Notes from the host
Cedar Cove
Welcome to Cedar Cove – a fourth generation family cottage on Northport Bay just off Lake Michigan! Enjoy Saturday to Saturday stays from June to August.
Unplug and kick back for a summer vacation retreat like no other. Right outside the lakeside porch door is your own private sandy beach that is ideal for swimming, beachside strolls, petoskey hunting, and evening fires. If you like to get out onto the water, Cedar Cove is a paradise for swimming, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, wind surfing, water skiing, and fishing. The clear, azure fresh water of Lake Michigan reminds many people of the Caribbean.
Cedar Cove can comfortably sleep up to 10 with three bedrooms overlooking the bay, and one additional bedroom on the first floor - the sunshine room. The sofa bed in the living room next to the beautiful stone fireplace provides additional sleeping options. The full bath upstairs and half bath downstairs are complemented by the outdoor shower with the view of the bay – the perfect stop to warm yourself after a swim.
A fully equipped kitchen with stove, oven, microwave, toaster, dishwasher, coffee maker, tea kettle and waffle iron connects to a beautiful dining room with seating for 14 to accommodate the crowd. You may find yourself taking breakfast or lunch in the large screened-in porch with its picnic table or sitting at the counter seating in the kitchen.
Oh, did we mention the beach! So many ways to simply relax and enjoy your day, sitting in the Adirondack chairs on the deck, or the nearby hammock, or the chaise lounges on the beach.
Cedar Cove has a kid-friendly, private sandy-bottom beach along with a permanent wide "crib" dock perfect for sunbathing, playing in the sand, great conversations, reading, or just hanging out. The dock is protected by a picturesque peninsula - a great place to sit and watch the water, great sunrises and sunsets. Beach amenities include a solo-stove fire pit, patio table and chairs, reclining beach lounges – and just enough shade for those who prefer (or need) to escape the heat! Two stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), two kayaks, and a rowboat allow you to explore the bay – try it at twilight as the sun sets over Paradesia Point to the west!
THE LEELANAU PENINSULA AND NORTHPORT
Our cottage is located near the tip of the idyllic Leelanau Peninsula - a place known for wonderful hiking, breathtaking scenery, spectacular cycling and a surprising variety of places to eat, shop, drink and entertain in the nearby picture perfect towns. Northport, Leland, and Suttons Bay each have their own unique character: including shops, galleries, restaurants, waterfront, and marina.
Cedar Cove is located just a couple of miles north of the Village of Northport off M22 and about an hour’s scenic drive to the spectacular Sleeping Bear Dunes - the “Most Beautiful Place in America." There are wineries throughout the Peninsula and the area is the largest cherry growing region in the world. Try picking up a quart of those sweet black cherries at a roadside stand and see if you can get it all the way home! Be sure to visit farmer’s markets in Northport, Leland and Sutton’s Bay to sample a variety of local foods and artisanal flavors. Make time for a hike and swim on the dunes stretching down to Lake Michigan at nearby Leelanau State Park – just a short five minute drive away - or tour and picnic at the historic lighthouse at the tip of the Peninsula. Interested in catching a movie? Check what’s playing at the Bay Theatre in Suttons – perhaps after trying your hand at bowling at NPG in downtown Northport, and one of the fantastic wood fired pizzas at either the Union or Woody's at the Mitten Brewpub.
RELAXING AT CEDAR COVE
With all that can be appreciated nearby, we often find all we need right at Cedar Cove – enjoying the lap of the waves on the shore, the clouds and breeze while sitting at the end of the dock, a refreshing swim, a long day of reading books and quiet conversation – the handmade quilts on each upstairs bed make for wonderful nights of restful and recuperative vacation slumber.
We welcome well-behaved pets, but do not permit the use of jet skis, out of respect for neighbors and the quiet relaxation that Cedar Cove will bring to you and your family.
Thanks for considering Cedar Cove for your summer vacation. We love this place and are sure that you will too.
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE LOVE ABOUT CEDAR COVE
- picking out a board game or puzzle to work on as a family
- finding a book and cozying up in the living room on a cool day or evening to read
- cornhole down on the beach
- a morning of waffles with cherries on top
- sitting on the end of the peninsula fishing or watching the clouds and the waves
- hopping on one of the great vintage bikes and riding around
- a three-mile walk or bike to town for ice cream
- cedar filled woods where the kids enjoy exploring
- grilling at the charcoal Weber grill with various BBQ accessories
- picking up cinnamon twists at Barb’s Bakery
What else will you discover?!
