This blog post may contain affiliate links, which may reward me in the event of a sale. I use these funds to reinvest in my blog and to create more great content like this article to share with you! My stay at Lake Life Cottages was hosted, however all thoughts & opinions are my own. Disclaimer here.
Have you ever heard how the Tawas Bay area is considered the Midwest’s “Cape Cod?” Well, I looked into this a couple years ago and even put together an Instagram reel about it. The comparison stems from the Tawas Point peninsula extending into the lake, much like how Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the sea. In addition to that, there are similarities as both have picturesque Victorian lighthouses, a couple charming waterfront towns, shopping, dining, and waterfront lodging options. Well, when digging into lodging options, luxury is what’s always lacked within the Tawas Bay. There wasn’t any higher-end accommodations.
Until now!
In winter 2024, Lake Huron’s first luxury boutique hotel opened. And during its first summer in operation, we vacationed there for a weekend to check it out!
Read on to learn more about Lake Life Cottages in East Tawas! Plus check our very own “Cape Cod-esque” getaway itinerary, and for more inspiration and ideas for what you can do during a visit to the Tawas Bay!
Lake Huron’s First Luxury Boutique Hotel – Lake Life Cottages
At just two and a half hours drive from Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor, finally there is a more convenient high-end place to stay for a waterfront getaway in Michigan. No longer do you have to plan a four hour trek to Traverse City for a luxurious place away from the city.
And with all you could ever need within your accommodations, planning a visit to the Tawas Bay just got easier. Whether you are someone who enjoys filling your days with activities or just lounging by the water, Lake Life Cottage is the perfect place to stay in the Tawas Bay.
Location of the Cottages
Lake Life Cottages are located along the Tawas Bay in the East Tawas. They are accessed off US 23 with plenty of parking for each unit with a few EV charging spots available.
Making the location extra convenient, Lake Life Cottages are about a 10 minute walk to downtown East Tawas.
About Lake Life Cottages
There are three types of rooms available to reserve. During our visit, I got to see inside two of them – both the one bedroom and two bedroom cottages.
No matter which cottage you choose to book, all three types come with full cottages, spacious and luxury bathrooms, and bedding with high-end linens. Similarly all three types of cottages have waterfront views.
The one bedroom cottages are located nearest the water and beach and are staggered so the studio’s all have views of the beach. Then, the two story cottages offer a rooftop view of the beach. Both rooms share a balcony with a cafe style table.
Deluxe One Bedroom Lakefront Cottage
The Deluxe One Bedroom Lakefront Cottage is the cottage my family stayed at during our weekend here. It comes with one bedroom, one bathroom and sleeps up to four people. This cottage opens up directly onto the beach.
A perk of booking the lakefront cottage for us was so we could enjoy our coffee at the chairs outside our cottage while our son earnestly played on the beach first thing in the morning. This made an easier transition and made everything closer and convenient for all of us.
Deluxe Two Story Cottage
Next, the two story cottage is perfect for families and larger groups and can sleep up to six people. Both of the bedrooms in this cottage offer lakefront views.
The main floor of this cottage contains the living room, kitchen, dining area, and a half bathroom. Then, upstairs are the two bedrooms and a full bathroom. This is a great option for families to stay at as the bathroom has a bath versus just a shower.
Lakeview Studio’s
The final room type and most budget friendly of the three is the Lakeview Studio. This studio-style cottage has a bedroom that’s separated from the living space by a sliding door. This cottage sleeps up to two people and makes for a great romantic getaway for couples.
Interior Amenities & Features of Lake Life Cottages
While all of the 15 cottages contain the same types of amenities, each cottage is uniquely decorated. Each kitchen contains high-end, quality cook and serve ware. Plus there all electric appliances including a stove, microwave, dishwasher stocked with wash pods, and full sized refrigerator. There’s also a coffee maker ready for use with a variety of different roast types of K-cups available.
The bathrooms are all spacious with light embedded in the mirror with a couple different modes. The shower is fully tiled with luxury bath linens and beauty supplies for your use.
And for your comfort, there’s wi-fi and a flat screen Smart TV ready to connect to your favorite streaming platforms. For idea’s of what to do in the Tawas Bay, check out the catalogs of local attractions and restaurants.
Finally, if you need access to laundry, there is a separate room for laundry and dryer access. This is located just by the parking lot, next to the Beach Barn facility.
Outdoor Perks Available
The fun at Lake Life Cottages doesn’t stop just within your room! Make sure you take advantage of all the outdoor perks of booking a stay at Lake Life Cottages.
The most obvious attraction is the spacious beach. But there are two access points to swim within the bay. And the Tawas Bay is a great spot to go for a dip. It’s a natural harbor that usually is free of harsh waves and currents. Additionally, the temperature is often warmer than out in the open water of Lake Huron.
Along the beach there are beach chairs to relax at, corn hole games, and two bonfire pits. In the evening, the innkeeper lights the bonfire pits. A communal basket with supplies to roast marshmallows and make s’mores is included.
If you plan to stay at Lake Life Cottages and enjoy the kitchen facilities, there are patio tables with umbrellas available to use near the beach area.
Places to Explore Nearby Lake Life Cottages
During our visit to Lake Life Cottages, there were three notable activities that stood out to me during our visit – e-bikes dropped off right to Lake Life Cottages to ride to the Tawas Point Lighthouse, the number of waterfront dining options along the Tawas Bay, and how close downtown East Tawas was to do some shopping and sightseeing.
Rent E-Bikes to the Tawas Point Lighthouse
Lake Life Cottages is located only about 4 miles from Tawas Point Lighthouse by road. And one of the best ways to get there is by bike! The Iron Belle Trail runs through Iosco County and a portion of it juts off to the end of the Tawas point where the State Park is located.
Making it even easier to get to the lighthouse is to arrange with the Innkeeper at Lake Life Cottages to have e-bikes from local business Charlie Horse Electric Bikes to drop off e-bikes for you to use for this adventure. Just email innkeeper@lakelifecottages.com to set this up and let them know how many bikes and/or burley’s are needed. Also let them know if any helmets are needed or carry your own. The bikes come with baskets up front where you can carry any small bags or water bottles.
When you get to the Tawas Point Lighthouse, there are bike racks to park at while you explore. Be sure to visit the gift shop to arrange a tour of the lighthouse if you visit on a day and time it is open. Find out more information on admission here. Wear close toed shoes or carry a pair if you want to climb to the top of the lighthouse!
While at the state park, you can also walk the Sandy Hook Birding Trail to the tip of the point, grab a healthy Middle Eastern snack at the concessions, and go swimming in Lake Huron at the beach here.
Dine Right on the Water at Social Oak and Augies on the Bay
When vacationing on the water, I bet you’ll want to eat on the water too, huh? At least, I know that’s my goal! I want to spend as much time taking in the lake as I can. Luckily, within the Tawas Bay there are a couple options of waterfront dining – Social Oak and Augies on the Bay.
Social Oak from the street view might look unassuming but once you step inside you’ll be taken by surprise! The inside dining room has sleek sophisticated dining tables and chairs in a dimly lit, masculine decorated room. Another room contains a bar with a few barstools facing it and some facing the water. And then, there is an outdoor patio with about six tables that can fit up to four people at each. This is where we sat.
And while Social Oak is a steak and wine house, there are also a number of non-steak options including tacos, burgers, and chicken fingers. There’s also a full bar with beer and cocktails available. And this place was amazingly family friendly too with an incredible view – this was one of our favorite places we ate at!
The other waterfront restaurant is Augie’s on the Bay. Augie’s is a breakfast and lunch restaurant with both inside and outside dining options. We dined here for breakfast and enjoyed fresh squeezed orange juice, nitro cold brew and tasty omelette options with fresh ingredients. More than just a diner, Augie’s blew us away with its delicious food and drink options and we could tell it was a popular spot with both locals and visitors.
Walk to Downtown East Tawas and Go Shopping
At just 10 minutes walk, Lake Life Cottages are convenient enough to get to town by walking or driving but still far enough away to keep the experience quiet and peaceful. An activity my whole family enjoyed was exploring the shops and eateries within downtown East Tawas along Newman Street.
If you drive here, there is free street parking along Newman or there are a number of free lots behind the stores on either side of Newman. Must visit stores include Ben Franklin’s, which is like a five and dime store but with so many trinkets, toys, souvenirs, unique finds, games, puzzles, and hobby equipment. My son absolutely loved picking out a couple toys to play with on the beach here.
For souvenir’s we loved the unique Michigander apparel we found at the Local Basket Case. My husband instantly loved the big foot tee he found there.
And our sweet tooth got the best of us at the end of the street when we popped into Village Chocolatier, where we purchased a number of chocolates and chocolate coated goodies. Next door to the chocolate shop is the classic ice cream shop – Marion’s. A popular spot in town with long lines during the hot, weekend evenings during summer. All ice cream orders are done outside, but you can also take your ice cream indoors to enjoy in the classic diner booths they have there.
Other Idea’s of Activities & Attractions to Do in the Tawas Bay
For the history buff –
- Explore the treasures at the Iosco County History Museum.
- The Wurtsmith Air Museum is a cool spot to visit to learn more about the former Air Force base located in nearby Oscoda and see old airplanes.
And, the adventurers –
- Rent kayaks at Shoreline Park or across from the Veterans Park to take along the creek to Lake Huron or back.
- Go on a drive along the River Road Scenic Byway and stop to hike at Iargo Springs, Lumberman’s Monument, and Champaign Hill.
Finally, the foodie –
- Visit the extremely popular Farmers Market at Gateway Park from late spring through mid fall.
- If you happen to visit in late July or August, go blueberry picking at Tawas Blueberry Farm.
