Hospitality Description: I can offer one single woman a room & bathroom to herself in exchange for me visiting her country in the same manner.
Statistics
Listed May 2023
Views 1843
General overview
South Haven, Michigan, USA is a beautiful and inviting lakeside town located on the shores of Lake Michigan (the 5th largest, freshwater lake in the world). It's scenic beaches, charming lighthouse and delightful downtown area make it a highly sought after vacation destination for many.
Michigan’s west coast boasts 300 miles of gorgeous Lake Michigan shoreline. Visitors can spend an entire summer exploring the many small towns and lakeshore cities up and down the coast.
Preview my Airbnb Listing and Reviews here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/575934381889546950?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=7be4ee0b-fda5-40f0-a9c3-a8708ece2977
Southwest Michigan in general has many, many wide sandy beaches along Lake Michigan. You will find Wineries, Breweries, great restaurants, charming beach towns, Art Galleries, Blueberry, Grape & Lavender Farms, Farm Markets, Bike & Hiking Trails, Paddleboard & Kayak rentals. I have a guest book at the house with many brochures of places to go.
If you have a hankering for big, city life, Chicago is a 2 hour drive. You can drive there and back on the same day, or stay overnight or a few days and enjoy the museums, art galleries, Navy Pier, shopping and nightlife. You can take the train into Chicago and skip dealing with traffic.
Please view my Airbnb Guidebook here: https://www.airbnb.com/manage-guidebook/3673145
I do not swap homes during June, July or August, as my home is rented on Airbnb and very full during the summer months, however, there are many remaining months where the lake is still warm and the weather is beautiful! Even the winters, here in Michigan, are beautiful.
The space
Airbnb SuperHost link: https://abnb.me/IMWs8fdH0Ab
Enjoy open space in the living room w/gas fireplace, kitchen & dining for 6 at the large island. We have extremely comfortable beds with a posturepedic king mattress and posturepedic mattress toppers on 3 other beds.
Walk to the beach in 5 minutes! The flat, sandy beach awaits you. You can sit and relax or walk for miles in either direction. You will find tons of beach glass, cool stones (Petosky stones) and crinoids (fossils).
There are also several other beaches in South Haven with concessions stands and restrooms. Walk the piers on either side of the Black River, called the North and South piers. The North and South piers have historical lighthouses at the end.
Play the provided outdoor ping-pong, pickleball or corn-hole games or board games on the full front porch. Enjoy the screened-in porch on rainy days or to avoid any bugs or sit under our louvered pergola. We have a gas grill, charcoal grill and picnic table under the louvered pergola. Build a fire in the fire pit and roast marshmallows, hotdogs or make s’mores.
The total square footage of the house is 1350 sq. feet. inside + 2 outdoor porches and a covered pergola.
I kindly ask that you pay my cleaning lady $200 prior to arrival. She will clean when you leave, for the next guest. The house will be spotless for you, of course.
Guest access
Guests will be given access codes.
Ring security cameras outside at both exterior doors.
If you would like to meet me upon arrival, please let me know.
Notes
To see South Haven activities, Follow us on IG @ modernfarmhousecottage
Top 10 Things to Do in South Haven:
1. See the 2 Historic Lighthouses @ the end of both the north and south piers.
2. Visit the Michigan Maritime Museum: Awesome medium sized maritime museum WITH A SAILING SHIP and smaller vessels that offer trips on the Black River and Lake Michigan.
3. KalHaven Trail: The scenery changes from river, to marsh, to field and woods. Then again from road side to small town. There are benches, campsites, trail markers, covered bridges and trees. The trail is well maintained and clean. A must do for any biker, runner, walker, man, woman or child.
4. North Beach: This beach is the definition of a coastal town beach! You can park & pay at the beach or park downtown or in the metered area (there is a boardwalk that takes you directly to the beach). The boardwalk takes you through the marina where we love to look at all of the yachts. The boardwalk itself it absolutely beautiful. Paved and lined with gorgeous flowers, fisherman-fishing in the channel, bike riders, kids flying kites-everything you would expect from a quaint, coastal town. To us, the boardwalk is half of the beach experience and why I choose South Haven over any other beach in MI.
5. Cogdal Vineyards: We want your excitement to build from the beginning, starting with a drive through the vineyard and ending with your expectations being met with excellent wines, great service and beautiful views.
6. Blueberry Acres: Family-owned farm market with blueberry u-pick, wildflower u-pick, pumpkin u-pick and lots of activities for the kid in Everyone!
7. Lake Arvesta Farms': 4-lake Aqua Park offering floating obstacles, cable wakeboarding, kayaking, and paddle boarding plus indoor and outdoor pickleball courts and an 18-hole disc golf course, there's an adventure here for everyone!
8. Go to the restaurant, Taste, with its diverse menu of small plates, paired with martinis in this homey, brick-walled bar & eatery. You will not be sorry!
9. One of favorite things to do in South Haven is to walk the Black River front on the south side and watch the boats come and go. It's fun to sit at any of the restaurants along the river and enjoy the view as well. There's Captain Alexanders, The Idler. Captain Lou's and more.
10. Rent paddleboards or kayaks and experience the crystal clear waters of Lake Michigan (shark free!). Journey out on a fishing charter, relax on a cruise, and enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan! A sunset cruise is a sight that you will never forget.
11+. Visit many of the small beach towns along the lakefront, such Saugatuck, Douglas & St. Joe. They each have their own unique character, great shopping and great restaurants.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Weekend
Adventure
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Foodie
Relaxing
Eco
Beach
Water
Remote
Hiking
Cycling
Last minute
Golf
Cross-country skiing
House rules
Unsuitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Dog free
Carpet free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Low allergen
Dates of Availability
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Neighbourhood
Gravel roads. Peaceful, wooded lots in front & behind. Short walking distance to Lake Michigan beach.
Deer, bunnies and other wild animals roam freely in our neighborhood.
Getting to my home
The neighborhood is low-traffic, gravel roads, no issues with parking.
The home is 1/2 mile off of I-96 at the South Haven/North Shore Drive exit.
We will give you the full address so that you may use GPS once booked.
Nearest airport
Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo, Michigan, both are about 1 hour away - you can rent a car from there.
Getting around
The city of South Haven is about 1 mile from the house. In the city you can rent bikes, scooters, golf carts or walk (it's a very small town). You can even walk to the South Beach from downtown.
Chicago is a 2 hour drive and Detroit is a 3 hour drive from South Haven. You can take the train to either places and see the sights of the big cities, or you can drive to either city and back in one day.
You can rent a car at the airport, or use Uber or other car transports.
Please view my Airbnb Guidebook here: https://www.airbnb.com/manage-guidebook/3673145
Map of Approximate Location
People Like Us Local Guide
I can show you around, recommend places to go and meet-up with you if desired.
Feedback
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Premium
Sue
Hello - My name is Sue and I am a retired entrepreneur. I built my dream cottage in the beach town of South Haven, MI, near the shores of Lake Michigan. I love to walk the beach daily and collect beach glass, petosky stones and crinoids. My favorite pastime is traveling. I especially love to take my teenage grandchildren on a trip, as is very rewarding to see their eyes open to new worlds. I want them to experience life from another perspective. There is nothing better than seeing the magnificent beauty in nature, exploring rich history, tasting new dishes and appreciating new cultures.
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.
3rd Bedroom, 2nd Floor, Queen Bed, 50" Smart TV in this room
4th Bedroom, 2nd Floor, 2 Twin Beds
2nd Floor Full Bathroom, Shower/Tub
Pergola with picnic table and gas grill.
Firepit, firewood included, outdoor solar lighting.
South Haven sunsets never get old.
Lake Michigan water colors, depending on the day and the weather.
Standing tall at the west end of the south pier, this red lighthouse has stood guard over the harbor for many, many years.
Visit the Michigan Maritime Museum and take a sail on the Friends of Goodwill, a replica of a top sail merchant sloop that plied the waters of the Great Lakes in the early 19th century.
I took this picture myself in Douglas, MI. The shores of Lake Michigan are are beautiful as anywhere in the world.
One of 100's 5-Star Airbnb Reviews of Sue's home.
Gorgeous shoreline in the Fall.
Visit the 4-acre poppy field in Fennville, planted by Pleasant Hill Farm owners, in memory of their late son.
What a find! West Michigan beaches are well known for their abundance of beach glass. This is a very hard to find red piece!
Welcome to Summerhouse Lavender Farm, located in Fennville, Michigan.