Northern Michigan’s all sports Bear Lake is the perfect getaway. It has been rated in the top 3 for clarity in Michigan you will feel like your in the Caribbean. Enjoy the beautiful sunrises and a cup of joe from our east facing deck in the mornings. Plenty of room down by the water for all your water activities(100’ frontage) enjoy the kayaks and paddle boards at the waters edge. All located a short drive from Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula where you can enjoy the winery’s and brewery’s that this area is well known for. Ball’s Bearadise is located less that a quarter mile from the ORV/Snowmobile trails that extend across all of Northern Michigan. The cottage (built in the 1940’s) has the old rustic charm with many updated amenities. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 2 bedrooms upstairs are each equipped with a queen bed. The third bedroom is on the walk out basement level and is set up like a bunk room with 1 queen bed and 2 sets of bunk beds. One of the bunk beds has a full bed on the bottom. There is a bathroom on each level. The shoreline has a beautiful sandy bottom and is one of the largest beach areas on the lake great for all your water activities. The cottage has WiFi and cable television as well as 3 security cameras which cover the entrances to the home. There are 2 excellent restaurants less than a mile from the cottage Bear Lake Inn (Dingmans) is a great spot to get lunch or dinner with fantastic food options. You can enjoy a little night life if you choose as well with a great bar where the locals and vacationers meet. Shirleys in the woods is another excellent option for homemade food and they are known for their breakfast. There is a gas station and a Dollar General for any last minute items you may need. We have owned in this area for over 20 years and can fill you in on options to help you plan your getaway or just relax by the waters edge in our little slice of heaven we call “Bearadise”.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.
Michael & Lori Ball (Owners)
Property manager
Mike Ball
Premier Host
Languages
English
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
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Please keep noise to acceptable levels. We have full time neighbors and don’t want to disrupt them. Guests will be liable for any noise violations.
Kayaks and paddle boards are available at no charge to our guests! Please wear appropriate PFD’s.
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
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 first aid kit
About the area
Kalkaska
Located in Kalkaska, this cottage is on the beach. Timber Wolf Golf Club and Grandview Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Hartwick Pines State Park and Wakeley Lake. Looking to get your feet wet? Jet skiing, kayaking and waterskiing adventures can be found near the property.
Kalkaska, MI
What's nearby
Timber Wolf Golf Club - 12 min drive - 10.5 km
Grandview Golf Club - 20 min drive - 16.5 km
Torch Lake Park - 39 min drive - 43.9 km
Torch Lake - 40 min drive - 44.3 km
Au Sable River - 41 min drive - 24.3 km
Getting around
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 47 min drive
Restaurants
Dingman's Tavern - 4 min drive
Manistee Lake Inn - 18 min drive
Kiootees Bar & Grill - 20 min drive
Lalone's Restaurant - 18 min drive
The Ole Soul - 20 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Ball’s Bearadise pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Ball’s Bearadise?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Ball’s Bearadise?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Ball’s Bearadise located?
Nestled on the beach, this Kalkaska cottage is 6.5 mi (10.4 km) from Timber Wolf Golf Club and 10.2 mi (16.5 km) from Grandview Golf Club. Twin Birch Golf Course and Grayling Country Club are also within 16 miles (25 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Our family enjoyed our weeklong stay at Ball’s Bearadise! The landscaping is beautiful. The sandy beach, the clean blue water, and the fire pit are top notch. We enjoyed the use of the kayaks and paddle boards as well.
The cottage itself has lots of seating for large groups indoors and outdoors. We enjoyed playing cards on the deck and watching the boats go by.
A couple things to be aware of when renting:
- lots of stairs and very steep driveway (this is noted in reviews and description)- so you’ll get your steps in for sure!
- bedrooms are on the small side. Not much room for large luggage. The top bunks in the basement nearly touch the ceiling.
- kitchen is on the small side, which isn’t an issue if you plan to grill a lot. But the grill was not useable, it is missing a handle to open and close and is very dirty. We went to the store and picked our own camping grill. Note-we did not contact owners on this issue during our stay.
Still a five star rating deserved here as we came for the lake and outdoors and that is what we got!
This home exceeded our expectations. The house was clean, and the owners provided so many amenities. (Pots, pans, toilet paper, kitchen appliances….. etc). The spaces inside the home were very cool, the basement is a wonderful spot if you have older children or additional family members that like a bit of their own space. The outdoor areas were STUNNING! The water was the clearest lake we have ever experienced. We spent lots of time wearing goggles and chasing fish. (Made the younger kids far more comfortable being able to SEE in the water) The floating dock is incredibly comfortable and another fun space to just hangout. Lots of outdoor chairs and seating provided and all were top notch quality and comfort. We did many boat trips around the lake and Balls Bearadise truly has the best beach front set up of all the homes in our opinion. 10 STARS for this property and owners. Incredible accommodating and responsive. I would agree with some reviews that if you had younger children, or older relatives the steps might be hard, but we had our 4 year old and she did just fine. The lake is not giant, or overly busy which we preferred. Lots of nature and animals to see (fish, cranes, bald eagles, turtles, frogs). We felt like we were in a fresh water Caribbean with the charm and magic of northern Michigan. It was a truly magical pairing.
Property was stunning. Cabin was well maintained. Lake was crystal clear. Hosts were great. Check in and out was a breeze.
Would not recommend for families with infants/young toddlers unless you are able/willing to carry them up and down a few flights of stairs multiple times daily.
The bunk room was smaller than I imagined but did the trick.
Had a dream trip, already looking forward to returning!
Our families had a great time at the Ball's Bearadise. The beach area and lake are great for younger kids. The water is shallow and the lake is beautiful. The floating dock and owner-provided kayaks and paddle boards were nice to have available.
No dishwasher so if you cook a lot it's a good idea to bring disposable plates/cups.
Great location on the lake and we definitely recommend this property. Thanks!
The description of this home and property was everything and said it was and more. The like view and colors of the water were simply spectacular. This place had everything we needed for this particular week, and we were able to create some incredible family memories together. I would highly recommend this home to anyone. Thanks again for sharing your beautiful home.
Family friendly cabin on a beautiful lake. The property had everything we needed to keep us busy having outdoor fun. The owner is quick to respond to any questions. Highly recommend this property and owner.
Bear lake is a beautiful, crystal clear lake. Ball’s Bearadise has the most beautiful beach on the lake. We enjoyed the beach, the paddle boards, the Kayaks, and our many trips around the lake on the pontoon boat. Even did some fishing. Perfect on- the-beach fire pit for the evenings, and a nice 6-person table on the deck, overlooking the lake, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The owners, Lori and Mike, we’re most accommodating and welcoming. Thank you guys!! We had a wonderful time.
We had a great time at bear lake! The cottage was super cute and was exactly as advertised. It has a very nice sandy beach and the water is Caribbean blue! The lake is fairly small. We used the kayaks and stand up boards. Be aware though…there are 43 steps from the beach to the house, which could be a down side for some. The fire pit area is great and you have never seen so many stars! Overall, this was a great place to stay!!
We had a nice time at the cabin. The owners were over the top nice and very accommodating. Even offering some amenities that were originally not offered as part of the stay. Owners were very responsive with any text we sent. Lake is beautiful crystal clear water very serene and quiet area. Fun area downstairs if you have kids, they can almost stay separate from parents providing the feel of two separate places. There is a video gaming system for them, large couch and bunk bed area. Overall fun place to stay.
The home owners were very friendly and accommodating during our visit. The house’s beachfront was very nice and we enjoyed our time on the paddle boards and kayaks (which were included). I would recommend this property.
Lauren B.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
About the host
Hosted by Mike Ball
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests