Waterfront family cottage with dock located on Detroit Harbor, which affords direct access to both Lake Michigan and Green Bay fishing. Easy walking distance to Gislason public beach, Shipyard marina, the township children's park, Red Barn, and two of the island's best restaurants (Sailor's Pub and The Hotel Washington).
Breezy Beach has been in the family for over 100 years. Our great grandfather purchased the home back in 1913 after his daughters fell in love with Washington Island while on a sailing excursion from summer camp on Chambers Island (just offshore from Sister Bay).
The cottage has two bedrooms upstairs, one bedroom with a double bed, the other has a double and a twin bed. All of the beds upstairs are sleep number beds and adjustable to how you like to sleep! The cottage can sleep 5 max.
There is a fire pit for enjoying a bonfire and S'mores after watching the spectacular sunsets. There is also a gas grill to accommodate outdoor cooking.
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Please, no parking on the lawn. Although there is limited parking in the driveway (one vehicle) there is a public parking lot adjacent to the property
The cottage is not suitable for hosting events (e.g. guest parties, family reunions, etc.). The plumbing/septic is not capable of more than 5 people
Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket while on the dock and/or seawall. The water/rocks can be dangerous and we don't wish anyone to be hurt
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
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 and a first aid kit
About the area
Washington Island
Located in Washington Island, this cottage is in a rural area and on the beach. Deer Run Golf Course and Sister Bay Marina 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 Grand Traverse Island State Park. Trueblood Performing Arts Center and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and cycling.
Trueblood Performing Arts Center - 4 min drive - 4.0 km
Deer Run Golf Course - 5 min drive - 5.1 km
Washington Island Stave Church - 7 min drive - 6.9 km
Percy Johnson County Park - 7 min drive - 6.9 km
Schoolhouse Beach Park - 8 min drive - 8.3 km
Getting around
Green Bay, WI (GRB-Austin Straubel Intl.) - 159 min drive
Restaurants
Mann's Food Store - 6 min drive
Jackson Harbor Soup - 17 min drive
Red Cup Coffee House - 4 min drive
Albatross - 4 min drive
Nelsen's Hall Bitters Pub - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Breezy Beach Cottage pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Breezy Beach Cottage?
As of 13 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Breezy Beach Cottage on 9 October 2022 start from NZ$334, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Breezy Beach Cottage?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Breezy Beach Cottage?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Breezy Beach Cottage?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Breezy Beach Cottage located?
Nestled on the beach, this Washington Island cottage is within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Michigan, Deer Run Golf Course and Trueblood Performing Arts Center. Washington Island Stave Church is 3 mi (4.8 km) away.
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Home has beautiful view but does not meet minimum requirements for a rental property. No cell service and no landline means you have no access to 911. Poor water pressure and only one tap in kitchen is suitable for drinking water, ROS system was installed but poor flow. Upstairs bedroom windows do not open so there is limited airflow and makes exit unsafe in case of fire. Floors on main floor are very warped and unlevel making waking for older guests very difficult. I realize this home is 100 years old, but I have owned historic homes and this one need repairs before being placed on VRBO's rental site.
Jennifer T.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2022
To whom it may concern,
There is general cellphone coverage on the Island and all carriers/towers are required, by Federal law, to allow 911 calls (but not necessarily non-emergency calls) . There is no landline, as the 911 dispatch is located off Island and is not a local call.
Water pressure is normal (40 psig). However, due to the limited septic service (holding tank with a cost of $0.12/gal for disposal), all faucets have standard flow restrictors for water conservation (like California and Arizona).
The tap water is safe/drinkable, but it IS well water and contains the typical minerals - and tastes like it. We therefore request that guests use the ROS for the coffee makers, as the high mineral content (Calcium ions) will foul the heating elements. We also recommend using the ROS for drinking, as it tastes better. The storage tank for the ROS is 2 gallons, and uses the supplied tubing and faucet, so the flow is typical for ROS faucets.
The upstairs windows do open, but are only storm windows, as this is a three seasons cottage. Unfortunately, the window panes/panels fall out when opened fully and/or incorrectly. As such, we requests that guests do not open the windows, but use the air conditioning system.
As required by State Law, smoke and CO monitors/alarms are located within each bedroom, and in the hallway upstairs. They are also located in each of the main rooms downstairs. Two means of egress are not required for single family units under Wisconsin law.
The cottage is not listed as ADA compliant, and is over 100 years old. As such, the bathroom was added with the advent of plumbing and is downstairs (it used to be a two hole outhouse when we were children here!). The stairs are steeper than typical, and the treads are narrower than typical - all consistent with older homes here in the Island.
Nearly every review/comment we have had over the five years we have been renting the cottage has been five stars.
We were very surprised/disappointed by the review, but have tried to list the property as accurately as possible.
My friend and I stayed 2 nights at this cozy cabin. It is a perfect location to sit on the deck and watch the sunset over the water. Unfortunately, the weekend we were there was cold, so we watched it from the lovely sun room. Because of the cold temps, we spent a lot of time indoors. It was a perfect space for the 2 of us to spread out and relax.
Overall we enjoyed the space, however, there are a few suggestions that would make a stay here more comfortable and pleasing: better bath towels and bedding. The towels were scratchy and small, and all the linens had a strong musty/mildew odor. The knob on the entrance door was loose and the lock did not seem very sturdy. I understand that the island is a very safe place, but an extra chain or dead bolt would have made us feel a little more secure. The bedroom carpets were very stained. More toilet paper - for the price per night, I wouldn’t expect to have to purchase toilet paper.
We loved the vintage charm of this home & the relaxing views. The deck is spacious and is a perfect place for your morning coffee. Sue was great when responding to our request to use the kayak. We will definitely be back during the summer months.
We so enjoyed this old house and its quirks, like a slanted floor typical of a home this old. The deck on the water is great and we sat out there a lot. We did use the TV with the DVD player, watching three of the flicks provided. This was everything we needed for a three day vacation on the island. Calm and quiet. The one detraction was the low water pressure, but we did fine. Be sure to try the burgers, fries, and malts at the Albatross, and visit Rock Island for sure.
The view of the water was amazing. We saw several different birds. The deck/patio is decorated with lovely flowers and several hummingbirds visited them often. The sunsets were unbelievable and the night sky was full of stars. We could even see the Milky Way! Overall a very pleasant visit to the island.
Absolutely lovely experience, every day, morning through night and we weren't eager to clean out and leave. Everything stated online and everything in the Welcome book was accurate; few rules are very common sense and a breeze to keep to.
We'd like to stay again next season!
There is no question our next vacation to Washington Island will include the hope that we can stay at Breezy Beach Cottage. Richard and Sue made themselves readily available for any assistance we might have possibly needed. We spent the majority of our time on the deck or the porch. The sunsets from the deck were awe inspiring and the night sky was filled stars. Early morning was reading and coffee on the deck enjoying the cool breeze coming in off the lake. Two restaurants were within walking distance. We had some great perch and coconut shrimp at Sailor's Pub. It was relaxing to hear the waves and the wind through the porch windows each evening. All of the Island's amenities are easily accessible from the cottage. There are two beaches close by; we especially enjoyed Sand Dunes Beach. We would definitely recommend the cottage for your stay on the island. Thank you Richard and Sue.
Breezy beach cottage is a charming old house in a fantastic location. The cottage is no more than 30 feet away from a nicely renovated sea wall and dock. We loved lounging on the very nice shaded lawn in the morning, while exploring the island in the afternoon when the property gets full-sun. The wrap-around porch does heat up in the afternoon, but the owners gave good instructions for keeping the rest of the house cool. After enjoying the beautiful sunset view, the porch has cooled down by evening. Well-equipped kitchen, lots of space and seating. 2 bedrooms upstairs with steep steps, but adequate railings. Upstairs beds have comfortable sleep number beds. All in all a great place to stay!
We have visited Washington Island for the past 3 years and decided we wanted to stay on the island for part of our trip this year. The deck, dock, and water access was so fantastic. We spent afternoons just floating and kayaking in front of the house. We also enjoyed a fire in the fire pit one night. The sunsets were stunning. The house was charming and comfortable, and even though we arrived on a warm day, open windows and a and fan cooled down the sun porch and the AC kept the upstairs cool. The kitchen and grill made it easy to cook our meals. We loved this place so much that we made our other stops in the island in the morning so we could get back in time to swim in the afternoon, enjoy dinner on the deck, and watch the sunset. We never wanted to leave!
