Location: Union Pier, Michigan, United States

Favorite Family Friendly Features: Beach Access | Bunk Room | Bathtub | Hot Tub | Bicycles

Our Quick Take: What do you get when you combine an adorable, lakeside rental property in Union Pier, Mich., with the eye of a Chicago-based interior designer? A family-friendly getaway, no matter the season.

A block from Lake Michigan, this bright but cozy retreat named The Leo Cottage has three bedrooms. That’s in addition to two wood-burning stoves and an outdoor hot tub, making it the coziest winter weekend getaway that I could dream up.

And that’s just the reason that we booked a three-night stay. With not-so-grand plans to snuggle up inside and enjoy a change of scenery.

Winter on the west side of Michigan turned out to have a lot more in store for us than we’d planned, however. While a snow storm pummeled the tiny town the last night of our visit, we were able to squeeze in ample time outdoors before it hit. And hey, the snow made for a great beach visit before the long trek home. That obstacle aside, let’s take a look at what makes this Lake Michigan vacation rental ideal for adults and kids alike.

Getting Down to Details:

Bedrooms: The petite home offers three bedrooms. Included is one master bedroom with queen bed, bedside soaking tub and wood-burning stove, a second queen-size bedroom, and one bunk room that sleeps four in two double beds (bottom) and two twin beds (top). A travel crib is available.

Bathrooms: The home has two bathrooms, including a master bedroom shower-tub combination with sink-and-toilet cupboard, and a separate bathroom with shower. An outdoor shower is also available to rinse sandy toes after a day spent at the beach.

Kid-Friendly Amenities: Small and big kids alike will appreciate the cozy bunk room and the relaxed living space that includes a corner booth dining table. (A separate game room with table makes for a semi-private eating space for older kids, too.) Outside, bicycles – two adult size and two child size – come in handy for cruising the neighborhood. But unless you’re heading to the beach, a block away, kids may enjoy staying put, playing in the fenced-in yard or with the garage ping pong table.

Notes: Parents of young children will want to be particularly mindful if using the home’s two wood-burning stoves, which do not include fencing to keep small hands away from the hot surface. Because of the beautifully decorated nature of the rental property, parents of little ones may consider temporarily moving breakable child-height decor during their stay.

What to do in Union Pier:

Eat: Just up the road, you’ll find a cute little gourmet grocery, the Whistle Stop, with prepared foods to grab and go. We ran up for coffee and breakfast, but also grabbed some pre-made sandwiches (and pie, always pie!) for lunch that afternoon. In town, Barney’s grocery offered all the meal staples necessary to stock our kitchen.

For dinner, New Buffalo’s popular – and charming – restaurant The Stray Dog is only a 10-minute drive away. It’s close enough to the water that you can stroll the beach while waiting for a table. Twenty minutes inland, you’ll find lunch and brews at Round Barn Estate. Here, we had reserved a family-friendly igloo, amid bonfires and a big, ol’ sledding hill.

Do: The obvious “must do” activity is head to the beach, assuming good weather! Only a few-minute walk from the Union Pier vacation rental, the beach is a beautiful swath of sand that lays beneath a bluff dotted with gorgeous homes. (Beach chairs are available at the cottage so that you don’t need to pack your own from home.) On rainy days, downtown New Buffalo is nearby and has a handful of shops and restaurants to pop in and out of.

We spent a day outdoors at Indiana Dunes National Park, less than a 30-minute drive (and not to be confused with the Indiana Dunes State Park). We opted for the Cowles Bog hike, which was a four-mile trek to the Lake Michigan shore and back. It took us about three hours, with a baby strapped on Trevor’s back and a leisurely lunch break by the water. The park is lovely and the hike was great, offering some nice flat walks, soft hills and only slight dune scrambling. Admittedly, there is one downside – the less-than-scenic smokestacks of Gary, IN, which are within view from the beach. Just aim your camera the opposite direction!