Summer Place

3 Bedroom(s) | 1 Bathroom(s) | Sleeps 7

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Full kitchen with dining area.
Enclosed porch
Guest cottage with deck
Full kitchen with dining area
Full kitchen.
New deck built in 2021
Lake Michigan beach and playground within walking distance
Lake Michigan beach and playground within walking distance
Beautiful Lake Michigan beach within walking distance from house
Living room with cable TV
Upstairs bedroom with full bed
Main level bedroom with queen
Dining table
Upstairs bedroom with 2 twins
Bathroom on main level, shower only

Sleeps 7

3 Bedrooms

Charming and cozy! This 1891 Centennial Home is located in the heart of old Empire on a calm side street. It is only a five-minute walk to Empire beach (Lake Michigan), with miles of sugar sand in each direction to enjoy. This property has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on 2 levels.

The main level bedroom has one queen. Upstairs there are two bedrooms with one double bed, two twins, and a twin rollaway bed. The house has cable, WIFI, and a DVD player. This home has original interiors with modern conveniences. There is a washer/dryer available.

Relax in the spacious backyard with a deck, chimnea for outdoor fires, and grill. There is a beautiful peach tree in the yard, wonderful when the peaches are ripe for picking. Stroll down the street to Tiffany's for ice cream or Joe's Friendly Tavern for a burger. The Empire Beach boasts a beautiful sandy beach and a large playground. Come in May for the Asparagus Festival! It's only a 5-minute drive to the Sleeping Bear Dunes climb and a 25-minute drive to Traverse City.

No air conditioning.

-- THE PROPERTY --

Sleeps 7.

Bedroom 1: queen bed || Bedroom 2: double bed || Bedroom 3: two twins & twin rollaway bed

OUTDOORS: Grill, Deck/patio, Sand toys

INDOORS: WIFI, smart TV, DVD player, Board games

KITCHEN: Coffee maker, Dishes & utensils, Microwave, Oven, Pantry items, Refrigerator, Stove, Cookware

GENERAL: No A/C, Iron & board, Linens & towels, Washer & dryer

PARKING: Space for 3 vehicles (includes roadside parking)

-- POLICIES –

- No pets allowed

- No smoking

- No events, parties, or large gatherings

- Must be at least 18 years old to book

- Additional fees and taxes may apply

Amenities

double

queen

shower

twin/ single

autumn foliage

festivals

forests

playground

restaurants

winery tours

DVD Player

Games

Smart TV

Clothes Dryer

Heating

Internet

Iron & Board

Towels Provided

Washing Machine

Wifi

Free Wifi

Coffee Maker

Dishes & Utensils

Kitchen

Microwave

Oven

Pantry Items

Refrigerator

Stove

bird watching

Beach

Deck / Patio

Outdoor Grill

cycling

fishing

swimming

pets not allowed

Private entrance

Smoke detectors

Emergency phone number: Police

Emergency phone number: Fire

Enhanced cleaning practices

Clean with disinfectant

No-contact check-in and check-out

High touch surfaces cleaned with disinfectant

Towels and bedding washed in water that's at least 60sC/140sF

SafeHome (VRMA & VRHP)

Linens & Towels

No Air Conditioning provided

Washer & Dryer

Iron

Ironing Board

Smoke Alarms

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Utensils

Cookware

Coffee Maker

Refrigerator

Stove

Oven

Microwave

Toaster

Internet (Wifi)

Smart TV

Antenna Television

DVD Player

Board Games

Charcoal grill

Deck

Sand Toys

Near Beach

Short Walk to Water

Sleeping Bear Dunes Area

Beach Walking

Beachcombing

Biking

Boogie Boarding

Fishing/Fly Fishing

Hiking Trails

Playground/Park

Public Parks w/Swim Beach

Sight-Seeing

Swimming

Tennis Court

Interlochen Golf Course

Dunes Golf Course-Empire

Mistwood Golf Course-Lake Ann

Cherry Bowl Drive in Theatre

Sugarloaf the Old Course

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Heritage Trail

Nearby Area Fitness Center

Nearby ATM

Nearby Coffee Shop

Nearby Farmers Market

Nearby Golf Course

Nearby Grocery/Shopping Center

Nearby Jet Ski Rentals

Nearby Medical Services

Nearby Post Office

Art Gallery(s)

Lighthouse(s)

Museum(s)

Symphony Orchestra-TC

Wine Tour(s)

Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat.Lk.Shore

Festivals

Cherry Festival

Bike rentals

Wine Festivals (summer& fall)

