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Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all

Photo gallery for Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all

View from street.
Bath 1
Bath 1 Vanity/Shelves
Bath 1 - Shower
Living Room showing Kitchen in background. View from Lakefront door.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Double Futons

Living Room 1

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Number of living rooms
Dining area

About this property

Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all

Remodeled cottage with three bedrooms, bedrooms 1 and 2 each with full size beds are located on main floor. Upstairs, bedroom 3 has two full size futons. An additional futon is available in an open room. Kitchen and bath remodeled in 2016. New carpet in 2025. Upstairs was recently updated spring 2019. Indoor dining area seats 6 people comfortably although you could fit up to 8. Outdoor patio set can seat up to 8 - 10. Bathroom has shower only, no tub. Boat dock is at least 150' or more, depending on season and will accommodate two boats.

Window air conditioners added in Spring 2019.

During July and August there is a minimum rental of 7 days, Sunday to Sunday.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

No child items are available. Busy Road.

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Events

No events allowed

No events allowed. Max Guest occupancy is 9 guests

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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)

Booked, house-trained and Leashed outdoors.

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Outside only

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish

Turn off the lights and lock the doors

Please make sure all dishes are washed and put away.

Blue trash can must be placed curbside, on bike path, Sunday night for early Monday morning pickup.

Leave beds unmade and all used linens on beds along with any used pillows. Leave towels hanging please.

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Smoking is okay outside. Please clean up all butts. No Parking on hill or by lake or on neighboring properties.

FIREWORKS ARE NOT ALLOWED! For campfires, please make sure there are no burning bans due to drought.

Please respect our neighbors and keep noise to a minimum. No loud anything after 10 pm.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3955375
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
Note from host: No events allowed. Max Guest occupancy is 9 guests
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

Houghton Lake

Located in Houghton Lake, this cottage is on the waterfront. Heights Marina and Pineview Highlands Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area and Houghton Lake Flats Flooding State Wildlife Management Area. Looking to get your feet wet? Jet skiing, waterskiing and water tubing adventures can be found near the property.
View more Cottages in Houghton LakeOpens in a new window
Map
Houghton Lake, MI

What's nearby

  • Houghton Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Pineview Highlands Golf Course - 2 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Heights Marina - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • South Higgins Lake State Park - 22 min drive - 31.2 km
  • Au Sable River - 27 min drive - 54.3 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 81 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Arby's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Garrett's Place - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Spikehorn Restaurant & Lounge - ‬18 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

How much is parking at Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Lakefront Cottage, family friendly, close to everything but away from it all located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within 2 miles (3 km) of Houghton Lake, Heights Marina and Pineview Highlands Golf Course. Houghton Lake Public Library and Houghton Lake Wildlife Research Area are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 41 out of 50 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 50 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 50 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 50 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 50 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is our third stay here. We have loved every trip. Houghton Lake is our happy place and staying here has allowed us to create wonderful memories. Great dock. Everything you need in the kitchen. Pet friendly! TV and WiFi helps for nights and rainy days. Will more than likely be back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marilyn W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was the perfect spot for our vacay. The house was clean, well organized and we very much appreciated the stock of paper towel, tp, soap, etc. The beds were comfortable and the large fans with the window a/c kept the home very comfy with high temps while we were there. We enjoyed sitting down at the water with the chairs provided. My daughter used the kayak and even gave her pups a nice ride.Very enjoyable vacation.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 16 August 2025
Thank you for the review. We appreciate you choose our cottage and are happy you enjoyed your vacation. Enjoy the rest of your summer! Thanks again
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amber W.

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

Great cottage on the lake

We had a wonderful time, the cottage is nice and clean. The dock is great also! We liked it so much we booked it for a week next summer already! I highly recommend this place!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melynda R.

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

Great cottage!!!

Wonderful cottage! Very cozy and comfortable. Beds were super comfy! Kitchen was well supplied as well. Really enjoyed the deck and fire pit area. Hosts were very responsive - we would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 August 2024
Thank you for your review. We love to hear that you enjoyed your stay and will welcome you back any time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

denise H.

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

Extremely nice Cabin on the water

Had a wonderful stay at the cabin, utilized the water and kayaks. Enjoyed the long dock and the use of it to tie our poontoin to! A wonderful place
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 24 June 2024
Thank you for staying and taking great care of our home! I appreciate your review!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elaine E S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was our second year renting and we were as happy this time as last year. We also brought our 14-ft fishing boat this year. The weather was perfect. Fishing was fun. Really enjoyed the new patio setup. The home is very clean and cozy . We also enjoy the amenities. The kitchen is well stocked with utensils, spices and more looking forward to 2026.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 19 July 2025
Thank you for staying at our cottage again. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. We try to stock the cottage with supplies that we ourselves like to have when we rent vacation homes and appreciate that you mentioned them in your review. We hope the remainder of your summer is great and you get some more time in using your new boat!!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julia T.

