing when you arrive you can put down your bags and immediately begin to enjoy.

WHAT TO DO
Making memories with family and/or friends is what we are about! Our own boys adore it here, and after a day exploring the area - or just staying in, we love hanging out, walking down to the beach, and catching the sunsets. For us, its all about slowing down and savoring! I like to grab some miles on my bike whenever I can, this is a great place for it! As an early riser, I love the seclusion of the primary suite. Other favorites include meandering the shops locally, or head up (or down) the coast for all West Michigan has to offer.

We are happy to recommend itineraries and have several resources available in our guest book.

We want and encourage this to be a place for making memories, but not the kind that involves all out partying, loud music disruptive to the neighbors, incivility, or disregard for the property and its amenities. This is a bags-throwing, Uno-playing, movie-watching kinda vibe for responsible adults and their loved ones.

We do have (2) active exterior security cameras doors to help ensure the property is empty when it's supposed to be - and only those authorized to be are on site.

As dog owners, we appreciate that you want yours on vacation and we are happy to consider it. Please do not bring your pet if they are or could be destructive to the home, are not housebroken, or would be miserable being kept out of the pool since we can't allow dogs in the pool. Dogs must be under your control/on a leash at all times when outdoors, and must be disclosed at the time of booking. You are expected to clean up after your dog and dispose of waste appropriately.

Pool service and lawn service is not always able to be scheduled around your stay. We realize these may be disruptive, but unfortunately the venders who work with us have busy schedules too. We'll try to be quick and efficient so as to minimize interruption to your day!

We no longer require damage protection through the app; we now purchase it outside of VRBO - your purchase (which shows up as a $47 admin fee) provides $10K of damage protection. So no worries if something breaks or gets damaged - you are covered up to the $10K amount.
During your stay at this holiday home, you're just a quick walk from Porter Legacy Dunes. The holiday home offers free WiFi and a private pool.
  • Air-conditioned home with private pool, kitchen and washing machine
  • Free Wi-Fi (speed: 25+ Mbps)
  • Steps from Porter Legacy Dunes and 12 minutes on foot from Lake Michigan
Serene Wooded Retreat 🍁Close to Town: Walk to Beach offers its guests barbecue grills and a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property manager

Kate Stoermer

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Heated pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video games
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • In-room accessibility
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Heated pool
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks 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
  • Unit size: 2,650 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

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

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 2 pets
  • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

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

orp5b6782dx

Serene Wooded Retreat 🍁Close to Town: Walk to Beach Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 19 out of 22 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 22 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 22 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jenny S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessie O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lives up to the listing and then some!
The house and location are great! The house has everything you need, and it won me over when I saw there were three different types of coffee makers in different areas of the house. It is so cozy and the bed in the master was very comfortable. The high windows above the bed made it so that you can see the stars on a clear night. The location is secluded but a close walk to the beach (which is beautiful) and a short drive to downtown. So you get the best of both worlds. The internet is a little slow if you are working, but there is a great shared workspace downtown called ThinkBar (highly recommend). This house certainly felt like a home away from home and we would definitely go back. The host is super helpful and responsive. Overall, best VRBO experience!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Jay and Greta L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great getaway
Wonderful outdoor spaces, around the pool and fire pit. And a terrific living room to gather.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

William P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Stay
Our family really enjoyed our stay, it entertained all the kids and the drive to town/local beaches was a breeze. Would book again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Roomy and Bright
Great house for get togethers. There were 10 of us staying on the property. We loved it and the pool. We took advantage of being so close to the beach too! Would stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris S., Chicago, IL

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything listed and more!
We were able to enjoy an AMAZING long weekend in this home! A group of nine of us chose this as our base camp to go brewery/winery/distillery hopping. We ended up only visiting two breweries because we felt so at-home here. The farm-style dining table and the large, open living room allowed everyone to partake in the conversation. The kitchen was well-stocked enough to allow meal preparation for everyone, so we saved money by cooking instead of going out to restaurants every meal. We had a lot of great laughs around the fire pit and slept well afterwards on the comfortable beds. The Pac-Man machine allowed for some friendly competition, too! We loved it so much we literally lost track of time and realized a bit late that we had to check out soon! (we're from Central time zone so I'm sure that was a part of it). Our pre check-out clean-up was less than we normally would have done, so apologies to our wonderful host if everything didn't get done. Very clean, very spacious, and very fun property. We're already talking about visiting again next year!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

celise k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise
It was so beautiful, comfortable, unbelievably healing 💖.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Friends Getaway
We had an amazing time! The home was beautiful, unique and had plenty of space for our group! Kate was extremely helpful and we would recommend her home to anyone! We are already talking about a trip back to enjoy the house during the warmer months!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

David A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Windows for Days!
What a amazing property. Very quiet and private location. Amazing natural light. Master suite is huuuuge and the coffee bar in the bedroom was a nice surprise. Having satellite tv available was also a nice touch to unwind before bed. So close to everything.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danelle V.