Tall Ship Cruises

Interlochen Center for the Arts

Brew Festival-Summer

Baseball Park- Beach Bums

Leelanau Peninsula Winery-LL

Good Harbor WInery-Lk Leelanau

Lake Ann Brewery

2 Lads Winery-Traverse City

Bonobo Winery-Old Mission Pen

Bowers Harbor Vineyard-Traverse

Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery

Chateau Chantal-Lake Leelanau

Peninsula Cellars-Traverse City

M22 Challenge-Glen Arbor

Bayshore Marathon-TC Peninsula

Grand Traverse Distillery-TC

Jolly Pumpkin-Old Mission Penn

The Filling Station Brewery-TC

The Workshop Brewery-TC

Guest Reviews of centennial home in empire. walk to the beach.

Empire , MI

Vacation Rental Reviews by

4.56 out of 5 stars based on 27 user reviews

Great Home in Empire

Review date: 2023-09-30

Review by

We loved our stay in Empire. The property is in a perfect location: around the block from shops and a few blocks from the beach. The main house was nicer than the other home but both were fine. The homes were clean and the property was well maintained. It worked out perfect for our two families. We’d definitely stay again.
5 out of 5 stars

Manager Response:

So glad you enjoyed this home an the proximity to shops and Empire beach! We hope you will return soon.

Family getaway

Review date: 2022-10-11

Review by Scott S.

Property is a bit older but comfortable. The main house has a musty order which may be a problem for some people. The guest house is very spartan and has no heat, other than some electric space heaters.
4 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2022-10-17

Manager Response:

We are glad you found this home comfortable. As we say in the description for this home on our website, "guest cottage does not have central heat".

Sleeping bear marathon

Review date: 2022-10-05

Review by Tom B.

Very nice
4 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2022-10-08

Manager Response:

Glad you enjoyed your stay.

September in Empire

Review date: 2021-09-30

Review by

The Summer Place in Empire was in a perfect location. We walked to he beach every morning. We stayed in the Blue Jay ( the trailer in the side yard). It was clean but really needed some updating, especially the bathroom. Our other guests stayed in the main house which I thought was lovely. It could have used a little more thorough cleaning; the fans needed dusting and a dehumidifier would have helped.
4 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2021-10-01

Manager Response:

We are so pleased to know that you enjoyed the location of this home and the beach! We appreciate your suggestions and will follow up with our housekeeper.

Great location and space

Review date: 2019-07-10

Review by

We traveled as a group of 10 (2 grandparents and 2 families of 4 with young children). This was the right amount of space for us in a great location. It had the essentials we needed.
4 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2019-07-12

Manager Response:

Yes, there is room for everyone at this home - in this quaint village town.

Sr. Week at Empire

Review date: 2018-07-02

Review by

The location of the house(s) were great, this made up for the "older" condition of the house. We arrived later than 8pm and told the property management team that this would be happening. They told us they would have a light on for us. Unfortunately, this did not happen, making it very difficult to find the house at 10:30 pm. The cottage will hold 4 people, but not exactly sure where the 4th person is suppose to sleep...we made it work. Thankfully everything else was pleasant and being so close to the beach and right in town made up for it.
4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

Review date: 2017-08-02

Review by Kathy L.

My extended family stayed in both the Blue Jay and The Summer Place. We loved it. Very clean.
5 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2018-01-08

Manager Response:

We are thrilled you enjoyed the house and hope you come back again soon!

Perfect getaway.

Review date: 2016-10-11

Review by Nicole B.

Four of us ladies like to getaway in the fall. Every year we choose a different location and this year Empire was the destination. The house was perfect. It had all the amenities and the location couldn't be better. Everything was clean and the beds were comfortable. My only critique is the living room furniture. While in good shape, not very comfortable for sitting for a long period of time. It wasn't a deal breaker.
5 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2017-03-10

Manager Response:

We are thrilled you had a great stay! Come back and see us again soon.

Wonderful experience

Review date: 2016-07-14

Review by

We had a wonderful time. the proximity to the beach was perfect as well as the National Park.
5 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2016-07-14

Manager Response:

We are glad you had a wonderful stay and hope you come back to see us soon!

Birthday celebration at the Dunes

Review date: 2016-07-12

Review by

The rental experience was very good. The home served our needs perfectly. What was lacking, was a toaster.
5 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2016-07-15

Manager Response:

We are glad you had a great time and hope you will be back soon! Not sure what happened to the toaster but we will get one out there, remember to always feel free to call us about things while you are there we will make all efforts to make your stay more enjoyable!

