Captain Fran's : Cozy Northern Michigan Lakefront Retreat

CAPTAIN FRAN'S

SLEEPS: 6 (10 absolute max, including guests)
BEDROOMS: 2 + additional sleeping area
BATHROOMS: 1 full bath (shower, toilet, sink)+ 1/2 bathroom (toilet and sink only)
*LAKEFRONT (Huffman Lake)
*ROW BOAT INCLUDED (with a boat dock) (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
*SWIMMING ON PROPERTY

This charming cottage on the inland Huffman Lake is perfect for a family looking for the classic cottage experience in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Located halfway between Gaylord and Boyne Mountain, enjoy 50 feet of lakefront with a tiny sandy area on Huffman Lake.

Don't worry, we also provide beach chairs. This cottage has an open- concept kitchen and living room, ideal for entertaining. In addition, enjoy the main floor bedroom and bathroom. You can get to the upstairs loft bedroom and bathroom either via the lovely spiral staircase inside or the outside standard stairway. Plus, upstairs hosts its own 1/2 bathroom with a toilet and sink. Enjoy the beautiful wrap-around deck, with a spectacular view of Huffman Lake, a beautiful 99 acre peaceful, slow-pace lake.

Huffman Lake is an inland lake, so the sand is only on the bottom of the lake. It is murky in some areas and the shoreline is natural. Yes, you may be able to find frogs and the leeches they love to eat, depending on the weather and sand. Bass- both large & small, pike, pan fish, walleye are often caught here. The cottage comes with 1 rowboat for you to enjoy during your stay.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Air Conditioning: There is no air conditioning, there are fans provided.

ATVs: Best to leave those home.

Animals: Yes, there are all kinds of animals that like to roam around in Northern Michigan. While you don't see most of them, you have to be someone who is comfortable in that true outdoorsy environment. Guests have reported seeing and hearing, both a mouse and squirrels at times. We do our absolute best to keep all the critters away and out of the cabin. We do not use Decon within the cabin due to children being part of our family of guests. Fall is the biggest challenge as the little critters, including mice, are looking for a warm place to stay the winter months. We are vigilant about keeping critters at bay, and are always open to suggestions.

Bathroom:

Main floor: Full bath
Upstairs: ½ bath (toilet & sink)

Beach: 50 feet of lakefront with a small sandy area on Hoffman Lake. We also provide beach chairs. The beach area starts off shallow, then progressively drops off about 10-15 feet off the natural shoreline. This is not Disney World. The shoreline natural. There are the standard lakefront bugs, including mosquitos at dusk.

Bedrooms:

Main floor:
Bedroom #1: 1 Queen Bed
Additional sleeping: There is a pull out couch (Queen) on the main floor as well.
Upstairs:
Bedroom #2: 1 Queen Bed
2 Twin Beds
Walk-out Ground floor:
Additional sleeping area: 1 pull out couch (Full) + breakfast area (microwave and coffee pot)

Boats: 1 aluminum rowboat for you to enjoy! Also 3 stand up paddle boards. We do have some life jackets there-but it's always best to bring your own. (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

Books/Board Games/Radio: We have all three of these for your enjoyment and entertainment!

Cell phone coverage: Very spotty. To the best of our knowledge, only Verizon customers seem to get the best connection. AT&T service does not seem to work at all at The Mint.

Deck: There is a deck, along with a patio set and beach chairs.

Distance:

Northern Michigan Speedway-- right down the street from the cottage
Up North Blueberry Farm: U-pick blueberries! Located in Gaylord, approximately 10 miles from the cottage.
Call of the Wild Museum & Gift Shop:
Gaylord's City Elk Park: The city of Gaylord maintains an elk herd and provides viewing areas for the public to stop and watch the impressive herd. Under the city's care the roughly 70 elk can be viewed from near the Elk's Lodge off Grandview at Elk View Park. The herd is contained on 108 acres. City staff feed the animals corn, hay and sugar beets, plus vitamins. The herd started with three elk 14 years ago, when a local nature center closed. Currently, a few of the bulls weigh well over 800 pounds and stand roughly 6' tall. The bulls will don their massive horns during the fall and winter, dropping them in the spring.
* 15 minutes from Gaylord
* 20 minutes from Boyne
* 25 minutes from Petoskey
* 40 minutes from Charlevoix
* 1 hr. from the Mackinac Bridge
* 4 hrs. from Detroit

Dock: dock where guests can tie their own boat to as well as the rowboat provided. Memorial day to Labor Day

Fire pit/Firewood: We have firewood provided at the cottage for your use. There is a fire pit near the water's edge. There are lawn chairs underneath the cottage for you to pull out and use as you'd like around the fire. It's always helpful when the chairs are returned upon use. Thank you!

Fishing: Bass- both large & small, pike, pan fish, walleye are often caught here. Minnows, crayfish and frogs are regularly spotted near the shore. Please bring your fishing poles.

Grill: Yes-there is a propane grill and a charcoal.(charcoal and fluid not provided)

Grocery Store: In Vanderbilt, MI there are options.

Handicap accessible: Everything is accessible on main floor for a wheelchair

Internet: Yes, Truestream wifi

Landline: There is no landline phone, so we recommend bringing a cell phone. Verizon is the service provider that works best at The Mint. AT&T is virtually nonexistent.

Pets: Sorry, we can not accept pets at this time.

Septic: Please be advised that the septic system works well with 6 people or less at the cottage. If you have guests, you will need to be extra conservative with the septic, this rural system can get clogged with more than 6 people using it regularly. Please be conservative.

Swimming: The swimming has been reported to be very good at the cottage.

Towels/Linens: Yes, basic linens and towels are provided. Please bring your own beach towels.

TV/standard DVD player: We have Direct TV. There is a TV with a standard DVD player and a VHS player for you to use in the living room. Also, there is another TV upstairs that will play DVD's and has Direct TV.