3 Bedrooms,
1 Bathrooms,
Sleeps 8
Cottage
(900 sq. ft.)
in Empire, MI
0 miles from Glen Lake
Birch Shores is in the Heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, voted "The Most Beautiful Place in America" in a contest hosted by the TV Show GOOD MORNING AMERICA.
Our Cottages are well-located on Little Glen Lake, 0.4 mi from M-22 and the Narrows Bridge. We are near the public Boat Launch, 2 miles from Glen Arbor, the Dunes, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive & the 22 mile Heritage Bike Trail.
SCENIC ROUTES for BIKERS - Bicyclists can enjoy and retrace the same scenic 17- mile circular tour around the 2 Glen Lakes taken by "THE M-22 CHALLENGE" (Saturday, June 8). SEE https://www.m22challenge.com/ for complete information - The start is 2 miles from us at the Little Glen Lake public beach
HEMLOCK & ASPEN COTTAGES are tucked inside The Park on the Lakeshore amid mature oaks & lofty white birches. Beautiful views of The Dunes and imposing sunsets from our Docks & benches. The crystal-clear sand-bottom spring-fed Lake teems with a variety of wildlife and fish. Take Guided Nature Walks in the Park, see dappled fawns, swans, ducks & geese from our compound and docks. Fish, swim and climb the nearby Dunes. Introduce your youngsters to the Junior Park Ranger program.
The Cottages have a beautiful view of the Lake.
FREE - 5 KAYAKS and a CANOE - no other Glen Lake rental offers these. A $925 value included with your Cottage.
In the Spring, spawning Bass and Bluegill fishing in the reed beds just offshore in Little Glen Lake - a 6 1/2 lb Bass was caught by Jay Logsdon in the Crystal River on May 18 - Trilliums, Morel Mushrooms, Cherry Blossoms and Migrating Birds mark the early May sights.
Spring Season starts at Birch Shores on May 11 through June 22 at the discounted rate of $1396 per week. Three days minimum rental.
Outdoors - We have mooring buoys, 2 Docks and trailer storage for your fishing boat.
Aspen Cottage boasts a new 30' x 14' custom Deck with 2 picnic tables, seating for 12 or more Happy Travelers and gorgeous Lake Views. The new 65" Hi-Def Monitor is connected to Wi-Fi and the Internet for Amazon Prime, Netflix, espn, Pandora and much more. A Sony DVD player for movies and games is also attached.
Hemlock Cottage is a little larger with great Lake views. A Hammock, the new Lake View swing, Picnic Table, charcoal Grill and Fire Pit are some of the outdoor amenities. The new 47" Monitor brings the Internet and Wi-Fi for movies and games. Stereo Music from Amazon Music and Pandora; play DVD's and music through the Sony DVD Player connected to the Monitor.
For the 2019 Summer Season, June 22 to September 2, our normal stay is 7 days or 2 weeks, Saturday to Saturday, $1995 weekly or $3486 bi-weekly. Returning rental Guests rate is $1750 weekly.
Please do not request 3-day stays or other "Off" dates in the Summer. Save that for the Spring or Fall Seasons.
We like to think that our place is great for... "Kids of all ages".
Our Rate is still the lowest of any offering on the shores of the Lake sleeping 8 Happy Travelers. FREE FIREWOOD is also offered for our 2 Fire Rings - Again, we are the only rental featuring this amenity.
This is the first year that we offer a 47" or 65" Hi-Def TV connected to the Internet for Google Mesh Wi-Fi, music, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pandora and more in the Cottages. The acclaimed Sy-Fi movie "Passengers", starring Jennifer Lawrence, is a free Amazon offering. A Blue Ray DVD player for your own movies is also connected.
*Remember that Towels and Sheets ARE NOT furnished, please bring your own to the Lake.
For interested Guests, our Bennington Top-of-the-Line 22' Pontoon Boat is available for water skiing, tubing or fishing the 2 Lakes. The boat is available from 8 am to 6 pm, $300 per day. The nearby Marina charges $450, 10 am to 4 pm.
Access to the Docks, 5 Kayaks and the Canoe are shared by our Guests. Free Firewood for the Fire Rings is located between the cottages.
Complementary Life Vests are stored in the Dock Bench for all as needed - Please replace in the Bench when not being used.
The Swing, Bench and Glider are great for sunrises and sunsets. "Quiet Hour" Fire Ring use after 10:30 is permitted with the prior approval of Management. There is space for 5 vehicles in the normal parking areas. Additional parking is behind the Duck Club Kennel for Boat Trailers or day visitor's cars.
Please use the clothes lines to dry towels, swim suits and the like. Use the bike rack for up to 5 bikes.
Two fans per Cottage is usually all the cooling needed as the cabins face the westerly prevailing winds off Lake Michigan and are in full shade most of the day.
M-22 is a 61-mile stretch of road that winds through the scenic countryside of Leelanau county. The Circular M-22 Leelanau Fall Color Tour is ranked highest in the Nation!
M-22 runs just 0.4 miles from our door.
Very pretty in spring and summer, you really must take this drive along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Along the way you can visit wineries, art galleries, and experience small-town friendliness. It's by far one of the most beautiful drives in America, and it's right here, 0.4 miles from Birch Shores.
To the right, 2 miles from us on M-109 is the historic Glen Haven Village and exhibits of Marine Rescue and more of “How it was in the Old Days”.
Go over the Narrows Bridge for 6 Miles on M-22 to the small village of Empire. There is the Park Headquarters for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Great exhibits and films daily... It's a place you must visit to appreciate how history and nature come together to form spectacular sand dunes. Empire has a wonderful beach on Lake Michigan, full of swings and other kid playthings.
To the South, a left on M-22, 2 miles to Glen Arbor, Dune Chicago Dogs, Boone Docks, Art's colorful Tavern, the Cherry Republic, tennis & basketball courts, shopping and Lake Michigan.
LELAND - 15 miles from Birch Shores:
Continue along M-22 up through the Leelanau Peninsula to Leland, a cozy little town about 20 minutes north of Glen Arbor. Discover the history that Leland holds. Within Leland, visit historic Fishtown, a working waterfront with cute shops right along the docks. Grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants or fisheries.
NORTHPORT - 35 miles from Birch Shores:
Another 20 minutes north of Leland, and you have reached the peak of M-22. Northport is an historic town known for its fine marina, beautiful parks, friendly downtown shops, scenic beaches, and the annual Northport Dog Parade and Wine Festival.
TRAVERSE CITY - 23 Miles from Birch Shores:
Known as the "Cherry Capital of the World," Traverse City is one of America's Top 10 beach towns. Championship Golf Courses, world-class spas, pristine beaches and exquisite food make this the perfect ending to your M-22 fall color tour.
One of our favorite reviews from Susan K:
"Eight of us stayed in the Hemlock in July 2013 and had a fantastic time. The cabin was clean and comfortable, and although it wasn't easy sharing one bathroom with eight people (six of them females!), we were all impressed at how spacious and clean the bathroom was (we'd once stayed in a cabin on another Michigan lake where we needed to wear shoes in the tiny, dark shower - this was a nice change!). The Hemlock has plenty of sleeping space, and the well-equipped kitchen has a nice, new-looking stainless steel refrigerator with an ice maker, plus another small refrigerator for extra storage. The view from the cabin window is incredible. Outside, we loved relaxing in the hammock, cooking out, and couldn't believe how many stars we could see at night. I especially enjoyed the wonderful kayaks. We took long kayak trips each morning and explored both Little Glen Lake and Big Glen Lake - both were crystal clear and stunningly beautiful. We also enjoyed nearby activities like hiking Sleeping Bear Dunes (both the official dune climb and the Pierce Stocking 'not recommended, do-it-at-your-own-risk' climb), hiking the Empire Bluff trail, biking all over town, making many stops at Cherry Republic, and kayaking the Crystal River. We even spent a day in beautiful Mackinac Island. But honestly... we could have had a wonderful week without ever leaving the cabin. Both the management and owners were friendly and accommodating, and made us feel welcome. We range in age from 10 years old to 40-something, and we all had a fantastic time in the Hemlock."
Reyna, the Foxy mother of 6 kits born May at Birch Shores, cavorted in and out of the forest on our acreage for over a month... see the attached pictures. By July, they have retreated into the Park around Day Forest.
Our most loyal Guests honeymooned here in 1976 and have come back for the same 2 weeks in July for over 40 years. Another loyal family of 5 trailer their 24 foot Ebb Tide Ski boat from Golden, Colorado for 2 weeks in July. They are celebrating their 41st year at Birch Shores.
The Cottages are rustic but Not Primitive - They are furnished with complete kitchens, picnic tables, hammock, deck chairs and new BBQ's... A new masonry fire pit for S'mores, marshmallows, popcorn, hot dogs and burgers - Yum!! Sing your favorite campfire songs and tell ghost stories with beautiful sunset lake views.
Fishing, swimming, paddle boarding, Kayaking, Biking, Hiking, bird watching, water skiing, tubing, snorkeling and nature walks are regular Lake activities. Charter Salmon and Lake Trout Fishing out of the Sportsman's Shop in Glen Arbor is one of the highlights for many visitors. Weather Day visits to shop and eat in Glen Arbor, Leland and Suttons Bay for our Guests. The Park exhibits in Empire, Glen Haven and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are not to be missed! And... Yes, the Dune Climb is always there waiting for the fit and not-so-fit climbers!
LINENS ARE NOT FURNISHED. ABSOLUTLY NO PETS.
We occasionally will take our Guests on a “Sunset Cruise” to that secret spot at the Glen Lake “Bermuda Triangle” where you can see the SUN RI