Do you enjoy being able to walk to great shops, terrific restaurants and the beach in a charming small town? The city of Frankfort has been named by MyNorth as having one of the ten sweet streets in northern Michigan: "Main Street // Frankfort. This street is studded with a brewery, surf shop, boutiques, eateries and a theater, and it runs parallel with the lovely Betsie Lake, and it ends at one of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Michigan. It’s enough to make other Main Streets green with envy."
Do you like having your family and friends with you in a lovely, private setting, yet reside in the town of Frankfort and close to the beach? Then Birch Cottage may be just right for you. Birch Cottage was built in 1998 and the inside was remodeled when we purchased it four years ago. Our cottage has three bedrooms and two baths and is completely furnished. Birch Cottage is our second home, not just a rental. We enjoy sharing our vacation home with others in Michigan’s “up north” – especially in beautiful Frankfort. We ask that you enjoy Birch Cottage as your own vacation home during your stay. We have all the conveniences of home, a fully equipped kitchen with all new appliances, new washer and dryer, and two full bathrooms. The cottage has a king-sized bed in the master bedroom, a queen-sized bed in bedroom number two, and a double bed in bedroom number three, very comfortable accommodations for six adults or your family. Both the kitchen and dining room tables have extra leaves to accommodate everyone comfortably. There are two Smart TVs, cable and wireless Internet. We have lots of books, picture puzzles and games appropriate for an “Up North” cottage.
A giant 60-year old birch tree graces our front yard, which we adopted in our new cottage name. Our tree expert assures us that the giant birch is a specimen tree in its prime of life and will easily live many more years. We have recently completely re-landscaped the yard. We worked with local environmental experts to create a yard full of plants native to this part of Michigan and to attract birds, butterflies and pollinators. We also had a new covered deck constructed across the front of the home. I especially love the pergola which has a canvas shade cover during the summer. There is a dining table for six, a new gas grill and comfy rockers.
The cottage is located in the heart of Frankfort, a short walk to Main Street with all its terrific shops, galleries, and excellent restaurants, and to the boat launch on Betsie Bay. A little longer 9 block walk, or a short drive, takes you to the beautiful sandy shore of Lake Michigan. The beach is great fun and shared by all. There are always things to do at the beach besides sunbathing and swimming. The paddle boarding is excellent, the volleyball nets are available; you can walk out to the lighthouse and always enjoy the magnificent Lake Michigan sunsets.
Frankfort is in a central location in the northwest Lower Peninsula. Close by are Manistee, Elberta, Benzonia, Beulah, Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Glen Arbor, Leland, Sutton's Bay and many more small towns that are interesting to explore. For nostalgia Frankfort has an old time hardware store that has everything you would want a hardware store to have. Traverse City a terrific side trip with excellent restaurants, galleries and shops. Market Square Park is two blocks away where you'll find lots of outdoor recreation equipment including a skateboard area.
There are lots of excellent golf courses near by. We recommend driving M-22 through Empire, Glen Lake, Leland, Northport, Sutton’s Bay, and down to Traverse City - “Around the Horn: The M-22 Loop.” This road trip encircles the very best vineyards in Michigan, similar to driving in California’s Napa Valley. Download a guide to the wine country and sample the best wine Michigan has to offer.
We have several books describing trips for sight seeing, biking or hiking.
If you also have an interest in winter sports, there are cross-country, snowshoe and ski trails, snowmobile routes through the woods, and excellent ski slopes 15 miles inland at Crystal Mountain resort. We are available year round to enjoy all seasons in northern Michigan.