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Baby Bear on Little Glen

Photo gallery for Baby Bear on Little Glen

A dining area with a table and chairs, a kitchen in the background, and a view of trees and water outside.
A cozy room with a gray checkered sofa, a wooden dining table, a staircase labeled 'BEACH', and a small fireplace.
A wooden picnic table with benches, surrounded by trees and a lake.
A kitchen with a central island, white cabinets, and a view of the outdoors.
A small, single-story cabin with a sloped roof, a porch, and a view of a lake.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • By the lake
    Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Glen Lake

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Patio
  • Barbecue
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View map
Empire, MI
  • Place, Little Glen Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Glen Lake
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, Crystal River
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪45 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

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About the area

Empire

Located in Empire, this cottage is in a rural area and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours nearby.
View more Cottages in EmpireOpens in a new window
Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • Little Glen Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Glen Lake - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 4 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Crystal River - 6 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum - 13 min drive - 11.2 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cherry Republic - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Art's Tavern - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Boonedocks - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪River Club Glen Arbor - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co. - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Baby Bear on Little Glen pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Baby Bear on Little Glen?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Baby Bear on Little Glen?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Baby Bear on Little Glen?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Baby Bear on Little Glen located?

Nestled on the beach, this Empire cottage is within a 15-minute walk of Little Glen Lake and Glen Lake. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is 2 mi (3.2 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

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. 19 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place. We had a wonderful time!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 31 August 2025
Glad to hear it! Thank you so much! Come back next year!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Lake Cottage

Great views and quiet but close to local area attractions. Highly recommend for families.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 June 2025
Thank you for your kind words, Jeremy! We're glad you enjoyed your time on Little Glen Lake!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful Getaway

Baby Bear was a lovely getaway for our family. It was neat and clean with everything we needed for an amazing week on the lake!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
Glad you were able to enjoy the great waterfront setting of Baby Bear. Nice to be able to walk a few feet to the water. Let us know if we can help with any future vacations.
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Beautiful getaway on Glen Lake

Everything was very clean and nice. We enjoyed our stay but had to leave early due to it raining and cool the entire time we were there. Overall a great place to stay with a beautiful view of the dunes
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2022
Thanks for staying with Northland Vacation Rentals! We hope to host you again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Charming family trip

The cabin is cute, clean and great for a vacation. The real star of the show for us was the lake. It was extremely clear and shallow, making it great for kids. We loved swimming and hanging out in the lake every day of our trip. Nearby towns are adorable and the trails and parks nearby made for great family time. Highly recomended.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2022
Thanks for staying with Northland Vacation Rentals! We hope to host you again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little cabin wonderful location.

Cabin was very clean and efficiently laid out maximizing its space. Just steps away from the lake with its wonderful sandy bottom and shallow depth extending far from shore. Perfect. My only complaint was a too soft mattress.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2024
Thank you for feedback, Kevin! We'll be sure to share this with the owner. We're glad you had a great time at Baby Bear!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing Vacation Location

We enjoyed everything about our star at Baby Bear! The location is the best. Steps from Little Glen Lake and within driving distance of Lake Michigan and all that Leelanau Peninsula has to offer. The cabin is just as the listing states. Every bedroom has a wall mounted, oscillating fan with comfortable beds. It is important to note that there is no washer/dryer at the cabin so you can pack accordingly. Our family also stayed in Mama Bear which made for an excellent vacation week!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2022
Thanks for staying with Northland Vacation Rentals! We hope to host you again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful!

Baby Bear cottage was perfect for our long weekend getaway. Very clean and well appointed. Comfortable and cozy. Great spot right on Little Glen Lake and 3 minutes from Glen Arbor. The cottage was well documented, with instructions posted all around. I had to call in with an issue, and was put in touch with the owner who was very gracious and helpful. It would be a little tight for >2 adults, but for just the 2 of us, we would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Small but well appointed.

Loved the location on the lake. The beach and dock were wonderful. Also a great fire pit. It has a one person kitchen that has everything you will need. Bathroom is small…sink is really small. Plenty of towels. Bed was way too soft, but was okay once we took off the three inch mattress topper. (Fitted sheet did not quite fit the queen mattress.) Our granddaughter loved sleeping in the loft area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Julie! We'll make sure to share your suggestions with the owners.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Just like Tiny House Hunters

This house was very well appointed to make the best use of it's small size. There were plenty of hooks, towel bars and nooks and crannies to stow your stuff. They had a stash of firewood for use in the fire ring. There is a small beach and patio area with a picnic bench and a cord with clothes pins for your wet towels. It's small with no TV or internet, no washer/dryer or dishwasher but if you're a small family and want to get away to stay right on Little Glen Lake, this is perfect. It's similar to "glamping", but in a small A-frame. Bring your water toys, floaties and tubes. The water is knee deep for at least 50 yards out, so you can take a morning walk right in the lake!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
So glad you enjoyed your stay. It is a great property, the owners have thought of everything to make the most out of the indoor and outdoor space. Love your description of your morning walk! A great kid friendly lake. Hope you'll come back for another visit.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Very clean. Great property!

