The property is beautiful, relaxing and quiet. Flowers bloomed everywhere. Friendly dogs welcomed us and showed us to our doorstep. Woke up to the sounds of loons on the lake every morning. Comfy bed. Close to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor and Traverse City. Would 10/10 recommend to others.

We loved staying here! The gardens you see in the property listing are as beautiful if not even more so in person. Very pleasant setting right on a small lake. The cottage is lovely, great for 2 people, might be a little tight for more than that but still workable. The patio right outside the bedroom looking out onto the lake was a great way to start the day. We had a nice chat with the owner who takes great pride in the property. Easy short drive to Traverse City or Interlochen, depending on which direction you are headed. Highly recommend!

Very quaint & very nice!

We stayed 4 nights in this perfect cottage. It’s tiny, but charming in every detail. We were traveling with 2 teens and expected them to have to share a sofa bed. In fact, there is a sofa bed in each of the sitting areas. The indoor spaces (including the adorable and fully functional kitchen) are perfect for our family, but it’s the outdoor spaces that make this the most perfect cottage ever, starting with the adorable paint colors. The cottage is surrounded by flowers, the outdoor furniture is comfortable and the beach area is perfectly appointed. Our expectations weren’t just exceeded, but we’re blown away. We can’t wait to go back.

With am extremely hectic couple of months preceding our anniversary, my wife and I was looking for a quiet getaway for our anniversary, and came across this cottage. It was everything we had hoped for and more! Quaint, quiet, scenic, and well furnished. My biggest regret is we only had a couple days. Reasonable drive to Lake Ann andTraverse City for more activities. We will definitely stay here again, hopefully in the summer for some kayaking and swimming.

Such a beautiful area! We definitely will be back.

Very cute two story house with nice views of the lake. Full kitchen, two sitting rooms, 1 bedroom, and 1.5 bathrooms. The stairway is very narrow and steep, so some might feel uncomfortable going up and down.

Dorina was a very welcoming host who gave us our space. The cabin was clean and comfortable, and the kitchen well-stocked with utensils, pots, etc so we were able to prepare most of our meals. The location is a good distance from both Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes NP, and being right on a lake itself makes a nice place to spend the day. The cabin made a wonderful place to stay for our first vacation as a solo family.

We really enjoyed the access to the lake and the outdoor patio with a beautiful lake view. Conveniently located - short drives to Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Host was very helpful in her knowledge of the area.

We have stayed at the cottage several times although it has probably been at least three years since our last visit. In spite of a rainy week, this was one of the most relaxing vacations we have ever had. We hope that we are able to return before the end of the year.

Cute little small cottage, great for a weekend getaway. Little hard to find through GPS but the owners/managers were very responsive in giving directions and advice for our trip.

Just as advertised. Perfectly tucked away. Quaint, clean, and strategically located between Traverse City and Lake Michigan. Helps when the owner goes out of her way to make your stay just right. As in much of life, it's about the little things. Will return someday.

This property was everything I had hoped it would be and more! A beautiful cozy cottage with gorgeous perennial gardens by the lake. It was quiet and quaint. I loved the coziness of the fireplace for the chilly evenings. There were fresh flowers throughout the property for a welcoming touch. It was the perfect getaway and close to all that Northern Muchigan has to offer.

We love the characteristics of this enchanted little cottage! We got to spend memories with a family member that will not be with us much longer. She could have not been more thankful for her being able to do one last trip.

Cute house.. bed is a little hard:) but besides that, great!

This is a beautiful cottage filled with many wonderful details. The view of the lake and it's sunsets is the best, the gardens incredibly gorgeous. Janine the property manager, is a gem of a lady and is very attentive to any questions and can give many suggestions on things to do in the area, and Dorina, the owner, has made sure that the cottage is well equipped with just about all that is needed. I loved the attention to detail with her wonderful decorating skills!

This was our first getaway as a couple since becoming parents 18 months ago, and this property lived up to expectations and more! The cottage was adorable and pristine. It felt very private even being next to the house and was a great place to relax and venture to Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Would be perfect for a longer stay as it has a well-equipped kitchen, plenty of living space, and lots of ways to relax by and on the water. Would love to come again!

