Retreat to Northern Michigan with your family or friends and book this 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath, Traverse City vacation rental! This riverfront home features 2 Smart TVs, a fully equipped kitchen, and an awesome outdoor space fit for the whole group. Stay on-site and lounge in the hot tub or roast s’mores over the fire pit! When you’re ready to explore, head downtown for quaint shopping or visit Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park and swim in Grand Traverse Bay. The Great Lakes State awaits!
We respect our guests' privacy and offer a seamless self check-in process. While we will not be present during your stay, we are readily available via the messaging app or phone if you need any assistance or local recommendations.
Our private road consists of homes with Boardman River frontage, private and serene, with easy access from the 55-mph beltway (Hammond Road) to anywhere in Traverse City, Interlochen, and Williamsburg. Especially great for access to Interlochen Arts Academy.
WATER RECREATION: Boardman River - Boardman Valley Boat Launch (7 miles), Silver Lake Recreation Area (7 miles), Duck Lake & Green Lake (10 miles), Grand Traverse Bay - Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park (10 miles), Long Lake (13 miles).
TRAILS: We are very close to lots of trails. The Brown Bridge Quiet Area offers miles of hiking trails. The Boardman Valley Trail System has 81 miles of trails! The Vasa Single Track is a great mountain bike trail system. The Vasa also is home to 25 km of groomed cross-country ski trails. Mount Holiday is only 11 minutes away, a local downhill ski hill that also offers snow tubing and zip lining. Crystal Mountain Ski Resort is only 27 miles away.
TRAVERSE CITY AREA: Downtown (7 miles), micro-breweries, wineries/vineyards, tall ship Manitou, parks, boat rentals, art galleries, The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, Historic Barns, National Cherry Festival, Traverse City State Park Beach (9.5 mi), Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel (17 miles), Mission Point Lighthouse (27 miles)
TEE OFF: The Crown Golf Club (8 miles), Interlochen Golf Course (10 miles), Bay Meadows Family Golf Course (11 miles).
FAMILY ACTIVITY: Incredible Mo’s (5 miles), Lucky Jack’s Bowling Center (7 miles), Pirate's Cove Adventure Park (10 miles), Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre (23 miles), Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (37 miles), Mackinac Island (122 miles to Mackinac Island Ferry Company).
AIRPORT: Cherry Capital Airport (7.8 miles)
Distance to:
• Meijer (7.4 mi)
• AMC Classic Cherry Blossom 14 (6.8 mi)
• Munson Medical Center (9.1 mi)
• Interlochen Center for the Arts (11 mi)
• Chateau Grand Traverse Winery (17 mi)
• Traverse City Horse Shows at Flintfields Horse Park (26 minutes)
Guests will have exclusive and private access to the entire 3,335 sq ft lodge, the surrounding yard, and the private riverfront area. You are not sharing any spaces with other guests or the host.
Key access features include:
- Private entrance
- Ample free on-site parking
Firefly Lodge offers:
- Pool table
- Cozy wood stove
- BBQ grill
- Record player
- Nintendo mini for vintage arcade games
- Large smart TVs
- Stocked laundry room
- Well-equipped kitchen
- Swimming towels
- Free Wi-Fi
- Smart lock
- Pack 'n' Play
2,880 Sq Ft | Private Location | In-Unit Laundry | Outdoor Dining Area
Bedroom 1: King Bed | Bedroom 2: King Bed | Bedroom 3: King Bed | Bedroom 4: 2 Triple Twin Bunk Beds | Additional Sleeping: Pack 'n Play
INDOOR LIVING: 2 Smart TVs, wood-burning stove, dining table, breakfast bar, laptop workspace, game room w/ home theater system & pool table, ceiling fans
OUTDOOR LIVING: Furnished deck, private hot tub, heaters, wood-burning fire pit, basketball hoop, riverfront seating area, river views, fishing, skiing & snowmobiling nearby
The Firefly Lodge has a sister home next door (Boardman Monarch), in case your family group or company retreat needs space for up to 26 people!
Firefly Lodge offers:
- Pool table
- Cozy wood stove
- Nintendo mini
- Large smart TVs
- Stocked laundry room
- Well-equipped kitchen
- Free Wi-Fi
The southern exposure means lots of light throughout the day!
2-person stays can receive discounted cleaning fee ($150), if you request before booking! (Extra unclaimed guests will be charged for at $150/person.)
$125 for the first dog. Additional dogs $50 each.
We welcome you into your many happy memories!
KITCHEN: Refrigerator, stove/oven, dishwasher, dishware/flatware, cooking basics, spices, drip/Keurig coffee maker, microwave, toaster
GENERAL: Free WiFi, keyless entry, central A/C & heating, linens/towels, trash bags, paper towels, hair dryers
FAQ: Pet fee (dogs only, paid pre-trip), access requires a few stairs, 1st-floor bedroom, exterior security camera (facing out), quiet hours (10:00 PM-7:00 AM)
PARKING: Garage (2 vehicles), driveway (4 vehicles)
There is a lot of parking. The short River Drive is a 15mph private road with hidden driveways, mostly single lane. PLEASE tell your family to drive slowly as a courtesy to everyone.
Wildlife: Our home is in a beautiful rural forest area. You may encounter wildlife like deer, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, turtles, mice, insects, raccoons, bears, and bobcats (among others). Please keep doors closed (including garage doors) to help keep them outdoors. For this reason, if we notice the garage doors open for long periods (from the driveway cameras), we may contact you to request you close them. We do not offer refunds for wildlife sightings.
Boardman River is fairly cold, but many people enjoy fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and tubing! Please bring your own kayaks or paddleboards. We provide river tubes of various sizes for your enjoyment. (Small tube 32" and “is suitable for 50- 90 lbs”. Medium tube inflates to 36" “suitable for 120 lbs or less”. Large tube inflates to 40" “suitable for 120-200lb.” And 44” tubes handle “250lbs”.)
The neighbors on River Drive appreciate the quiet, calm setting. Please help keep it that way.
Sister Property: Need more space? Our sister home, The Firefly Lodge, is next door. Together, the properties can accommodate up to 28 guests. Please inquire for availability, as it books far in advance.
Pet Policy: $125 for the first dog. Additional dogs $50 each. (Dogs only.)
Discount for Two Guests: Planning a smaller getaway? We offer a $100 discount on the cleaning fee for 2-person bookings. (This is already reflected on the 2-person listing.) If you book on the full-capacity listing, please contact us immediately after booking to claim it. A $150 penalty will be charged if more than two guests stay under this discount.
This setting is perfect for relaxing riverfront vacationing away from the hustle of town, with easy access to all the fun activities this great area has to offer. Traverse City is well known for its lakefront, with countless shops and restaurants. The greater Traverse City Area is nationally recognized for Old Mission Peninsula's and the Leelanau Peninsula's many wineries, as well as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.
Festivals abound in this area, including Traverse City Film Festival, beer, music, and wine Festivals, and The Cherry Festival. Terrific shopping in waterfront villages and towns.
Short stays, weekly and monthly, are available.
House Rules:
• Non-smoking. (There will be a $1000 penalty for smoking inside the premises.)
