Entire home

Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location

Vacation home with kitchen, 10-minute walk to Lake Michigan

Photo gallery for Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location

Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
TV, books
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Experience the charm of Carol's Cottage, within walking distance to Empire Beach and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Inside, unwind in the colorful open space with a full kitchen and cozy firepit perfect for roasting marshmallows or enjoy family cookouts.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4950 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Outdoor Space

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location

Carol's Cottage

Our calendar is updated in real-time & our nightly rates are accurately displayed. Simply enter your desired dates and click 'Book Now!'

With charm to spare and a great location within walking distance of Empire Beach, hiking and biking trails, quaint local restaurants and shops, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, you’ve chosen wisely with this adorable cottage. The kids and family dog will love the fenced back yard, and you’ll love the cozy firepit, perfect for roasting marshmallows at the end of the day.

Inside, you’ll find a colorful, open space, ideal for reconnecting with family and friends. Use the full kitchen to prepare snacks for the beach, or sit down for a meal together at the sunny dining room table. After a day of exploration, grab a board game for some more together time, stream the latest release on either TV, or use the free WiFi to post pics of the day’s dune climb to your social media. End the day with a family cookout, and drift off to sleep dreaming of the next day’s adventures.

Please note that this property does not have A/C.

THINGS TO KNOW
There is no dishwasher in the kitchen.
This property is managed by Vacasa Michigan LLC

If you are bringing a dog on your trip, the pet fee is already included in your quote when selecting ‘Yes’ to pets. If you would like to add more dogs, please contact us.

Parking notes: There is free parking available for 2 vehicles.



Damage waiver: The total cost of your reservation for this Property includes a nightly damage waiver fee, plus tax if applicable (the “Damage Waiver”). (A discount may be applied for stays of 28 nights or longer, if permitted.) The Damage Waiver covers you for up to $3,000 of accidental damage to the Property or its contents (such as furniture, fixtures, and appliances) as long as you report the incident to the host prior to checking out. The Damage Waiver fee eliminates the need for a traditional security deposit.
More information can be downloaded from the "Rental Agreement" on the checkout page.

Due to local laws or HOA requirements, guests must be at least 21 years of age to book. Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the reservation.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Internet access

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed
  • Note from host: Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises.

Location highlights

  • In a village

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 950 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

For information about quiet hours, please refer to the listing description.

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Note from host: Dogs only. Max of 2.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

92079

About the neighborhood

Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 17 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Empire Bluff Trail - 19 min walk - 1.1 miles
  • Front Street - 32 min drive - 29.1 miles
  • Crystal Mountain - 36 min drive - 30.5 miles

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Joes Friendly Tavern - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Food For Thought - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Little Finger Eatery - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location located?

Situated in Empire, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Philip A. Hart Visitor Center and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Empire Bluff Trail are also within 1 mi (2 km).

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Reviews

Dog-friendly cottage with fenced yard, firepit, W/D, & WiFi - walkable location Reviews

8.6

Excellent

8.6

Cleanliness

10

Location

9.0

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 42 reviews

Reviews

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

William B.

Best location and pet friendly!

Walk to the beach! Close to the national park.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jon G.

Nice little home!!

Everthing was great,comfy beds,and furniture,close to Empire Beach

10/10 Excellent

Lisa K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet, clean great location

Great location to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes, walkable to local beach and a couple of local eateries.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jessica E.

New house for us

We try and stay once a year in Empire and typically rent the same house. This was a last min trip and our usual place was full. We really enjoyed the cottage better than our normal place as it was slightly bigger and the kitchen and bath were a better fit for our family. Will definitely stay again

6/10 Okay

Heather N.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Great place to stay if you have 1-2 kids or a dog like we had. Great location to walk to grocers daughter chocolate! The place is outdated and busy with decorations, but if you can see past that, it’s a comfortable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

2/10 Terrible

Alyson H.

Do Not Recommend

This house has a great location. The yard is nice. It has a fire pit, a grill and table and chairs. However, the negative far outweighs the positive. We did not receive a code when we got there. The property was wide open. Between that, no AC, rodent droppings, and the general dingy look of the property it was not worth the cost.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Elizabeth C.

A cute little house at the beach

The proximity to “downtown” Empire was super and it is an easy walk to the beach. Our dogs enjoyed the back yard and it was easy to walk them around the neighborhood. We neglected to notice that there is no A/C. We opened the windows due to record high temps during our stay and there are a lot of fans in the closets but do note it got very hot inside. Bring a sheetpan/cookie sheet or 9x13 - I forgot mine for dinner prep and cooking and the kitchen didn’t have one.

10/10 Excellent

Amy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Love this cottage!!!

So cozy!!! Will stay here again!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

2/10 Terrible

Alyson H.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Awful experience. No AC. Rodent droppings in kitchen. No code sent. Property wide open when we arrived. Dirty floors. Would not recommend. Only saving feature was the location.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Virginia K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good not Great

Step down, in middle of the hallway needs a ‘ CAUTION’ sign. (I am recovering from a 2x broken femur in last 1.5 yrs & I tripped there bc it is just not noticeable.No sponge, no sink stopperSkillet needs to be replacedCoffe should be provided, especially since there is no coffee shop in townSheets & pillows subparMight consider air conditioning or a ceiling fan for bedroomsFire pit was niceLiving room niceTV options niceWalk to beach greatBeach ASafe/secureCheck in/out-seamlessShower amenities good
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Karen P.

Great location and very comfortable

Private, proximity to Lake Michigan and other area attractions. WiFi / TV excellent. Met our needs perfectly!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carol S.

Location location location

In great proximity to many good places to hike, walk to the beach, empire sleeping bear dune races and short drive to eating establishments and breweries.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachael Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Little Getaway

We loved staying at this cozy little cottage in Empire. It had everything we needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gary E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our stay

A cozy cottage with all the essential amenities. It felt very “Empire” in ambiance. Conveniently located close to all the best of the Natl. Lakeshore
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jean K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Empire

It’s such a nice little town!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Patricia b.

Cute little house convenient to all

Great location, very quiet, well appointed, easy to access, comfortable beds and furnishings. Pet friendly with a fenced yard and dog bags!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nancy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage with all we needed!

Nicely furnished with high quality. Comfty beds. Good location for visiting Frankfort to the peninsulas.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Laura S.

Great cottage

Easy to walk everywhere
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shawn B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice little house

The place was exactly what we expected, super clean, and had everything we needed. A great home base for exploring the northwest lower peninsula!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Dolores A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute Comfy Cottage

Spacious rooms, walking distance to Front Street. Quiet residential area. Close to beachfront at Lake Michigan. Dog friendly.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Great location. Dog friendly.

The property worked well for us. We enjoyed being able to have our dog in the fenced yatd to chase balls. The location was great. Close to the beach, trails and a restaurant. Just a note - there is no air conditioning which was probably stated. There are fans.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

David M.

FALL SPLENDOR

Perfect place for a little r&r during the fall foilage season. Easy walk to the beach, easy walk to the corner hamburger joint. Very comfortable and welcoming.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Traveling with 2 dogs

This was the perfect place to stay as we traveled with 2 adult golden retrievers. So grateful that property owners allow pets. The dogs and humans had a wonderful stay and we will book again next year.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cindy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfy cottage great location in Empire MI

For a visit to Empire this is a great cottage Well equipped with everything needed. Towels plentiful and thirsty. Quiet neighborhood. Regular basket style coffee maker, toaster and microwave. Best of all fire pitans back patio to relax
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Laurieanne R.

Cute Cottage

Clean…clean….and clean! Had everything we needed. Close to Lake Michigan. Comfy and safe.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023