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The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included!

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January 2025

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Interior
Property grounds
Exterior
Miscellaneous
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 102672 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet friendly
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Alpena, MI
  • Thunder Bowl Lanes
    5 min drive
  • Blair Street Park
    6 min drive
  • Alpena County Library
    7 min drive
  • Alpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional)
    18 min drive

Room options

About the neighborhood

Alpena

When you stay at this vacation home in Alpena, you'll be on the waterfront, within a 5-minute drive of Lake Huron and Thunder Bowl Lanes. .This vacation home is 3.3 mi (5.3 km) from Mich-E-Ke-Wis Park and 3.4 mi (5.5 km) from Starlite Beach.
View more Vacation Homes in AlpenaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Thunder Bowl Lanes - 5 min drive
  • Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary - 9 min drive
  • Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center - 9 min drive
  • Besser Museum - 11 min drive
  • Northern Lights Arena - 11 min drive

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬5 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 - Gorgeous Lakefront Home 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.


GUEST INTERACTION:

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.


NEIGHBORHOOD:

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.


GUEST ACCESS:

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.


THE SPACE:

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.


TRANSIT:

We would suggest that guests have their own vehicle.


PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

(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.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

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

  • 2.5 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

  • 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 allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation

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

Property is also known as

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The Life Aquatic - Gorgeous Lakefront Home with Kayaks Included! Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Scott S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice
Really enjoyed our stay.. view were gorgeous 💕
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great time!
Awesome property. Loved the fenced in yard and lake views.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joe T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot on the lake
Wonderful spot on the lake, great house - will stay again.
Stayed 15 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Colin F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Life Aquatic
Great property for a family trip with large yard and great view of Lake Huron.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sherry T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Steaks on the Fire
We had a fantastic memorial weekend. It was everything that we thought it would be planned on being frequent flyers. Would love to share pictures!!!!!!!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carley F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great vacation home
love staying here. several rooms with several beds. overall the place was pretty clean but there were a few pillows that had marks on them and had dog hairs. other than that, i’d recommend staying here.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

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

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ready to Book for Next Year
We absolutely loved this place! The description was accurate and the location is lovely. Being right on the water was so relaxing and we were pleasantly surprised to find that a ramp made easy access from the backyard to the water for kayaking and swimming. Our little ones were able to play near the dock where there was some sandy area. Beyond that, it was a bit mucky, but the water is clear. We brought our own kayaks and paddleboards and this location is perfect. You can go a long way in water that is no deeper than 5 ', and there's not a tremendous current. We saw almost no boaters the whole week and had a lot of privacy. The house is well equipped. We had all the cooking gear we needed and it was better quality than a lot of vacation homes we've rented. The beds are comfy, nice linens, and the house has a good amount of space to spread out in. We will definitely be booking for next summer!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Tina M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful experience but check the online listing
Loved the house and the property is perfect. Loved our week. Listing included kayaks, which had holes; bikes that have not been ridden in years and were unusable, and the boathouse can only be used by a shallow boat.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Colin F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great lake house
All around great property and we really enjoyed our time there.. Great for kids and dogs.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Corey V.

Liked: Cleanliness
June 2022 vacation with family and friends
House was fantastic. Views of Lake Huron were beautiful. Perfect little get away for my family (2 adults and 3 kids. 7yr, 5yr, 3mos) and our friend's family (2 adults and 2 kids, 2yr, 4mos). The beach and splash pad at the park 5 minutes up the road were a big hit for the kids.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joseph B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Reunion Space...
We were exceptionally please with this location. We had a brief, impromptu family reunion with my 95 yr. old father. It was a blessing to commune with family and nature. It was such a quiet, tranquil place and the house was immaculate for our needs. We will indeed be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay!
We rented this home as our family is scattered around Michigan and decided to meet up here after Christmas. I thought the house was actually much nicer than the photos (not that the photos were bad!). Ample room for everyone to hang out together or spread out if desired. Heating worked very well throughout the home, upper level got SUPER hot but we shut the vents and cracked a window and were fine. The first night the thermostat must have been programmed to cut to 62 at night because we woke up freezing but we fixed that once we realized. That was the only quirky thing, I thought it was well supplied with plenty of cooking items, towels, etc. Hard to find a place you can bring a dog to as well, so that was also super nice. Close to Meijer if needing to run out for anything too.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

6/10 Okay

Sharon G.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Needs maintenance
Beautiful view of bay with great fenced-in yard for pets. Plenty of parking. Condition of house was not acceptable. Kitchen well-stocked but needs thorough cleaning. Spiders were inside and outside, and we had to constantly use pest spray. Upstairs bathtub and floor baseboards were full of mold and stains. Downstairs carpet needed thorough cleaning. Family room ceiling stains appear to be from leak in upstairs bathroom.
Stayed 20 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Phil T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Spectacular waterfront getaway!
Wow, what a find! Our families had a wonderful week at Life Aquatic! The home is beautiful, very well laid out for a kids zone while we adults enjoyed the open kitchen which was very well equipped for our group. Wonderful outdoor areas, water access and we loved the kayaks! Thunder Bay directly in front of the home was an absolutely perfect, calm and extremely large area for paddle boards and the kayaks. It’s like they thought of everything here, even lawn games, inflatables, extra fishing gear. Not only comfortable by day, but great sleeping accommodations, bedding and towels. Location! Location too! Alpena was lovely. We found a beautiful, long strolling beach just minutes from the door on Beebe Rd. While we like to chef it up (and found all the kitchen gadgets to do so) we also enjoyed a few of the local restaurants which did not disappoint. Thank you Life Aquatic!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

6/10 Okay

Barb P.

Liked: Cleanliness
August vacation
House is nice, need a ramp or steps to enter the water, especially for the dogs, row boat would be nice for fishing
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021