Vacation rentals in Kalkaska

“A very comfortable cottage in a lovely location. Our stay for Thanksgiving was thoroughly enjoyable. The cottage is on a small, quiet, pretty lake (no motor boats allowed) and, although cottages line most of the waterfront, our five days were very peaceful indeed. The sandy, narrow lot slopes gently down to the water, where a paddle boat and a shed with fishing tackle are located (the lake had a thin layer of ice in late November, so we could not fish or boat, but both would be very inviting in warm weather, and ice fishing must be fun later in the winter). There is a fire ring halfway to the water, which enabled us to enjoy several bonfires over our stay. The open-plan living space downstairs in the cottage itself is larger and brighter than the photographs suggest, with plenty of room to relax, work (if you must), and dine -- the dining table will seat six adults comfortably. The kitchen is roomy and very well equipped, and, although the stove, which runs on propane, does make for rather slow cooking, we managed to cook a fairly elaborate Thanksgiving dinner with very few problems (although the oven only has one rack, so renters planning to roast several dishes simultaneously should bring extra standard-size oven racks). The kitchen bar was very convenient for serving dinner and was also a nice place to sit with a beverage and talk to the cook. The view of the lake from the kitchen and the living area windows (as from one of the two bedrooms upstairs) was a constant source of pleasure. The two bedrooms are comfortable and the bathroom spacious and pleasant, with a washing machine and a dryer. We had planned to travel with all three of our sons, our oldest son’s partner, and our grandson; in the end, our oldest son and his family were detained at home by work, so there were just four of us, which made the cottage feel spacious; six adults and an infant (there is a high chair at the cottage) might have made things feel a little cramped, but we would certainly have managed, making use of the air mattress. There is no WiFi at the cottage, but Verizon data reception was excellent, meaning that we could use the internet and hook up devices to the flat-screen TV, using our mobile phones. Those internet connections were adequate -- my wife and I watched Netflix one night without much trouble -- but the inevitable buffering was frustrating when we watched a live Champions’ League match, and the lack of normal WiFi was a source of frustration to our sons; I found that my Verizon Hotspot provided only an intermittent internet connection for my laptop. The lot on which the cottage is located is very sandy, so we found ourselves sweeping the floor regularly and, even in late November, opening one of the big garage doors every now and then to sweep out that sand, but, for us, that just added to the “cottage feel” of our stay. We worried that those doors would make the downstairs drafty, but the seal is good and the cottage is very well heated. We had a couple of simple questions while we were at the cottage; Jason and Theresa answered them almost immediately, even though it was Thanksgiving. Traverse City with all of its attractions is just a short drive away; we drove to the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula for a visit to 2 Lads Winery (warmly recommended) in fifty minutes; nearby Kalkaska and Fife Lake (both former lumber towns, each about fifteen minutes’ drive away -- the latter now a very pleasant, small resort) have decent, small supermarkets. State forest surrounds the area where the cottage is located (our twenty-year-old son kept dreaming of his crossbow...); forest roads abound, with the North Country Trail passing nearby. The area is quiet and attractive, but easily accessed and close to lots of busier centers for recreation. We would be very happy to rent the cottage again and would like to spend some time there in the warmer months. Overall, an excellent choice for us.”

“Buck Lodge is a cute little cabin and made for a nice stay in the snow. The indoor electric fireplace made it nice and cozy, and it is decorated for a backwoods feel. The staff keep it sparkling clean and the kitchen and bathroom are well-stocked. It is right by a main road, but still felt enjoyably secluded. We didn't meet Paul, but he made check in easy. We would happily stay again!”

“Josh & Autum’s place was much more than we expected. We booked our stay to be in close proximity to Traverse City for our group of 4 adults. The hosts were super responsive and friendly. The house is very stylishly decorated with plenty of room for everyone. The beds were comfy as was the overall space. We enjoyed the pool table and the entertainment area. Though we never ended up having a bonfire we did sit around it and enjoy the lake views with our morning coffee. The neighborhood is beautiful and very safe. You will not be disappointed!”