Liked: Cleanliness
South Haven
Dont be deceived, this house is amazing! Lots of room, peace and quiet, and very updated. We enjoyed coming and going as we wanted. Then enjoyed a nice evening with the family and fireplace. We had visits from deer too! The beach is very close and so are the surrounding cties and towns. It wasvery easy to communicate with the property manager and she was very helpful and informative.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bethany H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely!
The stay was lovely! Wonderful for the whole family!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christine K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peace and quiet
We had such a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend ! The condition of the home was wonderful , appealing and flawless in design ! The privacy and accommodations were first class ! The property manger was very attentive and made the check in process easy ! Thanks for the great weekend Kati ! We will be sure to return again !
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Elizabeth A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great and Beautiful Home
The Fam enjoy every moment !!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lacey K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing!
A group of us girls came to celebrate our friends 40th. We absolutely LOVED this house. So many cute details and decor throughout. It was spacious, had everything you need and beds were super comfy. We walked to pilhrams Haven which is great for rock hunting. Would love to use the pool next time. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erin C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Retreat
My family was looking for a nice getaway for Labor Day weekend. We have two wheelchair bound family members, so our options were limited. I found Hideaway Haven and was excited by all of its amenities. It was very accessible, the only issue was a small 6" step into the front door which we had discussed in advance. There were multiple sitting areas inside and out for all family members to find their own space. We love the huge outdoor dining table. The fireplace out back was perfect in the evening. The hostess has thought of so many small amenities that I haven't seen at other VRBO's, and these really made the experience all the better. Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

6/10 Okay

david h.

Liked: Cleanliness
Week in South Haven
We booked a week at this property in August. The house is very nicely decorated and furnished with many thoughtful touches and amenities. It has great outdoor spaces including a pool, patio, and firepit. It's in a quiet location. The kitchen was well stocked with cooking gear. It was a short walk to one smaller beach, or a short drive to a larger beach and hiking trails in Van Buren State Park. During our stay, we experienced multiple problems with the internet having very slow (almost no) speeds. We WERE NOT able to work remotely, or do zoom or teams video calls, or stream videos (5 adults, phones and laptops) and some of our guests had to leave because of this. The house was sort of in a dead zone and had only one bar on our cell phones so we couldn't use a hotspot or make cell phone calls either. We contacted the host and she "added more data" to the plan several times, but it was always extremely slow, running about 2 to 5 to 8 mbs on our devices. Our WIFI/Internet experience was very bad and not what we understood from the listing or expected for the rates we were paying and this level of property, otherwise it is a great house.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sheryl S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous private wooded retreat!
Great communication with host & the house has everything you could need for a great vacation! The hosts thought of even the little things - like extra toiletries, Lots of extra blankets, games, bug spray, beach chairs etc. Loved that! The beds were very comfy. We loved the pool & 4 lounge chairs with umbrellas! The house is even more gorgeous in person and has tons of natural light. The only thing we had a slight issue with was the wifi & cell reception - it worked but was quite slow. My sister works remotely and had a lot of difficulty making work calls with her computer software or on her phone while at the house. We also had a hard time with movies on Netflix etc pausing frequently due to connection. Not a big issue but something to be aware of if you are hoping to spend a lot of time doing work etc. While there. We enjoyed being able to drive into downtown south haven in 10 min. The blueberry picking farm is also only a 2-3 min drive away and the kiddos loved that experience! You can walk to pilgrims haven natural area beach on the main road (not much traffic) in 10 min or less - it is safe and an easy walk. There is a hiking path in the woods behind the house (we walked through the brush a bit to get to it) but seems to connect the houses nearby, we did not see where it connected to any bigger trail. The van buren state park paved trail is nearby and probably within a 12-15 min walk also. We overall loved it and would stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Vicki K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great house and pool
We really enjoyed our stay at Hidden Haven. The house is beautiful, spacious and well designed. The walk to Pilgrim Haven to get to the beach took closer to 30 min vs 10 but the bike trail to South Haven is quite close. The house is very well equipped and the pool and fire pit was a lots of fun. We had up to 12 people staying here and we would definitely recommend it
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrea H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful MCM home
The home is even more beautiful than the photos show. It looks like something featured in a magazine. We had a group of 8 family members, and the home was very spacious. The PacMan machine was so much fun. Our host was extremely responsive to our questions and concerns. She provided many little extras. We would highly recommend this property.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jen M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Last-minute get away
For many reasons, we had to wait to plan a trip this summer, and wow were we excited to find this new listing in South Haven. The teenagers enjoyed the pool and being in walking distance to a rocky beach, and it is a short drive to the sandy beaches of South Haven.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful home
Beautiful home on secluded drive, abundant amenities to make stay comfortable. You can walk to the rocky Lake Michigan shore (0.5 miles via road). Fire pit and outdoor area is nice! The Internet is a bit slow, which might be hard to work with video calls, but the occasional browse was fine. Would recommend for a nice stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christina R., Aurora

Liked: Cleanliness
Best of Both Worlds!
This home is located on a peaceful, heavily wooded, secluded setting. However, it is still very close to every other attraction you’ll want to visit while in South Haven. We were provided with everything we needed for the home to feel like OUR home for the week. The decor is open and spacious, yet feels cozy and inviting. This was our first rental on Vrbo and we are excited to say we don’t even have to look any further for another hostess. We’ll be right back here next time we come back to Michigan! And we can’t wait for the pool to be ready in the future! Thank you.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022