I have been staying in Glen Arbor on Glen Lake since was was 12. I am now 47. I have been consistently on Big Glen but was interested in exploring what stay is like closer to the dunes on Little Glen. This is a wonderful property for a small family just getting used to the area. Very very charming. Clean. Perfect for lake summer living. Not a lot of lounge space but with summer fun, why be inside? Was challenging to have teens with no TV or WiFi option so unless you are going to use your phone as a hot spot, watch out for a lifestyle change. We were lucky to be the only ones on the property for the week but would be a great spot for two families or multiple couples to rent out the entire offering. The management and on-site owners were very accommodating and super friendly. Great communication!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2022
Thanks for staying with Northland Vacation Rentals! We hope to host you again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cute property in a great location

Great location and cute property. It was great being right on the lake and we enjoyed the grill and fire pit. I would have liked a couple extra towels provided. Due to the humidity the towels did not dry out after showering so they were still damp the next day, so a couple extras would have been really nice. The information is a little misleading to say there is a fireplace and heater. The heater is a very tiny heater in the bathroom that only provides heat for a very small area, basically only the bathroom. Also, the electric fireplace does not put out a lot of heat and does not provide heat to the bedrooms. This is important to know in the fall or spring when the weather is very unpredictable. However, in the summer this would not be a concern. Overall, this was a great rental for the location. It’s hard to beat being right on Lake Glen! I would recommend this cabin to others and would rent it again!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
Thanks for letting us know that you enjoyed your stay. You're right about the weather this time of year you never know what it will be like. Today it's suppose to be close to 80! Wish we had know you needed more towels we would have been glad to drop some off. Be sure to let us know if we can help you with future vacation plans.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place

Wonderful location on the water with great views and still close to town and great hikes.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Exploring Michigan and it’s Lakes

Baby Bear was the perfect getaway we needed! We visited Traverse City last year, which was our first visit to MI. We decided this time to look for a cabin on the shoreline of one of the many gorgeous lakes throughout Michigan. The house was quaint , clean and the PERFECT setting so close to Glen Lake. We couldn’t ask for a more perfect setting for our much needed getaway. The only thing I regret is that we couldn’t get it for longer than we did . The sandy Beach area and the fire pit , a picnic table , the lounge chairs and BBQ made cooking and eating convenient and the view a plus . S’mores every night lake side by the fire pit watching the sunset and listening to the water . The book that is in the cabin is very helpful if you’ve not been to the area of Empire and Glen Arbour. We ventured out to Elk Rapids , just north of Traverse City . We found a very secluded conservation area off of the road side that had maintained wooden steps down to an amazing beach ! There was no one there , we brought our lunch and looked for Petoskey Stones all day. ( with success !!) We would definitely return to this property for any future trips or recommend it to anyone who asks us. Thank you Connie for the great communication surrounding our stay and any questions we had !
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 27 September 2020
Hi Elizabeth, WOW! I am so glad you ventured out and explored the area. Sounds like you and your family had a great Northern MI adventure! We would love to have you back next year!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relax and Unwind.

Quaint and comfortable cabin right on an inviting lake. Lake of WiFi was an opportunity for all of to unplug and focus on the relaxing natural beauty that surrounds the cabin. The lake is terrific for kayaking and paddle boarding. The shallow depth keeps the water warmer. It’s shallow for nearly a 100 yards out which makes it easy and safe for you g kids to play. The town of Glen Arbor is only a few short minutes away for groceries and other commercial outings. We enjoyed several hiking trails and the heritage bike trail. Truly a magical stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great beach house for a small family

We had a great time at Baby Bear. It had everything we needed in a perfect location. We’d like to come back next year with more family and rent both Baby and Mama Bear cottages. The lake is shallow and sandy, the dock is nice, and it’s a beautiful shady spot. The cottage is small, especially the bathroom, but it’s very well-appointed and easy to live in. We had a great week!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful spot on Little Glen Lake

We rented both cabins next to each other for a family vacation with our grown children and their families. Loved the lake views, outside spaces and dock. We rented a pontoon boat from a marina we could walk to from the cottages, floated on tubes and brought our kayaks. Lake is shallow and was fun for young kids. Cottages were well stocked. We were in the smaller cottage which was compact and would be good for a smaller family.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Little Glen Lake cottage

Was a nice week. Bathroom extremely small. Overall, comfortable and welcoming.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing!!!

Quaint little A-frame! Close to GLen Arbor and central to many other must-sees and dos! We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Nice view and comfortable cabin

Everything was really nice. We had crappy weather but the fireplace helped take the dampness out and made the stay much nicer. Driveway is a little difficult to find as the address is not separately listed.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
Glad you enjoyed your stay. We'll order warmer weather for you next visit! Thanks for the suggestion on signage, we'll mention it to the owners. Let us know if we can help with any future vacation plans.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Baby Bear Little Glen

The cottage was nicely done- Well thought out and the beach area was perfect for the kids!I loved that there are fans mounted on the wall in each bedroom! We vacation in Glen Arbor/Empire several times a year- We had a great visit and definitely will be back! Tracey Stavale
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
Thanks for sharing your experience at Baby Bear. The owners have done a great job of making the most of the cabin space. The beach was a new addition this year and has been a big hit. Look forward to having you come back for another stay.
Archival

8/10 Good

A little bit chilly

This cottage has an electric fireplace in the living room, but does not have any central heating. It was quite cold when we were there in October. Jody was nice enough to stop by with a couple of electric heaters, but having them all going was tripping the breaker. The cottage was nicely done and comfortable, but I do not think it should be rented out when the weather turns cold. Beautiful views of Lake Glen and very convenient to everything
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
Thank you for taking the time to review our Baby Bear cottage. We regret that the cottage was not comfortable, temperature-wise. This being our first season managing the property, we did not realize the limitations of the electric fireplace, bathroom wall heater and wiring. We have met with the property owners and they have agreed to end their rental season soon after Labor Day in the future. Our weather is unpredictable and we had enjoyed an unseasonably warm fall but it did turn cold for your stay and we apologize for any discomfort or inconvenience. We welcome the opportunity to make you more comfortable at a different property in Glen Arbor, should you decide to give us a second chance. We wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.
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