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Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest!

Photo gallery for Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest!

Exterior
Private kitchen
A dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a kitchen in the background, and a view through a large window.
A modern kitchen with wooden beams, a dining area with a wooden table and chairs, and a large window providing natural light.
Dining

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Room to spread out
    Enjoy spacious layout that give everyone more room to relax.
  • Steps from the shore
    Top-rated for its nearby beach, ideal for sunbathing and swimming.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Manistee, MI
  • Place, Magoon Creek Nature Area
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Place, Manistee National Golf Course
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Manistee Lake
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Airport, Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪27 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1 - Main Floor

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2 - Upstairs

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3 - Upstairs Bunk Room

2 Double Beds and 4 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1 - Main Floor

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Bathroom 2 - Upstairs

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area

About this property

Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest!

If you're looking for a peaceful family home with Lake Michigan access, look no further. The best of both worlds - solitude AND the beach - await you at our lake house. We are part of a friendly and quiet association that shares Lake Michigan sandy beach access (5-10 minute walk, and 90 stairs down the high bluff), while also being abutted on two sides by Manistee National Forest with hiking trails out the back door. We've set up our home for rest and relaxation with brand-new beds, a recent kitchen remodel, outdoor shower, firepit, and wraparound deck. Enjoy a quiet morning, head to the beach for the day, and come back for drinks on the deck and a home-cooked meal in the modern kitchen. Short drives (15 min) north to Manistee, or south to Nordhouse Dunes - or venture further (30 min) to Ludington. The property itself is extremely quiet and set away from any traffic. High-speed (Starlink) internet provided to ensure you don't feel too disconnected - unless you so desire! This is a beach cottage and there is NO air conditioning. There are ceiling fans in each bedroom and extra fans throughout the home.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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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

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
O Strip any bedsheets that were used, and place in a pile in the middle of the room o Place any used towels in the bathtubs o Hand-wash any dishes that don’t fit in dishwasher
O Bag all trash and put it in the blue Republic bin outside. o Take all of your food with you. o Close all windows and lock all doors.
If there is anything we can improve on, please feel free to reach out to us privately and mention those suggestions so we can address them as best we can for future guests. Thank you! Justin
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3919660vb
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

About the area

Manistee

Located in Manistee, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Ramsdell Theater and Manistee County Historical Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Manistee National Golf Course and Manistee Municipal Marina.
View more Holiday homes in ManisteeOpens in a new window
Map
Manistee, MI

What's nearby

  • Magoon Creek Nature Area - 12 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Manistee National Golf Course - 14 min drive - 11.5 km
  • Tainer Lake - 14 min drive - 11.9 km
  • beach near Old Red Apple Road - 16 min drive - 12.6 km
  • Manistee Lake - 18 min drive - 17.6 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 23 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bungalow Inn - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪The Grill @ Manistee - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Inn's Coffee Pot - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪4 and 14 Sandtrap Bar - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Osprey Grill - ‬16 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Woods & Water! Lake Michigan house, surrounded by Manistee National Forest! located?

This family-friendly Manistee holiday home is located on a lake, just steps away from Huron-Manistee National Forest and Lake Michigan. Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness and Magoon Creek Nature Area are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.4

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. 9 out of 11 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 11 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 11 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 11 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

jnykamplax10 N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mel G.

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

Beautiful location

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The location to the beach was a short walk. Loved that the home and beach were quiet.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 26 August 2024
Thank you Mel - glad you had a nice stay. The quiet of the area was one of the main attractions for us as well. Come again anytime!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeff W.

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

Manistee Getaway

Great home in the woods in Manistee with an easy walk to the association access to the beach of Lake Michigan. Close drive to the public beach in Manistee. Great area to have fun and get some R&R.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 August 2024
Thanks for the review, Jeff! Glad you enjoyed your time here, and thank you for leaving things in such good order.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Adam Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great time here with our large family. The location is quiet and secluded (but an easy drive to Manistee). We could hear the waves from Lake Michigan just stepping out on the deck. The house has plenty of toys, games and books for younger children. The kitchen was spacious and had all of the necessary items for preparing meals. We especially appreciated the dishwasher (which you don't always get in rental). Also, the full-size washer and dryer was a big help with a group our size. This is a wonderful option for those looking to relax.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Taty N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The house and location are both excellent. The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need for cooking, and there’s plenty of space for everyone—especially for kids. The firepit was a wonderful feature that we made use of every night. The neighborhood is very quiet, which made for peaceful, calm nights. Walking to the beach takes less than 10 minutes, and you simply can’t go wrong with Lake Michigan—the beach is endless, quiet, and the water is beautifully blue. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris T.

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

A great place in the woods!

Our stay at woods and water was perfect! They had everything that we needed and had comfortable beds for all of us to sleep in. We really enjoyed having coffee and drinks on the back deck while the deer walked by and went swimming in Lake Michigan each day we were there. We look forward to the next time that we can return.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 20 July 2024
Thanks Chris! Glad you guys enjoyed the place. And thank you for being a great guest - we appreciate the condition you left the house in when you departed! Come back any time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tricia W.

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

Perfect Spot!

We loved everything about our stay. The size of the house was perfect for 5 of us and could have fit 5 more comfortably. We loved the open kitchen. The propane stoves made it so cozy and warm when we came back from a chilly round of golf. You can see the sunset right through the living room window. We had plenty of privacy in the nice wooded surroundings, which is exactly what we were looking for. We sat by the bonfire each night. We loved that there was an option to do laundry. Keeping in touch with Justin was very easy. He had all the best tips for the Manistee/Ludington Area. We will most definitely be back . If It was possible to give this place a 20/10 we would!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 October 2024
Thank you! Glad you had a great weekend - October can be some of the nicest time to be up here.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kent C.

