Notes from the host
The Schoolhouse Cottage Near skiing
Great spring season destination.Walk to the beach and the lively town of Suttons Bay from the Schoolhouse Cottage, an attractive historic home renovated for vacation living. The Schoolhouse Cottage offers beds for 10, large dining room with open living room and 55” tv, plus an outdoor deck with dining table and grill.
Come up north to see the beautiful wildflowers blooming on the Leelanau Conservancy Trails, play golf, walk the TART trail or hike the Sleeping Bear Dunes trails and tour our microbrew and cider pubs.
We are within walking distance to the beach, tennis court, bike trails, shops, great restaurants and the movies. The Schoolhouse Cottage is right on the wine trail where you can find heated porches, fire pits, and indoor seating for tasting and social distancing.
You'll love this stylish home featuring 4 bedrooms (King, 2 Queens, and Twins) plus sitting room with a pull-out sofa and 2 full baths. The Twins bedroom is between the sitting room and the upstairs Queen room.
In the heart of the Village of Suttons Bay, the house is near beaches, hiking, biking, cider houses and the wine trail. Super fast WiFi and desk for Work from Home.
The cottage has a large, open living and dining area and a well-equipped kitchen with plenty of room for your group to gather, relax and enjoy time together inside, or outside on the deck overlooking the perennial garden with pocket views of the bay.
We take cleaning seriously at the Schoolhouse Cottage. Guests love it!
We are just one block to town, and two blocks to the beach. For the sports enthusiast we are close to hiking and biking trails too. For the wine enthusiast, we are right on the wine trail -- close to both Black Star Farms and 45 North and Aurora.
We are in an excellent location in the cute town of Suttons Bay; you can walk to the beach, the Marina, and all the boutiques and restaurants in town. Awesome ice cream shop just one block away! Near wineries, golf courses, hiking, tennis and biking trails.
Amenities include central A/C, cable, wifi, two TVs, charcoal grill, board games, parking for 4 cars and laundry for our guests.
We book Sunday to Sunday in prime summer. Plan now for Summer 2025. In fall and spring 2024 we have openings for long weekends of wine tasting, hiking, golfing, shopping, art gallery tours!
We are close to Black Star Farms, Aurora, 45 North, L. Mawby, Ciccione, and Hop Lot. Most wineries are within 5-15 minute drive. The house is great for wedding weekends, as Suttons Bay is close to all the big wedding venues, and the house is so convenient to town; guests love how they can walk to town for everything they need!
The Schoolhouse Cottage is a perfect place to enjoy all that Leelanau County has to offer in all 4 seasons. We are open in the spring, fall and winter -- come enjoy the hiking trails, golf courses, bike paths and wineries.
We are open this spring for wine tasting weekends; discover the igloos at 45 North, Hop Lot and Two K. Enjoy the outdoor fire pits at Tandem Ciders and the heated porch at Boathouse. All the restaurants and wineries are open and are offering great new outdoor seating. Check out the fire pits and tent at Farm Club too! Parking for 3 cars only in the winter.
We are near cross-country ski trails, hiking and fat tire bike paths. All equipment is easy to rent at the nearby Suttons Bay Bikes. Ask me for my favorite hiking trails too.
We are right on the wine trail -- near Black Star Farms, L. Mawby, Ciccone, or head north to 45 North, Aurora, Boathouse, and Chateau Fontaine. All within 10 minutes from the Schoolhouse Cottage!
Recent review of the Schoolhouse Cottage: "The whole experience was fantastic! The owner provided helpful information (shops, things to do, recommendations, etc.) and was she was so helpful and responsive before, during and after our stay! The house is charming, very clean, was large enough for my entire family, and was in the perfect location. The neighborhood is cute, quiet and the house is just steps away from ice cream and downtown fun! We really loved our stay and we highly recommend this home to others! It was all so perfect."
Walk to the beach, town, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, biking trails, hiking trails, and a movie theater! Everything is within walking distance.
Suttons Bay, in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula, is the perfect place to discover the pleasures of Leelanau County. Short scenic drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes, the wine trail, Traverse City, Leland, and Northport. Walk on endless Lake Michigan beaches, sail in Grand Traverse Bay, shop in the quaint towns of Leland and Glen Arbor, boat on Lake Leelanau, go wine tasting, spend a day in Traverse City - just 15 miles away, visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes or explore farther and see all of gorgeous Leelanau County.
Our guests love that they can walk everywhere; to the beach, cafes, shops, excellent restaurants and the movies, all within less than 5 minutes.
Read our reviews! 'The house is darling. So cute!' "Great house, setting, location and great communication with owners".
In addition to sailing, boating, fishing and swimming in Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau, you can golf at a selection of quality golf courses nearby, hike on many well-maintained trails, and bike throughout the county. Bike-enthusiasts love the TART railroad trails which pass right thru Suttons Bay. Enjoy the wine trail, less than 10 minutes to nearby wineries Black Star Farms, 45 North, Aurora Cellars, Boathouse, Chateau Fontaine and many more!
'The white-sand beaches feel as sweeping and sublime as oceanfront' Martha Stewart Living July/August 2013.
Suttons Bay is lively with great restaurants, easy access to Traverse City, stunning Leelanau Conservancy hiking trails, the TART bike trail, superior golf courses, new tennis and basketball courts nearby and award-winning wine and microbrewery tours.
I respond quickly to every inquiry and love to share my favorite beaches, hiking trails, wineries and restaurants!
In the spring you can take a wine tasting tour, hike the Conservancy trails, golf at Manitou, bike the TART trail, play at the Casino, walk the beaches, or explore the microbreweries along the 'Traverse City Ale Trail.' Nearby Herman Park has 4 USTA tennis courts, a pickle ball court and an 18-hole disc golf course.
Suttons Bay is great for families of all ages. Walk to the wide sandy beach of Grand Traverse Bay, just 2 blocks away, where you can watch the sailboats and your kids will spend hours in the sand, playground and calm water which is ideal for swimming. Teens can bike throughout the town or walk to the town's tennis, volleyball, basketball courts and marina park. Bring a picnic to either one of the town's beaches to enjoy the view; plenty of picnic tables and grills are provided.
All year long you can explore the Leelanau Wine Trail and taste North Michigan's award-winning wines. Just ask, we are happy to design a personalized vineyard and wine-tasting tour for you, with just the right restaurant to end the day.
Everyone will enjoy evening strolls through town, savoring local ice cream just one block away, window shopping or catching a film at The Bay Theatre.
The Schoolhouse Cottage, just one block from St. Joseph's Street, is in a prime location in Suttons Bay, a highly desirable year-round vacation destination. Best of all, the house is on a quiet street just 2 blocks from the Suttons Bay beach and town park, 1 block to the town's best restaurants, Martha’s Leelanau Table, 9 Bean Rows and North Country Grill & Pub, and a quick walk to many art galleries, boutique shopping and the Bay Theatre.
In prime season, late June to early September we rent Sunday to Sunday. Ideal for wedding parties. We are taking Summer 2023 reservations now.
We offer cable, Internet, Laundry, Central A/C, off-street parking for 4 cars.
The Leelanau Peninsula has a wide variety of special events throughout the year. Suttons Bay Art Fair, Leland Wine & Food Festival, the Traverse City Film Festival, the Yeti Fest and much more!
Looking for Waterfront? The White Birch on Lake Leelanau is a great family home. Enjoy a luxurious vacation in this well-designed waterfront home which sleeps 10. Relax on the porch overlooking the picturesque Narrows, rent a boat and explore Lake Leelanau, make s'mores on the fire pit, take the kayak or canoe out on the lake. VRBO #610555
Need space for more people? Take a look at our house in Leland, the Bluestone Cottage: VRBO # 456621, which sleeps 10-12 and is located just 3 blocks from Lake Michigan and Historic Fishtown. Or the White Birch Cottage on Lake Leelanau VRBO # 610555 with a dock, large private lawn, fire pit, canoe/kayak and a ping pong table.
I love to share suggestions for best restaurants, unique things to do, wine tour ideas, and hiking trails. I love Leelanau County and I love sharing it with others. I am happy to help in any way to plan an excellent vacation.
Why not try a different area along Lake Michigan. Come visit Saugatuck! Check out the Rivercroft Cottage (Vrbo1813395), my newest renovation project, which is a 5 BR, 3.5 BA home within walking distance to downtown Saugatuck and close to the beaches, restaurants, art galleries, and wineries in the area.near sledding hill, skating rink, fat tire bike trail and XC skiing!skiing