Entire home

Modern Farmhouse steps from downtown! Here comes summer!

Photo gallery for Modern Farmhouse steps from downtown! Here comes summer!

View from the sidewalk
Spacious raised porch overlooking community gardens and best of all, no street!
Exterior
View of beautifully decorated living & dining area
Cozy up to the fire, light a candle and immerse yourself into a magazine!

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 12250.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Pool
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
New Buffalo, MI
  • Local
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • New Buffalo Public Beach
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Four Winds Casino New Buffalo
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Michigan City, IN (MGC-Michigan City Municipal)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Air Mattresses

1 Queen Bed

Lower Level ensuite

1 Queen Bed

Lower Level Sleeper Sofa

1 Double Futon

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Bedroom #1

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Bedroom #2

2 Single Beds

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Lower Level Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Master Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Powder Room

Toilet

Upstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Modern Farmhouse steps from downtown! Here comes summer!

Part of the beautiful Merchant Street Cottages in New Buffalo, MI, there’s no need to look any further for your getaway accommodations! We are one of the newest cottages in town!

Just 2 blocks from downtown New Buffalo and a 10 minute walk to the best beach in Michigan, this roughly 2,700 sq. ft. Cottage was smartly designed for vacations of just about any size group. Situated at the end of a private lane and with no street in front of the house, you’re on your own here! 4 bedrooms (3 queens, 2 twins, queen sleeper sofa & queen air mattress) and 3.5 baths spread across 3 floors with 2 separate living areas, a rear screened-in patio and covered front porch, pool table, two large TVs with streaming cable, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc,, natural gas grill and bikes just about sums it up…Not to mention a secret loft stocked with books and games for the kiddos (we also have about ALL the baby items you'll need, so no need to pack much)! Oh - And don’t forget the heated community pool exclusively for Merchant Street Cottage guests just three houses down from our front door! The pool is typically open mid-May through end of September!

The vibe throughout the cottage is that of a modern farmhouse, giving you the feel of a relaxing getaway with all the comforts of home. Cook a meal in the gourmet kitchen and enjoy it at the custom-made 8-person farmhouse dining table surrounded by windows overlooking beautiful landscaping & flagstone patio w/cafe lights! Flip on the gas fireplace, sync your phone to the Bluetooth speaker to set the soundtrack of your stay and pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage to unwind. Or head downstairs to the finished basement to liven it up with a game of pool, settle in for a movie on the 65” flatscreen or hang out in the lounge area by the pool table and play some cards or one of our many modern board games.

Want to be outside? Of course you do! Just head out to one of the two covered porches that offer comfortable settings with overhead fans to keep everyone cool on those hot summer days. The rear screened-in porch is a perfect spot for escaping the ‘skeeters, opening out to a flagstone patio where you can fire up the natural gas barbecue and gather around the picnic table. The front porch is a great spot for the whole family, as this quiet end lot offers up a private setting so you can enjoy a cup of coffee from the coffee bar while the kids burn off some energy in the yard, which blends into a large community garden area. Grab our cruiser bicycles from the garage to pedal to town or the beach, down Marquette Street to scope out the lakefront mansions or check out the natural beauty of Harbor Country on one of the self-guided bike tours of the Backroad Bikeways.

Don’t fret - The house is fully equipped for your social media, cable, Netflixing and general web surfing needs. Two Smart TVs will ensure that you’re able to unwind and watch some tube, if that’s what you want! TVs are dialed in to provide everyone with streaming Xfinity cable, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and a plethora of other TV apps.

Quite honestly, we began to lay out the “Things to Do” portion of this listing and realized the picture we were trying to illustrate is already perfectly detailed at http://newbuffaloexplored.com. Go there - Trust us, it’s unlike any other Harbor Country portrayal out there and will get the juices flowing for your trip planning purposes.

