☀️Easy Family Basecamp | Walk to Tawas Point + Firepit

East Tawas, Michigan
$201 avg/night
Minimum Stay 2 Nights
Bed 3

Bed

Bath 1

Bath

Home Private Vacation Home

Property Type

Sleep 7

Max Sleeps

Night 2 nights

Min Stay

A relaxed, family-friendly cottage just steps from Tawas Point State Park—where your days are spent biking to the beach, walking to the lighthouse, and ending around the firepit. This is an easy, low-stress home base for exploring the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” with space to spread out, unwind, and enjoy time together.The home blends rustic cottage charm with thoughtful updates You’re three houses from Lake Huron with a neighborhood access point, and just a short walkor bike ride to the state park for swimming, sunsets, and miles of shoreline. The setting is quiet and peaceful—ideal for families, small groups, and guests traveling with dogs.

New in 2026: Tillys Bubble Bar at Tawas Point State Park! Open 8-4 Thur - Sun. (Seasonally), your walk or bike ride through the state park is well fueled with an AM coffee latte, afternoon icy or bubble tea and light eats (hot dogs, bagels, home made pastries. My kids favorite is now a bike ride to get snacks or a fun drink! (Tilly's is also on Main St. in town)

About The Cottage:

A charming bungalow a stone's throw from Tawas Point State Park, the bike path, and 3 miles to town amenities - take the bike path! This 3 bed/1 bath 1200 sqft bungalow offers space and comfort for your getaway! A short walk to Tawas Point State Park and hiking, bird-watching and breathtaking vistas of both Tawas Bay and Lake Huron. A deeded Lake Huron access point at the end of the street (3 houses down) - just enough to toss in a kayak or check out the wave action.

Bareboat Bungalow is set up for families - and works well for couples as well. 1 bedroom downstairs (queen) and two bedrooms upstairs (king, 2 twins). The home maintains some rustic charm while also offering comforts like wireless internet, smart tv's (bring your Netflix info or use the free viewing apps) and newer furniture and appliances. We DO have some renovation plans, primarily the kitchen but its fully functional (bring your own dishwasher - the human variety!) Walk the park, enjoy the beaches moments away, ride your bikes into town. Enjoy crisp fall days with the gas fireplace to keep you warm, or sit in the front room with the wall heater keeping you warm.

Small camper or camper van Please inquire - we do have a 30 AMP plug available. Only with express approval may bookers bring a camper or camper van.

Note: This home does not have central heating or cooling, however you will find we have made it quite comfortable with supplemental space heaters and window/portable AC, depending on the season. Window a/c units are installed Mid-May to early Oct in the living area and both upstairs bedrooms.

WHAT TO DO Aside from hiking, swimming, and biking practically outside the front door/in the state park, head to Corsair for renowned groomed cross country skiing, snowshoe through the state park, or just meander the charming neighborhood. Check out Lumbermans Monument or Iargo Springs. Wander through the quaint town of East Tawas and don't leave without walking out the state dock. An outdoor firepit and deck offers a great spot for evenings at home. Our street is right off the bike path that takes you into town (3 miles) and beyond. This home is for an adventurous couple or family looking to take advantage of the area.

BRINGING KIDS We own this home because we had youngish kids at the time and wanted a great location to get us walking, hiking and biking! It worked! Even now as teens they enjoy our getaways. The living room and front room both have TV's and room to spread out without needing to fight over the remote. The shark-themed bedroom inspires imaginations and we've left some books and Legos (note, we do NOT sanitize those after every visit, but we do so regularly.)

REMOTE WORK Bring your laptop(s) and use the provided wifi (400 mpbs good for large file downloads and multiple devices streaming HD) and extend your weekend into the week! A desk in the upstairs bedroom can offer privacy for a conference call. The front room and living room both offer table space.

PETS Well-mannered dogs considered, must be leashed outside or have excellent recall. Not all of our neighbors enjoy dogs, and there is a lot of wildlife and other dogs in the area.

OTHER: Active security cameras in use in garage/home exterior. Contactless check-in and out. We won't bother you unless you need us! If you need something, or the property isn't up to par please let us know as soon as reasonable. It's just us, this isn't a property management company or a hotel - we are working and raising our family so we are unlikely to respond in the middle of the night, but we do want the opportunity to make your stay great!

DISCLAIMERS: This house in a location where you may experience wildlife. Being surrounded by water means a lot of bugs, such as fish flies, which hatch out in mass when the weather conditions are just so. We have had times where our house was coated with them! Mosquitos can make the evening a bit less delightful for sitting on the porch. There are also frogs, snakes, birds, foxes, deer, raccoons, possum - all have been seen in our yard. Some regularly. Things you can do - don't have the porch lights on and open doors (I've made this mistake and had a fish fly hatch in the house!), bring repellants of choice for mosquitos and have a sense of adventure. If you bring a pet, don't just let them out the door. Leash your dog or ensure they are well trained to not leave the yard (and know you may find wildlife in the yard)

SUMMER RESERVATIONS: We will open our summer calendar mid- to late January, once we confirm our summer plans. We require a 5-night minimum between Memorial Day and Labor Day - we will reduce this requirement to 3 nights for any remaining summer dates in mid- to late April. Returning guests can always message me for preferred dates, we'll do our best to accommodate.

