Elberta Cottage is a very cute little 2-bedroom (plus loft), 1-bath bungalow home in the heart of downtown Elberta! It is very dog-friendly and includes a fully fenced-in backyard with a grass area for dogs. It includes a gas fireplace, high-speed Wi-Fi, live streaming television, a main floor washer and dryer, and a full bathroom. The home is in a great location for walking around and exploring the safe, fun, and eccentric little town of Elberta and exploring all of northern Michigan!
INTERACTION:
We have a local property manager that lives in Elberta and is available to address any issues.
NEIGHBORHOOD:
Elberta is a delightfully eclectic little town on Lake Michigan just south of Betsie Bay (which is also called Betsie Lake). It is just across the bay from nearby Frankfort. (Downtown Frankfort is just a 5-minute drive from the house.) Elberta is famous for its huge natural sand dunes, which are between the village and Lake Michigan. There is a wonderful hiking trail through the dunes (Elberta Dunes South Natural Area) that starts just 0.7 miles from the house. There is also a great bike trail (the Betsie Valley Trail) that goes right next to downtown Elberta and is less than one-half of a mile from the house. There is also a small public park with a full court outdoor basketball court just a couple of blocks from the house.
Downtown Elberta is just a short walk from the house and it has a wonderful traditional breakfast cafe (The Lighthouse Cafe) along with a few shops and restaurants. Elberta has a fun collection of different sizes and styles of homes, including several large and beautiful historic homes. There is a public kayak launch in downtown Elberta for kayaking around Betsie Bay, including the option of kayaking out to Lake Michigan or else up the Betsie River. There are 2 marinas in Elberta on Betsie Bay, both of which are only about 100 yards from the house. Between the 2 marinas is the famous Cabbage Shed historic restaurant, which is a great place for dining outside on the water and enjoying live music.
Elberta has its own beach on Lake Michigan (Elberta Beach), which is only 0.9 miles from the house. Elberta Beach is dog-friendly, allows bonfires at night, and does not get a lot of traffic as it is somewhat hidden behind the beautiful dunes. There is also a waterfront park on Betsie Bay in Elberta that has playground equipment for kids and has live music in its amphitheater on Monday nights in the summer.
On the other side of Betsie Bay is Frankfort, which is larger than Elberta and has a very charming downtown area with a lovely collection of cafes, restaurants, shops, a vintage movie theater (the Garden Theater), and a microbrewery (Stormcloud). Frankfort also has a very popular public beach (Frankfort Beach) on Lake Michigan and a pier that goes out to a large, famous, and historic lighthouse. It's always fun to walk the pier out to the lighthouse! Downtown Frankfort is less than a 5-minute drive from the property.
Just outside of Elberta and Frankfort, there are also a great many things to see and do. The start of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is just a 15-minute drive from the property to the north. Sleeping Bear Dunes features a incredible collection of hiking trails, biking trails, scenic lookouts on Lake Michigan, and kayaking or tubing down the Platte River through the park and out to Lake Michigan.
Crystal Lake, Point Betsie Lighthouse on Lake Michigan, Crystal Mountain Resort, Arcadia Dunes Golf Course, and the cute beach towns of Arcadia, Beulah, and Empire are all also less than 30 minutes from the house. If you are looking for more excitement and culture, downtown Traverse City, which is the gem of northern Michigan for restaurants, nightlife, and shopping, is only about a 1-hour drive from the house.
ACCESS:
Guests have access to the entire property, except for the detached garage.
TRANSIT:
The is public transportation available (the Benzie Bus), but neither Uber nor Lift operate in the area and there is no local taxi service. As such, it is recommended that guests have their own means of transportation.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
1) PETS: Up to 2 dogs are permitted. More than 2 dogs and any kind of pet other than dogs are both strictly prohibited. If bringing 1 or 2 dogs, please make certain that the pet fee is paid. Please make certain to clean up after your dog(s) if you are bringing 1 or 2 dogs.
2) UPSTAIRS LOFT: There is a loft area with additional sleeping space on the second floor. There is a spiral staircase up to the second floor loft. The spiral staircase might be difficult for elderly individuals and/or young children to use.
3) DETACHED GARAGE: The detached garage is also not for guest usage.
