Robertson’s Cottages are nestled on a slender, tree-laden peninsula called Idlewild. Off the beaten path, at the end of a quiet dead-end road, our family has welcomed guests since the 1930s. We genuinely appreciate your interest in staying in one of our several individual and unique cottages filled with the modest comforts and serenity a body, mind and spirit needs.
This listing is for a cozy, nautical and vintage cottage named Harbor Home sits at the heart of Robertson's Cottages on the sheltered shoreline of Sawyer Harbor. In Harbor Home you will find a completely furnished kitchen, one bathroom with an antique claw foot bathtub and shower, a living room centered around a hand crafted, Door County field stone fireplace, two bedrooms-both of which queen beds inhabit and a plethora of nautical antiques from an early 1900s steamship called the SS Christopher Columbus. On the south side of the living room an original glass door opens up into a bright and cozy sun room. It is home to one double bed and a plaid poofy couch which is a perfect spot to admire the enchanting wooded bluff of Potawatomi State Park, marvel at an intriguing variety of migrating and native shorebirds, observe a smidgen of Sturgeon Bay’s ‘skyline’ which elegantly illuminates the harbor from dusk ‘til dawn, and relax your bones with a good book after a day wholeheartedly experienced. A porch at the stern of the cottage is a favorite location for hearty morning coffee conversations and evening cocktails/togetherness alike!
Guests of Robertson’s Cottages have access to our spacious permanent pier (8ft x 120ft), protected moorings with finger piers, boat slips, a canoe, row boats, two paddle boards, life jackets, communal fire pit, laundry room, library, sauna, play structure with two swings and a slide, picnic tables, tether ball, safe sandy beach, swim raft, charcoal grills and free, turtle's pace, wavering wireless internet (realistically, you may not be able to binge watch your favorite series on Netflix or participate in online gaming while staying at Robertson’s, BUT you should be able to check emails and post your Door County sunset photo on social media!). ↟↟↟
Idlewild is located at the juncture of the waters of Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor. The rejuvenating scent of the forest, the pristine waters and the closeness with nature makes it easy to take a break from the cares you left behind. Directly across the harbor from Robertson’s you will see the steep, densely wooded bluff of Potawatomi State Park. The 1,225 acre sanctuary is perfect for bicycling, bird watching, hiking, observing native Door County flora and fauna, picking wild berries in season and picnicking. The park is open year round from 6am-11pm.
As nature changes the landscape in the spring, the woods become blanketed with white trillium. Life unearths gradually and proceeds swiftly this time of year in Idlewild. Nearby apple and cherry orchards bloom in late May and walleye fishermen quietly troll the harbor every night. With over 200ft of shoreline, a historical and spacious permanent pier (8ft x 120ft), and protected moorings with finger piers and boat slips, Robertson’s is a gem of a place for boat, fishing and nature lovers alike.
In autumn, the view across the protected water of Sawyer Harbor is spectacular. One can observe the slowly changing panorama of colors and feel the refreshingly crisp fall air settle deeply in your lungs. The fresh, sun-warmed days and water-cooled nights are sure to make you feel stronger in body and soul.
If activity is what you enjoy, there is a challenging eighteen hole golf course located at the entrance to Idlewild. You may also have interest in a day trip to the more populated areas of the county where you may indulge in village shopping, delight in local festivals, or flavor locally crafted beer or wine at one of the various craft breweries and wineries. One of our personal favorite activities, perfect for any age, is embarking on an afternoon adventure up the peninsula for a picnic and evening musical at Northern Sky Theater located in Peninsula State Park. Their incredible outdoor venue and all original productions are sure to fill your hearts with joy and wonder.
Whether you are bicycling the winding, wooded, back country roads, taking an invigorating morning meander or cozy sundown voyage by boat to nearby historic Sherwood Point Lighthouse, or are curled up with a favorite book on the dock or in front of the fireplace, the closeness with nature and time spent with your closest loved ones at Robertson’s Cottages at Idlewild will leave a genuine and lasting impression in your hearts.
