After spending a week at Starry Skies Sanctuary, our family of 4 (mom, dad, teenage boy & girl) agreed this was our all-time favorite rental property. We were looking for a remote, quiet escape where we could do some fishing & spend time together without distractions, & this beautiful home checked all the boxes & so many more! There was quite literally nothing the hosts hadn’t thought of: well-appointed is an understatement! Every pot, pan, dish, condiment, spice, & kitchen gadget we needed was provided. There were plenty of beach towels; health & beauty items; detergents for the washer, dishwasher, & sink; blankets; books; board games; water toys (kayaks, paddle boards, small boat, canoe, floats, life jackets, scuba gear, 4 fishing poles & light tackle)... they really did think of everything! The home was extremely clean & smelled wonderful. Sadly the cloud cover didn’t allow for us to have a clear view of the stars during our stay, but it was still so quiet and peaceful to watch the sunsets & enjoy the calm, breezy evenings on the beach (as long as there is no light... any light source - phone, flame, flashlight - immediately attracts mosquitoes). We loved listening to the loons’ calls. The beach is fine, soft sand & is easy to walk on. There is lots of seating & opportunities to see different types of wildlife. We saw deer, various birds, monarch butterfly caterpillars, snakes, & minnows. The water near the bank is shallow, so it’s great for wading. You have to go out into deeper water to catch fish, though. A few things we learned about the island: 1. Make sure you line up your transportation on the ferry with your arrival & departure dates. I would strongly recommend either bringing a vehicle or renting one as the drive to town is about 25 minutes. Bringing your own car carries extra requirements with the ferry company, so be sure to know those. (The people there are wonderful and easy to work with.) 2. The water on the island smells of sulfur, so we bought bottled water for drinking & cooking. 3. There are no local places in town which sell fishing licenses anymore; they will all direct you to the state website to purchase online. Our T-Mobile phones had almost no service on the island outside the house WiFi, so we had to drive around in town searching for a spot with service to be able to purchase the licenses right before our charter, causing us to be a few minutes late to our boat. Overall, highly recommended! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our family of five really enjoyed our stay at Starry Skies Sanctuary. We had two friends join us for a few nights and there was more than enough room for everybody. The home was very clean and had all the supplies we needed and plenty of seating inside and out. The lakefront and all of the equipment provided were fantastic. We enjoyed kayaking, paddle boarding and rowing. This is a very family-friendly lake with a huge shallow shoreline that allowed the parents to relax while the kids played and learned, but there is also a lot of depth further out. We didn't fish, but everyone we talked to said it was a great fishing lake. The island was beautiful and so calm and quiet - the perfect respite. Wonderful roads, beaches, and sights. We rarely encountered other people in our adventures, but everyone we did was kind and friendly. The ferry ride over was so easy - a lot of seating options (open air, indoor tables, reclining seats). Given the location of the house, a car is really handy, so I recommend travelers book an auto slot on the ferry or rent a car. Thanks for a wonderful stay! We will definitely look to rent again on our next trip to Beaver Island.

This was the best house we’ve rented to date on BI. At first we were concerned about not being on Lake Michigan, but Lake G turned out to be even better for our group with this well stocked home. All the kayaks, paddle boards, canoe, and the floating dock made it perfect to entertain eight year olds and a three year old daily. When indoor time was needed the house had a well stocked library for all ages and games galore. We only used the tv once for a movie but that works too. Everything you need to cook meals is in the kitchen, including a large crock pot. There’s a cooler on site to pack picnics for day trips to area beaches with the beach toys and floaties on site too. Lastly, we had a wonderful storm blow through one night while we were there and we lost power, but the house has a back up generator which kept the fridge, microwave, and a couple of outlets going. The owner was amazing and responsive when we mentioned the power failure. Our two families will return to this house again. I can’t say enough nice things about this home and all it has to offer.

Getting to Beaver Island for an extended stay takes planning in advance if you plan to bring over a vehicle and depending on when you come, could require several months advance notice. Rental cars are hard to come by as well and a vehicle is needed if staying at this home due to its distance. So plan in advance. We brought our bikes and were very lucky to have Duffys get us a car a month in advance for the week of the fourth. Bringing a car wasn’t a option. Don’t assume if you can get your car there, that you can bring it back when you want. Also, call in advance so you know the ferry procedures for getting tickets, long term parking and shuttle services. The ferry ride there an back were great once we figured out how to navigate the process. Beaver island is beautiful and large, but very small comparative to Mackinac Island with regards to shopping, night life and restaurants. Everything closes early, too. So make sure to go straight to the grocery store upon you arrival. The home itself is a beautiful bike ride out. It is both paved Highway and dirt roads. Mostly dirt roads. Few fast driving cars, but overall courteous and waved and drove slow. The drive to the home is sandy dirt and a bit challenging for bikes. The home itself is beautifully remodeled, with ample room for many guests. It is situated in a lovely pine forest on the lake. The lake has a beautiful hard sandy bottom and is clear and provided great swimming minus the snakes who came to check us out (this is the entire island, including downtown, in Lake Michigan and on the roads. There are seven types and all harmless). The fishing on this lake is phenomenal. We had two wonderful dinners that include bluegill—from water to table. Kitchen is well stocked, including filet knives. The outside deck is great for eating, enjoying the nature and playing corn-hole on. We spent a lot of time on the deck area when we weren’t fishing, or biking. We also rented side x sides, another definite recommendation. Lots of fun and great way to see the island. Note they only take cash or check. If you fish, live bait can be bought from the hardware store in town. Pizza from the deli next to the grocery store is fantastic and definitely recommend. Shamrocks has a great white fish and chips and Ruben, too. This is a great home to get away from the cares of the world and the hosts were great at communicating. Definitely would suggest for anyone one looking to stay on Beaver.