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The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak

3.0 star property

Photo gallery for The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak

Smart TV, fireplace, books, stereo
Outdoor dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Dining
Beach
You can look forward to golfing on site, a firepit, and a garden at The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak. Active travelers can enjoy bicycling, kayaking, and boating at this cottage. In addition to a playground and laundry facilities, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10149 sq m

Popular amenities

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

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About this property

Entire place

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

The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak

The Irwin Cottage sleeps up to 9 guests comfortably in 4 bedrooms and accommodates 2 more people on a pull-out in the den. There are 2 bathrooms. The cottage sits just feet from the lake, has a sandy beach, a sandy bottom to the lake and is shallow for a long way out into the lake. This is great for small children. There is a dock, a rowboat, and 2 kayaks available for guests use. The kitchen is complete with a dishwasher and garbage disposal. All appliances are new and stainless steel and granite counter tops. The living room boasts a gas fireplace, great for cool mornings or a cozy late evening! There are both a washer and dryer in the laundry room. The dining room table sits up to ten people. There is a gas grill available for guest use. The den has a large smart TV. Guests can stream using their own accounts. Linens, towels, some paper products and soaps are available to guests to get started for the week.

Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

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

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

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

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the marina
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Bicycles
  • Boat
  • Golf
  • Kayak
  • Tennis
  • Water sports equipment
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Windsurfing 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

General

  • Bicycles
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,600 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

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

Special check-in instructions

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

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds, gather used towels, and store extra beds
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

The Irwin On Little Traverse
The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake Cedar
The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake Cottage
The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake Cottage Cedar

About the neighborhood

Located in Cedar, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Little Traverse Lake, Cedar, MI

What's nearby

  • Little Traverse Lake - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Manitou Passage Golf Club - 6 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 6 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Lime Lake - 8 min drive - 5.8 km
  • Historic Fishtown - 14 min drive - 15.4 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Pegtown Station - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Cedar Tavern - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Broomstack Kitchen And Taphouse - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Laurentide Winery - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Little Traverse Inn - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is steps from Little Traverse Lake, and within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Manitou Passage Golf Club and Lime Lake are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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The Irwin Cottage on Little Traverse Lake, Sandy beach, kayak Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 28 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 28 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 28 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 28 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrew H.

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

A wonderful slice of northern MI!

Clean, quiet, and right on the lake. Excellent communication from the host and a beautiful home for our family of 5 to enjoy. Perfect location to enjoy all things northern MI!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Martin P., Muskegon

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

Little Traverse Lake

Beautiful spot. Little Traverse Lake is very picturesque and we enjoyed fishing and kayaking on the lake. It is a short bike ride from the cottage to the Heritage trail trailhead on Good Harbor Rd. It is also only a 10 to 15 minute walk to Lake Michigan on the God Harbor Bay trail. Great fish and chips at the nearby Little Traverse Inn. Easy drive to Leland, Glen Arbor and Sutton's Bay
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jen S.

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

A perfect place to stay!!

I really loved this cabin on the lake. It was perfect. The adults sat by the fire pit nightly and the kids played in the water every day. The way the house is split with two living rooms flanking is he ends of the house was perfect. Kids could watch a movie while adults talked without interruption. This house is located very near hikes and bike paths. We really enjoyed our stay and would be back. The only suggestion I would have for the owner would be to have more rugs in the house. Without rugs, the sand was not contained and we were constantly sweeping. There is no avoiding sand in this part of Michigan. 😁
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Andre C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely beautiful location. Open living room/kitchen with views of the lake.

We had an absolutely wonderful time. The open floor plan living room kitchen area is wonderful with big windows looking at the lake. The dock and kayaks and tow boat were great. We enjoyed the fire pit as well. Our only quibble would be the overall cleanliness was only moderate (it is an older cottage). The towels and linens are quite old as well. And this might be TMI but single ply toilet paper?? I didn’t even know anyone still made that. Will probably bring my own towels/toilet paper next time but would definitely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mary K.