Itinerary for a Weekend Away to Lake Life Cottages
When visiting the Tawas Bay, you’ll be spoiled for choice on how to spend your time. And ultimately, you might even just want to relax at Lake Life Cottages the whole time. As Lake Huron’s first luxury boutique hotel, there are many amenities and features to enjoy just staying put. But in case you need a little more inspiration on how to structure your getaway, my family and I planned our trip there to be the most Cape-Cod like weekend in the Tawas Bay.
Day One: Reaching Lake Huron & Embracing Our Luxe Side
5pm – Arrived at Lake Life Cottages to check in, unpack and get acquainted with our surroundings
6pm – Go to dinner at Social Oak where we dined on the balcony facing Lake Huron.
7pm – Arrive back at Lake Life Cottages were we relaxed on the beach until the fire pits were lit up. Then, we enjoyed making and eating some s’mores. Some other guests staying at Lake Life Cottages joined us around the bonfire pit, and we enjoyed a good time chatting before we retreated back into our cottage to wind down. At this point, we just went with the flow and didn’t pay attention to the clock.
Day Two: Who’s Up for an Adventure?
Relaxed Morning
9am – We woke up and I started to prepare breakfast in our cottage I carried from home.
10am – Go to the Farmers Market to pick up some local fresh produce and browse what other local and handmade items are available for sale. Winston also got the chance to wiggle around and play on the quirky and colorful cement playset here. The Farmers Market is immensely popular with a wide variety of fresh local produce, handmade house and beauty supplies, and baked and finished meal options and runs from spring through mid October.
E-Bike Adventure
11am – We returned back to Lake Life Cottages to pick up our e-bikes from Charlie Horse Electric Bikes to ride to Tawas Point State Park.
11:30pm – Arriving right on time! We pulled our bikes right up to the bike rack outside the Tawas Point Lighthouse and went to the gift shop to purchase tickets to tour the lighthouse. During our time at the State Park, we browsed the gift shop, did not give in to Winston’s negotiation tactics to get a toy at the gift shop, tour the lighthouse, and looked for bird friends along the Sandy Hook Birding Trail out to the tip of the peninsula.
Downtown East Tawas
1pm – Arrived back at Lake Life Cottages to return the e-bikes then headed downtown for lunch at Mango’s. After Mango’s, we walked down Newman Street to go shopping at local gift and souvenir shops as well as the neighborhood Ben Franklin’s which has every imaginable thing under the sun! Here is where we did give in to Winston’s bargaining tactics and got him a toy.
2pm – Once we made to the end of Newman Street where it intersects with US-23, we headed across the road to the marina where the annual Tawas Uncork’d event was in progress. All ages are welcome, yet it is 21+ to consume alcohol. Admission gets you a sample glass and three sampling tickets. Wineries throughout the state of Michigan attended and we tried some new to us wineries we’ve not yet been to. Another perk of staying at Lake Life Cottages during this particular weekend was we got free tickets to attend this event thanks to Lake Life Cottage. In fact, everyone who booked a stay this weekend ended up with a free ticket to this event! What a great surprise!
Relaxing and Enjoying Our Stay at Lake Life Cottages
3pm – Headed back to Lake Life Cottages to go swimming and play on the beach. It felt so refreshing to do this after a hot day exploring! Then, Winston and I ended up taking a little nap.
7pm – We skipped dinner after a heavy lunch of chips and salsa plus the burrito deliciousness I ordered from Mango’s. So instead, we went over to the local favorite Marion’s for ice cream! If you’re still looking for dinner inspiration, check out this guide here.
8pm – Just like yesterday, we ended our day gathered around the bonfire pit getting to know other guests before heading back in and going to bed.
Final Day: Last Stops Before Heading Home
9am – Slept in again (it’s hard not to on these phenomenal beds!) and made some coffee. Once Tony got up and ready, he and Winston went outside to the beach to play while I packed up.
10am – We checked out a little early so we could get breakfast before our final activity in the area. For breakfast, we went to Augie’s on the Bay – which was incredibly popular on a Sunday morning.
11am – Our last stop in the Tawas Bay was to Tawas Blueberry Farm, where we each picked out our own bucket to fill. It was so cute – little one’s can pick out a colorful bucket to fill. Since this was Winston’s first time going blueberry picking, I was a little nervous how he’d do – and it was hot out. He ended up loving it! We wrapped up after picking almost a full bucket of berries, which we munched on during the car ride home. Then, we baked them into blueberry muffins later than evening. I love getting fresh fruit and don’t want it going to waste!
Map of What to Do in the Tawas Bay
So if you’re looking for a luxury vacation or getaway within Michigan, your options of locations throughout the mitten state just got a little bigger. And Lake Life Cottages is the first luxury boutique hotel right on Lake Huron! At less than three hours drive from most major Michigan cities and populated towns, the Tawas Bay is also a convenient location and under the radar destination to getaway to.
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
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