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WHISPERING PINES COTTAGE-The Most Beautiful Place in America-Sleeping Bear Park

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Whispering Pines Cottage
Fall reflection in Mirror Pond
Dresser/Closet in Master Bedroom
Morel Mushroom picking at Whispering Pines Cottage May - June
Resident Mallards -

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 492.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Beulah, MI
  • Platte Lake
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Crystal Lake Golf Club
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Crystal Mountain
    ‪25 min drive‬
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪33 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

WHISPERING PINES COTTAGE-The Most Beautiful Place in America-Sleeping Bear Park

Fall is upon us with the wild extravaganza of colors - but the beauty of summer is still here
with miles of beaches within Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, Restaurants, breweries, wineries, it's all waiting for you to visit and enjoy - the crowds of summer are gone - come and enjoy, Mother Nature is getting prepared to open her canvas for that Northern Michigan Splendor we all love to see Northern Michigan - leave your frustrations at home - this is a time to rejuvenate and enjoy the wide-open beaches of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore - enjoy the cool evenings be the firepit, the warm days walking beaches, woodland trails, stellar golf courses - come join us in the evenings at your new favorite restaurant.
Our goal, through Whispering Pines Cottage, is to provide you and your family privacy, solitude, a chance for your family to 're-connect' and comfortable lodging when you're up north having family fun in our beautiful, friendly, and fun-filled area for the whole family.
Little towns with stores, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and a meadery abound in our corner of Northwest, Michigan. The fun never ends in Benzie and Leelanau County.
Whispering Pines Cottage is just 15 minutes away from the 'Most Beautiful Place in America' - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore bounded by M-22, Michigan's Scenic Highway. That 10-minute drive (2.5 miles) will put you on the shore of Platte Bay within the 35 miles of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore – with miles of hiking/biking trails, pristine sand beaches, crystal clear waters for swimming.
Steelhead fishing fall through spring in our Betsie and Platte Rivers, Summer trout fishing on our many streams and lakes, Late summer and fall Salmon and Lake Trout in Lake Michigan.
Golf -Crystal Mountain Resort, Crystal Lake -Beulah, Pinecroft-Beulah, Champion Hills, Mistwood, Bear Lake, Dunes, Chestnut Hills, Arcadia Bluffs, Interlochen – these and more within 30 minutes of the cottage.
Autumn is just around the corner and Mother Nature has her elves prepared with their paint and paint brushes ready to color the tree leaves for that Northern Splendor we all love to see at the end of summer. September and October is a beautiful time to vacation in Northern Michigan - leave your frustrations at home - this is a time to rejuvenate and enjoy the wide open beaches of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore - enjoy the cool evenings by the firepit, the warm days walking beaches, woodland trails, stellar golf courses - come join us in the evenings at your new favorite restaurant.
Little towns with stores, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and a meadery abound in our corner of Northwest, Michigan. The fun never ends in Benzie County.
Whispering Pines Cottage is just 20 minutes away from the 'Most Beautiful Place in America' - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore bounded by M-22, Michigan's Scenic Highway. That 10-minute drive (2.5 miles) will put you on the shore of Platte Bay within the 35 miles of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. Our goal, through Whispering Pines Cottage, is to provide you and your family privacy, solitude, a chance for your family to 're-connect' and comfortable lodging when you're up north having family fun in our beautiful, friendly, and fun-filled area for the whole family.
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort with down-hill is just 20 minutes away. Miles of Cross-country skiing trails /snowshoeing are just minutes away within the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore

Whispering Pines Cottage overlooks our two acre "Mirror Pond", a deep, spring fed, icy-cold body of water home to our native brook trout (The State "Fish" of Michigan) and rainbow trout, with a large stand of tall White Pine as a backdrop behind the pond. Our cozy cottage has two bedrooms with queen-sized beds, dressers and closets, a bathroom with shower, living room - with gas fireplace, Wi-Fi, Int4rnet, TV and a large couch for laid-back evenings after a busy day exploring Benzie and Leelanau Counties, a fully equipped kitchen with adjacent dining area which has a "slider" to our deck, overlooking "Mirror Pond", gas grill, and patio furniture. The cottage also has a washer and dryer for your convenience. The closely mowed grass surrounding the cottage and pond provide ample area to stretch your legs and enjoy the property. The bird feeders attract numerous species of birds from the forested area around the cottage who also "kick-out" enough bird seed for the "resident ducks" who come to the grassy areas surrounding the feeders for the treat left for them by their "cousins". Pond visitors include various species of ducks, Blue Herons, and occasional Egret's, and resident deer. Whispering Pines Cottage is at the hub of Our Northwestern Michigan vacation paradise. Going West on Honor Hwy (US-31) within fifteen minutes you'll quickly arrive on the shore of Lake Michigan in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. Going East within ten minutes you'll arrive at Interlochen National Music Camp with its summer student performances as well as international "headliners" contracted by the Interlochen Music Camp to perform during the summer with monies raised from performances going toward student scholarships and operation of the school. Going North up Benzie Hwy 669 will quickly get you into the Sleeping Bear National Park's northern reaches as well as the "Winery Vineyards" of Leelanau County.
Five -night minimum June through August and three nights minimum May, September, October and two night minimum the rest of the year.

Property manager

Shirley Villeneuve
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Beulah

Located in Beulah, this cottage is on the waterfront. Kresge Auditorium and Michigan Legacy Art Park are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Crystal Mountain and Champion Hill Golf Course. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Beulah, MI

What's nearby

  • Platte Lake - 9 min drive - 8.7 km
  • Interlochen Center for the Arts - 11 min drive - 15.3 km
  • Crystal Lake Golf Club - 12 min drive - 12.7 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 16 min drive - 15.2 km
  • Crystal Mountain - 25 min drive - 18.2 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Papa J's Pizzeria & Diner - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Jomo's Ice Cream - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Platte River Inn - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Cherry Bowl Drive-In - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Jodi's Tangled Antler - ‬2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is WHISPERING PINES COTTAGE-The Most Beautiful Place in America-Sleeping Bear Park pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at WHISPERING PINES COTTAGE-The Most Beautiful Place in America-Sleeping Bear Park?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at WHISPERING PINES COTTAGE-The Most Beautiful Place in America-Sleeping Bear Park?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is WHISPERING PINES COTTAGE-The Most Beautiful Place in America-Sleeping Bear Park located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within 6 miles (10 km) of Lower Woodcock Lake Nature Preserve, Bronson Lake and Turtle Lake. Platte Lake and Champion Hill Golf Course are also within 6 miles (10 km).

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. 65 out of 71 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 71 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 71 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 71 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 71 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Chris D.

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

Whispering Pines Stay

Great place. Good location.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

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

Peaceful cabin

Host were very nice and provided great recommendations during our stay. Cabin was exactly as described and the property is amazing. Sure we will be back! Thank you for sharing your cabin with my family!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah D.

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

Great weekend stay.

Thank you for a lovely stay. Great location for the Frankfort Ironman.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth D.

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

Guest

Great
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary Jane P.

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

Lovely property

This property is conveniently located to many activities including fishing, hiking in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, wineries, breweries, kayaking, biking, shopping in area villages. It is a beautiful area to visit!
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chris B.

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

Great Place to Stay

Very nice place on a great piece of property. Loved the convenient location. Great tips from knowledgeable hosts. Had everything we needed!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Gavan M.

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

Peaceful week near Interlochen and Sleeping Bear

We enjoyed a lovely relaxing week, and were grateful to have found a place that provided privacy and ease of access to the sights nearby. Check in was easy, with Ray providing some great recommendations as to where to go in the Leleenau.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dean U., ELMORE

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

Private cabin with everything needed

The cabin was easy to get to, private, and central to all that the sleeping bear/Traverse City area has to offer. Communication was good and the home had everything we needed 🙂
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amanda D.

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

Explore surrounding areas

The property owners are amazing. They went above and beyond and made our stay even better.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael H.

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

Great Location, Better People

Shirley and Ray really made us feel welcome, and the communication leading up to, and during our trip was phenomenal. The home had plenty of household items for cooking / food storage and the view from the back deck was serene. This home was very conveniently located to all of our destinations and we hope to return again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jake A.

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

Peaceful and Beautiful!

This property was better than advertised. Quiet, clean, the pond is great, and the hosts are extremely responsive. Sorry drive to some of the most beautiful places and some of the best fishing in the country. Highly recommended!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Larry A.

Liked: Location, listing accuracy

Beulah

Very relaxing.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn H.

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

Beautiful setting, cozy cabin

This property is everything mentioned in the listing and more. Sitting on the deck, watching birds at the feeder and looking out over the pond was so peaceful. The house was well stocked with basics. We especially enjoyed the gas fireplace during the cool evenings.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Gailon F., New York, New York. USA

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

Relaxing

The outdoor space shines! The deck near the pond is just beautiful. House is comfy and has everything you would need. Furniture is dated but fine. Road noise is present but you soon get used to it.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anastasia P., Grosse Pointe Woods, USA

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

Among Nature

This was the perfect place to relax. The property was on a pond with beautiful wildlife. Hummingbirds all over the place. One can relax just there and not go anywhere else. Nearby, however, are many places to enjoy. One of our favorites is Platte River Pointe. My personal favorite of the stay is seeing Brandi Carlile at nearby Kresge Auditorium. Amazing performance! I organized a successful tailgate for her biggest fans from our state. We loved our stay and would love to return to that same spot.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Renee C., Pinckney

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

Amazing Spot!! Location, Comfort, Space and Scenery!!

We had such a GREAT time at the Cottage! What amazing hosts, we got so much detailed local information from Ray and Shirley made sure we were taken care of all week. The property is awesome and so much bigger than we anticipated. The pond is gorgeous and feeds into the Patte River, the house is completely stocked, 2 Bedrooms each with a Super Comfy Queen bed, Open concept living room/dining room/Kitchen (great for family living), full Laundry facillity in foyer, Board Games, sand toys, outdoor furniture, gas Grill, Firepit and so close to the National Park!! Eveything is within 15-20 min so the location is just perfect! Words can't even express how much we enjoyed this trip and the cottage was a huge part of it. We can't wait to come back~ I highly recommend this rental.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

John H., St. Clair Shores, MI

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

Beautiful Property

My wife and I just returned from a great week-long vacation here. The listing describes everything very accurately. The owners met us when we checked in and Ray spent over an hour asking what we liked to do and providing suggestions, complete with a map with notes that we were given to keep. The house is just as shown in the photos, but the property is even nicer in person! Loved all of the wildlife--birds, ducks, heron (egret?), and a doe and her fawn made numerous visits! Very relaxing walking the property or sitting by the pond or around a bonfire. There is some traffic noise since the house sits near the road (mostly when outside--inside is very quiet)), but we got used to it quickly and it turns into white noise and was mostly not noticed after the first hour or so. We will definitely be returning.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kate A.

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

July 2023

Shirley was awesome and met us at the property for check in. You are close to the road - trees block the view of the road, but there is some pretty steady road noise. That's made up for by the beautiful location. A great place for birders - saw a ton of species at the feeders on the deck, king fishers, green herons, and great blue herons in the pond - and more things when we hiked back in the prairie area beyond the yard. A nice short distance from Sleeping Bear, Frankfort, Empire - wonderful beaches, great hiking, and some really good food. The pictures are accurate - it is an older cabin without updates or new furniture - but that's exactly what we were expecting and we really enjoyed our stay. Thanks for sharing your place with us!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melissa R.

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

Peaceful neauty

We chose this location specifically for access to Interlochen Center for the Arts, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, and Frankfort. We love the area and always run out of time to do everything. This trip was for music. It was the perfect distance for dinner away from the venue, and a short drive to the venue. There was plenty of space on the rainy day to spread out, play games and have snacks (we always travel with groceries). The property has so much natural beauty with the lake like a mirror, wildflowers and birds. Owners are very nice and provide a well stocked home. Many kitchen appliances and utensils. Lots of board games. Grill. Nice deck furniture. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Jeff W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Location

Beautiful Pond

This location has one of the most beautiful decorative ponds we have ever experienced. Crystal clear, amazing colors and plenty of wildlife. Very experienced fly fishermen can take a crack at the really super skittish 5"-6" brook trout from the shore. No wading, boats or barbs. The pond looks completely dead, but there are some fish hidden away. Worms are not allowed, so worm dunking with young ones is not available. There are other opportunities on the Platte River....which is approximately 1,000' away. The owners Ray and Shirley are super nice. They will great you upon arrival and go through the history or the property, the ins and out of the cabin, rules of the pond, all the best eating places, the directions to all the best locations to visit and a lot of info on where the fishing holes are at on the river. The cabin is about 250' away from the highway, but if you are used to truck and traffic noise, this will end up being white noise. The inside of the cabin is pretty straightforward. A basic up north place that works for the price. Verizon cell service is pretty good for those of us that have to use cellphones. We are glad we experienced a couple of days on the property
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

chuck R.

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

Up North

Property was clean and had all the comforts of home. Good location for our hiking experience in the Sleeping Bear area.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrew V.

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

Excellent location

Clean place, awesome location and very peaceful scenery. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Donna B.

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

Sleeping Dunes - Great access!

Hosts recommended great places to explore giving us easier access to the beautiful dunes and lake! Great restaurant recommendations too!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Daniel J.

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

Great location.

The property was the perfect location for exploring the area. Ray was very knowledgeable of the area, and gave us great tips for things to do.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Loren K.

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

Peace

This was my favorite vacation by far and a lot of it had to do with the fact that I simply felt at home. It was cozy and comfortable. Clean and peaceful. They basically treated us like family leaving us with maps and all kinds of information and even books. Simply bliss.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Shirley Villeneuve

Host profile image
As a hair-stylist and owner of my own Salon, "Shirley's Countryside Salon" located on the corner of US-31 and Indian Hill Road about a mile "West" of Honor, I've worked with my client's for many years and I know the pleasure they receive when they can look in the mirror and see the hair style that "we" created together. I also know the joy of living in this beautiful area of Michigan and participating with family and friends in many of the activities that this area has to offer, including golf, hiking, fly-fishing, hunting, bird-watching, canoeing, kayaking, down-hill skiing, cross-country skiing, swimming, sitting on the beach at Lake Michigan eating a dinner made over a beach fire while watching a beautiful sunset. This is my life and I want others to experience the same joy I do. I want to provide the opportunity for couples and families to experience fun activities together and reconnect with one-another in this gorgeous, unique, area.

Why they chose this property

Whispering Pines Cottage, named from the "Whispering-Sound" that occurs when a soft summer breeze floats through the needles of the White Pines on the property. " Whispering Pines Cottage" is a cozy and comfortable retreat for stress-release relaxing and a perfect spot to venture forth into the surrounding play-ground of this area of North-West Michigan.
Because I feel as I do about seeing people of all ages enjoying themselves in activities that I also enjoy I wanted to provide a unique opportunity for guests at Whispering Pines to be able to "fly-fish" our "Mirror Pond" using barb-less hooks, artificial lures, and catch-and-release only. We will be glad to introduce you to this fun and relaxing sport.

What makes this property unique

Whispering Pines Cottage is located at the "hub" of this beautiful area, and just like the "hub" of a wheel a guest can head out to any of the surrounding destinations and reach them within a relatively short time that usually won't exceed 30 minutes.
A unique feature of this property is our Beautiful "Mirror Pond" with naturally reproducing brook trout with added rainbows that feed exclusively on the forage growing in the pond. We allow our guests to use catch and release, barbless artificial lures only.
We encourage fly-fishing and will be glad to supply instruction and equipment, if needed.
There is ample space, around the pond, for the novice or expert to practice their fly-fishing techniques over the pond for the resident trout.
The Blue-Ribbon Platte River, mid-sized, gin-clear, easy wading, easy fly-fishing, abuts our property and river entry is a five to ten minute walk, in waders, from the cottage.
The Platte River has spring and fall Steelhead Runs, Fall Coho Salmon run (the Platte River is the home of the beginnings of Salmon Fishing in the Great Lakes), and resident Brook, Rainbow, and Brown Trout available during the trout season.
This stretch of the river, putting in at Veteran's Memorial Park, is a delightful canoe or kayak trip where you can exit the river at multiple locations depending on how far you want to travel.
The mouth of the Platte River and Platte Bay, about 15 minutes from Whispering Pines, lend themselves to fun fishing spring and fall as well as beautiful places to walk the beach, have a bonfire, cook a meal, swim or just relax and enjoy the beauty of the area.
Our property and area are great places to visit and we want to help you to enjoy your stay with us.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests