The pines open onto your own stretch of sandy shoreline, and the loudest thing on Lake Wequas is the water - no wake boats allowed. Drag the kayaks down before breakfast, spend the afternoon on the deck, then light the fire pit and watch the string lights come on over the yard.

A 2,280 sq ft cottage on a quiet northern Michigan lake: four bedrooms, two baths, three levels, sleeping twelve, with a vaulted great room facing the water and a walkout level onto the lawn. Ten minutes from Gaylord.

We manage the house locally and are reachable by message or phone for anything you need, before or during your stay. Check-in is self-serve, so nobody will meet you at the door unless you would like them to - but we are always a text away.

Lake Wequas is a small, quiet, no-wake lake in Hayes Township, ringed by pine woods. Trail access runs directly off the property - good for walking, and in season for off-roading and snowmobiling.

Downtown Gaylord is about ten minutes away for groceries, restaurants and the Alpine-themed shops. Golf courses, Otsego Lake and the Pigeon River Country State Forest are all close by. Traverse City and the Mackinac Bridge are each roughly an hour's drive.

The entire house and property are yours: private beach, dock, yard, fire pit and both decks.

Self check-in with a smart deadbolt, so you can come and go on your own schedule - your code arrives ahead of your stay.

One master closet, the basement storage room and the garage are locked and not part of the rental. Parking is a large driveway with room for several vehicles, no permit and no fee.

MAIN FLOOR
Open living, dining and kitchen under a vaulted ceiling, with sliders out to the upper deck. Wood stove, smart TV with streaming, and a full kitchen with an island, dishwasher, full-size fridge and a stocked coffee bar. The dining table seats the whole group. Bedroom 1 is on this floor - a queen, and the room the house is named for, with a bear watching over the bed.

UPSTAIRS
Bedroom 2 has a queen. Bedroom 3 has two bunk beds and sleeps four. Full bath with tub and shower. The ping-pong table lives up here.

LOWER LEVEL
A walkout basement that opens onto the lawn. Bedroom 4 has a full and a twin. Lounge seating, plus board games, puzzles and books for a rainy afternoon.

OUTSIDE
Upper deck with lake views and lounge seating, a shaded lower patio, and a fire pit ringed with Adirondack chairs down by the water. Picnic table seats 8-10, there is a hammock in the trees, and string lights run over the whole yard. Kayaks, life jackets and beach chairs are yours to use, along with the private sandy beach and dock.

Please note there is no air conditioning - the house runs on furnace heat, ceiling fans, portable fans and a lot of pine shade.

You will want a car. The house sits on a quiet road and the nearest town is a ten-minute drive.

Gaylord Regional Airport is about fifteen minutes away; Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport is about an hour. Free parking on site with room for several vehicles.

No air conditioning. The house has furnace heat, ceiling fans and portable fans, and it sits in deep shade with a lake breeze - but if you are sensitive to heat in July and August, it is worth knowing up front.

The property is on well water and a septic system. Please flush toilet paper only.

Pets are welcome - $150 per pet, charged automatically at booking. No smoking anywhere on the property. No events or parties, and no fireworks. Quiet hours after 11 PM out of respect for the neighbours.

There are stairs between all three levels and the lower level is a walkout. Baby gates, table corner guards, a pack-n-play and a high chair are all here if you need them.

Maximum occupancy is 12.