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

Adorable Cottage

Cottage is cute and clean. Boat dock has ample space and worked well to bring our pontoon.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 September 2023
Thank you for your review Julia.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Autumn C.

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

Great lakefront cabin

Our family stayed at this cabin for 8 nights. The cabin was very clean and the lakefront area was very well maintained. The host was easily reachable when needed. We were able to have our dog stay with us at this property and keep our boat on their dock during our stay. Perfect location for a family lake trip.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 14 July 2024
Thank you so much for staying at our cottage and for the nice review. We appreciate it!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelly B.

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

Wonderful cottage

Great cottage, quaint but modern. Nice updated kitchen and bathroom. Lots of room for guests, plenty of beds. Upstairs loft great for kids or teens. We enjoyed the sandy beach and fire pit. We rented a pontoon boat and spent several afternoons at the sand bar.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 20 July 2020
Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Grant D.

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

Houghton lake

Cabin was perfect size for large family. It was spotless clean and furnished with everything you would need for a week at the lake. Owner was quick to answer any question. 10/10 would recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa & John R.

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

Just right!

We really enjoyed our stay. This place had a great up north charm and had all the amenities of home! We brought our Seadoo. Wave runner and had the best spot on the lake to ride. This lake is huge. The shallow waters were easy to get in and out! Thanks for a great stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicole R.

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

Very Nice Cottage

We really enjoyed our week at this cottage. It was very clean and well stocked with everything you will need. We had a couple of cold, rainy days and it was nice that they provided some games to play and movies to watch. The beach was very nice and we loved watching the sunrise from the deck. Jennifer did a great job of communicating with us.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 23 July 2021
Thank you for staying at our cottage. We appreciate your review and feedback.
Verified

8/10 Good

mary r.

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

Very clean cottage and host very helpful.

The cottage was very clean. Everything you needed was provided. Great deck and view. Host let us use kayaks and was very helpful. The only real problem was the traffic out front with the extremely busy road and noise and the next door neighbors during our last weekend. 3 loud barking dogs, and not always on leashes who came over to our rental property. We then stayed inside the rest of our time. Left a day early because of that. But a very cute and very clean cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 July 2025
I am glad you liked the cottage and found it clean. I am very sorry that the neighbors dogs were an issue during your stay. I have spoke to them about the issue. Thank you for staying.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

LuAnn S.

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

Sweet memories

I can’t say enough good things about this special cottage! I felt like I had never left (my grandparents owned it many years ago). The owners have made improvements that are beautiful and yet kept the cabin feel. It’s very clean and has everything you need inside and out. Beautiful sunrises!!! Sandy beach for swimming. I really look forward to coming back next summer. Thank you Jennifer for everything!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

6/10 Okay

John G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Cute Cottage-Nice Deck- 4 Lane Busy HighWay

My title sums it up....I should know better than stay anywhere that accepts pets...Strong pet odor
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2022
Dear John Thank you for your review. We pride ourselves on ensuring a clean, welcoming home. We have a wonderful local cleaner and we wish that you would have allowed us an opportunity to try to remedy the situation. As you mentioned, we do offer pet-friendly accomodations for those families travelling with four-legged family members. Thank you for your meticulous care of our vacation cottage. Sincerely Jennifer Marquette
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marissa C.

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

Excellent!

Stayed here with a group of friends and would definitely book with Jennifer again! She was very easy to communicate with and made the check-in/checkout process very easy! We were able to use the dock for our boat and the water by the cabin is very sandy. The cabin is on a busy road which made using the boat trailer a bit tricky, but the location was very close to local bars, parks, and gas stations/convenience stores. Cabin was well stocked with kitchen supplies, bedding, and fans. Back patio also had an amazing patio set for 8 people with built in fireplace and grills to use. Definitely recommend this cabin!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathy P.

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

Enjoyable Stay

The lake house was very clean, nice smell of air freshener thru out the house. The house is pet friendly but there wasn't any smell of animals at all. Everything we needed was provided, kitchen items, bathing essentials including shampoo/conditioner, plenty of towels/washcloths. Altho there is a busy road in front of house we spent our time on the back deck or by the firepit near the lake. Didn't seem to notice the noise of the traffic much. View of the lake was amazing.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 27 June 2023
We appreciate you taking the time to leave a kind review. We are glad you enjoyed your stay and Houghton Lake and hope you will consider returning in the future. Thank you
Archival

8/10 Good

David R.

Enjoyed our stay.

We enjoyed our stay. We had a family of 6 plus our pooch. You are right on 55 but other than blocking traffic to back our boat trailer in it wasn't bad. Location on the lake is good. Fishing was excellent. Yard and neighbors were nice. Please fix the leak in the front room along the sill plate. We had a good rain one day and there was a stream flowing down the floor. Upgraded kitchen and bath was nice. Plenty of pots and pans to cook. Gas grill was exceptional. Drawbacks would be no closets or anywhere to hang up some clothes. The dressers were old and the soap inside the drawers was not what I'd like our clothes to smell like. Also seeing dead bugs in the drawers....anyway didn't care to live out of our suitcases for the week. Enjoyed our stay thank you for letting us make some memories with our kids!
Response from VrboOwner on 1 April 2020
Thank you for your comments. The water drainage problem just happened this year. We put a new roof on last year and didn't replace the gutters. Obviously not replacing the gutters was a bad decision. We have already scheduled new gutter installation and will be working on the drainage around the foundation this September. We never use the dressers but have taken your suggestions to heart and will be replacing the antique dressers with new chest of drawers for each of the rooms. Again we appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve our cottage and provide better service for our future guests.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elaine E S.

