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Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town

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A wooden boardwalk leading to a sandy beach with a sunset in the background. - Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town (Elk Rapids)
Property grounds - Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town (Elk Rapids)
Interior - Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town (Elk Rapids)
Marina - Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town (Elk Rapids)
Exterior - Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town (Elk Rapids)
Minutes from Grand Traverse Bay, this charming 1887 historic home in Elk Rapids offers a spacious retreat. Relax on the enclosed porch, enjoy a meal in the newly renovated kitchen and dining area or unwind with YouTubeTV in the family room. With WIFI, central air conditioning and nearby tennis courts and Lake Michigan beach access within walking distance.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 92200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Add dates for prices

About this property

Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town

  • Enjoy this spacious and tastefully furnished 2200 sq. ft. home on Chippewa St. minutes away from breathtaking views of Grand Traverse Bay and the charming downtown of Elk Rapids. This 1887 historic home has been totally remodeled and completed for use. Newly renovated kitchen and dining area equipped with all your needs. This home is decorated in pottery barn style with Martha Stewart colors on the wall that extend your stay from the beach to the beach house. Perfect location in town is ideal with walking distance three streets from the marina boat launch and walking distance to the Lake Michigan beach, with tennis courts, basketball courts and children's jungle gyms. The home features an enclosed porch with screens, a new kitchen with nice appliances including a black gas cooktop, dishwasher, fridge, and microwave. Not to mention we now offer WIFI and central air conditioning. There is a separate dining room with a table to accommodate 6-8 people. There are 2 finished bathrooms which include one with full vanity, toilet, tub-shower combination and one with a new shower, vanity and toilet. Both bathrooms are located on the 1st floor.

    The family room is spacious with 2 large sofas and a 40” inch TV with YouTubeTV and WIFI. Need more room? There is also a den room equipped with an entertainment center with a 43” TV . The first floor has re-finished hardwood floors in the kitchen and dining room. To add in the comfort of your stay is a first floor laundry room with full capacity washer and dryer. Upstairs has 3 bedrooms-1 with a full bed, 1 with two twins and the loft bedroom with a day bed and ANOTHER full bed! Master bedroom is downstairs and has a queen bed.
    Elk Rapids is a wonderful community with lots of activities for kids. There is also a local ice cream shop, toy store, antique stores, movie theater, bar and grille, Siren Hall for fine dining, and more two streets away!

    The property in the back has fences on both sides for privacy, a paved alley for additional parking, a small BBQ for use and a wood deck.

    Short term rental agreement required. 50% of rental period due at time of reservation. Balance due 21 days before stay. No refunds if cancelled. Rental period is weekly from Saturday to Saturday- although would consider shorter/longer stays. Check in at 4:00 p.m., check out at 10:00 a.m.


    Keywords: Elk Rapids ,Traverse City, Lake Michigan ,Vacation House, Beach, Grand Traverse Bay, Marina

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • 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
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

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

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Cobblestone flooring in public areas
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a village
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Basketball 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
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing 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
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,200 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

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

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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

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 has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
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 required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Elk Rapids is home to this holiday home. While the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Torch Lake can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Grand Traverse Resort Golf Course. Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum and Music House Museum are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and sledging. Visit our Elk Rapids travel guide
View more Holiday homes in Elk Rapids
Map
Elk Rapids, MI

What's nearby

  • A sunset over a calm lake with a forested shoreline.
    Elk Lake
    18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Rotary Park
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall
    5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Elk Rapids District Library
    7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • North Beach
    8 min walk - 0.5 miles

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    26 min drive

Restaurants

  • Johnny's Torch Riviera
    16 min drive
  • Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen
    3 min drive
  • Oasis Tavern
    7 min drive
  • The Dam Shop
    6 min walk
  • Masala Magic by Anita
    13 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town located?

Situated in Elk Rapids, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Rotary Park and Lake Michigan. Veterans Memorial Park and Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor are also within 10 minutes.

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Charming Family Cottage- downtown Elk Rapids, 2-blocks to town Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 54 out of 61 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 61 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 61 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 61 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 61 reviews

9.6

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

John S.

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

Great location!

We loved the proximity to the downtown district! Property manager was great!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dave R.

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

Family lodging for a destination wedding

Loved the place and location. The owners were a pleasure to deal with.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca M.

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

Great Stay

Very short but wonderful stay! The house is beautiful and spacious, very clean, and comfortable. Will definitely return!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda S.

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

Wonderful winter weekend

Great gathering place to enjoy all that Elk Rapids has to offer - dining & skating at the Dam Shop, doughnuts from the Flower Pot - all within a nice winter walk. The house was cozy, but plenty of room for everyone to be together for meals.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia C.

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

Family memories

We love staying in this cute town. The cottage is friendly and inviting.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gary P.

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

70 year old friends

4 couples in 70's who get together each fall for past 15 years or so and take a trip to upper Michigan. We love the Elk Rapids, Traverse and Petoskey area. Just a note to similar travelers. Because of our ages, trips to bathroom in the night happen. This is an older home with no bathroom on second floor. The stairs squeak so you will hear a fairly steady creak during the night. And being polite we tried to be as quiet as possible which just prolongs the noise. You might want some sort of alternative with you if you fall into this category. (smiley face). Very nice neighborhood and short, easy walk to town. For our group it was nice location.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gwen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic location and a comfortable, well-equipped house where we could spread out and relax.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kate P.

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

Great spot

Great location just a couple blocks from downtown. House was spacious and accommodated 4 adults and 4 kids comfortably.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Darby H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house was perfect for a family vacation up north. The location was so close to walking in Elk Rapids, tennis, and the beach. The kitchen was very well stocked with what we needed for two very large family dinners. Thanks!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie P.

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

Perfect Place

My husband and I had a fantastic week at your beautiful home. Thank you so much for a flawless stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Korrie M.

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

Great Vacation Home

We had a blast in Elk Rapids. Walking distance to everything. House was great and had everything we needed for a wonderful week.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca H.

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

Ladies Wine Weekend

There were 7 of us that stayed here for a weekend touring the wineries. The town was adorable and close to the peninsula. It was a perfect place to unwind and enjoy our time away.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristina G.

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

Elk rapids charmer!

We had a lovely stay. Very nice home with a great location. Home owners were responsive.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Matt N.

Sunshine

We just returned home from this vacation and loved it. The house is beautiful and clean with so much space. The living room is very comfortable, which is hard to find in some rental cottages. We loved the location of this as well - you can quickly walk or bike to town or beach. Would happily rent here again!!
Verified

8/10 Good

Penny R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved staying in Elk Ridge! The location was great for day trips to Traverse City, Mackinac, Charlevoix, Torch Lake... And the downtown shopping/dining area in Elk Ridge was our favorite. A short walk to the beach, and so much beautiful landscaping. The next door lot was a little sketch, but we never saw anyone there or had any issues. Also right across from the police station which was reassuring :) The house is historic, so a little less posh than we are used to. We had everything we needed and were very comfortable, but having no bathrooms upstairs was a bit of a hassle for us older ladies. The front porch/sunroom was our favorite spot to hang out. We had a fantastic trip -- thanks for hosting us!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Debra O.

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

Cute house in Elk Rapids

This house is centrally located to all the fun things in northern Michigan. Elk Rapids is a darling town and you can walk to the beach, shops, restaurants It’s a renovated old farmhouse, which we’re good with. The pictures are spot on.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicole D.

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

Perfect Vacation!

We had the best time at this home! There were two families, with 5 kids total, all under age 8. The layout worked well, everyone had their own space. The location was the best part- about a 5 min walk from town and the beach. We had a great time hanging out outside by the fire pit at night. Overall, great house and experience!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

STEPHANIE G.

Charming up north home!!!

This home had everything we needed for our week stay and then some. We had plenty of space and the kitchen was very nice for making our morning meals in. The bedrooms had comfortable beds and lots of room. The fire pit in the background was a bonus too. The house was only 3-4 blocks from the beach and from downtown stores and restaurants. We definitely would come back and stay again!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay D.

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

Third Time and Still Charming!

This house is the perfect size for us and the perfect location! Three or four families rent houses in ER annually and this is still my favorite. It is spacious, nicely furnished and comfortable. I live the kitchen open to a large table where we all gather for meals, cards or a puzzle. We feel relaxed when we hit the front door!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christopher F.

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

Lovely, note the bathrooms are downstairs

This house in elk Rapids was lovely. It was clean and pretty and had lots of space. It would be particularly lovely in the summer with the back deck & the front enclosed porch. It would be easier for guests if there was a full stairway banister, since most of the bedrooms are upstairs and both bathrooms are downstairs.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Konda G.

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

Handrail

A handrail at the front door would have been helpful. One of the guests fell on the steps.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Bank President and Media Consultant

Dear Val and Paul, Your cottage reminded us of our stay in Maine. It is so beautifully decorated and so serene at your home. We enjoyed the surroundings and downtown Elk Rapids. We loved walking along the beach viewing the crystal clear Lake Michigan. The shops are so quaint and the people in town are so down to earth and nice. The wine shop had some great wines I never heard of. You are so close to the lake and there is so much to do. We were centrally located, so we rented a boat and went pontoon boating, wine tasting, We took the kids to several places. We loved your place and hope to come back annually. I could live up here all summer long. Thank you so much for opening your beautiful second home to us. Regards, The Cuttles
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Richard D.

It felt like it was our home!

This cottage could not have been much better! The location in the town of Elk Rapids is perfect- walking distance to everything. The house is comfortable and roomy. We spent a lot of time with family from other cottages and often found ourselves around the large dining table with chairs pulled in from around the room. The large laundry room gave us a spot to drop beach gear without tracking sand through the house. The amenities are just right. Nice enough dishes, glasses, etc. without feeling nervous about using them! The deck was a nice spot for morning coffee. We were sorry there wasn't time to use the backyard fire pit, or to organize a tetherball tournament!! AC was a nice treat during this hot week! Family members have rented this cottage before and we were lucky enough to snap it up first! We are definitely coming back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Holly L.

Bride's last night of being single

We stayed in this lovely, historical home prior to and after our daughter's wedding in Elk Rapids, which is a nice place for a "destination wedding". The landlord allowed us to stay for a shortened stay as the wedding was not during the peak season. She was married at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the reception was at the Elk Rapids township hall. The home and the hall were both historical landmarks, which was very interesting. The location of the house was perfectly accessible for both venues. We enjoyed the services of the Beehive salon, which provided many spa services and helped to make the bride feel like a princess. The house was perfect with planning of room for our guests including my 91 year old mother, who had no trouble getting around the first floor. Everything that we needed was there. The decor was lovely... the colors and amenities made us feel very special. We have no complaints and would certainly use this home again... perhaps the next time for a vacation instead of to host and facilitate a wedding. The landlord was available by phone to answer any questions that we had. The only thing that we had difficulty with was the Direct t.v. as we were not familiar with how to access it for our 91 year old guest.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda D.

Great Location

Our family has rented a cottage each summer in a different locations for many, many years. My husband and I, two teens, my sister and her spouse rented this house for a week last summer. The place is clean, spacious and decorated like a home in Crate and Barrel catalog. The location is within walking distance of main street and the beach. When we weren't out exploring the area, we mostly hung out on the really nice back deck. We all enjoyed the Tether Ball in the backyard, and bonfires most nights. Elk Rapids is such a wonderful town to vacation in, it was our second time. As mentioned in another review, both (really nice) bathrooms are on the first floor. Not easy to navigate in the middle of the night. My daughter LOVED the pink bedroom upstairs. My sister and her husband loved the Master Bedroom on the main floor. The bedroom upstairs that my husband and I picked only had a full size bed (bouncy if you have a spouse that turns a lot during the night) and one outlet in the opposite corner of the room. Also, no nightstands; so no place to plug in a cell phone or have a lamp. I ended up sleeping in the room with the two twin beds with my son. That was very comfortable. Minor inconvenience for such and beautiful, well-stocked home (except for having to bring our own toilet paper). I would highly recommend this home!