Posts

End of Fall

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After fall in Leelanau County one thing came to mind, and that is that I am so glad I live in a world with Octobers.  Best stated in the book Anne of Green Gables.  Leelanau County is breath taking in the fall.  Beautiful colors, perfect hikes, and lovely wineries.  I loved the way all of our favorite towns celebrated the seasons and it looked beautiful.   Our Airbnb/VRBO season came to an end sooner than we expected.  In mid October Leelanau County had a large wind storm.  Our lovely willow tree in the back yard didn't make it.  We feel so gracious that despite loosing a tree and having to close up for the season to guests that this occured when the house was empty and that nobody was hurt and the house was not hit.   Given the age and size of the tree we know it stood with the home for a LONG time.  As I type, it is getting cleaned up.  Thank you to all of our guests for making our first season memorable.  We hope you enjoyed sunny days, beautiful beaches, the relaxing pace of al

Help! What to do if there is a problem during my stay?

 If you are encountering any sort of issue with the home during your stay, please know that helping you solve it is our number one priority.  Issues arise in all homes and are not always things we can plan for.  First, please call or text either Betsy or Miguel on the numbers that you have been provided via the personal message system on either aribnb or vrbo prior to checking in.  We will do our best to help you.  If we are not able to solve it for you we will call our property manager who will come to the property to help solve it.   If it is a larger issue our property manager will come over and meet you at the house. They have experience in all sorts of home issues/repairs/maintenance/housekeeping ect.  You can rest assured that you will be in good hands and the issue will be resolved. We want you to know you are in very good hands.  We don't "work" with the property manager.  We are a "team".  We are committed to providing our guests with the very best expe

Mid Summer Update

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Mid July!  We have been thankful to host a family relocating into the area, various couples, and a family vacation!  This next week we are welcoming another family vacation.  I can't wait to hear their stories of adventure as their "Up North" vacation unfolds!  We have had guests come from Texas, Vermont, Michigan, and Minnesota!  Next week we will be able to add Colorado to our list!  We have had two guests extend their stay, and one guest ask upon checkout to reserve early a longer stay next summer.  We love Leelanau County and we know each and everyone of our guests will also.  These requests to stay longer are the best compliment we can get about the cottage and the area!  We like to call Leelanau County "the Cape Cod of the Midwest"....and I believe that is a very fitting name! We strive to not only provide you a cottage to stay in but to help you create the best vacation in a cottage that you can call home and feel like home in.  We have loved and been tha

Closing Checklist

  Closing Checklist This list will be available in the rental for checkout.  We ask that our guests do these basic tasks of picking up prior to the 10 A.M. checkout.   Thank you for understanding that airbnb’s in Leelanau County are very busy.  We value our housekeeping staff who clean multiple homes a day and doing these few things to assist in the turn over allow us to keep the prices down for our guests.  We appreciate you, your time, and your assistance. Please make sure all windows are closed and locked on your way out!  Kitchen All dishes cleaned and put away Counters/Microwave/Oven wiped All remaining food in trash (including in fridge and pantry), please include take out boxes Dish towels included in load of wash with towels Trash bag tied and taken to trash bins on the side of the house Windows closed and locked Bedrooms Bed sheets stripped off beds and put in laundry room All personal belongings picked up Please make sure all bedroom windows are closed and locked Bathrooms Pl

Details of the home as you prepare for your stay

 Details to remember as you prepare your trip to a "Slice of Leelanau" A Slice of Leelanau has a full kitchen with an eat in table for 4, for your family to cook in if need be.  If you have any questions about the kitchen and what it does or does not have, please feel free to reach out.  If this helps you better plan for your trip I would love to help you.   Count on the major things being there.  The home has plates, cups, silverware, knives, and plastic (washable) plates and cups if you are traveling with children.   The kitchen has a microwave, toaster, and keurig coffee maker.  Please plan on bringing your own pods if you plan to make coffee at home.  The kitchen does have a colander.  There is a green piece that you put into the bottom hole to be able to safely set the colander in the sink to wash or drain things.  Feel free to reach out if you have questions on this.   The refrigerator and stove are full sized.  The dishwasher is what I would call an extra cute "RV

Are you staying a full week? (Continuation of the "Now What" post)

  Are you staying a full week?  We are so glad you are.  Days in Leelanau County are long ones with so much to see and do.  They almost always end with a sunset.  If you are staying a full week, start by reading my last post of “Now What” to see recommendations for your first 3 days in Leelanau County.  After you have read that, come back to read recommendations for the remainder of your week!! Day 4 : Today is a great day to explore Suttons Bay!  It is only about 5 minutes up the road!    On your way to Suttons Bay, pick up your morning coffee at Pedaling Beans in Lake Leelanau.  You probably fell in love with 9 Bean Rows.  It’s so easy to do! If you want to try something new or love what you had last time, stop in for breakfast.   Continue on to Suttons Bay, spend some time walking around this adorable little town.   R ent a bike from Suttons Bay Bikes .  Depart from this quaint town onto back roads or the Leelanau Trail, a paved bike path that winds through endless orchards and vine

Now What?

  You have booked a "Slice of Leelanau".  You have followed all the amazing posts on Slice of Leelanau on Facebook.  You and your fellow vacationers are getting excited.  Now what?   Continue to check into Facebook frequently to get ideas of what you would like to do during your stay. Reach out via airbnb or vrbo to me, your excited host to ask any questions you might have about the property or area.   Does your family plan to eat out or cook in?  If you plan to eat out, know that on the kitchen counter is a guidebook offering suggestions.  Also, I am continually updating the guidebook on Airbnb that you should have access to.  If you plan on cooking in, please feel free to reach out if you have further questions about what is in the kitchen and what is not.   No “Up North” vacation is complete without a little time on the beaches of Lake Michigan.  Remember that the cottage has bath towels but you will need to bring your own beach towels.   Slice of Leelanau has a brand new