(*** Exciting information at the end of this description as to how you can extend your group size from 15 to 21 guests.)
Are you looking for a real Up North experience? It does not get more authentic than a 3625 square foot log cabin in the middle of gorgeous, rolling hills, on 20 wooded acres in Charlevoix. Abbeys Up North is where it is at, and Xanadu is the name of the Log Cabin! Even though we call Xanadu a log cabin, with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, two living rooms, two kitchens (so families can share helping in preparing food for the masses!), a huge loft, this home sleeps up to 15 with gracious space to spare. During the summer season, we also have a Queen Size bed on the back screened in porch (not listed as an additional sleeping area - it is just a bonus bed in case someone wants to sleep outside in the Up North fresh air!)
Always hopeful that the weather will cooperate for your holiday, but if it storms, this log home has 1700' of screened in wrap around metal roof porch meaning even a rainy day can bring magic. Imagine sitting on one of the two porch swings (big and soft enough to nap on) facing each other, while the screened in porch shelters you, and the rain thrums overhead. Off in the horizon, can you picture lightning lighting up the edge of the tree line, while thunder booms over the nearby lakes? Right up there with waves rolling to shore, I love the sound of the rain falling on a metal roof!
Bring your boat, bring your trailers; our huge driveway and yard can accommodate your toys. Speaking of toys, we have board games and books for kiddos of all ages, so the whole family can sprawl companionably around the huge hearth in the living room. We’ll even provide the first load of wood for the fireplace. And there is the loft that also has a TV and a table to play games on that the kids for sure will love to escape to!
If you’d like to spend more time outside, there are 2 fire pits. One of them is overlooking the 40-year-old Evergreen Trees and woods that you can take a walk in and gather up fallen limbs and twigs for that marshmallow roast. The other one is located on the other side of the yard next to the small barn shaped shed.
Keep your eyes open for deer at sunset. You might also see fireflies, turkeys, eagles, fox and pheasant. Or if you’re really lucky, lounge out under the sky and watch for falling stars or better yet, the Northern Lights!
Barbeque dinner for your family on the charcoal grill, loll in the hammock under the pines, or relax in your private hot tub. You may even check out the locally famous, historic “Pappy” Haggerty family two-holer outhouse in the center of the back yard, (surrounded by rhubarb and lilacs) but we do hope you don’t actually use it. The outhouse, that is. By the way, rhubarb makes excellent pies so if in season, don't forget to bring grandma's rhubarb pie recipe!
Because we understand wanting to share an experience like this with as many of your loved ones as possible, we encourage you to bring your furry faced baby. Heck, they’re family, too, right?
And let's not forget to talk about the size of this Log Home. The home itself has 3625 square foot interior space with that 1700' of wrap around screened in porches and 800' of open decks. That is right. You get this ENTIRE HOME, your own personal Hot Tub, your very own private Fire pit to roast marshmallows and an entire 20 acres that you can spread out on.
As you look at the pictures you will note that the first floor is decorated distinctly different from the rest of the log home. I used to live in this wonderful home and when I designed it, I intentionally made sure that I had an area set aside for my mother so, if necessary, she could come live with me. Making sure that she would have her own outside entrance yet also having an interior set of stairs allowing us to move freely between her apartment and my home would still give her a feeling of independence while providing her with the assurance that I was close by if needed! Regrettably my mother never had an opportunity to live with me in the ground floor apartment. But the upside is that this pretty pink vacant apartment was the impetus for me to get into the Vacation Rental business. And so began Abbeys Up North! :-)
We are located less than ten minutes away from downtown Charlevoix, 25 minutes to Petoskey and about 30 minutes from Boyne Mountain. There are publicly accessible boat launches on all the lakes, and a nearly endless list of beaches and parks. At your doorstep, you’ll find the Little Traverse Wheelway, recognized as one of the most beautifully paved bike paths in Michigan. The 23-mile Wheelway provides cyclists, inline skaters, walkers and joggers with a smooth path, incredible scenery and a safe, non-motorized link between three of the most popular resort towns in northern Michigan, Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
We hope you have a fantastic and memorable time staying at Xanadu. Our family has been making memories here for three generations, and we’re so glad to offer you the opportunity to do the same.
If heading north as you are truly anticipating experiencing that real "UP NORTH" feel, Xanadu will not disappoint. It has all of the natural beauty of the vast wooded hills and rolling meadows that only 20 acres in Charlevoix the Beautiful can offer. Welcome to Abbeys Up North!
***HEADS UP. For the summer season, (May through October), we will have another apartment to Abbeys up North for a small additional charge. It is a complete 2nd floor apartment with an upper deck, another screened in hot tub, kitchen (so now a 3rd kitchen for families to help in preparing meals for the masses!!!), 1 full bath, 2 bedrooms both with Queen size beds and a pull out couch with a queen size bed sleeping a total of 6 guests. This unit is located above the huge 5 car garage expanding Xanadu's 3625' foot by another 1000 square ft bringing the total living space of Xanadu to 4625' ft. With this apartment, Abbeys will be able to accommodate a total of 21 guests in 7 bedrooms, and 4 1/2 baths! At the end of the pictures I have included some photos showing this unit. They will be titled Captain's Quarters (*CQ).
If you think that this is something that you might be interested in, please get in touch with me and I will be happy to provide the cost of this apartment.
BE ASSURED THAT WHETHER OR NOT YOU RESERVE THE CAPTAINS QUARTERS, OTHER THAN INNKEEPER BIRDIE, YOU AND YOURS WILL HAVE TOTAL PRIVATE USE OF THE PROPERTY.
