Ethel's House--Sunny Home Away from Home--Downtown Saugatuck
5.0
Outstanding(61 Reviews)House in Saugatuck, MI
8 guests · 4 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this house rental
[[[Fall dates open! We will open summer 2025 dates on December 1, 2024. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to message us with questions or to inquire about specific dates.]]] "Beautiful," "close to everything," "comfortable," and "super clean"--in the words of some of our many repeat guests. One of the original Vrbo Saugatuck listings--we hosted our first guests in 2004--this popular cottage is made available each summer and fall. Perfect for 2 to 8 friends, 1 to 4 couples, and small family groups that include grandparents.
***COVID-19 Info: We have always taken cleaning and disinfecting very seriously. If you have concerns, please ask.***
Walk to everything, even the beach if you're up for an adventure that includes a pedestrian ferry! You will feel like a local when you vacation in this lovingly restored home located just one short block from charming downtown Saugatuck, on The Hill, a leafy residential neighborhood. Walk to shops, galleries, cafes, pubs, a day spa, a yoga studio, a playground, and the harbor boardwalks. Rent a bike and explore picturesque neighborhoods, country roads, and our world famous coastline. If you've never seen a Great Lake, you'll swear you've stumbled upon the sea, but--no salt, no sharks, no worries. Relax on the most beautiful beaches anywhere.
Perfect for eco-conscious travelers. Stunningly beautiful natural areas and West Michigan's wildest state park are right nearby. We make it easy to recycle and compost, if you'd like to. The gardens and lawn have been maintained without the use of toxic chemicals for nearly three decades.
Inside, relax in the living room, dining room, den/bedroom (with French doors), and eat-in kitchen, which all flow together, plus three bedrooms and two full baths. We collect art and books and have filled the rooms with both. We want you to be comfortable and have fun while traveling light. You'll arrive to find everything clean and made up for you, so all you have to do is unpack. Kick off your shoes and settle in!
Outside, lounge in the shade or sun of the large lush fenced yard while the kids climb around in the treehouse with slide. Fire up the charcoal grill on the furnished patio or the fire pit on the lawn.
You'll find a basement laundry and detached garage (for storage, not parking). The yard is entirely enclosed--by a 3- to 4-foot picket fence on three sides and a six-foot privacy fence on the fourth.
Bike rentals are available nearby and the Interurban (a shuttle bus service) is on-call for short trips around town and to the beach. You'll want a car for family trips to the beach with gear, but note that it's just a three-mile bike ride, and it's also walkable if you're up for an adventure that includes crossing the river on the chain ferry.
We supply bed, bath, and kitchen linens, basic soaps (hand, dish, and shampoo), and enough paper products to get you started. Don't forget your beach towels and sunscreen!
We're available by phone when you need us, and often in person on checkin and checkout days. ***Covid-19 update: Contact-free check in***
***COVID-19 Info: We have always taken cleaning and disinfecting very seriously. If you have concerns, please ask.***
Walk to everything, even the beach if you're up for an adventure that includes a pedestrian ferry! You will feel like a local when you vacation in this lovingly restored home located just one short block from charming downtown Saugatuck, on The Hill, a leafy residential neighborhood. Walk to shops, galleries, cafes, pubs, a day spa, a yoga studio, a playground, and the harbor boardwalks. Rent a bike and explore picturesque neighborhoods, country roads, and our world famous coastline. If you've never seen a Great Lake, you'll swear you've stumbled upon the sea, but--no salt, no sharks, no worries. Relax on the most beautiful beaches anywhere.
Perfect for eco-conscious travelers. Stunningly beautiful natural areas and West Michigan's wildest state park are right nearby. We make it easy to recycle and compost, if you'd like to. The gardens and lawn have been maintained without the use of toxic chemicals for nearly three decades.
Inside, relax in the living room, dining room, den/bedroom (with French doors), and eat-in kitchen, which all flow together, plus three bedrooms and two full baths. We collect art and books and have filled the rooms with both. We want you to be comfortable and have fun while traveling light. You'll arrive to find everything clean and made up for you, so all you have to do is unpack. Kick off your shoes and settle in!
Outside, lounge in the shade or sun of the large lush fenced yard while the kids climb around in the treehouse with slide. Fire up the charcoal grill on the furnished patio or the fire pit on the lawn.
You'll find a basement laundry and detached garage (for storage, not parking). The yard is entirely enclosed--by a 3- to 4-foot picket fence on three sides and a six-foot privacy fence on the fourth.
Bike rentals are available nearby and the Interurban (a shuttle bus service) is on-call for short trips around town and to the beach. You'll want a car for family trips to the beach with gear, but note that it's just a three-mile bike ride, and it's also walkable if you're up for an adventure that includes crossing the river on the chain ferry.
We supply bed, bath, and kitchen linens, basic soaps (hand, dish, and shampoo), and enough paper products to get you started. Don't forget your beach towels and sunscreen!
We're available by phone when you need us, and often in person on checkin and checkout days. ***Covid-19 update: Contact-free check in***
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Saugatuck, MI
Reviews
5.0
Outstanding(61 Reviews)5.0
We had a great stay. House is spacious and has everything you need. It’s a great location to everything in town. Would recommend staying here for sure!
5.0
This a lovely house perfectly located near shops, river walk, restaurants, and basketball and pucklball courts. The hosts thought of everything to make our stay here perfect. We enjoyed eating in the garden, pingpong in the garage, and hanging out in the comfortable and spacious living room. We appreciated the owners' efforts to maintain the original character if the house. We would definitely consider stayed here again.
5.0
Another perfect stay!
This was our second stay at this property and once again everything was perfect. The house was extremely clean when we arrived and everything was just as it was pictured. We used the futon in the upstairs bedroom and had no trouble finding extra sheets and blankets to use. This house really is in the best location and we loved eating dinner in the yard and hanging out on the hammock watching birds and people. Already looking forward to our next stay.
5.0
Fantastic House. Great Location.
This is the second year in a row we rented from Alison and we are going back next year. Great house, perfect location, excellent hosts!
5.0
Wonderful
Perfect location! Charming house.
5.0
Poetry and ping pong
Thank you for nice house and all of the books - there must be over 800! I especially liked the poetry books. And we all loved sitting around the campfire each evening. That was a huge bonus. A surprise treat was the ping pong table - I forgot how much I liked playing! We all had a great time.
5.0
We were so happy with our stay at Ethels house. It has everything you could ever need or want in a house. The fenced in yard, playground and sandbox was perfect for our kids. The house has hundreds of books, so you find a new one every time you look! It was a short walk to town even though we would have been happy spending most of our time in the backyard! You will not be disappointed if you stay here!
5.0
Perfect for anyone!
We were so happy with our stay at Ethels house. It has everything you could ever need or want in a house. The fenced in yard, playground and sandbox was perfect for our kids. The house has hundreds of books, so you find a new one every time you look! It was a short walk to town even though we would have been happy spending most of our time in the backyard! You will not be disappointed if you stay here!
5.0
Great vacation house!
Great house. Great location. Great garden. Great host.
5.0
Another amazing trip!
This was our 5th time staying at this property and it was amazing as usual! The owners are so kind and have done a wonderful job making their home feel inviting to visitors. It has always been very clean and we particularly appreciated that this year in the midst of the pandemic. The house comfortably sleeps 8 and has a nice kitchen for preparing meals. It's located on a quiet street but is an easy walk down the hill to great shops, restaurants and playground. Our family loves Ethel's House and our young daughters consider it their "Michigan home"! Thanks for a great stay!
5.0
PFV - Perfect Family Vacation
Location Location Location. Beautiful neighborhood setting with a short walk to everything. Alison has a beautiful home with a welcoming cottage feel and "Neat as a pin"! It could not have worked out more comfortably for the 7 of us.
5.0
We had a lovely time despite the weather. Loved the house and location. Soap (besides hand soap) and usable first floor shower would have made it perfect. Would definitely rebook tho.
5.0
Holiday in Saugatuck
We had a lovely time despite the weather. Loved the house and location. Soap (besides hand soap) and usable first floor shower would have made it perfect. Would definitely rebook tho.
5.0
We had a great time in Saugatuck. The house was in a great location, and the owner's communication was very helpful. We definitely recommend this property!
5.0
Great time in Saugatuck!
We had a great time in Saugatuck. The house was in a great location, and the owner's communication was very helpful. We definitely recommend this property!
5.0
Wonderful Getaway!
Beautiful home! Perfect location!
5.0
Cute and Cozy
This is the fourth time we have stayed at Ethel’s House for a girls’ weekend. It is so comfortable and cozy. Very quiet neighborhood but within very close walking distance to all the shops and restaurants Saugatuck has to offer! Highly recommend.
5.0
This was our fourth rental house In Saugatuck and by far the best!
This was our fourth rental in the area over the years and this house was by far the very best. The house was totally spotless, not even a stray hair to be found. The kitchen was well equipped and there was a charcoal grill as well. The yard was huge, we ate many meal outside. The location was the best in town, only one short block (down a hidden path) to get right into the heart of town. Loved the house and will stay again!
5.0
Beautiful home in a perfect location!
This house was perfect for our family - in pristine condition, great layout for being together and having some privacy, well stocked with everything we needed and in a great location. Well worth the price - we would definitely stay here again - we were so sad to leave!
5.0
Another great week at Ethel’s house!
This was a second visit to Ethel’s house. We love the home’s character and close proximity to the many dining and recreational destinations. The owners are very accommodating and seem to think of every little detail to make our visits so enjoyable...the little extras like beach toys/gear, children’s books and a step stool (for unloading the car rack) were just a few of the many amenities that were an added convenience. Our young boys also loved playing in the big yard, and the full perimeter fence is great! We love Saugatuck and we love this house! We hope to make another trip back next year!
5.0
Feels like home!
We’ve stayed at Ethel’s house 4 years in a row and it’s consistently clean and cool, has comfortable beds and gathering spaces and a well stocked kitchen. The yard is nicely shaded by large trees and lined with beautiful flowers. We initially were attracted to this property due to its closeness to the playground and quiet street. Our young kids love this house and frequently say they feel like they are home. It’s within walking distance to all of Saugatuck and near an awesome coffee shop (Uncommon Grounds)! It’s also just a short drive to the beach. The owner is always very responsive about check in and any questions that might arise. I highly recommend this home in Saugatuck! We can’t wait to return next year!
5.0
3 day stay in Saugatuck
This home was a wonderful base for any trip. The house exudes character. One of my favorites was walking the neighborhood in the morning with coffee. The area houses are so charming. We walked to town and back several times a day. Literally a 5 minute walk. We rented a pontoon boat from Makin Waves for 2 hours which was a great idea. We played lots of cards at the kitchen table on our rainy days. There was nothing we needed that this home didn’t provide. If you are a lover of books this is your place! Again, great home for our needs.
5.0
Just returned from a wonderful family vacation!
This place was perfect! So close to downtown yet tucked in a quiet neighborhood. The house is wonderful. Very charming, so comfortable and exceptionally clean. It was everything we needed.
5.0
Perfect in every way
We had a wonderful weekend. House is charming. Location is excellent. Hope to rent this home again. Great time with family. Loved it!
5.0
Cozy, comfortable, charming!
Great place for a “Girls Weekend”. Close to shopping and dining. Very quiet neighborhood. House has everything you need including many, many books and games. Very much enjoyed our third stay here at Ethel’s House!