DAMAGE INSURANCE: We require the purchase of damage protection insurance, which covers up to $500 of damage over your stay. This is independent of (and costs less than) VRBO's coverage and you will see this line item assessed as a Property Fee. You will be responsible for any damages in excess of the coverage allowance.

OTHER FEES: Taxes are assessed as Michigan's Use Tax (6%), cleaning fee and pet fee if applicable.

We hope you enjoy your stay!

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  • Feature Features
  • Map Map
  • School District Availability
  • Review Review

Feature Features

  • PETS

    Pet Friendly Service Animals Exempt From Fees
  • BEACH

    Near The Beach
  • DINING

    Dining Table
  • SAFETY

    Carbon Monoxide Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Carbon Monoxide Detector On The Property) Fire Extinguisher First Aid Kit Smoke Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Smoke Detector On The Property)
  • BEDROOM

    3 Bedrooms Bed Sheets Provided Sofa Bed
  • GENERAL

    Unit Size: 1200 Sq Ft (112 Sq M)
  • KITCHEN

    Coffee/tea Maker Cookware/dishes/utensils Microwave Oven Refrigerator Spices Stovetop Toaster
  • LAUNDRY

    Laundry Facilities Washing Machine And Dryer
  • PARKING

    Car Recommended Onsite Parking Options Include A Garage
  • INTERNET

    Free WiFi
  • OUTDOORS

    Balcony Barbecue Grill Firepit Garden
  • BATHROOMS

    1 Bathroom Bathtub Or Shower Hair Dryer Towels Provided
  • WORKSPACES

    Desk Desk Chair
  • LANGS SPOKEN

    English
  • THINGS TO DO

    Boat On Site Cycling Nearby Fishing Nearby Jet Skiing Nearby Kayak On Site Kayaking Nearby Marina Nearby Power Boating Nearby Sailing Nearby Swimming Nearby Wildlife And Game Walks Nearby
  • ENTERTAINMENT

    Books DVD Player Games Smart TV
  • LIVING SPACES

    Fireplace
  • CLIMATE CONTROL

    Air Conditioning Heating
  • FAMILY FRIENDLY

    Children's Books Children's Dinnerware Children's Toys Highchair Travel Crib
  • LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

    On The Lake
  • SERVICES AND CONVENIENCES

    Iron/ironing Board
  • SUITABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

    Smoke-free Property

CheckIn Check-in : 04:00 PM CheckOut Check-out : 11:00 AM
No Wheelchair No smoking No pets Children allowed
Occupancy Max occupancy : 7

Map Map

School District Availability

Review Review

  • George S.

    Submitted Jan 5, 2026

    Stayed Jan 1, 2026

    Everything was great!

  • DeeDee D.

    Submitted Nov 4, 2025

    Stayed Nov 1, 2025

    Communication regarding our stay was great. The bungalow is clean and cozy. We stayed two days off season (November) and the neighborhood was quiet. There is only one piece of feedback - the bungalow is pet friendly and although we have indoor cats and 3 dogs, I was not pleased by the amount of long white animal hair on the blanket on the downstair bed. If it wasn't for being needed (bedroom heat comes from fireplace im living room) I would have tossed it onto the floor. I suggested to owners maybe provide a pet hair roller for quest or bring your own. Other than that, I would stay at this vrbo home again if in the area. Thank you.

  • sylvia b.

    Submitted Nov 4, 2025

    Stayed Sep 28, 2025

    Great location! Right next to entrance to the Tawas point state park. Home was clean and very very well stocked. Would stay here again!!

  • Lorie H.

    Submitted Sep 25, 2025

    Stayed Sep 22, 2025

    After years of camping at Tawas Point State Park our family chose another option, in part to make things easier for our parents who are now in their 80s. If you're not going to camp but want to be close to the park, this is the place to be. We biker each day over to the park and to the bay in the campground.We enjoyed having the kitchen and the private clean bathroom, rather than the public bathrooms in the campground. We liked the bedrooms. We liked the fire ring so we could have our campfire. We missed being able to see the bay like we could in the state park. There is a little beach access, but other property owners have walled off their beach from everyone else so the beach space is limited.. It's right at the end of the street though, and the bay is close too. The hosts have a lot of things in the garage that guests can use to enjoy the water and the property..

  • Camilla C.

    Submitted Sep 21, 2025

    Stayed Sep 19, 2025

    Very cute bungalow! Close too beach, park and shopping! Pet friendly! Host was very helpful and went above and beyond with welcoming us and providing great information! I will definitely be recommending this property to friends and family!

  • Julia N.

    Submitted Sep 16, 2025

    Stayed Sep 13, 2025

    This is a well equipped cottage in a really great spot! The state park is walking distance and has nice walks, a playground, and excellent beaches

  • karen d.

    Submitted Sep 10, 2025

    Stayed Sep 4, 2025

    Clean and comfortable beds!

  • Mary H.

