Wilce Cottage - Charming vintage cottage

Charming historic home nestled on 2 shaded lots in the village of Empire. It’s just a short walk or bike ride to Empire’s quaint main street and to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Our cottage has two bedrooms, each with a queen bed. Additional sleeping spaces for 1 person is provided by a sleeper sofa in the living room. Both the dining room (seats up to 10) and the living room are light-filled, spacious and sport newly refinished pine floors. Fully furnished, with WiFi, a flat screen television (note there is no cable), dishes, cookware, bed linens and bath towels (please provide your own beach towels).

Enjoy climbing the dunes, paddling the shoreline, biking the Heritage Trail or simply walking to Empire’s tavern, art galleries, ice cream shop and library. Venture out or get cozy at the cottage where you can use the outdoor charcoal grill, piece together a puzzle at the game table in the living room or stroll to the beach to watch a sunset overlooking Lake Michigan.

Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore park was voted ‘most beautiful place in America’ by ABC Good Morning America. Come see why!

(1) BEACH! Our cottage is a mere 3 blocks walk (or bike ride) from Empire’s public beach. We love this beach because it provides spectacular views of both the Empire Bluffs (which you can walk to the top of via the Bluff Trail) to the south and Sleeping Bear’s massive sand dunes to the north.

Also, the beach lets you enjoy two lakes: Lake Michigan to the west and the much smaller South Bar Bake to the east. South Bar Lake stays considerably warmer than the big lake and is an especially great spot for young children.

(2) VILLAGE! Empire itself is charming, quiet and walkable. There are several small, locally owned businesses, including a surf shop, a handmade chocolate shop, an art gallery, gift and antique shops, a friendly tavern (on a cold evening, grab the table right next to the wood stove and order the chicken wings), and a newly renovated public library (which our kids spent hours in playing games and reading during rainy days).

(3) NATIONAL PARK! Empire is surrounded by sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore, a 50,000 acre national park that boasts 64 miles of lake Michigan beaches, two islands, 26 inland lakes, and the iconic sand dunes. Sleeping bear’s visitor’s center, located just 3 blocks from our cottage, has interpretive displays and is a great jumping off point for exploring the rest of the park.