House

Secluded Waterfront Beach ~ Stunning Sunsets ~ UpNorth Paradise!

Secluded Waterfront Beach ~ Stunning Sunsets ~ UpNorth Paradise!

Photo gallery for Secluded Waterfront Beach ~ Stunning Sunsets ~ UpNorth Paradise!

Enjoy the beach.  Enjoy the water.  Enjoy the peace. (Drew Smith Photography)
Campfires, paddle boards and sunsets; all you need!  (Drew Smith Photography)
Serenity now!
Enjoy amazing views from the comfort of the family room.
Frankfort Photographer, Drew Smith, captured this incredible image on our beach!

Overview of Secluded Waterfront Beach ~ Stunning Sunsets ~ UpNorth Paradise!

4.9 out of 5 Exceptional
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 8111 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space

Check out the area

Frankfort, MI
  • Popular LocationArcadia Dunes5 min drive
  • Popular LocationArcadia Bluffs Golf Course20 min drive
  • Popular LocationCrystal Mountain23 min drive
  • AirportManistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)31 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Loft

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Secluded Waterfront Beach ~ Stunning Sunsets ~ UpNorth Paradise!

Our 1200 sq ft. home is located on Upper Lake Herring in Frankfort, MI. Upper Herring is a beautiful all sports lake located just 5 miles from Lake Michigan and minutes from several quintessential "Up North" towns. The home can accommodate up to 8 people. There are 2 bedrooms with queen beds. The third bedroom has 2 sets of bunks. The couch in the loft pulls out to a full bed. The sandy beach yard sits on 80 feet of lake frontage.

Remodeled and painted in 2021, Sandy Shores has all the modern amenities (except air conditioning). It's Northern Michigan...who needs A/C?? The television in the family room is a smart tv, allowing access to Netflix, Prime, Disney and Peacock, with your personal access codes. The home has WIFI, but the signal isn't strong enough to support working from the lake. It is generally good for personal devices and the smart TV.

The home offers a large deck on the beach facing the lake, 3 kayaks, 2 paddle boards, a large family sized canoe, a very large float mat, fire pit, charcoal grill, toy box with beach toys, lounge chairs, hammock, large dock, board games, DVDs, books and life jackets. Upper Lake Herring is located on a bird sanctuary, and is home to bald eagles, hawks, herons, kingfishers, swans and many more varieties of birds and wildlife such as large turtles, otters and deer.

In the Summer, enjoy great fishing, water sports and breathtaking sunsets at Sandy Shores. The lake is never crowded. Fishing is excellent for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch and Sunfish. Take in the incredible colors and vistas in the Fall. In the Winter, ski Crystal Mountain, just 20 minutes away. Our home is perfect for every season.

Property manager

Chris Donohue

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Beach view

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
The home is very child friendly.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking allowed!

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector

About the area

Frankfort

Located in Frankfort, this vacation home is in a rural area and on the beach. Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts and Frankfort Light are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Arcadia Dunes - 5 min drive
  • Frankfort Beach - 16 min drive
  • Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course - 20 min drive
  • Point Betsie Lighthouse - 23 min drive
  • Crystal Mountain - 23 min drive

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • McDonald's - 12 min drive
  • Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill - 13 min drive
  • A&W Restaurant - 13 min drive
  • Frankfort Dairy Maid - 13 min drive
  • Port City Smoke House - 14 min drive

Reviews

4.9

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 5 - Excellent. 42 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 7 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 49 reviews" "

4.5/5

Cleanliness

5/5

Check-in

5/5

Communication

5/5

Location

4.9/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Lauren T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely place!
We had a wonderful week! The house had everything we needed in terms of amenities even down to board games for the kids. Being right on the lake was great and having access to the boats, life vests, fire pit, hammock, and sand toys meant that there was so much to do right right in our backyard. There really was something for everyone. The location is enchanting with spectacular sunsets, beautiful wildlife, the possibility of swimming and fishing right outside your door, a lovely town nearby for pizza and ice cream, or the quick run to the store for essentials. We loved every minute of our stay and can’t wait to come back in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

5/5 Excellent

Andrea L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved our stay!
This property is amazing! Perfect spot for a family. My kids loved playing in the sand. Also the owners were really nice and promptly answered any questions we had.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

5/5 Excellent

Bethany W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful Lake Stay!
We loved our time on Upper Herring Lake! So peaceful and beautiful with great fishing, amazing sunsets, and a cozy, clean cottage. *NOTE THE NO A/C* I missed this on the listing but we were lucky to have cool nights and warm days so sleeping was still comfortable. Our kids loved playing in the large sandy area out front and we made good use of the paddleboards, canoe and kayaks. Also the pontoon was great for extra space to fish and hang out near the end of the dock. Chris was an excellent host/communicator and take his advice on Upriver Pizza...it's fantastic!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

5/5 Excellent

Maggie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Family Vacation
Our kids range from 5-16 and everyone had fun during our stay! We loved that Frankfort was a short drive for dinners or shopping- we found that even in mid July, the crowds were not too bad and the beach was not overly saturated with people. The house is lovely- great views, comfortable accommodations, and clean. We made a couple of breakfasts and dinners and found everything we needed in the kitchen. The yard was great for reading, playing, or fires. We fished from the dock most evenings (after 7 when the water calmed down). The kayaks and paddleboards were fun too! We watched a family of bald eagles over the lake one night and a black bear crossed the road one morning on our way to town. This is a very special place and would be a wonderful #puremichigan experience for anyone looking to enjoy "up north". Chris was very helpful during check in and during our stay. We're already talking about another trip in the fall for salmon fishing on Lake Michigan.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

5/5 Excellent

RYAN W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful
Great Location
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Chris Donohue

Host profile image
We are Chris and Michele Donohue. We live in Louisville, KY with our 4 children: Katie (22), Will (21), Caroline (18) and Sophie (17). Follow our Lakehouse page on Instagram @sandyshoresfrankfort

Why they chose this property

We first vacationed in Northern Michigan in 2006. We had heard from friends how amazing it was "Up North". So, instead of heading south to Destin for a week vacation, we rented a house on Upper Lake Herring, in Frankfort, Michigan. We had the time of our lives. We loved it so much, we bought a house several doors down from the home we rented.

Unfortunately, as the kids get older and our lives get busier, we aren't able to go Up North as much as we'd like.

What makes this property unique

Sandy Shores, as our daughter, Caroline, named our Up North home, has amazing sunsets and a beach right on the water. Upper Lake Herring is located on a bird sanctuary. So, in addition to the plethora of wildlife in the area, much of the land on, and surrounding, Upper Herring is owned and protected by the state of Michigan. We are one of only 60 or so homes on the lake. Over two thirds of the shoreline is uninhabited. It is a smaller lake (about 600 acres), but boasts warmer waters, excellent fishing and is an all sports lake, so bring your jet ski or boat!
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