The Lily Pad on Benzie Blvd. is a super cute 3-bedroom, 2-bath cottage that is just 1 block from Crystal Lake in downtown Beulah! Recently renovated and very comfy! Includes enclosed front and back porches for chatting, relaxing, and people watching. Features central air conditioning, washer and dryer, high-speed Wi-Fi, live streaming television, backyard deck, and backyard bonfire ring! Truly great location for individuals, couples, families, and small groups to explore northern Michigan!
INTERACTION WITH GUESTS:
We have a local property manager that lives in the area and is available to address any issues.
NEIGHBORHOOD:
The cottage is located in downtown Beulah. it is about 4 blocks (a 5-minute walk) from the restaurants, shops, and cafes in downtown Beulah. Beulah is a cute little northern Michigan town located on the east end of Crystal Lake. The town was founded in 1880 by Reverent Charles E. Bailey and its name is actually Biblical in nature. It has a cute little main street (Benzie Blvd.) on which the cottage is located and has a nice collection of shops, restaurants, cafes, a post office, and a couple of bars. We would particularly recommend Ursa Major Bistro (for breakfast or lunch), L'Chayim Delicatessen (for lunch), and The Lucky Dog Bar and Grill (for lunch or dinner) in terms of places to eat in downtown Beulah. One of the neat surprises in Beulah is that there is a wonderful interactive children's science museum called COGnition just a short walk (less than 5 minutes) from the cottage!
The cottage is also just 1 block from a public access point on Crystal Lake! This is very convenient for boating, kayaking, and/or paddleboarding on Crystal Lake! (Crystal Lake Adventure Sports in downtown Beulah rents kayaks and paddleboards if you don't have your own.) The public access point is also great if you just want to walk over and watch the sunset. Beulah Beach is a sandy public beach on Crystal Lake that is only 4 blocks from the cottage (less than a 5-minute walk) if you wish to go swimming, play in the water, or sunbathe on the beach. There is also a very popular fishing pier on Crystal Lake that is only 3 blocks from the cottage.
The cottage is located in beautiful Benzie County, one of the most pristine and natural environments in all of Michigan, and there are a number of other things to do in the area:
* Probably the most popular attraction in all of northwest Michigan is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It is incredibly picturesque collection of natural beauty in terms of Lake Michigan, dunes, forests, wildlife, and inland lakes and rivers. There is a vast collection of hiking trails throughout the park and kayaking, canoeing, and tubing on the rivers and lakes is also very popular. The park starts about 8 miles away from the cottage, just north of the west end of Crystal Lake.
* The cottage is only 11.3 miles (about a 15-minute drive) from Crystal Mountain Resort, which is one of the top destinations in the Midwest for skiing and snowboarding. Also, in the summer, they have great golf courses, an alpine slide, and a waterpark.
* The cottage is just a 10-minute drive from the lovely beachtown of Frankfort on Lake Michigan. Frankfort and nearby Elberta offer a fun collection of beaches, shops, restaurants, cafes, a movie theater, a microbrewery, and a few bars. Frankfort has a very popular public beach on Lake Michigan and Elberta (just across Betsie Lake from Frankfort) offers a more pristine and much less navigated natural beach. (Dogs are allowed everywhere at Elberta Beach, but are only allowed on certain portions of Frankfort Beach.) The Frankfort Lighthouse is also one of the famous and historical lighthouses on Lake Michigan.
* There is wonderful bike trail nearby. It's called the Betsie Valley Bike Trail and it runs 22 miles from Frankfort to Elberta, then along the Betsie River to Beulah, and then on over to Thompsonville. It is accessible in downtown Beulah about 5 blocks from the cottage.
* The area is widely renowned for fishing! Crystal Lake is excellent for perch as well as rock bass. Ice fishing on Crystal Lake for smelt and perch is a popular activity in the winter. Coho salmon, lake trout, and northern pike are also fished in the lake. Salmon fishing on Lake Michigan, the Betsie River, and the Platte River (just north of Beulah) is definitely the biggest fishing attraction though. As previously mentioned, there is a popular fishing pier on Crystal Lake just 3 blocks from the cottage!
* The cottage is just a 5-minute drive from the Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theater. Although it's one of the last drive-in movie theaters in Michigan, it's thriving quite nicely and is a very popular place for an affordable family or couples outing.
* If a larger city environment is desired with more and trendier shops, restaurants, and nightlife, then Traverse City is just 45 minutes away from the cottage. It is the cultural, entertainment, dining, and shopping hub of northern Michigan and, although still relatively small and very safe, it provides a bit of "big city feel" to tourists and locals.
GUEST ACCESS:
Guests have access to the entire house, except for a owner space this is locked off for owner storage. The small detached garage is also not available for guest usage.
THE SPACE:
The home has been recently renovated and is decorated in a lovely bright and beachy style throughout the house!
TRANSIT:
There is public transit in the area via The Benzie Bus, but it is recommended that guests have their own means of transportation.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
1) PETS: All pets are strictly prohibited.
2) BASEMENT: The stairs to the basement and somewhat steep and tricky. Might be difficult for elderly individuals and/or young children to access the basement.
3) GARAGE: The small detached garage next to the cottage is not available for guest usage.
4) HEATING AND COOLING: The cottage is insulated and has a natural gas forced air furnace to keep it warm in winter. It also has central air conditioning to keep it cool in the summer.
