
Torch Lake vacation rentals
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Top-rated vacation rentals in Torch Lake
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Lake side house rentals in Torch Lake

Lake House
We loved staying at this house! It was gorgeous for a little fall getaway, and even warm enough that we were able to take kayaks onto the lake! Check in was super easy, and the house had everything we needed. Kate was very helpful for any questions we had and gave us some great recommendations. Such a cute place in a great location for lots of the local tourism as well!

Kassuba Lake Retreat- We survived the Ice storm!
Convenient launching pad for winter adventures. Under 10 minute drive to Treetops which was perfect for our weekend ski trip.

NW Michigan house w/ lake & woods
My wife and I had a few days off for a fall break. Dennis' place was a perfect spot. The drive there and the surrounding woods were vibrant with color. The place was comfortable, well-suited for a short or long stay, and was stocked with plenty to do. The short path to the lake is great, and the dock provides a lovely view. We spent hours just sitting on the dock chairs reading. We were fortunate to have beautiful sunny days. We took the short drive into Traverse City to go to Trattoria Stella, one of our very favorite restaurants. We also took a short hike out back to connect to the Mt Minnie trail and thoroughly enjoyed that hike. Being minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, and Franfort was a perfect location. Our last evening, we went 15 minutes to Peterson Beach and watched the sun set and stayed to watch all the stars emerge in the darkness. It was amazing! We didn't, but we could have built a fire there on the beach.. We hope to return. Thanks Dennis!

Beautiful Traverse City Lakehouse - pets allowed
Had an amazing long weekend. Great inland lake. The house was perfect for our family. The host was super responsive and had a ton of great recommendations.

The Triple L (The Long Lake Life)
This place was great!! Long Lake is beautiful, clean, and warm. We had a ton of fun swimming and using the kayaks and paddleboards provided. Life jackets available to use as well. It's a super close drive to Traverse City, and not terribly far from sleeping Bear Dunes, making it a really great location. The full sizeds were comfortable enough, but a little tight. The bedrooms were roomy. There is only one air conditioning unit in the main living space, not in the bedrooms. But we were provided with multiple fans which helped. The road is busy, which is ok, but made opening the window at night for cool air isn't really an option with car noise. The kitchen was fantastic. All the needed utensils and cookware and huge bonus of providing Tupperware to store leftovers which was a great added touch. Hosts were also very responsive and flexible with check in, which was very appreciated. Overall, had a fantastic time exploring the area and so nice having a homey and beautiful place to stay!

Fully Renovated 3 BR 2 Bath Lake Front Destination
Beautiful lake home. Everything is very nice & comfortable. We enjoyed the getaway very much. Loved looking at the peaceful lake. The updates are very tastefully done. Looks like a lot of time invested into every detail. It’s well stocked-lots of games too. Restaurants, stores, ice cream all within 5 miles. Highly recommend for R&R on a big lake. Thank you!

Quiet freshly renovated two bedroom lake house
We had a great time here. This two bedroom, two bathroom house was perfect for my family ( 2 adults, 1 child and a large dog. The house is recently remodeled, located in the woods and on a lake. The yard is beautiful the views are perfect. There was everything you needed inside included a hair dryer which I forgot and family games like the fun childish butt crack puzzle that my 8 year old loved doing with us. The house is located only 20+ minutes from downtown Traverse City but just out of the hustle and bustle. The only thing that sucked was the sliding door that stuck, was so hard to open and close and almost impossible to lock but the owners had a paper on the fridge explaining that they were fixing that very soon. We visited in April so we didn't get in the water but they had kayaks, fishing poles, bikes, life jackets and so much more to enjoy that lake. I loved this vacation.

Sunsets and Sand on Lake Leelanau
We truly enjoyed our stay in the light filled lakeside house! Tim responded quickly when I had a question. We were comfortable and had everything we needed for a fall getaway!
Torch Lake house rentals

Up North Retreat | Castle Farms-Lake Chx-Ski Boyne
This home was a perfect place for a women's mini retreat weekend. It was a very comfortable space for 6 ladies. A suggestion would be a little heater in the main floor master bath for colder months would be helpful. It is quite chilly in there. We hope to stay again sometime.

Whole house downtown, with kid and adult bikes
Debra & Greg have such a special spot. Very very close to town and has everything you need for a comfy stay!

Downtown home! Location, location!
Lee’s place is awesome location if you’re looking to stay in northern Michigan. Lots to do within walking distance to Traverse City but also very centrally located to other towns and things you’ll want to do/see in the area. Highly recommend!

4 Bed, 2 Bath, Hot Tub, RV Parking, Near Downtown.
Peter was a great host. Very easy to get in touch with if you have any questions. The house was in great condition and only a few minutes away from downtown.

River Vista
This was our second stay with Terry & we will definitely be back! He always goes above & beyond to make sure we have everything we need & is very communicative. Can’t recommend enough!

Betsie river bear den guest house. newly remodeled
We enjoyed so much about this space - it was cozy, nestled in the woods with a very short trail to the nearby river, pup friendly, and seven minute from Crystal Mountain (which is why we were in the area). We used the kitchen every day, hot water did not disappoint after a cold day outside and the cute little fireplace was a nice touch as we wrapped in blankets and watched movies in the evenings. I recommend it!

Namaste Island Cottage
2nd time staying here and both times have been amazing. Always a super clean air bnb, Taylor is quick to respond to messages and so nice. Absolutely love staying here. The downstairs bathroom was upgraded since our first stay, and looks awesome!

TC Nest - 3BR/3BA In-Town Home; Near Bay&Pets OK
Loved the home in Traverse City. It was well appointed and clean upon arrival. Kevin was helpful and the location made exploring easy. Really short drive from downtown, tons of restaurants and bars within 5 minutes. Great launching point for exploring other areas in Northern Michigan.
Torch Lake beach vacation rentals

NewKingCondo-RooftopHotTub-Parking-NearBeachWinery
he location was fantastic, offering enough beds for our entire small group. It had an easy entry and a tranquil atmosphere. Yolanda was really quick to respond and ensured we had a fantastic experience.

Downtown TC Boutique Hotel Flat 203
Amazing location, beach, restaurants and shopping immediately out the door! The space was clean and perfectly equipped. Check in and check out incredibly easy!

Walnut:3BRTownhome/Downtown/Beach/Wineries.
Couldn’t have been better! Definitely exceeded our expectations! This Airbnb was one of my favorites I have ever booked! Great location, walkable to multiple restaurants and stores including a grocery store, beautifully decorated, and the beds were very comfortable and clean. A perfect spot for a girls trip, already planning our next one!

Modern & Cozy Studio | Walk to Downtown & Beach
This place had a nice location, a couple blocks from the lake. It was clean, had everything we needed and was reasonably priced.

Front Street Retreat
Jim and Ann’s place was very nice and clean. Beds were comfortable. Location to downtown Traverse city was great. I would definitely stay here again.

Downtown TC Boutique Hotel Flat 205
Amazing one night stay in Room 205. The area is very walkable with many local restaurants and bars. Steve was very responsive to a check in question as well as let us know the Flat was available at 2 earlier than check in. Parking was included and very easy to find. I'd love for check out to be 11 rather than 10 but the bed and amenities of the flat were just as described. We can't wait to come back.

Large Apt | Downtown | AC | Beach | Shops | Walk |
Fantastic location for downtown shenanigans! Hosts are very communicative and would be eager to stay here again! Parking and entering/exiting was a breeze and we loved being able to walk to shopping and restaurants/ bars. The street we we parked in has a view of the water and everyone in our group joked that we wanted to live full time in the space!

Loft on Gillis | AC | Downtown | Beach | Rooftop
Troy is an amazing host and the property was great. Everything was clean and new and the location couldn’t be better. I will definitely try to book again in the summer.
Your guide to Torch Lake
All About Torch Lake
One of the most picturesque lakes in Michigan — which is saying something, considering it’s next to Lake Michigan — Torch Lake is beloved for turquoise water so clear you can see the bottom. Some even compare it to the Caribbean. The shoreline of this 19-mile-long body of water, the biggest of 14 in the Elk River chain of lakes, is ringed by evergreen trees and pricey lakefront homes. Most visitors come here to spend their days in and on the water, whether in a fishing boat or on jet skis, innertubes, or paddleboards.
During the summer months, boats and rafts cluster along the shallow two-mile sandbar at the lake’s south end, resembling a floating party. But it’s easy to drift away from the festivities to a spot where you can relax and soak in the beauty of Northern Michigan, or placidly fish for trout and wide-mouth bass. Off the water, small resort towns such as Elk Rapids, Alden, and Bellaire promise distraction in the form of restaurants and shops, and the cultural draws of Traverse City are just 30 miles away.
The best time to stay in a vacation rental in Torch Lake
Given Torch Lake’s location in northern Lower Michigan, it may not be a surprise that peak season here is June through August, when the temperatures hang between the 60s and 80s Fahrenheit. While sunny days are frequent in summer, so are rainy ones, especially in August and September, so bring waterproof jackets along with your swimsuits and sunblock. Both spring (April-May) and fall (October-November) are gorgeous in Michigan, with cool temperatures and plenty of color in the wildflowers and trees. Although the lake does not freeze in winter, below-freezing temperatures and snowfall are common. Bundle up!
Top things to do in Torch Lake
Boating
A number of companies rent out pontoons or small boats for an afternoon or a few days. You can stay on the lake — after all, there’s quite a bit of it to peruse — or, if you have a smaller boat, travel along the river to the connected Elk Lake and Clam Lake.
Charlevoix
Located just 20 miles from the northern tip of Torch Lake, picturesque Charlevoix is worth a day trip to browse through the craft shops and wander around the century-old Castle Farms. Charlevoix’s most eye-opening feature: 26 stone-and-thatch cottages known as “mushroom houses.”
Grass River Natural Area
With Grand Traverse Bay to the west and Torch Lake to the east, your options for shoreline walks are many, and there are bike trails aplenty as well. Dedicated hikers will enjoy exploring the forests and meadows of the 1,500-acre Grass River Nature Preserve in Bellaire, as well as a 1.5-mile-long boardwalk that leads through the wetlands.
Torch Lake Tour
Northeastern Michigan’s wineries, cideries, and breweries have flourished over the past decade, and the Torch Lake Tour directs you to 10 of them, a loop that circles the lake. You can find your own way around the tour or hire a driver to guide you.
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- Boyne Mountain Resort
- Crystal Mountain (Michigan)
- Nubs Nob Ski Resort
- The Highlands at Harbor Springs
- Shanty Creek Resort - Schuss Village
- Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark
- Kingsley Club
- Petoskey State Park
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