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

50th Anniversary Family Reunion

The area around the home is quiet and woodsy. You can see Lake Michigan between the trees and hear the sound of waves. It was about a 8-10 minutes to walk to the staircase and down to the beach. The staircase is steep and tall but it is very strong and sturdy with handrails on each side. The beach is lovely and private. The home is spacious and clean, with a well equipped kitchen and sociable eating area. The beds were comfortable with cozy and clean bedding. Since our group was large, with extended family, we appreciate that the home has multiple areas for smaller groups to visit, play games, nap, and sit by the campfire. Overall it was a very enjoyable and memorable experience for all of us.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 October 2024
Thanks for being great guests! And again - congratulations on your golden anniversary!
Verified

8/10 Good

John M.

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

Woods and Waves is all you will ever hear!

This place is awesome!The beach is a short hike up the back side of the bluff and the stairs down lead to a breath taking view of the lake and soft sand to rival any beach in Florida. The lake here has a nice sandbar close to shore and was perfect to "challenge" my kids to jump over the waves. My partner and I were able to get our three kids (8-4y) up and down the stairs with no issues; one parent in front and one in back. The included beach gear was awesome and just the right amount for our family of 5! Our first day there was 17mph sustained winds and the house is in the woods and is protected by the bluff. Which is great because we could still play some card games outside even when it was gusty and it would be easier to get the fire going. There's tons of seating and enough room for everyone inside and out. You could very comfortably bring 2 families of 5 members (10 total).The house is stocked well with spices, condiments, cooking gear and there's still plenty of room for your food.A tip for the summer months, throw open all the windows and doors (that have screens) that you can ASAP, turn on every fan you can find, they have many extra fans. It took about 4-5 hours to get the upstairs to a sleep-able temperature around 80F. The upstairs bedroom had a small window A/C. Yay!If you have any sort of mobility issues getting down to or up from the beach could be very challenging. I[m out of room to talk this place up! Thanks for everything Justin!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

4/10 Poor

Austin L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy

Quiet location. Great beach. No AC!!

The house was in a wonderfully quiet location, which is what we were wanting. It was well stocked and had most everything you would want (although kinda odd they don't have a pizza pan). The outdoor shower was fantastic. The beach was lovely. And it was great being so close to the trails in the national forest. Downsides.There is no AC in the house. And even with the windows fully open it got warm and uncomfortably humid in the house. The listing didn't mention that there wasn't an AC. Given that AC is a fairly standard amenity, It would be best to be upfront about this on this listing. The listing also mentions the house is a 5 minute walk from the beach. It took us about 12 minutes to walk there. Although not explicitly stated on the listing, it gives the impression that the beach is right across the road. In reality you have to walk up a hill, passed a bunch of houses, down a very long and very steep stairway to get to the beach. If you forgot anything or need a rest room, you have to reverse the whole process..It would be best to be upfront about this so people aren't surprised
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 August 2024
Hi Austin, thank you for taking the time to review our place. We appreciate your suggestions on how your family’s experience could have been better. Certainly our intent was not to be deceptive or misrepresent our home’s features in the listing. A pizza pan is a good suggestion! I’ve updated the walk time estimate in the listing to reflect a range, and we’ve always been up front about the stairs. AC was not listed as an amenity, and we’ve honestly found that most evenings in Manistee along the lakeshore cool down nicely for sleeping hours (summer average low is ~60F). We also have ceiling fans and floor fans in every room for this reason. All that said, we genuinely hope that your family’s vacation didn’t feel like a 2-star / negative experience. Thanks again for leaving the house in great shape when you left! Enjoy the rest of your summer. Best regards, Justin
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen L.

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

Great stay! Enjoyed the house!

Great house; great, well-equipped kitchen. Loved fire pit and used almost every night. Used grill a few times and had everything we needed. My friends' 9yrold twins used the swing a lot. Brought our travel hammock. Beds comfy and plenty of them. Lots of fans and windows, so easy to stay cool (didn't need them all, tho, wasn't too hot.) Loved private quiet beach! Bathrooms are large. House had everything we needed. Outdoor shower had warm water and hose was handy too for sandy feet. Things to know: inside table seats 6 which worked for us because we didn't all sit down to eat at same time. There were 8 of us total. Extra table and chairs in closet if needed. Plus big deck and picnic table outside and lots of adirondack chairs. House is not on the lake and the view to lake is at a distance through the trees, best view is from upstairs living area. One midsize tv is in upstairs living area. Overall it was a great outdoorsy location with lots of comforts! Bugs weren't bad. Room to play outside and explore in woods a little. As other review said the walk to beach is up gravel hills but short and easy for our group. Stairs are sturdy but long and steep down to beach!! We went many times to play or walk and see sunset. We went a couple times to 5th avenue public beach, which was great w bathrooms, snacks, volleyball and playground. We biked a GREAT (Betsie) trail from Frankfort to Beulah on e bikes from Crystal Lake Adventures.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2025
Thanks for your review, and for leaving things in such great order! Glad you all enjoyed the house and found some fun things to do in the area (there’s a ton!).

About the host

Hosted by Justin Sellers

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Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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