5.0
Cozy and spotless home. Close to downtown.
The home was a joy to live in. It was spotless, comfortable and very close to downtown Saugatuck. Easily walkable. Retro kitchen was very clean, with up- to -date appliances, but still had the retro feel. Loved having a bedroom downstairs and bathrooms on both floors. The living room, dining room, sunroom, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen were all very good size. My mother came with my sister and I and it was wonderful that she had a bedroom and bathroom downstairs and her privacy. The two bedrooms upstairs were very comfortable. You would share one bathroom. The bathrooms were updated and very clean. Laundry can be done in the basement with very nice appliances. I like being able to take back clean clothes instead of a pile of dirty cloths at the end of my trip. The owner was very accessible by phone and very helpful when we had some small issues. I liked that I could speak with the owner if I had any questions. The husband and wife were extremely nice and helpful. I would not hesitate to rent this home again. You will not be disappointed if you decide to rent this charming home!
5.0
Perfect for girls trip
This house was perfect to get together with friends for the weekend. It was a quick walk into town and so convenient to everything. There was plenty of room for 7 adults. Would definitely stay here again.
5.0
Very comfortable and accommodating
We all enjoyed our stay for a friend's weekend. Ethel's House was very warm and comfortable for our group.
5.0
I can't rave enough about this house, and it was perfect for our girls weekend. From the unique art on the walls, to the hundreds of interesting books in every room, it just exuded warmth and comfort. Location was ideal too. We will definitely be back!
5.0
Had a great time at Ethel's House for a girls' weekend getaway. House is very cozy and comfortable with tons of books and games. We didn't cook much but kitchen is well stocked. Owner is very responsive and helpful. We will try to come back next year!
5.0
This property was beautiful. Very clean & spacious with a well stocked kitchen. We enjoyed the home & were able to walk downtown whenever we wanted to go. The beach is a close drive too. Highly recommend this property!
5.0
Ethel's House was perfect for our mini-vacation with our son and family, 4 adults and 2 children. The house was spacious, offered many family-kid friendly amenities, was perfectly located and provided a comfortable, relaxed environment for a two family mini-vacation. Also, loved the large yard and play area for young children! We definitely plan to stay there again!
5.0
We had a wonderful stay over a 3 day weekend. We were a party of eight - 5 adults and 3 kids - and there was plenty of room for all of us at Ethel's House. The house is just beautiful - the owners have lovely furniture and interesting art work, and tons of books to browse. The location was ideal - literally a block from town and the Saugatuck waterfront. I would definitely recommend it!
5.0
This is a great house to get away for a bit. We recently stayed with 2 families and some little kids (5-7 years) and everyone had a fun time.. There is stuff to keep the kids busy (ping pong, balls, board games), beach toys to bring to the beach, and hammock. The location is perfect for walking into downtown (checkout Uncommon Coffee Roasters).
5.0
Ethel's House was the perfect spot for our small family reunion/vacation. We couldn't have asked for anything more. It was all wonderful and we would definitely return.
5.0
Great place!
5.0
My girl friends from college rented Ethal's House in early June. Alison was fantastic to work with. She responded to emails and texts quickly and made sure we arrived at the house safely. The house is clean and in a perfect location to walk to the shops and restaurants in Saugatuck. We only used the car once to drive to Oval Beach. I highly recommend renting this house and would definitely do it again! Thank you for a wonderful stay!
5.0
The home is beautiful, fully furnished and equipped, and perfectly located for enjoying downtown Saugatuck.
Felt like an actual home, not like a rental - we loved that.
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Saugatuck?
The average price for a rental in Saugatuck is $334 per night. This rental is $30 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Ethel's House--Sunny Home Away from Home--Downtown Saugatuck. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Ethel's House--Sunny Home Away from Home--Downtown Saugatuck pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Ethel's House--Sunny Home Away from Home--Downtown Saugatuck?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.
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