Sunset Serenity is an incredible home! It's located on a private bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and there are truly spectacular views of Lake Michigan for miles from the home. The home features a wrap-around deck and second detached deck with great lake views from all points. There are also posts and a hammock available for relaxing in a hammock while watching the waves of Lake Michigan from the bluff.
The home is located in Frankfort just north of and within walking distance of the famous Congregational Summer Assembly (CSA) area between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan. The location of the home, sitting on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, provides for a great view of the lake in all its splendor as well as a base for exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Point Betsie Lighthouse, Crystal Lake, the Leelanau Peninsula, and the charming beach towns of Frankfort, Beulah, Empire, and Glen Arbor. This home just off of M-22 truly provides for a one-of-a-kind and forever memorable vacation!
It should be also noted that the area is not just for the summer, but it also very beautiful in the Spring and Fall. In the Spring, there are many varieties of wildflowers in bloom and the Fall colors in the area are breathtaking!
Guests are able to walk down to the private beach on Lake Michigan via the neighbor's steps (which are shared with guests) and enjoy sunbathing, frolicking in Lake Michigan, walking along the beach, and having beach bonfires. For outdoor fun, a charcoal grill, beach chairs, and bicycles are available in the garage for guests to use.
Inside, there are also great lake views from the living room, dining room, and one of the bedrooms. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. There are 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on each floor, with the second floor bedrooms and bathroom being basically mirror images of the first floor bedrooms and bathroom. The cottage also features a full kitchen with a dishwasher, a wood fireplace in the living room (firewood not provided), high-speed Wi-Fi, satellite and streaming television, board games, puzzles, a front load washer and dryer, and air conditioning.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE AND HOUSE GUIDELINES:
1) PETS: We allow up to 2 dogs. More than 2 dogs or any other kind of pet is strictly prohibited. If bringing one or two dogs, please make certain that you specify that you are bringing pets so that the pet fee is properly applied. No dogs on dune (restoration from erosion in process). Keep dogs on leash unless on beach. Wash sand off dogs with outdoor hose prior to reentry after beach. Pick up dog poop put in plastic bag then inside yellow trash bag. Crate available for use when leave dog(s) at cottage while gone. Please keep dogs off beds/bedding.
2) PARKING / ENTRY: Please back up driveway if possible. Turning around at the top causes damage to road & parking pad. Please park in space with Brunner sign on parking pad and/or at top of driveway. Do not go past barrier or steps with car. Please do not park on gravel parking area on opposite side of Maple Arch, that is for use of other home owners. If you park more than 2 cars, you may be asked to move yours if a neighbor needs to get out. Any other cars may park further back on Maple Arch, either on a dirt access road or at the bottom of the hill, after unloading at cottage. Thank you for your cooperation due to limited parking spaces, especially during peak season.
3) SHOES: Please take off shoes upon entry to limit sand in home.
4) CLEANING: Multiple vacuums are available for vacuuming floor, carpet & couches.
For the stove, before & after use make sure no dried food spots on it by cleaning with the white Magic Erase sponge & if needed, Cerama Bryte under sink.
5) WASHING CLOTHES: The house has well water that has a high iron content in it. Guests are advised not to wash personal white items in hot water in the washing machine as they may become discolored.
6) WATER & ICE: Water is ok to drink & cook with, except please use Brita or bottled water for Keurig coffee. Water & ice in fridge/freezer is turned off; so drink water from Brita & make own ice cubes with plastic trays.
7) TRASH: Close garage door at night so raccoons don’t get in trash. Keep bags of trash in closed lid containers in garage. Put trash out at M-22 & Marquette early in the morning on Tuesdays & Fridays, never overnight! Trash must be in yellow bags when put out, they are in basement, if need more, can buy at grocery in Frankfort
8) BLUFF: The home is on top of a very fragile sand bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. There are huge bags of sand at the base of the bluff to prevent future erosion. Guests are not permitted to climb the sand dune for both their safety and the safety of the bluff. (The private beach can be accessed via the neighbor's stairs, which are shared with guests.) Similarly, the driveway portion that is directly between the house and the bluff is blocked off and cars are not permitted on this part of the driveway. This is again for both the safety of guests as well as the safety of the bluff since the top of the driveway is fragile and may give way.
9) ACCESSIBILITY: The home requires parking approximately 100 feet away from the house. There are two ways to access the property: one is up 35 steps and the other involves walking around the house to the other side and going up 12 steps. The latter is easier for someone with a walker or for someone with rolling luggage. If there are accessibility concerns, please contact us before making a reservation.
10) HOUSE LIGHTS: Upon arrival can turn lights on via switch near base of stairs. Can also turn stair lights on/off inside house by north sliding door. There are miscellaneous porch & driveway outdoor lights along south cottage wall inside.
11) LOCAL AIRPORTS:
* Frankfort Dow Memorial Airport (private planes only) - 5 minutes away
* Cherry Capital Airport (TVC - Traverse City, MI) - 60 minutes away
* Manistee County / Blacker Airport (MBL - Manistee, MI) - 40 minutes away
12) CELL PHONE SERVICE: Cell phone service generally works at the property, but there is a land line that is available for guests to use if they have issues with cell phone service.
13) FIRE SAFETY: Bonfires and fireworks are not permitted near the house or at the top of the bluff due to the large number of trees in the area and for preservation of the sand dune.
14) NEARBY RESTAURANTS: Here are some nearby restaurants that we would recommend:
* The Manitou
* The Cherry Hut
* The Crescent Baker
* The Roadhouse
* Rock's Landing
* Perks of Frankfort
* Dinghy's