The bottom line is that we’re two and a half blocks from the heart of New Buffalo (shopping, wine tasting, dining, casino shuttle, nightlife, ice cream, farmers' market and more), a 10-minute walk to the beach and a short trip to anywhere and anything you want to do on your trip to Harbor Country!

If you’re from Chicago, go ahead and skip this next paragraph, but the rest of you will be excited to know that in just over an hour you can be downtown Chicago! Take a quick walk to the Amtrak station in the center of town and hop on the train, which drops you off at Union Station and returns to New Buffalo a few times each day. Or for more frequent train departures to the city, check out the South Shore Line from one of many stops in the surrounding cities (ex, Michigan City).

About 20 years ago we accidentally stumbled upon New Buffalo and fell in love with the town. Over the years we keep coming back, making countless memories over numerous stays. We were able to turn our love for the area into a passion project, and now we can’t wait to share our Cottage with you!

Property manager

Geoff & Sarah Zilan
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
No bachelor or bachelorette parties, thanks!
default

Pets

No pets allowed
Absolutely no pets in or around the Cottage!
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking in the house or on screened-in patio
Guests are provided our Homeowner's Association Guest Rules and are expected to review and abide by them, along with our Reservation Agreement.
This is a quiet family community and therefore does not suit any loud music or party type atmospheres. Especially, outdoor drinking games.
There are homeowners who do not rent and spend a lot of time at their homes and tend to "police" any behavior that does not fit the neighborhood rules

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No bachelor or bachelorette parties, thanks!
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

New Buffalo

Located in New Buffalo, this holiday home is in the city centre and near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Indiana Dunes National Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Local and New Buffalo Railroad Museum. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
New Buffalo, MI

What's nearby

  • Local - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • New Buffalo Public Beach - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • New Buffalo Railroad Museum - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Galien River County Park - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Four Winds Casino New Buffalo - 11 min drive - 5.6 km

Getting around

  • New Buffalo Station - 7 min walk
  • South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Buffet at Four Winds Casino - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Four Winds Sports Bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Timbers at Four Winds Casino - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Stray Dog Bar & Grill - ‬9 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Does Modern Farmhouse steps from downtown! Here comes summer! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Modern Farmhouse steps from downtown! Here comes summer! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-out at Modern Farmhouse steps from downtown! Here comes summer!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Modern Farmhouse steps from downtown! Here comes summer! located?

This family-friendly New Buffalo holiday home is located near the beach, within 1 mi (2 km) of New Buffalo Township Public Library and Lake Michigan. Local and New Buffalo Marina Park are also within 10 minutes. New Buffalo Station is 7 minutes by foot.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 159 out of 164 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 164 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 164 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 164 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 164 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jenny B.

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

Simply amazing

The entire process of booking, communication and house was amazing. Sarah and Geoff were so kind, and responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Quick get away

This location and home were perfect for our needs!! We were meeting my brother’s family from Chicago and this was a good half way spot! The home and its location were perfect! The hosts were great and responded quickly to any questions! Definitely want to come back!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie B.

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

Wow! Generous hospitality, and perfect for families…

Our family of 8 stayed here for 3 nights and had a wonderful time of connecting. The house was large enough for us to spread out some when needed, but also cozy enough to have great gathering times for meals, movies, games, and talking. This is by far the most well-stocked vacation house we have ever rented! I always bring extra toilet paper and even dish rags with us, because there is typically never enough for a large family in a vacation rental. This home had everything! Plenty of towels, TP, dish soap, etc. Also, there were even many games and fun little ‘luxuries’ for a vacation… great coffee K-Cups, fun mugs, candles and twinkle lights, lovely smelling hand soaps/lotions, bikes and helmets available, and some interesting kitchen gadgets… We made waffle cones for the first time here! A short walk to the grocery for ice cream- and it was a fun family evening. We were able to park our vehicles and then walk everywhere… the beach, the grocery, Starbucks, Souvenir shops, and even visited the local library!The owners were extremely kind and communicated well. We hope to visit again!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ann W.