Enjoyed our stay! Easy communication with owner/manager! Would recommend this property!

The cottage lived up to all our expectations and was well represented online. All our questions were answered quickly and fully. Made our first VRBO experience a good one!

Awesome stay for get away weekend. Loved fishing in the row boat!!! Very clean. Cute decor

It's like a little bit of Heaven. 😇�

We have being staying at the cottage since at least 2004 and this was one of the most memorable and relaxing weeks we've had. . . . . and the fish were biting. Looking forward to our next visit, hopefully this fall.

This cottage is everything we want and need for a long weekend getaway. Comfortable, clean and affordable. It’s our fourth time staying here and we will be back.

First off, can't say enough about the hospitality. We were well taken care of from booking through our actual stay, and the owner is close in proximity yet still positioned us to feel like we had all the privacy desired. The garden is a work of art in itself, and the flowers that had been freshly picked and placed throughout the cottage were an amazing touch. We enjoyed kayaking, fishing was great (caught a number of good sized bass and bluegill), and brought our boat to hit the lakes that are right up the road. The lakeside fire pit made it easy to relax at the waters edge at night. We saw foxes, deer, and lots of different birds. Close enough to traverse city that its convenient, but just far enough outside to where you can really get away. Thanks again for the awesome vacation!

This cottage was everything we imagined it to be. The grounds were beautiful, the view incredible, comfortable and cozy. The cottage had kayaks available to use, so we went out on the water and enjoyed an early morning peaceful paddle. You can certainly relax and get recharged in this beautiful setting.

Lots of charm and thought went into every detail (from the fish on the wallpaper to the gardens), and I simply loved it all. I enjoyed the private setting. We were lodged among lakes and trees. First and foremost, this place was perfectly suited for our needs. It is close to the attractions in Traverse City (20 min away), Old Mission Peninsula, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, but feels far removed from city life. There is a laundry room in the cottage, and it operates on a trust system. For $1 a wash or dry, we used the washer/drier to launder our bathing suits and beach towels after a day at the beach. That was a major perk for us. We also appreciate the full kitchen. There are plenty of games and puzzles, which our young children enjoyed during the down time. I would definitely stay here again, and lengthen my stay for a full week. This is our first experience with an AIRBNB and I am simply blown away with how smooth the hostess made the process, and how comfortable she made the cottage.

What a great experience! This house was cute and the perfect size! The cabin offers many great amenities, a gorgeous view, and a super host. We loved our little week day get away, and even were able to walk into town and check out the brewery and party store that has everything! I would definitely recommend this property, it's HOST, and the town. We will be returning again, the short drive to the dunes, Traverse city, and Frankfurt this house is a great central location, for people interested in visiting many north-western cities.

Just returned home a few days ago from a 4 night stay at the Cottage. We had a great time. The area surrounding the cottage is beautiful and the lake proved useful for catching our dinner, on our last night in Michigan. The kitchen was well stocked and we prepared several meals. The cottage had ample lighting, was clean and very comfortable. I appreciated the small cut flowers that were placed throughout the cottage. A/C only on the main level, but with the cool days & patio door in the sleeping area, it wasn't a problem. I dealt with Janine during the reservation process and for a couple questions, shortly after we arrived. She was wonderful - quick with responses and provided her phone number if we needed more immediate help. Location was wonderful -- a short drive to Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Secluded, but not remote.