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

Roomy Cottage

This 4-bedroom cottage is very roomy and good for a large group, but even just the 2 of us enjoyed it much. A beautiful view of Little Traverse Lake from the large windows. Also a deck and a lake-side area for gazing at the stars. Excellent location for access to Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Autumn H.

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

Amazing cottage!

Had a great time with my friends here :-) Everything was very clean and orderly and overall it is just a beautiful cottage!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Amanda F.

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

Great cabin

My family and I loved this cabin, private lake access and everything about the house was great
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Sarah O.

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

Many Pros, one HUGE Con for our family

The Pros: This is a sweet lake cottage, in the family for generations and clearly well loved and cared for. The location is just what we wanted for our family of 6 adults: situated right on the lake in a quiet, non-touristy area, with easy access to stores and outdoor activities. The house accommodated our family nicely with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, well equipped kitchen, large combination living/dining area with large windows allowing nice views of the lake. There is a second living room/TV room, allowing people to spread out and engage in different activities. Beach/firepit area is great (no shade, FYI). Kayaking on the lake was lovely, swimming in the deep water off the floating swim dock was great. We also rented a stand up paddle board from a local company who delivered it to the house. Day trips to Sleeping Bear, tubing on the Platte river, day out to a brewery in Traverse City. Also a pretty 30 min walk down the road and through the woods to a beautiful undeveloped Lake Michigan beach (intensity of biting flies varies by day, but no parasites in the water!). Communicating with Mary Lou was easy and she was helpful and responsive. The HUGE Con: Beware the shallow water. Three members of our group contracted swimmer's itch from the lake. This is a parasite that is apparently common in the lakes here but since we are not from the area so we weren't aware. While it is not dangerous to humans, the organism borrows into the skin causing extensive bite marks and severe itching. Two of our group had at least a hundred bites on their bodies and were miserable for most of the week due to itch, painful sores, difficulty sleeping, etc. Included in the house's information notebook was a pamphlet describing this problem, however, we would have appreciated a personal warning from the owner to take precautions. We now know these precautions include not spending time in shallow water, toweling off immediately, not sitting around in your suit, using oily sunscreen as a barrier. It surprised us that the description of the property even highlights how great it is for small children because the water is shallow for a long way out, without mentioning the risk of the parasite. At the end of the dock it is still only 1.5 feet deep. We used our SUP to get out to the deep water once we realized the swimmer's itch problem, and this probably kept the rest of us from getting it. It was a most unfortunate occurrence and spoiled and otherwise lovely week.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

John N.

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

Amazing get away on the lake

Very happy with our stay at this property. Ideal location on Little Traverse lake. Home is as described - kayaks, dock, and chairs out by the water were great touches to make the stay really enjoyable. Only negative comment is the main bathroom shower/bathtub. Water drains very very slowly & bathtub looks worn out - needs updating. Otherwise this is a great rental and we'd be happy to stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Constance C.

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

Loved it!

This place was incredible. The lake was so nice and everything was very clean.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eugene S.

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

Great location

We had a great stay at the Irwin Cottage. The kitchen was extremely well stocked, the view of the lake was lovely (we saw loons and muskrats), the bed was comfortable, the property manager was very responsive and helpful, and the location was superb (private frontage on lake, quiet, short walk to Good Harbor beach, relatively short drive to Leland for fresh fish and groceries, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, and Traverse City). We highly recommend this property and plan to return.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Patricia D.

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

Great family spot

Great location. Walkable to Great Lake Michigan beach, about 20 minutes. Close to Glen Arbor and Leland. Very clean and comfortable beds. My toddler grandchildren had the best time in the sand and shallow waters edge. Wonderful, relaxing time!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2020

6/10 Okay

Kathleen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Beautiful location with hidden thermostats and uncomfortable bed

The location was beautiful and greenery provided privacy. The use of the kayak and row boat was an added bonus. The front queen bed was used by two couples and two out of the four people were not at all comfortable. There were no written instructions in the notebook regarding the fireplace and the living room thermostat was completely covered by a large mirror.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christopher R.

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

Great place!

Loved the lake, nice house, secluded, Mary Lou was very kind and helpful!

10/10 Excellent

Heather R.

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

Family vacation

We had a wonderful stay at the Irwin cottage. Very relaxing and great to spend time with family. The younger kids enjoyed splashing in the lake while the older kids enjoyed the kayaks. I would defiantly stay here again. Mary Lou was wonderful about answering any questions and easy to reach.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Haley D.

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

Great location for kids and adults

This cozy cottage was perfect for our family with younger children. The kids loved swimming off the dock which is not too deep, and playing in the sand. Great location close to everything we wanted to do.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Charles R.

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

The Perfect Lake House

The Irwin Cottage is on the most beautiful lake with some amazing sunsets and night sky’s. My whole family had a blast and felt so relaxed after our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

B Z.

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

Private Cottage on Little Traverse Lake

The Irwin cottage is a peaceful getaway on a beautiful lake in an absolutely beautiful area. Although the cottage is older it is clean, well equipped, well maintained and right on the lake. Mary Lou, the property manager was always only a phone call away. The cottage was child friendly with a small sand beach, large shallow area for young children and a floating dock for the adults. Two kayaks and row boat are provided. Many places to explore: picturesque towns, wineries, galleries, biking paths, hiking trails, restaurants. The road the cottage is on is great for walking and biking. Bring your binoculars many different birds, Kirtland warblers, kingfishers, variety of woodpeckers etc. Good fishing. We had a great time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

David H.

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

Lovely Cottage for a Family

We absolutely loved our stay at Irwin’s Cottage! It was clean, well maintained and perfect for 10 whole people. Our favorite parts were all the lake activities and how close you are to everything!

10/10 Excellent

John N.

Beautiful home in a great location. They had everything we needed there.

Located on a quiet lake with a nice beach, this home was everything we were looking for. Mary Lou kept in touch and made sure we had what we needed. We'll be back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly B.

Fabulous!

The house was perfect for our large group and Mary Lou was very welcoming! She answered our questions quickly. The yard was safe for our young kids, far off the road, and the water was shallow. We enjoyed the kayaks and jumping off the dock! So much to do in the area and the house was close to the dunes and historic villages. We would definitely recommend this cottage and hope to return!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Judy G.

Wonderful lake cottage

Beautiful location, convenient to dunes and multiple beaches. Cottage had everything we needed plus more!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Melissa L.

Private Location, Beautiful Scenery, Close Drive to Town

We really enjoyed our first stay at the Irwin Cottage! There was plenty of space for our group of 7 to sleep and spread out. The kitchen was modern and well-quipped, and the outdoor space was very private and relaxing- perfect for our young children to play on the sandy, shallow beach and for the adults to enjoy kayaking across the quiet lake. The location was great for driving to nearby Glen Arbor, Leland, Suttons Bay, and other attractions. We also took advantage of hiking through trails across the road to Lake Michigan. Hope to visit again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Philip M.

Family getaway for decades

Staying right at the edge of Little Traverse Lake for two weeks every year for nearly twenty years recalibrate my families lives. The setting is beautiful with lakefront beach and the cabin cozy with updated kitchen, perfect for family fun and relaxation. Right across the street is Good Harbor Bay of Lake Michigan, a georgious beach with miles of walking and swimming seldom crossing paths of others. Neighboring Leland and Suttons Bay are favorite community spots filled with good food, art and boating. The Arts Center at Interlocken is magical with world class artists and aspiring students. Our family is inspired every year as well as relaxed and happy. We feel very blessed to be able to rent the Irwin Cabin every year and we hope to continue for many years to come.