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

Wonderful Stay!

This house is adorable, very clean, and a short walk away from downtown shops, restaurants, and the lake. We loved everything about it! Owners were very responsive to questions we had before arrival and provided clear information that we needed for our stay. I would highly recommend this property to anyone visiting the area!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debbie L.

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

Great house!

The house was brilliant, extremely clean and close to everything. Geoff was a great host and was always helpful and quick at responding to any questions. Would 100% recommend! House was decorated beautifully for the holidays-thank you for making Christmas memories for me and my family.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katie F.

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

Family Thanksgiving Getaway

Wonderful property and hosts, close to everything that SW Michigan has to offer. House is fully stocked and was a perfect option for our family Thanksgiving celebration!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

cathy m.

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

All under one roof

The absolute perfect home and location to have our family gather from afar for birthday celebrations. Made lasting memories! The house is so inviting!!! Everything you can think of was provided.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

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

Like minded friends

The location was perfect and the house was amazing. Plenty of space and well appointed. Every single need was met. We had a great time on our friend-cation.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly L.

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

Wonderful family weekend in New Buffalo

WOW! The Modern Farmhouse exceeded our expectations. Honestly, it deserves over a 10/10. It was an absolutely gorgeous home in a cute, quaint neighborhood walkable to the beach and main drag of New Buffalo. The house was spotless and larger than pictured. The host was very communicative. They clearly put a lot of love and effort into providing a beautiful place to stay. We will definitely be back! Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike D.

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

Great vacation stay

We had a great stay here with our family. Responsive owners, beautiful home! Close to town and the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

John K.

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

We Loved It!

Was a quick 2 day get away but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The cottage is in great condition, very charming, and the location is excellent. About an 8 min walk to beach which worked well as well had mostly teenagers with us. We honestly don't have any critiques. If we were to nitpick the pool was packed entire time we were there and is a bit small for how many people are in that neighborhood. Everything else was simply great.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lara A.

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

Best cottage & location in New Buffalo!

This house has the best location which is close to the beach, shops and restaurants while also being secluded enough to make for a relaxing vacation. This is our second Summer staying at the Cottage on Whidbey as it has everything from cooking at home to bikes for exploring and a access to a community pool. It also has plenty of activities inside the house to do including playrooms and lots of outdoor hangout spaces. Perfect getaway house!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mayling W.

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

Girls’ long weekend

This was a wonderful setting for a girls’ weekend away. The house had everything we needed for our stay, plus extras like the neighborhood swimming pool and enough bicycles for everyone. We were within a 5-10 minute walk to all of our favorite spots in town and the beach. Our host was very responsive to the handful of questions that we had. thank you for a great setting to make memories.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Thomas L.

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

Family Vacation

The Cottage on Whidbey was perfect for our family vacation. Very clean and comfortable. The home was well stocked with everything we could need and more! Sarah and Geoff were so kind and answered any questions/concerns immediately! And we've already booked for next year! Looking forward to making more great memories in New Buffalo!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lauren L.

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

Family Getaway

This is our 3rd time here and it never disappoints. Great location and house is great.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martha S.

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

Family vacation- awesome cottage!

As hosts, Geoff and Sarah have thought of everything! Our family included our married kids and grandkids. The house came equipped with everything we needed! Plenty of toys, games, high chairs, wagons and bikes with helmets for the kids and for the adults, bikes, games, pool table, bbq grill and nice touch of a well stocked coffee station in the dining area. They’ve created a modern farmhouse cottage which is very inviting and welcoming. We felt as if we were at home. We loved the convenience of being walking distance from the downtown area, the beach, heated pool and grocery store. We had a great time making memories in New Buffalo and look toward to staying at their lovely cottage again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth R.

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

Stellar, Once Again!

