Entire home

Whaleback Retreat

Photo gallery for Whaleback Retreat

A single-story house with a covered porch, a front door, and a small deck area.
A kitchen with a wooden countertop, hanging knives, and a window with artwork.
A kitchen with a large island, a refrigerator, and a dining area with a table and chairs.
A bunk bed with a desk and chair, a window, and a view of trees.
A marina with boats docked, a wooden bridge, and a building labeled "Falling Waters Lodge".

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Your own private chef
    One of the few properties offering private chef services.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Lake Leelanau

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Dog-friendly
  • Toys
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Leland, MI
  • Place, Lake Leelanau
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Historic Fishtown
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bunk Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

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

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Come enjoy Glorious Leelanau County. This is where Memories are Made
In-Town Leland. Walk to Beach. Good for Groups! Gas fireplace
Leland
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (182 reviews)
In-Town Leland. Walk to Beach. Good for Groups! Gas fireplace

About the area

Leland

Leland is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
View more Holiday homes in LelandOpens in a new window
Map
Leland, MI

What's nearby

  • Lake Leelanau - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Historic Fishtown - 2 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 5 min drive - 7.9 km
  • Front Street - 33 min drive - 49.0 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 40 min drive - 56.6 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Village Cheese Shanty - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪VI Grill - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Cove - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Roman Wheel Pizza & Subs - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Fiddleheads - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Whaleback Retreat pet-friendly?

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

How much does it cost to stay at Whaleback Retreat?

As of 28 October 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Whaleback Retreat on 8 November 2026 start from NZ$3,598, 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 Whaleback Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Whaleback Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Whaleback Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Whaleback Retreat located?

Situated in Leland, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. Van's Beach and Historic Fishtown are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

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 10 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 10 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 10 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 10 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 10 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family friendlyVery nice hostKitchen left a little to be desired but may improve Bedrooms and beds were good
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Communication with the host was excellent. He was very responsive to our every need.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great weekend away!

The location was fantastic! Minutes from fishtown! exploring the area and the wineries!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was in a great area very close to downtown Leland. Host was very responsive and his home had everything we needed!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful get away spot for families that is close to FishTown and Van's beach.

Plenty of room in this home for all of the family. Less than a 5 min drive to Van's beach or Fishtown. The property is expansive and we enjoyed our stay. Thanks!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 June 2025
Thank you.. yeah that yard is expansive, I feel like I need to be writing poetry
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fourth of July Weekend

We had an incredible stay at Bradley’s home. The pictures were exactly how the home was set up. A full kitchen full of all the cooking utensils you need. Rooms and bathrooms were all clean with plenty of towels to use. It was the perfect location, 5 minute ride to Leland where we enjoyed two delicious fish dinners at the Cove. Then only a 25 minute ride to the Cherry festival in TC. We enjoyed a beautiful day at the sleeping bear beach as well. I would 1000% stay here again. Bradley was very responsive if I needed to ask any questions as well!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a beautiful property whose location is just right: 30 minutes or less from major sites such as Sleeping Bear Dunes, TC, lighthouse, beaches, Fishtown, Glen Arbor, wineries. The rooms are spacious and everything you need is provided.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
We've stayed in many vacation rentals over the years, and while this property has several positives, there were a few important things we wish we had known before booking.The location between Lake Leelanau and Leland is excellent, the backyard is spacious, there is access to a nearby dock, and the owner was easy to communicate with.Our biggest concern was that there is a second occupied house on the property that shares the backyard and driveway. This was not disclosed in the listing, and we specifically book VRBOs for the privacy of having our own space. While the neighbors were nice, this is something future guests should know before booking.It's also worth noting that although you enter the home on the first floor, the main living area is upstairs, so guests will need to use stairs to access the kitchen and living spaces. The home also appeared to be the owner's primary residence when not being rented, with personal belongings throughout the house, including clothing left in the dryer and a child's room full of personal items.There were also a few maintenance and convenience issues. The dishwasher did not clean dishes well, some basic kitchen items like measuring cups and scissors were missing, and the back door did not appear to lock properly.Overall, we enjoyed the location and appreciated the owner's communication, but greater transparency about the shared property and attention to a few details would have made for a better experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback