Notes from the host
Hanley Lake Hideaway
Fill our new openings for fall colors! We're now available starting Oct. 21st! Pick apples. Eat fresh donuts. Visit wineries. Enjoy the brilliant colors along the chain of lakes, hilly roads and verdant valleys. Or book ahead for winter skiing, tubing, and relaxing, spring adventures and summer pleasures.
Settle in at home with a complimentary bottle of wine or a home-made cappuccino and gaze out at the tranquil lake and the woods beyond through floor-to-ceiling windows. Roast s'mores at the fire pit under a sky full of stars.
You'll be perched on a 100-mile chain of lakes with 110 feet of private lakefront. Enjoy:
-two decks and floor to ceiling windows.
-Centrally located for golf and ski resorts, quintessential up north towns, wineries, shops, and the renowned Short's Brewery.
-Ten minutes to Grand Traverse Bay, Torch Lake beaches.
-Easy walk to town for a meal, drink, ice cream or fudge.
-Kayaks, canoe, SUPS, dock, fire pit.
-Fully stocked home, with staples, linens, CDs, books, DVDs and toys, WIFI, 50" smart TV, TVs in each room, and streaming services.
-Fully outfitted kitchen with gadgets ranging from an Instant Pot, espresso machine, Keurig, Kitchen Aid mixer and electric pancake griddle.
-Freshly laundered robes and lounging-around socks.
Visit Michigan's largest water park, or nearby Bellaire (with the renowned Short's Brewery), Wander through Petoskey, Charlevoix, and East Jordan or explore shops and restaurants in Traverse City, Alden and Elk Rapids.
Tucked into a glacial valley and nestled in the hills of northwest Michigan, it's a peaceful place to enjoy every season. Nothing to do but relax.
Bring your pooch if you like (just $15/night per dog for up to two). You'll be located on a country road less than a mile from the village of Central Lake. Our neighbors are a mixture of vacationers and year-round residents and have been rarely heard or seen. You're down a curving driveway from the village road so the "traffic" you notice will be occasional passing cars plus the occasional passing fishing boats (ice fishing in winter!) or, weather permitting, passing pontoons.
Three seasons of the year, enjoy your 100-mile chain of lakes with child & adult kayaks, a canoe and SUPs, or rent a pontoon or motor boat nearby. Paddle past kingfishers and great blue heron, turtles nestling in the tall grasses, and weeping willows along the shore.
(And before you forget, like & follow Hanley Lake Hideaway on facebook for pop-up specials!)
In spring, go morel hunting. Meander along country roads and breathe in the greening of the hills, valleys, woods and lake shores. Go for a bike ride or take out one of our kayaks, canoe or SUPs. Go antique shopping or enjoy the village and nearby towns and cities.
In summer, swim, boat, visit farmer's markets and Grand Traverse Bay's beaches. Or just nap on one of your private decks or by the water.
In the fall, meander rolling hills flush with autumn colors. Visit apple orchards. You'll be close to wineries, galleries, antiques, golf and the renowned Short's Brewery.
In winter, go downhill or cross-country skiing nearby at Schuss and Boyne Mountain, tubing (down hill at Schuss or even on the lovely Jordan River with a guide bringing hot chocolate!). Ice skate on our lake or at nearby rinks. Ten minutes away at Barnes Park on Grand Traverse Bay, climb frozen waves and cross-country ski on groomed trails.
(We have a 40+-page welcome letter with details about the area.)
Located on a 100-mile chain of beautiful lakes, we're halfway between the Equator and the North Pole on the 45th Parallel.
Year-round, enjoy the lake and the rolling hills of Antrim County beyond from inside your cozy cottage.
So about the cottage...
In the master bedroom, enjoy a queen bed with an antique headboard, new mattress (flannel sheets and down comforter in winter) while looking out at the lake through sliding glass doors. In the second bedroom: two solid wood twin over full bunk beds (flannel and down there too if you're planning for next winter!). Both rooms have flat-screen TVs and CD players for our collection of many dozens of movies. Enjoy our completely updated bathroom.
Here's a quick tour. Fully remodeled in 2007 with yearly updates since, the light-filled single-level open-plan design includes a:
• Master Bedroom: Queen bed looking out sliding glass doors to a private deck and the lake beyond; ceiling fan and window a.c. unit; Flat screen TV and DVD player, and a comfy chair. Linens included.
• Second Bedroom: Two sets of bunk beds each with a double and single bed; window AC unit; DVD player, flat screen TV and cable, toys and children's books.
• Living Room: Three sets of sliding glass doors stretching across the lakefront wall. They lead to a deck w/a gas grill, picnic table, and a glorious view of the lake a few dozen steps away; two couches and comfy chair; ceiling fan and air conditioning unit; 50' flat screen, high-def TV, DVD player, stereo, a large collection of movies, music, books, toys and games.
• Dining Room: Sliding glass doors; queen couch/futon; dining table(s); ceiling fan and a library.
• Kitchen: Open to the living and dining rooms with a lake view and a breakfast bar with seating. Fully equipped and well stocked.
• One and a half bathrooms: ceramic tile floor; shower/tub & double sinks in primary bath, completely remodeled in December 2013, and a second small bathroom. We supply towels and supplies.
Come on up to what our son lovingly named 'Our Hanley Lake Hideaway' and a repeat guest calls 'Our Little Slice of Heaven!'
Keywords: Family-friendly; pet-friendly; dogs welcome; private lakefront all-season cottage; year-round vacation home; sunny guest home, country house with walls of windows, Hanley Lake Hideaway; up north cabin; northern Michigan retreat; private lake; boats; kayaks and canoe; dock; private decks; birding; morels; skiing; fall colors.