3 Days in Empire

Review date: 2016-06-30

Review by Maureen W.

We enjoyed our stay at Summer Place in Empire, MI. The house was very clean and nicely furnished. We liked being in walking distance to store, antique shops, restaurant, ice cream parlor, and sports shop. the folks in Empire were very friendly. We especially enjoyed our charter fishing with Bill at "Watta Bite" Chartering service. the only criticism is the house smells musty when you first walk in. after we opened the windows we did not notice the smell. a toaster would have been nice but otherwise we had a great stay.
5 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2016-07-01

Manager Response:

We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you will come back. We are sorry about the musty odor that can sometimes

Summer Place in Empire, Michigan

Review date: 2015-10-12

Review by

Four of us senior ladies rented Summer Place in Empire, Mi. for our color tour. We liked it very much, it accommodated us very well. We loved having a fire every night outside by the deck. The kitchen was well stocked except we couldn't find a toaster and also the front door knob needs to be replaced. But the house was very clean and has been very well taken care of, beautiful place!! We ate at Joe's Tavern 3 times, great breakfasts and wonderful burgers plus it was only 2 blocks away. The little park on Lake Michigan was very nice too, beautiful sunsets!!
5 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2015-12-17

Manager Response:

Fall isa perfect time to stay in Empire. We are so happy you had such a pleasant time.

Labor Day 2015

Review date: 2015-09-09

Review by Kelly M.

We had a wonderful time in Empire over the holiday weekend and really enjoyed our stay at Summer Place in Empire. The house is really well kept and in a perfect location for walking to Deerings Market for essentials, Tiffany's for ice cream, and the beach for fun.
5 out of 5 stars

This home worked out well!

Review date: 2015-08-30

Review by

The home is a comfortable, clean place to stay. It was family-friendly (our daughters are 6&8. Our trip went smoothly. We brought bikes for the kids and they biked to the beach and around town easily. We drove to the empire bluffs trail head and walked the trail (round trip 1.5 miles), which was beautiful. We brought most of out food/supplies but it was nice that the market was close by for a few things we forgot, like a toothbrush! We cooked our meals at the house. It was quiet during our stay and we all slept well. We did put a blanket over the window in the kids' room since it wasn't dark enough. We also took off the plastic sheets from their beds since they have been potty trained for years! We would definitely stay here again if we return to the area. We did ask about the availability of bikes and no one at the management company ever got back to us. We brought them for the kids so it worked out but a return call would've been nice. There were several small bikes in the shed in the backyard.
5 out of 5 stars

summer place

Review date: 2015-08-23

Review by Matthew S.

quiet town location, perfect for walking to beach and venturing off to sleeping bear. Adequate furnishings except for the mattress that was absolutely terrible.
4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful start to the summer

Review date: 2015-06-12

Review by

This rental property was just what me and my friends were looking for. It was very clean and well stocked. It is a perfect distance from the beach and only a few minutes drive from the dunes. Our vacation was restful and quiet when needed, but also so close to adventure. I would love to stay here again.
5 out of 5 stars

Cozy cottage

Review date: 2015-06-10

Review by Lauren W.

This was such a quaint, clean, and cozy cottage! We enjoyed the charm and variety of spaces (front sunroom, living room, back deck). It was stocked with everything we needed, including a wine key. We would definelty stay here again. We did recommend a new front door lock. It is showing its age and isn't the easiest to get in and out of. Newer matresses would also be nice. Empire was the perfect place to stay. It provided a beautiful beach just minutes away by foot, cute shops, a few restaurants, and a central location to all the other destinations you want to see. Beware though, the local grocery store does not offer the best food selection. We did our grocery shopping in Traverse City. It did, however, have firewood and other basic amenities. The locals were so nice and enjoyable to speak with. Overall, we had an amazing experience!
5 out of 5 stars

Great weekend getaway location!

Review date: 2015-05-19

Review by

This is my 8th year coming up to Empire for the Asparagus Festival. I've stayed in many different rental houses in Empire but this is, by far, my favorite! It was the perfect house for our group of friends, very clean, and obviously well cared for! We had a wonderful time in Empire and the location and condition of the house was perfect!
5 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2015-05-23

Manager Response:

We are glad you enjoyed your stay! We hope you will consider returning next year (or sooner!).

