SANDY BEACH / BRILLIANT SUNSETS / PERFECT FOR TWO PEOPLE

My husband and I were seeking a quiet relaxing place to spend a summer vacation and we found it at the Miller's. The pictures on the website were more than accurate; the accommodations couldn't have been more comfortable. I enjoy cooking and the kitchen had all the utensils, cookware, and serving pieces one would need. The beauty and vastness of the lake surpassed our expectations and we thoroughly enjoyed soaking up sunshine as we read and relaxed on the beach. Indian River is close to other locales including Mackinac City, Cheboygan, Petoskey, and Charlevoix but we were happy to spend most of our time on the lake. We enjoyed fine dining at the Brown Trout and the best nachos at the Inn-Between in Indian River. Our hosts, Jess and Pam, provided a wonderful place for us to spend one of the best vacations we have had. They provided great information to us about the area and gave excellent directions to their place. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there!

This in an exellent value where the apartment is modest by clean and the beach is great. The kids discovered snorkeling and finding Perosky stones and we had smores over the campfire more than once. The location is also ideal where the drive to Mackanaw and
Petosky are both arond a half hour. This part of Northern Michigan has so many gems to enjoy and this was the perfect place for our little family to stay. Perhaps the only drawbacks is that we could not bring the dogs and were discouraged from having visitors to enjoy the sandy beach.

The Miller Guesthouse is a cozy detached loft perched beside the owners' main house. The lake is no more than 100' shy of the stairway and can be glimpsed through the mantle of trees from the nestled balcony at the top of the stairs. Picture the accommodation as a clean, roomy, fully furnished treehouse. The interior is light with casual, comfortable furniture and ample closets and bureaus. (Only the shower is small.) At the water’s edge are benches, lawn chairs, and a hammock. The dock's built-in bench is a bounty: We spent a couple of afternoon hours there dazed by the sun. Nights the stars are your own.
The setting is extremely private and quiet—we saw a handful of other people on the road or at the lake, but it was the end of the summer, when seasoners bid a hasty bon voyage and year-rounders surrender to their fateful seclusion. The Millers are seldom seen. Around but not intrusive.
Burt Lake is of a size to throw its weight around. The lake is shallow until it is not. I can’t say about the fishing or the boating, but I'm told the lake is so large that the weather is apt to be different upon the opposite ends. I believe it. The Millers make available several watercraft, but we afforded ourselves only a brief paddle around the point in the canoe. Late afternoons the lake would get its spirit up, so we contented ourselves toasting the spectacular sunsets from the beach. A bonfire in the firepit would have been a fitting tribute.
The Guesthouse is five miles outside the town of Indian River. The drive is so scenic you’re apt to miss the turn. For those like us who can't readily accustom themselves to leisure, it's important to note there's no wireless at the Guesthouse or in Indian River proper. But the public library in Topinabee, a refurbished train depot siding Mullett Lake, offers free connectivity. The library is a stone's throw from the pocket-sized Cafe Noka, where we had an enjoyable lunch while riding the groomed North Central State Trail by bike. (Rent bikes at Mary Wadsworth Design in Indian River.) There are good-but-not-great restaurants in Indian River: Vivio's for pizza, The Brown Trout for other fare, and Christopher's for a light lunch. Try the Bakery in Alanson for a treat. The kitchen at the Guesthouse provides all the pots, pans, and utensils for cooking meals in. Why leave?
The region abounds with galleries and shops. Each burg has locals who know discrete histories of the Inland Waterway. Scenery and stories make the place.