    Submitted Sep 2, 2025

    Stayed Aug 28, 2025

    The house was great and we loved the location. We all had a good time.

  • Steve M.

    Submitted Aug 18, 2025

    Stayed Aug 11, 2025

    Very cozy & a quiet neighborhood. Check in was easy and well communicated. Kate checked with us to ensure that we had everything we needed. Well equipped with kitchen items, towels, linens and recreational gear. Overall a great stay....will look to book here again.

  • Kathleen M.

    Submitted Aug 1, 2025

    Stayed Jul 25, 2025

    Loved the location of this place. It’s where I love to be. The beach is so close and morning walks a treasure! The cabin is neat and clean and has everything you need. I have stayed twice and will return for a third trip!

  • Andrew L.

    Submitted Jul 28, 2025

    Stayed Jul 8, 2025

    We had a nice stay at

  • Patricia M.

    Submitted Jul 1, 2025

    Stayed Jun 25, 2025

    The place was wonderful and easy to get around on the main floor. However, if your party has more than two people who need to use the bathroom during the night or have trouble climbing stairs, you need to get a different place. There is one bathroom on the main floor and quite narrow stairs. Otherwise, we had a wonderful time and really enjoyed our stay.

  • Nicole C.

    Submitted May 26, 2025

    Stayed May 23, 2025

    We had a nice time at the bungalow. Good shower and comfy beds. Very close to the state park. It's in a neighborhood and you can walk to the water (view, not swim). Would stay again.

  • Kathy J.

    Submitted May 18, 2025

    Stayed May 16, 2025

    Relaxing

  • Submitted Jan 16, 2025

    Stayed Jan 3, 2025

    Very warm and cozy. Good space

  • George S.

    Submitted Dec 29, 2024

    Stayed Dec 27, 2024

    Loved the house, great place to just kick back and relax. Will definitely be back.

  • Craig M.

    Submitted Nov 28, 2024

    Stayed Nov 15, 2024

    The house is old, retro, and great. All the conveniences needed, but v Wry old school look

  • Ken B.

    Submitted Nov 26, 2024

    Stayed Sep 11, 2024

    It was the perfect location for our end of summer vacation, within walking distance of Tawas State park.

  • Samantha N.

    Submitted Oct 20, 2024

    Stayed Oct 18, 2024

    The house was lovely, comfortable, and incredibly close to town and activities. Instructions were simple and easy to follow, and the house had everything we needed.

  • Jill F.

    Submitted Sep 29, 2024

    Stayed Sep 26, 2024

    This bungalow was exactly as discribed on the VRBO app. It is the perfect location!!! We enjoyed the sunrise at the beach, downtown Tawas Bay Neumann st! This bungalow was perfect for us and provided everything we needed for an enjoyable vacation! The owner was responsive and very nice! Thank you so much!! We would highlyrecommend it! Loved it!! 5 stars for sure!

  • Melissa V.

    Submitted Sep 26, 2024

    Stayed Sep 23, 2024

    Nice little house! Weather was not great while I was there but saw there was kayaks, a bicycle, and a nice wagon to take your stuff to the beach, which was right down the road! Real close to lighthouse and state park with beautiful beach there too! Host was very attentive and friendly! I’d definitely stay again!

  • Rachael P.

    Submitted Aug 29, 2024

    Stayed Aug 23, 2024

    We had an absolutely lovely week at BareBoat Bungalow! Perfect location near Tawas State Park for beaches and exploring. Only 25 minutes to Lumberman’s Monument and Largo Springs hiking. Beautiful sunrise and sunset views on the point. We loved playing games in the four seasons room and relaxing with a book. Plenty of room for our family and we couldn’t have asked for better communication from the host. We used the kayaks and beach chairs and wagons - so convenient and fun! We visited the farmers market and shopped downtown as well! Went bowling and found a couple of great places to eat and also cooked at home. Thank you for a wonderful, relaxing week, we hope to visit again.

  • Marjie Z.

    Submitted Jul 27, 2024

    Stayed Jul 20, 2024

    The home was in an adorable and safe neighborhood close to the lake. You can view the lake if you take a walk in the neighborhood . The state park is within walking distance, but if you drive, there is a fee if you don’t have a yearly pass. There is not much shade at the state park beach, so we drove into town to go to the dog friendly, shaded beaches. The home is a bit outdated, but had very comfortable mattresses/beds. We enjoyed the board games and books provided. The grass was a bit overgrown. The house was clean except for the windows and windowsills. The upstairs was a little warm. Overall, we had a fun time. The house had many amenities.

  • LAURA H.

    Submitted Jul 22, 2024

    Stayed Jul 11, 2024

    Cottage is exceptionally well-equipped, especially for families. Three kayaks, a wagon for beach excursions, life jackets for all ages, grill, cooking utensils, spices, etc. made for an easy trip with our daughter and her family. Beds were very comfortable! On small wrinkle was the upstairs was a little warm. However, upstairs A/C and fans were a great help. Being near Tawas State Park was wonderful! Beach and bike path therein were great!

Your dates are Available!

Total

Includes taxes and fees
$250+
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