The Michigan fall is starting to show her glorious colors and with miles of beaches within Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, Restaurants, breweries, wineries, it's all waiting for you to visit and enjoy - the Northern Michigan Splendor we all love to see - leave your frustrations at home - this is a time to rejuvenate and enjoy the wide-open beaches of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore - enjoy evenings by the firepit, the warm days walking beaches, woodland trails, stellar golf courses - evenings at your new favorite restaurant.
Our goal, through Whispering Pines Cottage, is to provide you and your family privacy, solitude, a chance for your family to 're-connect' and comfortable lodging when you're up north having family fun in our beautiful, friendly, and fun-filled area for the whole family.
Little towns with stores, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and a meadery abound in our corner of Northwest, Michigan. The fun never ends in Benzie and Leelanau County.
Whispering Pines Cottage is just 15 minutes away from the 'Most Beautiful Place in America' - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore bounded by M-22, Michigan's Scenic Highway. That 15-minute drive (12 miles) will put you on the shore of Platte Bay beach within the 35 miles of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore – with miles of hiking/biking trails, pristine sand beaches, crystal clear waters for swimming.
Steelhead fishing fall through spring in our Betsie and Platte Rivers, Summer trout fishing on our many streams and lakes, Late summer and fall Salmon and Lake Trout in Lake Michigan, if you have an appropriate boat for Lake Michigan, we have the place to park it at the cottage, or rent a Charter Boat - Cap'n Bob Smith berthed at Leland.
Golf Courses close by -Crystal Mountain Resort, Crystal Lake -Beulah, Pinecroft-Beulah, Champion Hills, Mistwood, Bear Lake, Dunes, Chestnut Hills, Arcadia Bluffs, Interlochen – these and more within 30 minutes of the cottage.
September and October is a beautiful time to vacation in Northern Michigan, as well as summer - Mother Nature has her elves prepared with their paint and paint brushes ready to color the tree leaves for that Northern Splendor we all love to see at the end of summer. Leave your frustrations at home - this is a time to rejuvenate and enjoy the wide-open beaches of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore - enjoy the cool evenings by the firepit, the warm days walking beaches, woodland trails, stellar golf courses - relax at your new favorite restaurant.
Our goal, through Whispering Pines Cottage, is to provide you new places to enjoy, and relax.
Come join us in Winer - Crystal Mountain Ski Resort with down-hill and cross-country skiing is just 20 minutes away. Miles of Cross-country skiing trails /snowshoeing are just minutes away within the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore
Whispering Pines Cottage overlooks our two acre "Mirror Pond", a deep, spring fed, icy-cold body of water home to our native brook trout (The State "Fish" of Michigan), with a large stand of tall White Pine as a backdrop behind the pond. Our cozy cottage has two bedrooms with queen-sized beds, dressers and closets, a bathroom with shower, living room - with gas fireplace, Wi-Fi, Int4rnet, TV and a large couch for laid-back evenings after a busy day exploring Benzie and Leelanau Counties, a fully equipped kitchen with adjacent dining area which has a "slider" to our deck, overlooking "Mirror Pond", gas grill, and patio furniture. A new deck has been created by the pond with a fire pit and grill. The cottage also has a washer and dryer for your convenience. The closely mowed grass surrounding the cottage and pond provide ample area to stretch your legs and enjoy the property. The bird feeders attract numerous species of birds from the forested area around the cottage who also "kick-out" enough bird seed for the "resident ducks" who come to the grassy areas surrounding the feeders for the treat left for them by their "cousins". Pond visitors include various species of ducks, Blue Herons, and occasional Egret's, and resident deer. Whispering Pines Cottage is at the hub of Our Northwestern Michigan vacation paradise. Going West on Honor Hwy (US-31) within fifteen minutes you'll quickly arrive on the shore of Lake Michigan in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. Going East within ten minutes you'll arrive at Interlochen National Music Camp with its summer student performances as well as international "headliners" contracted by the Interlochen Music Camp to perform during the summer with monies raised from performances going toward student scholarships and operation of the school. Going North up Benzie Hwy 669 will quickly get you into the Sleeping Bear National Park's northern reaches as well as the "Winery Vineyards" of Leelanau County.
Five -night minimum June through August and three nights minimum May, September, October and two night minimum the rest of the year. Come join us - we will meet you at the cottage when you arrive providing a detailed map of the area- showing you the quickest routes for things to see and do.