There are 3 things I want to go over in this review: 1. Janine Mongomery 2. THE COTTAGE! 3. Dorina Rudd. Janine is who we dealt with during the rental agreement process. She was extremely nice and prompt in returning my emails and answering every question I had. She was easy to work with and very professional. The cottage is a masterpiece! The gardens surround the property and were in full bloom during our stay. Flowers everywhere, stone sidewalks, cute little out buildings on the property that are even maintained well and the sounds of birds all day. It's set back off the road, so no busy traffic flying by right outside your door all day. Truly peaceful! Inside was more than we expected. From the pictures, I knew it'd be cute, but the details blew us away. Dorina's profession as a designer truly comes through in this cottage. Very unique, very cozy and more than we could have anticipated. We opened all of the windows and had the most incredible lake breeze all day long through the cottage. She has games and books available and a binder with the history of the cottage. After reading her story, you can't help but appreciate what she has done with the property. The cottage was very clean and the kitchen had everything we needed to stay for the week. The decorating was off the charts adorable! The color schemes and furniture used made this place a real treat to stay in! Very comfortable queen bed that sits right next to a large sliding door that faces the lake. We slept like a rock with the cool night breeze! Dorina was an absolute joy. We met her on our 2nd day and talked briefly. She was very friendly and approachable but our 5th day is when I really got to spend some time learning about her, her history and hearing some of her stories. I felt an easy connection with her. I told my husband that if we lived up there that there's no doubt she and I would be friends. Just a very REAL lady with stories that are definitely book worthy. Her personality and friendliness made our vacation even that much more memorable. We love the area. Northern MI just can't be beat. I would highly recommend this rental cottage to anyone looking for a peaceful, quiet vacation in a truly unique and charming cottage. 5 stars for sure!!

I've stayed at the Cottage Garden Guesthouse many times over the years and in every season. This little gem sparkles, whether surrounded by the lush summer gardens designed and tended by the owner (whose design sense and green thumb are amazing!) or covered in autumn leaves or big puffy snowflakes (the better to enjoy the gas Franklin stove). As another reviewer put it, you open the door and just BREATHE! The kitchen is vintage charm, with everything you need for housekeeping, BBQs, cozy homemade dinners, whatever your mood calls for. The cottage is on a lake bluff surrounded by pines, and the breezes are heaven! You can look across Lakeview Lake from the upstairs living room, or best of all, from the sliding glass doors in the downstairs bedroom. If you're lucky, at sundown on a warm summer night you may be treated to a short bagpipe concert from far across the lake. The decor is beautifully designed rustic charm, with lots of warm woods, touches of shabby chic, and all-around comfort. There's a nice patio outside the bedroom with cafe table and chairs, and a Weber grill. One of my favorite things to do is to sit on the patio with a good book and just watch the little nuthatches at the feeders, or the chipmunks darting in and out of the gardens. Pure, blessed peace! There's no other place quite like it.

We *SO* wanted to love the Garden Cottage – it had everything and MORE we hoped to find in a vacation rental for quiet semi-seclusion in a lakefront setting. While it most definitely delivered on the promise of quaint charm, our experience was it sadly lacked in comfort. The furnishings, certainly keeping in the “retro-cottage” feel, were lumpy, bumpy, and sagging – in some cases, the upholstery wearing quite thin. Furniture placement, particularly in the downstairs TV room, seemed illogical – the sofa facing AWAY from the TV (an easy if not lame distraction during rainy or evening hours). We tried re-arranging, but ultimately opted to bring our own camp chairs in from the car. The beautiful, expansive view across the lake from the upstairs sitting room, which should have offered hours of lingering pleasure, was distinctly marred by the lack of any comfortable seating. We were sad. Good lighting also seemed to be lacking, particularly in the kitchen where meal preparation and clean-up sometimes proved amusing, if not frustrating. In the sitting room, one had the choice between turning on the heat and turning on the lamp…which promptly extinguished itself whenever the thermostat turned too far to the right. We relocated the lamp. Dim lighting in the bathroom also invoked feelings of claustrophobia…but was perhaps good to distract from the hole in the ceiling where the exhaust fan was “supposed” to go. I do hope the owner will consider a contractor to remedy the situation before colder weather sets in, as even with the window full open and the door ajar, the after-shower atmosphere was decidedly moist, with everything coated in a fine mist which took some time to dry. What's truly ironic is that the owner happens to be an apparently well-decorated (no pun intended) interior designer – a fact repeatedly emphasized in the cottage PR. A reading of the copious guestbook comments over the course of 15 years indicates that either: a) we have ridiculously high standards; or: b) the owner is resting on her design laurels. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. We were left to scratch our heads in utter confusion as to how it's possible we are the only guests who might feel this way. Charm here is OFF the charts – loved it! But charm without at least an equal amount of comfort is meaningless – our opinion only – when we’ve waiting so long for a prized vacation. On the plus: the owner's agent, Jeanette, couldn't have been nicer or more helpful - appreciated!