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

Perfect Week at HL

The pictures did no justice to this property. It is much better and bigger in person. The accommodations were fabulous. The owner has gone over and beyond. I felt like I was at a high-end hotel or a B&B. Everything was supplied as promised and more. Spices, several salt and pepper shakers, wax paper, foil, ziplocs etc. They allowed us to use their kayaks too. The view was amazing. Sunrises were fabulous. The home itself was on a busy road but we stayed in the back property and were never bothered by the traffic. The AC units were busy and the many fans were very accommodating! The house was immaculate and bigger than I even thought. The upstairs had three full size beds which I thought were only going to be two. The rooms were great Sizes! Extra blankets we're available if needed! The home was adorable. The decorations were perfect everything was spotless and in its place. When I needed to reach out to the owner, She was immediately available. I would love to come back next year! Thank you for your hospitality!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 August 2024
We appreciate you choosing our cottage and your positive review. We are happy you found everything to your liking and had a great vacation. Thank you for taking such great care of our home. We look forward to having you stay again in the future.
Verified

8/10 Good

shelly m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication

beware of swimmers itch

The rental property itself is very nice and clean. The beds were comfortable and the upstairs loft was perfect for our three kids. The fans and air conditioners kept the cabin very comfortable. They have 2 kayaks which were nice to use in the calm mornings. However, the first day my boys went swimming and 1 of them came out and had a rash on his back. I thought it was just from them getting into the seaweed and it didn't bother him so we didn't think much of it. The next day we went swimming my self and three children in front of the dock and when we got out we started itching severely, so we all took turns in the shower and still broke out head to toe in swimmers itch. It is the only time we have ever had it and it is awful. We left a day early because we were so miserable and couldn't go swimming anyways. It ruined our vacation. We talked to several neighbors to warn them, but they were already aware of it. We wish someone would have warned us. Swimming was poor in general because of the abundance of weeds and shallow water. We did rent a boat previous to getting the swimmers itch and went fishing. We did catch a few fish, but even fishing was challenging with how weedy the lake is. If you do rent a boat BeWaters was wonderful to rent from and are located in Lymans fishing store right down the road. They are also wonderful at that store. Overall the place is very nice and well stocked, but the swimmers itch and lake conditions made this our least favorite vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 22 July 2021
Thank you for your comments about our home. We are sorry to hear that several of you got swimmers itch and that it made your stay less enjoyable than expected. We have owned this home for many years and have not had an issue with swimmers itch personally or that we have been informed of by other renters. We will be sure to let future renters know there is a risk of swimmers itch. Houghton Lake is a shallow lake with max depths less than 22'. It is a great overall lake for boating, fishing and stopping at the various sand bars to just enjoy the water. It is regularly monitored by the DNR and treated to keep weeds in check while still maintaining habitat for fish.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gary A.

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

Super Value

The price was unbeatable. Right on the lake. Plenty of space.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ashley S.

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

Family vacation

Perfect getaway! Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Denise L.

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

Lentine Annual Houghton Lake Trip

We had a wonderful time!! I wasn't expecting to see sunrises from the kitchen table or deck, but I did and they were spectacular! One night we saw a meteor while we were having a fire. The weather was great, the lake was great, the cabin was great and we all fit. Thank you so much to our hostess!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

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

Great vacation

The property is clean well maintained and stocked with all necessary and appropriate amenities. Well done. Thank you.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Penny R.

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

Cute cottage with all you will need!

We wanted a fishing vacation and with the dock, it was exactly what we were looking for. We liked the cottage and there was all the kitchen needs you could ask for. Very clean. The property is on a very busy street with a small front yard and a large back yard. Overall, a good pick
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Jennifer Marquette

Host profile image

We have owned this home since 1994 and have created many family memories in this home. We have been visiting Houghton Lake for years prior to our home purchase.

Why they chose this property

We purchased this property as a vacation home as well as an investment. Eventually, we may look to retire in the area (if the winter doesn't get to us). The cottage was built somewhere around 1920 - 1930. While remodeling we found signatures on the exterior walls dated 1931 but are unclear whether they were visitors or were christening the house.

What makes this property unique

I love the cottage feel, especially since we remodeled. It is a mix of knotty pine and modern elements. The views from the deck and just the lakefront itself was the main selling point, not to mention the amount of room in the cottage. It is small but handles a fair amount of guests without being overcrowded.

Languages:

English

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