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Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!

Photo gallery for Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!

A living room with a brick fireplace, two sofas, a coffee table, and large windows offering a view of trees.
A room with a large window overlooking a lake, a guitar leaning against the window, and a chair in the foreground.
A hot tub with three people sitting in it, surrounded by trees and a view of a body of water.
A lakeside property with a dock, boats, and a house with a deck.
A round table with intricate metalwork, surrounded by four chairs with a lattice back design, set on a wooden deck with a view of a lake through large windows.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation

    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool on site
  • Onsite parking available
  • Dogs and cats allowed
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Dowling, MI
  • Place, Bristol Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Kellogg Arena
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Place, Firekeepers Casino
    ‪30 min drive‬
  • Airport, Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.)
    ‪40 min drive‬

Where you'll sleep

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!

Our property is centrally located in southwest Michigan, within a 3-hour drive from Chicago and Detroit. The region is known for it’s rolling hills, golf courses and hundreds of lakes. It is a place where recreation awaits year-round! No matter what your outdoor pleasure, from golf to water sports, you can find it here in our beautiful natural surroundings!

Our house sits on 3.3 wooded acres, and from it’s hillside perch, enjoys broad views overlooking Bristol Lake. The property is on a quiet residential street. Bristol is a 165-acre all-sports lake and is excellent for fishing, swimming and all manner of watersports. The lake shore consists of a mix of areas of sand and loam. The water gets deep gradually and is relatively-friendly to younger children (although we recommend life jackets for non-swimmers).

We have a large grassy yard along the lake with enough trees to give some comfortable shade in the sunny summer afternoons.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

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

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)

$150 fee/pet

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

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

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

Please gather up used sheets on end of beds, and set used towels near washer

Please put all trash in large trash cans at the end of the driveway

Please wash and put away all dirty dishes before you leave. Also, put all moved furniture or outside beach & boat items back to original location.

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

Noise Levels: During the day, noise should be kept to reasonable levels. After dark, noise levels should not exceed that of a close conversation.

The septic system is very effective; however, it will clog up if improper materials are flushed. DO NOT FLUSH anything other than toilet paper.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 728241vb
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 are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock

About the area

Dowling

Located in Dowling, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Hastings Country Club and Gull Lake View Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary and Hidden Pond Preserve. Travelling with kids? Consider Cadwallader Park and Peace Labyrinth. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating.
View more Holiday homes in DowlingOpens in a new window
Map
Dowling, MI

What's nearby

  • Bristol Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Kellogg Arena - 22 min drive - 25.4 km
  • Firekeepers Casino - 30 min drive - 36.1 km
  • Binder Park Zoo - 30 min drive - 36.6 km
  • Gun Lake Casino - 43 min drive - 62.8 km

Getting around

  • Battle Creek Transportation Center - 22 min drive
  • Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Horn Creek Pub - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Wild Mike's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Edwards - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪The Pub - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Bedford Steak House - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!?

As of 20 September 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! on 21 September 2026 start from NZ$1,836, 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 Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! located?

This family-friendly Dowling holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Bristol Lake, Little Mill Lake and Clear Lake. Mill Lake is 2.4 mi (3.8 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. 125 out of 146 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 146 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 146 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 146 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 146 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house. Lots of room. Lots of amenities.
Stayed 16 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 6 September 2026
Thank you Susan! So glad you all enjoyed your time at Bristol Lake! I hope you come back again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place! Well stocked and clean!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 31 July 2026
Thank you Mary! I am so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bristol Lake! Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice cottage with big bedrooms, kitchen with lots of counter space, and a beautiful screened in porch. Yes, there are a lot of steps to the lake, but we knew that going in so it was fine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 August 2026
Thank you Kelly! I am so glad you enjoyed your time at Bristol Lake! Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love this property!!!!!! Easy clean and great communication!!! Will go back there definitely!!!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 June 2026
Thank you Robert, for your kind review! We are so glad you all had a great time! We would love to have you back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
If you are on the fence about renting this house...just do it. You won't be disappointed! It's beautiful inside and the view is so nice. The screened in porch area was nice for relaxing and having morning coffee. Hot tub was hot and ran well. Plenty of towels too! Basement was a hit with the kids. Plenty of sleeping area and games down there. House stayed nice and cool. Plenty of pots and pans if you choose to cook. Keurig and regular coffee maker too. Lake was just down some stairs that weren't bad for us. We used the paddle boards and kayaks that were provided. We also rented the boat at the house which we had so much fun on! All of this, and great communication with host. I even left some earrings behind by accident, and they are mailing them to me! If we are ever back that way, we would stay again in a heartbeat. Thank you, Sue!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2026
Wow! Thank you Amy for your amazing review! I am so thrilled at what a great experience you and your family had at Bristol Lake! And, thank you so much for sharing! I hope you all come back again!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Loved the place! Hot tub was amazing!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 September 2025
Thank you Kyle! So glad you all had a great time at Bristol Lake, and in the hot tub! We hope you come back again soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cannot say enough good things about this beautiful home and it's owners! Absolutely delightful last minute booking, wonderful location and amenities, all of us want to return year after year
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 December 2025
Thank you Briana for your kind review! I am so glad you all enjoyed your time at Bristol Lake! We would love to have you back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very spacious lake house room for big families! Lots of beach toys for the kids and adults, we had a blast!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 29 August 2025
Thank you Ramona! We are so glad you all had a great time at Bristol Lake! We hope you come back again soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sue was an excellent host. Everything as described. The perfect fall getaway.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 10 November 2025
Thank you Brian! I’m so glad you all enjoyed your time at Bristol Lake! I hope you come again soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lake stay

The house is great, tons of room. Veiw of the lake is very nice. The area down by the lake is fantastic, lots of space, easy to get in and out of the water.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 August 2025
Thank you Justin! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bristol Lake! We hope you come again soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fall Getaway

Very nice cozy place to stay with plenty to do. Beautiful property to enjoy.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 November 2023
Thank you Caleb! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bristol Lake! Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful secluded stay

The home is very well equipped and clean, the location wonderful on the lake with so much to do. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves and the owner is responsive! looking forward to staying again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lake house

Had a wonderful time! I will definitely recommend this place.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 October 2023
Thank you Loren! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Bristol lake! Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Lake Retreat

The property was exactly as described, nicely appointed, and clean when we arrived. Perfect lake house getaway from the city.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 October 2023
Thank you Kellie! We are so glad you enjoyed your time at the lake! Please come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Bristol Lake Stay

We had a group of 8 guys on a golf trip. The accomodations were excellent and we had a great time.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 June 2024
Thank you Benjamin! We are so glad you all had a great golf weekend! Hope to see you back again next year! -Sue
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great House

A beautiful location with a great house!,VERY CLEAN!, the best equipped house we have ever rented.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Memorial Day Weekend

Stayed here with some friends and our dogs. Great stay. Was very relaxing and we had a blast swimming in the lake and wearing the dogs out. Would recommend to anyone.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A truly beautiful lake!

Pretty lake, very clean, nice house and very quiet. Had a great time enjoying the surroundings. Lake was warm, beds were comfy and house was well stocked! Thank you for sharing your house!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quick Getaway

This trip was just for my spouse and I and our pet. It was a colder weekend, but we enjoyed everything. We can’t wait to rent again when the weather is warmer.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 22 April 2025
Thank you Jesse, for your kind review! I am so glad that all 3 of you enjoyed your stay! We look forward to having you back again soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Private getaway

Absolutley love this cottage!! Perfect location on the lake with privacy. Loved being able to rent the pontoon boat too! We did daily tours around the lake on the boat with many stops for swimming. Had the best time
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 27 September 2023
Thank you Kim! I am so glad you all enjoyed your stay! I hope you come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful Lake House

Our family of 9 people from 3 states stayed at this house in Dowling for a wedding weekend. The house is very comfortable and the kitchen worked well for all of us. The water is a bit ‘tasty’ so bottled water is a good idea. We enjoyed the early mornings outside.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 November 2024
We are so glad you enjoyed your time at Bristol Lake and in our home! The water is well water, so if you aren’t used to that, it will be a bit different than city water. The water is filtered and softened and safe to drink though. We hope you come back again!
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice place, just needed cleaned

The property was great, it just was not clean.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 2 July 2024
Hi James, I’m so sorry the property was not clean to your satisfaction-I wish I would have known this when you arrived and we would have had it taken care of right away. We had our deep, Spring cleaning done right after you left-we will get that done earlier next year!
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Wonderful Host

Our stay was wonderful. The house was clean and comfortable. The only downfall was the trail to the beach area and the beach itself. The trail had rocks and sticks and was washing in. It is definitely not a good area for someone with bad knees. The water itself has a fast drop off not makong it very kid friendly. But, since we were 2 adults and a teenager, it was good for us. The hot tub was nice! Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 August 2025
Thank you Lisa! I am glad you all enjoyed your stay at Bristol Lake. Yes it is a trek to get down to the beach, but that is what makes it wonderful to enjoy the view sitting high above the lake, in the covered porch! And yes, at a point, walking out into the water, it does drop, which makes it so that diving off the raft, is safe. We never let our kids go past that point until they were really good swimmers. We hope you come again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

2023 Family Vacation

This is the second year in a row we have stayed at this property and what a home and property it is. My kids and I love to connect here while enjoying the basement games, the beach, the hot tub and the boat! Beautiful sunrises from the screened in room starts each day off right! Thanks Ray!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Winter Weekend Visit

The property was as expected and the view was beautiful! Hot tub was perfect for the winter weekend. Loved the screened in deck, cozy living area, games, local guide binder, and spacious bedrooms. Only a few minor negative things to note—the Keurig did not work, water filter on fridge needed to be changed, and downstairs bathroom had a musty smell. Still a great space with comfortable accommodations for a family who will be spending a lot of time on the lake during summer months!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

About the host

Hosted by Sue Micham

Host profile image

This home on Bristol Lake is owned by 2 families: Ray and Sue Micham, and Dan and Janel Garno. Sue and Dan are sister and brother. Ray and Sue have raised their 6 kids in Northwestern Ohio while Dan & Janel have raised their 6 children in Southern Michigan. Our families are very active, and have enjoyed fishing, catching turtles, frogs, and snakes, swimming, canoeing/kayaking, and water sports on Bristol during the warm months, and ice skating, sledding and ski trips during the cold months. We also enjoy taking a 1 hour and 15 minute drive over to the charming town of Saugatuck, on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is our hope that your family will also make lots of good memories and experience the relaxation, peace, and fellowship that we have found, gathered at Bristol Lake.

Languages:

English

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