This is our second year to stay at the Whitbey Cottage and it was just as fantastic as it was last summer!! Start to finish, all of us had an awesome experience! Geoff and Sarah are great hosts and I can’t imagine a better property. Clean, well decorated, lots of space, perfect location…what a great way to kick off the summer :) Many Thanks!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin F.

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

Lovely NB home!

What a cute little house tucked away off the main drag. We walked everywhere. We will definitely rent again and hopefully can enjoy the pool next time. Great hosts, highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly P.

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

Amazing time

We booked the house for a family gather just blocks away. The house was very clean, had everything we needed for my grandkids. They loved the toy closet. We celebrated Christmas and it was beautifully decorated and they even had a tree for us. My kids loved it and want to go back in the summer to enjoy the beach. We even took the kids for a walk, they had a wagon that my boys loved.I would highly recommend. It was perfect. Thank you so much for making our holiday so special.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica J.

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

Cute, well-stocked house

The house is very cute + cozy and just as described. Very clean, and we appreciated the ample bath linens, loads of pillows and blankets, well stocked kitchen and nice TP! We weren't there in summer, but the owners have provided everything you might need for a beach day. If you have little ones, lots of cute little extras for them that are sure to delight. The living space is a bit small for a house that sleeps 8 (not enough LR seating for everyone) but completely doable. Bring a hair dryer, as there is only one in the house, and tissues, as there aren't any provided. But a nice place to stay in a cute neighborhood.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann B.

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

Sister Weekend

We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend at Whidbey Cottage! The host was responsive and easy to work with from inquiry to checkin. The home was very well equipped, comfy and beautiful & the location could not be better! Looking forward to a return trip in 2024!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly K., Cleveland, Oh

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

Relaxing getaway to New Buffalo

We had a great time! The house was clean, perfect layout for a getaway with friends, and it was in a fabulous location. The communication with the owners was very easy. Our first time to New Buffalo and we hope to come back again soon!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Fabulous house and wonderful hosts

Geoff and Sarah host a wonderful house. So many amenities. it is the cutest house and had everything we needed. Great location. Fantastic layout. We stayed with two sets of parents, two grandparents, and 4 kids 8, 7, 6, and 2. Plenty of space. Kitchen very well equipped. Only thing else we wanted was to be able to buy one of their Cottage on Whidbey mugs! Would highly recommend this place.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laci H.

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

Would love to come back!

We had an amazing trip and would absolutely come back to this home. Perfect for our family trip!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard H.

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

Best house yet!

We stay in New Buffalo every August as a quick pre-back to school getaway, each time in a different house. We enjoyed our stay this year so much that I canceled our original 2024 booking elsewhere and reserved this property again. The search is over! It checks every box…location, cleanliness, atmosphere, service…the list goes on!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Geoff & Sarah Zilan

Host profile image
We are Sarah & Geoff and we stumbled upon New Buffalo, years ago, while dating.  Over the years, New Buffalo has woven itself through the fabric of our lives and is part of us and who we are now.  This house represents that.  We have two beautiful little girls and incredible families around us.  Our "real lives" take place in a suburb, just outside of Detroit, but New Buffalo is where all of our hearts reside!  This house is us, but like any good fortune, what would it be if we could not share it!  Let this house be woven into the fabric of your lives as well!

Why they chose this property

For more than a year we "lived in the blue prints" to make sure that we had thought of everything and everyone when designing this house.  This house truly was built with a passion and as we look back to a visit our family made to the Merchant Street Cottages years ago, we cannot look past how fortunate we are to be part of this incredible community and to be able to share it with your family!  Enjoy!

What makes this property unique

The house is stocked with EVERYTHING! We understand what it takes to pack for a vacation, so we've made sure that you can travel lightly! Especially those of you travelling with kids, we have nearly anything you need for the kids (pack ‘n play, swing, bouncer, highchair, Bumbo seat, Jumperoo, stroller, sippy cups, plates and utensils, placemats, baby gates and a stock of books and toys).

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests