NY2005

Hello everyone!
My extended family of 12 is looking to rent a cabin for a week this summer in MI. We have a boat, and like to swim, fish, and golf but would also like a bit of a town/shopping area for the ladies. Does anyone know of a good town to look for a rental in? I have heard good things about Grand Haven?

Thanks!

JJ5

You have many good choices. Do you want Lake Michigan itself, or would a inland spring fed lake be tops. Different kind of swimming, and different kind of fishing!

What I know personally, is that SW and Western Michigan has 100s of good choices. I know myself great rentals on Magician, Indian, Donnelly Lakes and they are near numerous golf courses and towns- and also would be 1/2 hour drive to the big Lake.

There's a rental on Donnelly that is awesome. You do know, that if you are on an inland lake the density of swimmers, boaters, people in great restaurants etc. is much less. The best places, IMHO, are still half "unfound" because everyone is smashing into Saugatuck to look at the same 5 T-Shirts. LOL!

Any lake near Paw Paw or up near Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo over about 800 acres would be peachy perfect. I have a home on Big Fish Lake between Marcellus and Lawton. There are 3 golf courses and 2 country clubs within a very short drive from me. But the best restaurants are in Paw Paw, Dowagiac, Kalamazoo etc. This is my neck of the woods only- there is lots just North of me as well in Berrien and Van Burean Counties. And North of that, more.

Anything on the Big Lake is good, but the logistics is totally different. What size boat do you have? That's a huge factor.

Grand Haven is good, many places North of there are better, IMHO if that is what you want. Crowds will be a factor most probably and especially around Mears, Silver Lake Sand Dunes and Sleeping Bear areas.

JJ5

Also, you will be limited in getting one place for 12, but in any of the areas mentioned, it is not impossible. The best one on Donnelly sleeps that many in one beautiful home.

If you are roughing it in a real woodsy
cabin style, there are multi-cabin sights that may interest you also- but many are just "off" the lake or lakes and have transport to the water.

Some family resorts I know in SW MI are Sleepy Hollow, South Haven and Sunnybrook Farm inland. Meals are family style at the later.

dsgmi

It really depends on how far you want to go and where you're coming from. The size of your boat might also dictate whether or not the big lake is a good idea. To head in another direction from the previous posts, there are lots of houses that can accomodate 12 on Torch Lake at the north end of the lower peninsula (one of the most beautiful lakes in the world according to the National Geographic folks) that are right on the water with a dock. There are several cute towns, like Alden, with shopping and dining options. Depending on which side of Torch, or one of the other inland lakes near there, golf is pretty close. There will be more of a 'cabin-y' or 'up north' vibe at most of the properties than the west side of the state. There might be too much knotty pine for some. We were there last summer for a long weekend and just loved it!

marilynl

Charlevoix is a great area. The harbor is called Round Lake, and connects Lake Charlevoix to Lake Michigan. Wonderful town, restaurants, shopping, etc. The Leelanau Peninsula, which I think forms one side of Grand Traverse Bay, is also very nice, with cute little towns (Sutton's Bay, NorthPoint), a lighthouse, nice restaurants and shopping, good beaches.