Couldn't Ask for a Better Location

Review date: 2013-09-23

Review by

This house is perfectly situated just steps from downtown Empire and a 5 minute walk from the beach. We arrived on Labor Day when the weather started to turn chilly so we didn't spend much time in the water, but we had a great time visiting nearby towns of Glen Arbor and Leland. Lots of trails nearby, as well as Pierce Stocking scenic drive which affords fantastic views of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Three nearby playgrounds kept our 18 month old daughter entertained, and the white sand beaches are some of the best I've experienced. The house is on the small side, but was large enough for our family of 3 (especially since we spent most of our time outdoors). One negative to the house would be that there is only 1 bathroom and no tub. Our daughter is terrified of the shower so we had to get creative and give her sponge baths. My husband and I spent most nights chatting in the sunroom after our daughter went to bed, which was really lovely. There is also a stove on the back patio, where we enjoyed star-gazing by the fire. Really a beautiful place!
4 out of 5 stars

Our Stay in Aug 2012

Review date: 2012-08-13

Review by

This was or First Experience in Empire and in the Sleep Bear Dunes area. Loved the Empire area and beaches... absolutely great for kids. The Summer Place was in an excellent location... about 3 blocks from the beach and 2 blocks from local stores. The house was clean and contained everything we needed although some items do need updating as they are quite warn (Living Room rug and Master bed mattress) but everything else was great. We liked that clean fresh white towels and linens were provided and that the kitchen contained all needed items, including radios and a few board games. It was a bit smaller than we expected but still good for a family of 4 (although there are sleeping arrangements for 6) Twin beds in the upstairs bedroom perfectly appropriate for 2 young girls... but a bit too small for either of my two boys ages 11 and 12. Overall we had a great experience and would stay there again !
5 out of 5 stars

Summer Place

Review date: 2012-07-09

Review by

The Summer Place is a cozy old home that is decorated very nicely. It was very small for a family of 6 (the 1 bath was especially tight), but the roomy backyard made up for that. The location was great and the two recommendations for beaches left on the counter were awesome! The master bed was very uncomfortable and should really be replaced, but the others were fine. Overall, a very good experience.
4 out of 5 stars

Response date: 2012-07-09

Manager Response:

Thank you for staying with us. We are very sorry you found the master bedroom mattress to be uncomfortable. The hard part about mattresses is that everyone has a preference in terms of firmess/softness. The homeowners did invest in high quality mattresses due to their own back issues. We do continue to monitor complaints about mattresses and replace them if we deem it necessary. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to helping you with any future visits up north!

Summer Place

Review date: 2012-06-19

Review by

Was exactly that - a comfortable two story cottage in Empire, MI, close to beach, dunes, stores and friendly Empire people. We hope to return.
4 out of 5 stars

Family Gettaway

Review date: 2011-09-24

Review by

We had a lot of fun playing at the beach with our three kids which was a nice walk through town. We didn't have time to play on the playground but it looked like fun. The kids enjoyed playing in the yard pushing each other around in the cart. It was nice to have the kids upstairs & have some privacy in our bedroom on the main level. The kids were able to have their own space playing in the front enclosed patio. Wish there was a dishwasher:( The house is close to Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive & the Sand Dunes. Great pizza at the Village Inn!
4 out of 5 stars

Loved Summer Place

Review date: 2011-08-15

Review by Andrea M.

The place was really great and we had a wonderful time. The only drawback was the proximity to the vacant lot next door inhabited by cats. We smelled cat poo a number of times and had to shovel it off the property twice. That being said, it was not a huge problem, but nonetheless one that should be addressed. We are cat lovers, and are sensitive to their situation. Otherwise we loved the location, the city, the beach, the home, the townspeople. The home was very clean, and comfortable. We had a great time. Thanks
4 out of 5 stars

Pleasant stay in Empire

Review date: 2011-08-01

Review by

Only draw back we found were the ants.
5 out of 5 stars

Serenity in Empire

Review date: 2011-07-18

Review by Melissa P.

We had a lovely stay in Empire. The house was very clean. We were conveniently located to town. Quick walk to the grocery store, restaurant, ice cream shop, and other shops. It's a bit of a walk to the beach especially if you're carrying all your gear with you, and/or you have small children. There's a cart in the shed you can use to carry a lot of your stuff. We were also located close to the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor and other small towns up in the Leelanau Peninsula. Don't miss North Bar Beach, it's incredibly beautiful!Our only complaints were the couch was a little wonky. The cushions don't want to stay on it. And, the house could use a few box fans to put in the windows at night to draw in a breeze. On warm nights it stays pretty warm in the house. We were fortunate it was cool most of the week. Just a few warm nights.We had a fabulous vacation, and would definitely stay in Empire again!
4 out of 5 stars

Super Sleeping Dunes Stay

Review date: 2010-09-10

Review by

5 out of 5 stars

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