AVAILABILITY:
May 25 thru Oct. 27
DAILY RATES:
Pre-season, May 25 - June 16, $350 (3 night minimum)
In-season, June 17 - Sept. 1, $450 (7 night minimum)
Post-season, Sept. 2 - Oct. 27, $250 (3 night minimum)
ACCOMMODATIONS/AMENITIES:
• Sleeps up to 10: if you have a small party, use the first floor for a tight-knit, cozy stay; for larger groups, sprawl out on both first and lower levels
• Laundr
y
• Screened front porch
• Fire ring
• Variety of boats & bikes (see below)
• Lake Platte access, with beach and dock (via path across the street)
• Wi-fi
FIRST LEVEL DEETS—three bedrooms (3 queens, 1 full), two full baths (1 adjacent to laundry room via garage); large family room/kitchen including Apple TV; garage with three kayaks, two paddleboards, canoe, boat hand-tow, three mountain bikes, charcoal and gas grill, smoker, pull wagon for carting gear to the beach, beach chairs, misc. beach/yard toys; laundry room with washer and dryer; outside, large screened & furnished front porch and backyard fire ring with tree stump stools
LOWER LEVEL DEETS—one full bedroom, full bath & two bunks in large couched family room with foosball/bar area, Apple TV
SEASONAL RATES:
Pre-season, May 22 - June 10, $350/day
Prime season, June 11 – Sept. 2, $450/day
Post-season, Sept. 3 – Dec. 31, $250/day
Sorry, no pets allowed. GROCERIES ETC.
• Honor Market in Honor (check hours; only open during the day)—all you'll need plus lots of local beer, wine and spirits
• Trading Post—open later than Honor Market, small assortment of groceries/beverages, plus amazing pizza
• Riverside Canoe Rental—super close, not much in way of groceries, but beverages plus fishing & boating/floating gear, souvenirs and ICE CREAM!
***UPDATES FOR 2021-22: NEW DÉCOR, LIGHTING, PAINT & FURNITURE ALL AROUND; CEILING FANS IN NEWLY THEMED BEDROOMS; APPLE TV IN LIVING ROOM AND LOWER LEVEL; PADDLEBOARD, CANOE, BOAT HAND-TOW, GAS GRILL AND SMOKER; BACKYARD FIRE RING; ALEXA; RECYCLING (leave in totes and we’ll take to recycling center after your stay); UNWANTED NON-PERISHABLES DONATED to local pantries (just leave on kitchen table at end of stay); TAG US PROMOTION (tag pictures on social media for a chance to win a $250 gift card ( )
Whether entering from the west via M-22, one of the most picturesque byways in America, stretching from Manistee through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to the top of Leelanau Peninsula, OR arriving from the east on Deadstream Rd. through wetlands—home to bears, eagles, mountain lions and other wildlife—your journey ends at this snug, one-story four-bedroom home. Trimmed in wainscoting with themed bedrooms and local accents throughout—cozied up next to a wooded undeveloped lot and a steep, wooded hill in the back—you’ll feel at peace amidst the northern woods and steps away from your beach on the clear blue waters of Platte Lake. Regarding this lake to go jump in, simply step across the front yard and road and you’ll arrive at a gated lane that meanders down to your own semi-private beach—shared by just four other families you'll hardly see—with a lovely little dock that extends out into the summer-warmed, shallow, clear blue waters of Platte Lake. Perfect for sunbathing, swimming or floating, you can wade out 300 yards up to your knees. At night, enjoy skies steeped in stars and a large fire right on the edge of the water courtesy of loads of free firewood. The lane to our beach allows for vehicles in case you want to port a kayak or paddleboards, but they’re an easy pull with our boat hand-tow or carry from the garage. We have three kayaks, two paddleboards (with carrier) and a canoeyou are welcome to use, as well as three mountain bikes great for exploring the area (especially Peterson Rd. Our beach is a perfect launching off spot to reach the Platte River access that takes you all the way to Lake Michigan, about a two-hour paddle. If you head directly west (right) from our beach passing the ends of all the piers, you’ll come to what looks like a large inlet on the right but which is actually where the Platte River continues, first heading under M-22 on the way to Lake MI. (If the current is light enough, you can paddle back home, but it’s a workout, so plan on leaving a vehicle at Peterson beach to get your river transport back.) Beyond Go Jump in the Lake, more of Northern MI awaits from the crossroads of Deadstream (our road) and legendary M-22, just a short walk west. Cross over the road and continue straight across to Peterson Beach (a half hour by foot, few minutes by car), the first drive-in-and-park access to Lake Michigan in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area, with a picturesque beach and, of course, dunes, for swimming and AMAZING Lake MI sunsets. (Directly across the big lake from Green Bay if you look to the west!) For a shorter, woodsier hike to the water, at the first right bend on Peterson, take the little trail on the left towards the Platte River Campground that connects to a larger foot trail going north (right) to the beach/dunes/lake. Back on M-22, turning south, the Platte River (after passing out of Platte Lake) crosses under the road at Riverside Canoe Rental where you can grab a canoe, kayak or tube and float all the way to Lake Michigan—check out their amazing assortment of odd gifts, fishing supplies and hand-dipped ice cream! OR rent from the Trading Post to the east on Deadstream (great pizza) and take in more of the Platte River before it runs into Platte Lake on the east side. Both offer groceries/beverages/supplies in a pinch. Keep going south on M-22 and you'll find a myriad of places to explore all the way to Frankfort and it's amazing pier, lighthouse (jump off the pier, a long-standing tradition), beach and fun small town offerings and the start of an amazing mountain bike trail that goes to Manistee. Don't forget Storm Cloud Brewery for it's funky charm and fantastic beers. On the way to Frankfort, don't miss the Manitou for classic northern woods cuisine and cocktails, Old Indian Trail (pretty hike through the woods ending in a small dune climb and dune paths to Lake MI), Point Betzie lighthouse and just a pretty drive down M-22. Go north on M-22 from Deadstream and you'll find yourself on an even prettier drive (farms, fields, forests, trees, not a soul in sight) coming first to the little town of Empire. Enjoy Joe's Friendly, a classic burger and beer joint from the 40s, a public beach w/ playground and our pick for the best dune climbs and views in all of the Sleeping Bear Dunes: just head south (left) from the beach parking lot about 15 minutes and you'll see what we mean. OR try the actual hike through the woods to the top of the dunes via the Empire Bluff Trailhead just south of town. Plus, check out the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center and Museum. Keep northing it and you'll find Pierce Stocking Drive that will put you at the top of the highest dune and the mama of the sleeping bears. Next is ghost town Glen Haven, a restored port and part museum, and then Glen Arbor, a fun place to stop for a lively tourist town experience of bars, restaurants and shops, including a stop back in time at old Art's Tavern. Eventually you'll enter the Leelanau peninsula, dotted with wineries/breweries/distilleries and small towns galore with beautiful views of Traverse Bay and Lake MI. We recommend Willow and Ciccone Vineyards (Madonna's dad's joint), Northern Latitudes Distillery (amazing spirits imbued with true MI flavorings and a festive, funky attitude), Hop Lots Brewery and Greenbird Organic Cellars and Farm. At the end of M-22, you arrive in Northport, a charming seaport town with shops, galleries, restaurants, The Mitten Brewery and more. Then, there are Mission Point's wineries on the other side of Traverse Bay AND TRAVERSE CITY and the adjacent Vaja Trail for miles and miles of hiking and mountain biking! WOW, so much to see in this area and town just a half hour drive from GJITL. (Farther but “nearby” destinations can be found at the end of this listing.) BUT THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO JUST MINUTES FROM GJITL, in already mentioned Frankfort, the adjacent village of Buelah and our town, Honor. Old town Honor is a real basic town with a post office, recycling center, gas station AND the Honor Family Market for all your grocery needs, including lots of local beer, wine, spirits and foodie delights (note: they don’t have evening hours). Take in old timey dining at Platte River Inn, Papa Joe's Diner/Pizza (featuring breakfast) and Jim's BBQ Joint. Catch a movie or two at the Cherry Bowl Drive-In Movie Theater, one of the few left in MI and a national drive-in treasure! To learn more about the area and the Platte River Basin, check out the Platte River State Fish Hatchery and find out how our legendary salmon were introduced and are maintained in the Great Lakes. In Buelah on the shores of Crystal Lake, don't miss The Cherry Hut for a cute retro dining experience specializing in all things cherry, the market next door for local produce and treats and in Buelah "downtown," Ursa Major coffee house, various pubs and antique outlets. One of our fave spots on the divide of Beulah and Honor is St. Ambrose Cellars, makers of the best mead in all the land (they only give out one gold medal in the country and they constantly get it) with a new dining and tasting bar, renovated barn for events and an amazing lawn for playing, relaxing and food trucking. Even on the way to Traverse City cutting northeast through the back roads, little gems await, like Lake Ann Brewery in the tiny hamlet of Lake Ann with a great outdoor entertainment venue and fun space for kids; Boone’s Long Lake Inn, a classic steak & seafood house in an old mill that serves legendary prime rib with live music on weekends; and plenty of orchards, produce stands, antique stores and more. FOR YOU GOLFERS, it doesn't get better anywhere else in MI—or even the country—with Arcadia Bluffs, south of Frankfort past Arcadia Dunes Park, featuring two beautiful, professional 18-hole courses. With astounding views of Lake MI, Arcadia ranks as one of the top 20 golf spots in the U.S. There’s also Golf at Crystal Mountain just minutes away east of Frankfort. Or go the distance—about an hour and a half—to Forest Dunes and golf The Loop, an innovative but throwback to the early days of golf, designed by renowned course designer and Traverse City resident Tom Doak. WANNA GO EVEN FARTHER? Take a day trip two hours north to the Mackinac Bridge that crosses into the Upper Peninsula and even take the ferry to explore classic Mackinac Island. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WHILE YOU’RE HERE, don’t hesitate to contact the GJITL ambassador, Gregg, anytime, at (513) 476-2481 or [email protected]. WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO DISCOVER PURE MICHIGAN AS CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THE SLEEPING BEAR DUNES/LAKE PLATTE AREA IN OUR CUTE LITTLE HOME!