Washington Island is a lovely place for a relaxed, easy-paced get-away. Breezy Beach Cottage is a cute home on the water with a wonderful deck for enjoying the sun and water and a closed in porch for cooler evenings. Dick and Sue are very nice and helpful. The beds are comfortable, and the house has everything you need.
* One thing to be aware of... the stairs leading up to the bedrooms are quite steep. Might be too much for bad knees/hips. If you have little ones, bring a gate to block the stairs.
We were delighted to stay at this charming waterfront cottage! Richard and Sue were a pleasure to work with. The views are stunning and the experience of staying on Washington Island was amazing. It has a wonderfully relaxed pace.
We enjoyed our 3 day stay here. The best part was the deck and dock that allowed the kids (13 and 12) to swim and paddle board. It's an old house but that's what adds to its charm. Everything was clean and in working order. Would recommend this as the place to stay on the Island
The Tobey family were incredibly welcoming and our getaway to their cottage was just what we needed. Washington Island is the perfect place to swim, bike, and fish!
Had a great time at Breezy Beach Cottage. It was charming and well-stocked. Did a little fishing, a lot of snacking and stargazing. Would recommend to anyone.
5-Star "Getaway" Waterfront Property with 5-Star Hospitality
If you're looking for a private, relaxing place to stay on Washington Island, just book this A-plus cottage and save yourself the time of looking any further. Honestly. We spent 3 months researching and planning our trip, and not only do we feel we made the perfect choice, we both agree it's the best place we've stayed in our 15 years together.
As you can see from the photos, it's literally right on the water. From the deck, Lake Michigan is about 10 yards away. If it gets windy, a serviceable wooden seawall protects the shorefront edge of the property from choppy waters. The pier is sturdy, well constructed, and large enough to dock multiple watercraft. If you plan on bringing a boat, there's a marina only a couple blocks to the southeast of the property where you can launch it. Additionally, the marina also hosts a terrific restaurant with food good enough to be considered fine dining.
The location is also fantastic. The ferry is only about a 10-minute drive from the cottage. Five minutes further than that is the "main drag", where you can shop for groceries, gas up, visit the farmer's market, hit a restaurant or bar, pick up some souvenirs, go mini-putting, play a round of golf, or go swimming at the rec center, among other things.
Getting back to the property... we LOVED the fire pit. It's nice and wide (about 6 ft. across), ringed with stone, and surrounded by several comfy chairs, a reclined bench and end table. On the east side of the outbuilding, there's a place to store your firewood, including a tarp to keep it dry if it rains.
Between the cottage and the fire pit, in the middle of the property, are two adjacent picnic tables, each featuring a large retractable umbrella that provides ample shading.
The owners/managers of the property are tremendously hospitable and go to great lengths to make sure you enjoy your stay. They communicated very thoroughly to describe the check-in process, current weather, etc.
Perhaps the most endearing feature of the cottage, for us, was the way we FELT while staying there. Walking up, an engraved wooden placard hanging on the home's exterior paid homage to the founders and previous caretakers of this secluded paradise. We wondered aloud what beautiful moments and magnificent memories those walls must hold. We felt transported back in time, witnesses to a bygone era.
Staying here was like stumbling on the best kept secret that you don't want to share with anyone else. :)
Lance W.
About the host
Hosted by Richard E Tobey
Richard's family have been coming to Washington Island for vacations all of his life, they purchased a home just across the street from our cottage, where his mother still spends the summers. (This is where we vacationed with our kids when they were growing up). We purchased the cottage from his Great Aunt in 2009 and now we vacation here with our children and grandchildren, who all love to come to the cottage. We love the Island so much, we have bought a year round home and retired here!!
Why they chose this property
As mentioned above, this has been in the family for generations and we are the current owners of a family gem.
What makes this property unique
The cottage is located directly on Detroit Harbor. There is a floating dock available for guest use, including boating, fishing, swimming, etc.
There is also a large deck in front of the cottage, which is attached to the seawall, providing ample space for relaxing.