Entire home

Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks

Photo gallery for Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks

Exterior
Private kitchen
Exterior
Room
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Fireplace
    A rare find - cosy up in front of a warm, inviting fireplace.
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View map
Traverse City, MI
  • Place, Forest Lakes
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Arbutus Lake
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Turtle Creek Stadium
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Living room

1 Double Sofa Bed

Master bedroom

1 Queen Bed

River view Bunk Room

1 Single Bunk Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks

Charming 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 720 sq ft cottage with additional living space in "The Studio"(separate building that has the laundry & 2nd bathroom). Enjoy a getaway with family or friends in our cozy and private cottage. Tube or kayak down the river. Or, simply tie the tubes to the dock and relax while soaking in the natural surroundings. Make s'mores at the fire pit, hike the nearby trails or take a trip into downtown TC.
Bedroom 1 has queen bed. Bedroom 2 has 2 bunk beds plus trundle bed, living rm has a queen sofa bed. Complete kitchen, gas fireplace, AC units & ceiling fans. Slider opens to large wraparound deck w/dining table, gas grill, loungers & rocking chairs. Large lawn leads to hammock, fire pit, chairs & dock at riverside. (FYI: HISTORIC FLOODING IN 2026 WASHED AWAY THE DOCK. Planning to replace the dock but unsure of timeline for construction. Sorry for the inconvenience!) Kayaking, paddle boarding, tubing, swimming, fishing, hiking, biking & relaxing. 4 bikes, kayaks for 5 (3 single, 1 double) 4 tubes and 2 styrofoam paddle boards included.

New in 2026, The Studio, which is a separate building with a full bathroom with bathtub, laundry room and a cozy living space with sofa, recliner and game table.

We provide:
*Grill with propane and grilling tools/pans
*3 single kayaks
*1 double kayak
*2 styrofoam paddle boards
*4 tubes
*Life jackets (we have 3 adult and 2 small and 2 medium child life jackets for up to 70 pounds)
*4 cruiser bikes
*A variety of books, toys, board games, yard games
*Coffee (K-cups & ground), tea, cream, sugar and filters
*Complete kitchen with blender, microwave, toaster, Keurig, standard coffee maker, etc
*Smart TV with Roku, DVD player, Bose stereo, portable speaker and WiFi
*Towels (beach & bath) & linens
*Hand soap, dish soap, shampoo, Qtips
*Paper towel, toilet paper, storage baggies/foil/plastic & cleaning supplies
*Condiments, oil, vinegar, seasonings
*A bottle of water and a snack upon your arrival

You provide:
*Firewood
*Fishing poles

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
All ages welcome, though cottage not baby-proofed
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking anywhere on property

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2077832vb
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

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Shoppers can check out Front Street, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Traverse City Beach. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park and Centre Ice Arena are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the ice skating and snowmobiling.
Map
Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

  • Forest Lakes - 9 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Arbutus Lake - 9 min drive - 10.2 km
  • Turtle Creek Stadium - 11 min drive - 9.8 km
  • Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve - 11 min drive - 10.1 km
  • Spider Lake - 13 min drive - 13.4 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Culver's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Cracker Barrel - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Boardman River Cottage w/Kayaks located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within 6 miles (10 km) of Forest Lakes, Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve and Turtle Creek Stadium. Arbutus Lake and Spider Lake are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 7 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 7 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eryn G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place right on the river. Shannon thought of everything! Snacks, extra cables, air conditioning units, toys to play in the yard and the river. Would definitely stay here again! We were surrounded by wildlife—a porcupine, deer, and more!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca B.

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

Amazing Stay!

We had a great time during our stay at Sweet Willow Cottage. They really did think of everything! The bunk beds were absolutely perfect for our two kids (8&5)! We loved how it was far enough away from the city to relax and really feel up north, but close enough to downtown where there are so many fun things! We really enjoyed the river and nearby beaches and parks! Shannon was amazing with everything! The perfect host! 10/10 would recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Catherine C.

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

So much love emanating from this peaceful retreat!

It was the perfect getaway for our family of four with two children age 14 and 10. LOVE is the details!!! The fabulous books, the coziness, the colors, the breathtaking view on the river, the canoes, the supplies (coffee, tea, snacks, the brownies we devoured on the first day) made this sweet little cottage feel like home. We feel truly blessed to have experienced the Love and beauty of this place! Kindly,, Catherine, Sebastien, Lea and Louis
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tom S.

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

Wonderful cottage and surroundings

Loved it. Highly recommended and would definitely return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jaime S.

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

Cute Cottage on the River

Just what we needed for a family reunion. Rented this cute cottage and the larger house next door. Cottage was clean, cool, updated and well appointed. Perfect for a family of 4 to settle in and enjoy its amenities—the bonus being an adorable and affectionate neighborhood “cottage cat” who came round daily for pets and treats. Access to the River was great! Tubes and kayaks were supplied for fun on the cool river water. Would definitely recommend to others!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Samantha S.

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

Perfect location for family getaway

The property was clean, cozy and perfect for my family of 5! We loved coffee on the porch in the mornings, fires by the river in the evenings, and the kids loved playing outside. The visits from the neighborhood cat were especially enjoyed. The cottage was far enough away from downtown that it was quiet but also close enough to be convenient. We would love to come back and stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Caroline F.

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

Cozy creekside cottage

Loved Sweet Willow Cottage!! The owners do a great job thinking of everything! The creek view was picture perfect and the location was convenient to Traverse City, but outside the hustle and bustle for some real relaxation! Can’t wait to come back for another stay at this adorable and comfortable cottage!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Shannon Olshove & Lee Wares

Host profile image
About Us
My mom, Lee, purchased Sweet Willow in August 2020. She is a
native of Traverse City who raised her family here. In 1990, she
moved to San Diego California, but makes her way back to see
family and friends regularly. She purchased Sweet Willow as a
peaceful getaway spot to connect with God, nature and her kids
and grandkids.

I (Shannon)manage the cottage. I live in TC with my husband, Eric,
and our 2 adult children. Eric and I were both raised here and we
love where we live! He travels internationally for business. I work
locally in early childhood development. We enjoy outdoor
activities, especially mountain biking. Our son has made his way
into the professional mountain & gravel biking scene and we love
to follow him to his races all over the country when we can. Our
daughter is an artist who is also a barista at Mundos and we highly
recommend a visit to any of the 3 locations in TC. We love to stay in
other AirBnBs so we have learned (& are still learning) what makes
an enjoyable stay. We pray you will be blessed by your experience
here.

What makes this property unique

Peaceful & private!
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