Lake Leelenau Waterfront Cottage-close to Traverse City, Fishtown & Suttons Bay

Fabulous place inside and out!!! The cottage/home was wonderfully decorated and appointed. Beds were comfy, great sleep and linens top notch. Kitchen well supplied modern great space with island to gather. family room area cozy. LOVED the outside waterfront deck, with beautiful amazing views. We took full advantage of the kayaks for many paddles as well as the firepit with the great andirondeck chairs. would definitely stay here again!!!

This was our second week-long stay at this property. Our first visit was great with no issues but also no owner interaction. During our second stay, however, we had a very poor experience with the owner.On our third night, a loud septic alarm went off at 1:45 a.m. from a locked closet we couldn’t access. It continued until morning, preventing any sleep. The owner did not respond until 7:30 a.m., when she explained what it was and told us it was a septic holding tank alarm and we could not unplug it (even though we had no more info to gain from it) and it wouldn't go off again for 6 hours. Less than two hours later, it went off again as we were trying to get back to sleep. I unplugged it to rest and received a sharp text from the owner saying she could tell it was unplugged. When I explained, she offered no apology.That evening the alarm went off yet again. The owner didn't know if the tanks had been serviced and only then told us we could unplug it. The next day, she confirmed the tanks had been emptied but implied I had not followed instructions, even though I had not been told the issue was resolved.We lost an entire night of sleep due to an alarm we couldn’t access or silence, and the owner offered no acknowledgment or resolution beyond saying it was “part of lake life.” While the location itself is nice, this experience and the lack of support left us very disappointed, especially for a property of this price and as a repeat guest.

It's my opinion that this is the very best spot- this will have been our 3rd visit to this beautiful cottage on Lake Leelenau. Close enough to any adventure you want to take but secluded enough to feel like you have the lake to yourself. They have provided absolutely anything you could need (even kayaks and padfle boards!) THE BEST VIEW for sunsets and star gazing. We had a bon fire every night and enjoyed the sunshine big deck and yard during our days. Close enough to downtown traverse city where we found the most wonderful market (Burrits! A must see) cooked beautiful meals and used the grill too! We had three adukts and our pup with more than enough room. They have made this so beautiful that its our favorite place to visit, hard to consider anywhere else. WE WILL BE BACK. Thank you and sincerely some very grateful guests

We had a wonderful time enjoying the cottage and surrounding area. I would highly recommend this property!

We had an amazing 5-day stay at the Lake Leelanau Waterfront Cottage! The lake view was gorgeous, the Wi-Fi was fast, and check-in was a breeze. The owner communicated wonderfully and made sure we had everything we needed. We especially loved that it’s pet-friendly—our furbaby Moe, a German Shepherd, got to celebrate his 9th birthday here! Honestly, he might’ve enjoyed it even more than we did. This trip was for him, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Highly recommend for a relaxing getaway with your pup!

Willow Tree Cottage is a cute, comfortable little place in a great central location. Our family of 5 with 3 young kids had a great week exploring the lake and nearby towns. The lake bottom is quite rocky in front of the cottage, so I recommend bringing water shoes if you plan to spend time swimming there. Overall a great place to stay!

We had a wonderful week at this beautiful cottage on Lake Leelanau. The location was perfect—right on the lake, yet close to wineries, Suttons Bay, and just a short drive to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Northport/Leelanau State Park and Moomers!We were grateful to find a dog-friendly place that was private, and peaceful. We especially loved the many spots to take in the stunning sunsets over the lake—the bench on the dock, the furnished deck, and the glassed-in porch all offered incredible views (even through the haze from the Canadian wildfires). Kayaking and paddleboarding were highlights of our trip, and it was a bonus to have them provided (along with life vests and beach towels.) Tip: early mornings and evenings have the calmest water.The hosts were great communicators and let us know about the very steep driveway ahead of time. We also enjoyed flipping through the photo book showing the cottage renovations—what an amazing transformation!All in all, this was a lovely spot for a relaxing and scenic getaway.

We really enjoyed our stay at the cottage. It’s a really cute cottage with amazing sunset views. The location allowed us to easily explore the Leelanau peninsula early each day and to return to enjoy some lake time in the afternoon. All of the extra toys (kayaks, paddle boards, fishing poles) were a nice bonus. The size of the cottage worked out well for our family with 2 kids under 10, but I imagine we may have needed a bit more space if they were teenagers or if we had a bigger group. Overall, we had a great time and already miss relaxing on the deck watching the sunset.

We truly enjoyed our week at the Willow Tree cottage. The renovations that have been done are spectacular. Such a great location on the lake with all needed amenities. We hope to be back. Our family made more memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you.

If you are looking to get away as a couple or small family, this place was relaxing and special. The place has recently been remodeled, so cute. A little tight on space in the bedrooms and bath, so made 10 days with two teenagers a little tight, but hey, this house makes you want to be out on the lake. There is a great little sandy beach where you can put your chairs, kids can play in the water, and lake entrance is sandy with a few rocks. We rented boats and jet skis for the week and enjoyed it thoroughly. You have access on the lake to multiple restaurants. The place is 12 minutes from groceries and town. The host was great, communication was fantastic, and kitchen was pretty well appointed for cooking meals in if you are lucky enough to catch some fish for dinner. Our dogs loved the beach access and fire pit at night was a way to end the day. Only drawback was no washer and dryer which we needed over the 10 day trip. Very nice VRBO, highly recommend.

The cottage and scenery exceeded our expectations. The renovations were amazing. Not sure how you did it but it felt contemporary but still had that original cottage vibe. It was clean and well stocked with all the essentials. The hosts were quick to respond with any questions. We will be back!

Willow Tree Cottage has it all! The owners have you wanting for nothing- the most well appointed cottage stay i have ever experienced- breath taking views and privacy. The thoughtfulness and attention to detail did not go unnoticed. This place is a treasure and we enjoyed our stay so much that we booked again for next year. Cant wait!

Our family loved our stay at Willow Tree Cottage! Truly, the perfect Up North escape. We enjoyed access to Lake Leelanau, the beautiful sunsets and stars! It was the perfect location to explore Traverse City, Sutton’s Bay, Leland and the Great Bear Dunes! Our two year old daughter was in love with the sand pit, and we enjoyed taking in the lake view. Can’t say enough about this special cottage and hope to visit again soon!

What a lovely little cottage on the west side of Lake Leelanau! We enjoyed the deck every day of our week long stay. The kitchen was fully stocked including spices which was nice to have (many vrbos don’t provide these simple amenities). This cottage is best for four adults. The extra sleeping room is basically a sealed in porch with two tiny beds. Maybe good for littles only. The bedrooms are very small—one doesn’t have anywhere to store clothing to unpack, but there is a little dresser in the hall closet that we used. We loved the use of the paddle boards and kayaks. We rented a 19’ Four Winns and fully enjoyed the lake. This is a special cottage! Thank you for opening it to others to enjoy!!

Location is great and the renovations completed on this cottage are fantastic. It was the perfect distance from Traverse City and a number of other landmarks. We would stay again in the future.

Our family of five and dog had a nice time. House is comfortable and stocked with everything you need. Situated perfectly in the area with a short drive to most towns.

Nichole and Frank did such a beautiful job renovating this cabin. We spent the most wonderful long weekend exploring the Leelanau peninsula using the Willow Tree Cottage as our jumping off point. When we returned from our adventures we would take the kayaks/paddleboards out or unwind with a fire and the sunset. Our family of 5 slept here comfortably, with our 8 and 6 year old fighting over the futons. I’ve already recommended their place to two people and hope that we can return in the future!

We really enjoyed kayaking and paddle boarding . . . And the lovely sunsets.