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The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included!

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Property grounds
Exterior
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Dining
Reviews
9.6

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendlyPet friendlyPet friendly
  • Outdoor SpaceOutdoor SpaceOutdoor Space
  • Water viewWater viewWater view

Check out the area

Map
Alpena, MI
  • Popular LocationThunder Bowl Lanes5 min drive
  • Popular LocationThunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary9 min drive
  • Popular LocationNorthern Lights Arena11 min drive
  • AirportAlpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional)17 min drive

Space details

4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps 10
2672 sq ft
Bedroom 1
    2 twin/single beds
Bedroom 2
    1 king bed
Bedroom 3
    1 king bed
Bedroom 4
    2 twin/single beds
Common area
    1 sleep sofa/futon

Room options

About the neighborhood

Alpena

On lake.A stay at this vacation home places you within half a mile (1 km) of Lake Huron and 3 miles (5 km) of Thunder Bowl Lanes. Mich-E-Ke-Wis Park and Starlite Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

What's nearby

  • Thunder Bowl Lanes - 5 min drive
  • Lee's Miniature Golf - 6 min drive
  • Thunder Bay River Lighthouse - 8 min drive
  • Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary - 9 min drive
  • Northern Lights Arena - 11 min drive

Getting around

  • Alpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • Taco Bell - 5 min drive
  • Culver's - 9 min drive
  • Applebee's - 10 min drive
  • McDonald's - 8 min drive
  • Player's Pub & Grub - 9 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included!

This is a gorgeous lakefront vacation rental home that is right on Lake Huron in Alpena, Michigan! It has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and sleeps 10. It has a large and gated yard for kids and dogs to play! The rental of the house also includes the use of 2 kayaks and the use of the boathouse on the property, so you can walk out the front door and immediately be in your boat and on the lake! Please note that a liability waiver must be signed before using the boathouse and/or the kayaks.
(1) Please note that the level of Lake Huron varies significantly. As such, the boat house may or may not be usable by boats depending upon the lake level. If you are interested in using the boat house for your boat, please contact us to discuss water levels and feasibility before making plans to use the boat house.

(2) The name, The Life Aquatic, derives from the property owner's passion for scuba diving as well as his love for Wes Anderson movies. :-)

(3) We have had several guests ask about boat rentals. We would suggest contacting Dodge Marine in Alpena if you are interested in boat rentals. They can be reached at 9 and 8 and 9 and 5 and 9 and 5 and 5 and 0 and 4 and 0. Please visit dodgemarine dot com / Boating-Rentals.html for more info.

(4) There is an exterior security camera at the property. There are no interior cameras though.
We have a wonderful local property manager that lives nearby and meets guests in person. After check-in, she is available to address any questions or issues as needed.
Alpena is a wonderful and rather affordable getaway to nature and water in northern Michigan! Downtown Alpena is approx. a 10 to 15 minute drive from the house, depending upon where you are going. It has a nice historic downtown area with some excellent restaurants and shops. The area is renowned for beaches, swimming, fishing, kayaking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and exploring the beauty of nature in general!

Here are some additional details regarding local activities:

* Boat Rentals: We have had several guests ask about boat rentals in the Alpena area. We would suggest contacting Dodge Marine in Alpena if you are interested in boat rentals.

* Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is a popular winter sport in the area. Please visit www . icefishingalpena . com for more information on local ice fishing.

* Snowmobiling: There is a wonderful 70-mile snowmobiling trail runs from downtown Alpena to Cheboygan, and then continues either north to Mackinac City or south to Gaylord. Maps of this trail are available online.
Guests have access to the entire property, including the boathouse. The only thing that is off-limits to guests is the apartment that is attached to the boathouse.
There are a few other items that we should mention regarding this vacation rental property:

* The lake bottom in front of the house is rather mucky, so for swimming we recommend going to one of the nearby public beaches, which are less than a 10-minute drive from the house. (Right in front of the lake wall, the lake is also approx. 3 feet deep. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH CHILDREN!)

* There is a separate small apartment on the property that is attached to the boathouse and is used by the property owner. At any time it is possible that the property owner may be staying in the boathouse apartment.

* The vacation house is pet-friendly and up to 2 dogs are permitted. Cats are not allowed. For other pets or more than 2 dogs, please discuss things with us first.

* The vacation home includes WiFi as well as cable television (via Spectrum).
There is a gated entrance (opened and closed by hand) that allows the large yard to be completely fenced in for kids and dogs.

* The house features a modern, large, and well-stocked kitchen with a gas range as well as a gorgeous view of of the lake while cooking.

* There are both indoor and outdoor dining tables for 6 people.

* The vacation home has a front loading washer and dryer in the downstairs bedroom. (The washer and dryer are in the bedroom closet.)

* There is a very nice fire ring with adirondack chairs for having wonderful bonfires and s'mores!

* Although not shown in the photos, there is a charcoal barbeque grill provided.

* The name of this vacation home, The Life Aquatic, derives from the property owner's passion for scuba diving as well as his love for Wes Anderson movies and is an allusion to the 2004 motion picture The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
We would suggest that guests have their own vehicle.

Property manager

Agape Vacation Rentals

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • 1 unit
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,672 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

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Frequently asked questions

How close is The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! to the airport?

This vacation home is 9.9 mi (18-min drive) away from the Alpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

How close is The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! to the beach?

This vacation home is 3.4 mi (6-min drive) from Starlite Beach and 4 mi (6-min drive) from Thomson Park. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included!?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included!?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! to downtown Alpena?

This vacation home is 3.8 mi away from Alpena.

The Life Aquatic - Lakefront with Kayaks Included! Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 27 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location
Beautiful location, country setting yet close to town. House was very clean. Property Manager was very nice and quickly responded. Perfect house for our family to use.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Frank C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Work Stay
Ok place to stay. We didn't get a chance to spend much time in the area and just slept at the house a few nights.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kecia H., Mount Pleasant, SC

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Sunrises
Great location, well stocked home. Sunrises and wildlife were spectacular!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Getaway
Property with the fenced in yard was exactly what we wanted. Had a great vacation with our two dogs roaming and playing in the yard and swimming in the lake. Home was very well-kept and more spacious than I expected. Property manager was wonderful to deal with. Overall experience was excellent.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Molly B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful stay
We had a lovely week. The house offered plenty of room for our party of 8, though we spent most of our time outside enjoying the kayaks, games, and sunrises. We enjoyed visiting the town of Alpena as well as Mackinac Island, lighthouses and the state parks for hikes and dark night adventures - BUG SPRAY for outdoor activities is a necessity!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristen L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Alpena23
Excellent location
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent. Would stay here again.
Property manager Kathy gave us a tour and pointed out the amenities of the property. The house was clean, the beds were comfortable and the kitchen was well appointed. My only wish would be a check-in time earlier than 4:00 pm.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chelse V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely Amazing Rental!
This property is absolutely beautiful. The inside of the house is very cute and beautiful. The property owner was nice enough to let me hold a small wedding in the backyard which turned out beautiful. There was great communication throughout the process when I had questions come up. During our stay we had an issue finding the circuit breaker and received a prompt call back from the property management after we called for help. Highly recommend staying here!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Greg R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location. Great property.
My family and our pups rent for vacations 2-3 times a year for the last 15 years. This home was perfect for our family vacation. It was perfectly equipped! A/C was outstanding. The best yard of any property we rented for outdoor games, the pups to run free, and campfires. The view was great and close to things we needed.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Norm D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice home with scenic location on Lake Huron (Squaw Bay)
The home is very nice with great views overlooking Squaw Bay. I would have given a rating of 5 but the ability to use the lake directly from the property needs improvement. A small Jon boat, a flat bottom canoe, or updated kayaks are needed for renters to get onto the lake. I attempted to rent a pontoon boat from Dodge Marine but they would not put one onto Lake Huron (even though Squaw Bay is quite shallow). Once the owners have a decent watercraft included with the rental this place will be a 5. The fenced yard is very pet friendly which was a nice plus.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022