Nearest Airport
: Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City
at 21.7
Miles
Nearest Motorway
: M22
at 4
Miles
Nearest Beach
: Your private beach is on Lake Leelanau
Nearest Barpub
: Harbor 22 TC / Village Inn Suttons Bay
at 10
Miles
Nearest Ski
: Homestead / Crystal Mountain
at 25
Miles
Nearest Golf
: The Crown Golf Club / Mistwoods Golf
at 17
Miles
Nearest Restaurant
: Apache Trout Grill TC / Boone's Prime Time SB
at 10
Miles
Car: recommended
Willow Villa is the best location on Lake Leelanau, a southern facing property getting both sunrise and sunset views. Travel from your private dock on your boat and head up to Leland's historic fishtown to shop then have a great meal at The Cove.
Spend a day just playing on your private beach. There is 178 feet of frontage with a perfect hard sandy lake bottom. You can spend it swimming, water skiing and tubing. Take a morning cruise kayaking along the lakeshore, if you don't have one , we have 2 you can rent for a day or a week.
Want to spend the day napping in the hammmock listening to the waves, no problem. Located on 10 acres down a private road with very little traffic. Relax under the willow tree and read a good book. After you are energized, a family game of volleyball in the yard or bring your bikes for a leasurely ride or vigorous workout on Leelanau's famous road bike routes. Check out the TART trail, a fairly flat paved trail for bikes, roller-blades or joggers that was made on the old railroad tracks, you can go from Traverse City to Suttons Bay, unforgettable beauty along the way! Groomed in the winter for cross country skiing too.
Downtown Traverse City boasts fabulous restaurants along with the Traverse City State Theater (the action spot for the film festival) and The National Cherry Festival. We have a folder of menus you can browse through before setting out. Some of our favorites are Apache Trout Grill - a delicious meal with a view on Grand Traverse Bay; Blue Tractor - best mac & cheese ever; North Peak - great brewery in Traverse City; Stella's - Italian in a unique setting; so many to pick from! Downtown streets close on Fridays during the month of August for a gathering in the streets and numerous and unique vendors offering items for sale and multiple groups entertaining the celebration of summer. There are also farmer's markets for great fresh produce and locally made products almost every day of the week either in Traverse City or Suttons Bay.
Want to explore Leelanau County? A wine tour will take your breath away with the beauty of the country side. When you get back to Willow Villa, sit around a lakeside campfire in one of the adirondack chairs to roast marshmallows and wind down your day of exploration.
If you like to shop, the boutiques in Traverse City, Glen Arbor, Leland and Suttons Bay will delight you. Be sure to check out Cherry Republic for vacation souvenirs worth having (and eating).
Less than 30 miles away is the National Sleeping Bear Dunes, do the dune climb and then get a burger at Boone Docks in Glen Arbor. Live bands on their deck all summer will have you and your family smiling.
If golfing is your game check out The Leland Country Club, The Crowne, Grand Traverse Resort, Mistwoods, King's Challenge, and on and on.
If you are coming for fall color, the hillsides are alive with reds, golds and orange hues, usually the first 3-4 weeks of October. The swans are often fishing in the lake in front of the house this time of year. We have named them Betty and Barney. You could still do some fishing too.
If you are planning a northern winter getaway, you can cross country ski out of your door across the lake or down the road, even do a few laps around the yard. If you feel the need for speed in downhill skiing or snowboarding, head to The Homestead in Leelanau County, Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville or take a day trip to Boyne Mountain. Less than 8 miles from the house is Timberlee, an old ski hill that now only has tubing, but what a blast! Hit one of the chili cook-offs being held or winter festivals, almost every weekend you can find some fun!