Long time visitors and passing through vacationers alike are regularly heard describing Robertson’s as their ‘happy place’, their ‘home in Idlewild’ or, ‘a little slice of heaven on earth’...that being said, we would like to take this opportunity to be clear and direct about the practical details and realities of life at Robertson’s Cottages at Idlewild. We appreciate your unconditional understanding as we attentively and heartily navigate the ins, outs, ups and downs of anything and everything that arises with(in) these remarkable, rustic and vintage (OLD) cottages.
Sometimes the sink drips and sometimes the shower leaks. There are leftover rust stains in the claw foot tubs from generations of use and the vintage bed frames tend to wobble. The fireplaces and wood stoves are decades old, time tested and insurance approved. Be weary of the wind and green wood sold. Smoke MAY enter your cottage when in use - if so give the 'cracking an ol' window trick' a try to see if that helps.
We do not provide firewood, bed sheets, pillow covers, bath towels, beach towels, toiletries, hair dryers, cable television or pantry items other than salt & pepper. Not a single one of our cottages available includes air conditioning. All of the cottages feature ‘almost’ all original windows to finagle open, a rejuvenating harbor breeze and a few beloved fans to push the midsummer air around on the most humid nights. Traditionally, this area is known as “Nature’s Air Conditioned Vacationland”...but if it's sweaty o'clock and you have reached a point of physical, mental or emotional discomfort, we highly recommend a good ol’ fashioned dip in the lake. Nothing soothes a sweaty body or nurtures an inner child more than jumping off the end of the dock!
The wilderness is right outside and all around us. A stay in Idlewild means experiencing nearly the full spectrum of the natural world. Animals of Idlewild you may encounter during your stay include, but certainly aren't limited to, black squirrels, flying squirrels, red squirrels, regular (grey) squirrels, bats, Bubba (Robertson’s resident Bulldog), bunnies, chipmunks, deer, foxes, muskrats, mice, opossums, porcupines, raccoons, skunks and woodchucks...not to mention a PLETHORA of native and migrating birds, a variety of scaly slithery friends (who at times choose slither swimming as a means of transportation from one destination to the next) and bugs. Bugs have zero restrictions in Idlewild. Occasionally you may find a spider in the shower, experience the delightful buzz of a mosquito near your ear, or meet our little friends the gnats who are known for squeaking through screens in the evenings if lights are left on.
As you mentally prepare for a stay at Robertson’s, taking a moment to visualize this experience as ‘camping’ in conjunction with the MODEST amenities of a charcoal grill, coffee maker, refrigerator, stove and oven, cookware, tableware, microwave, mattress, pillows, extra blankets, a VERY small television and DVD player, flush toilets, warm showers, walls and a roof over your head, we feel you will have a memorable experience. If you’re looking for a refined, air conditioned, materially pristine and virtually bugless place to vacation, we fully honor that desire and sincerely support your decision to choose accommodations with one of the many facilities available in Sturgeon Bay.
We feel a stay at Robertson’s Cottages truly all comes back to those looking to reconnect to a simpler time, a time before all things instant and wireless...an uninterrupted, slower time, deeply rooted in all things natural and nostalgic.
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Pre Season (Beginning of May - June 20), Peak Season (June 20 - August 22) & Post Season (August 22 - End of October)
There is a two night minimum stay for all Pre and Post Season dates. Over Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend and Columbus Day Weekend there is a three night minimum stay requirement. During Peak Season there is a minimum 7 night stay requirement, arriving on Saturday and leaving the following Saturday.
Please Bring: Bed sheets, pillow covers, bath and hand towels, beach towels, toiletries, hair dryer, and pantry items.
Pet Policy: Dogs are warmly welcomed guests at Robertson’s. There is a per night per pet fee. Small orange shovels are located around the property for cleaning up after your pet. When leaving a pet unattended in a cottage we ask that you make arrangements to check in on them for their safety and to avoid damages to the cottages. If you would like furniture coverings for your pet(s) please do not hesitate to ask! We are more than happy to supply you with some!
Boat Mooring: There is a per night per boat fee. We are able to guarantee one boat slip per cottage-typically more are available. If you are bringing a boat please let us know when reserving so we may add the boat slip fee to your total.
Extra Guests: Each Cottage is set up to comfortably sleep up to 6 people. There is a charge per extra guest over 6 guests (of any age) per night, up to 8 guests per cottage.
Check in time is anytime no earlier than 2pm and check out time is no later than 10am.
