Your Wooded Escape on the Lake Michigan Shore
Welcome to Chickadee Cottage — a peaceful, forest-nestled retreat just ¾ mile from the beaches of Lake Michigan. Whether you're gathering the whole family, escaping with friends, or simply slowing down, this cozy 6-bedroom cottage in Michigan City, Indiana offers the perfect blend of nature and comfort. Think vaulted pine ceilings, a stone fireplace, an open-concept kitchen, and a limestone patio with a fire pit under the trees. Indiana Dunes National Park, charming New Buffalo, and a handful of local wineries and breweries are all just minutes away. Book directly and make Chickadee Cottage your home base for the best of the southern Lake Michigan coast.
Everything You Need for the Perfect Getaway
Chickadee Cottage is a privately owned, fully furnished 4-bedroom cottage sleeping up to 8 guests on a half-acre wooded lot in Michigan City, Indiana — just a short walk to Lake Michigan beach access.
Inside, the spacious great room features vaulted pine ceilings, a stone fireplace, and two distinct seating areas so everyone has room to spread out. The open-concept kitchen is fully equipped and opens to a dining table for 6. Bedrooms include two queen rooms, two twin rooms, and a queen sleeper sofa — plenty of comfortable options for families and groups. A dedicated workspace and fast WiFi (589 Mbps) mean remote workers are covered too.
Step outside to a limestone patio with a fire pit, Adirondack chairs, and an al fresco dining table for 10 — perfect for evenings under the trees. Yard games, beach chairs, blankets, and a wagon are all provided so you can head straight to the sand.
Location highlights:
- 🏖 ¾ mile walk to Lake Michigan beach access, 2-min drive to Michiana Beach
- 🏔 30-minute drive to Indiana Dunes National Park
- 🍺 Minutes from Shady Creek Winery, Shoreline Brewery, and Ghost Isle Brewery
- 🍽 Local favorites include Farina's Supper Club and Beer Church
- 🛍 5 minutes to charming New Buffalo, MI — 7 minutes to downtown Michigan City, IN
Guests love it — across every platform: Rated 5.0 stars across 27 reviews on Airbnb (top 5% of all homes) and a perfect 10/10 Exceptional across 24 reviews on VRBO. Cleanliness, location, check-in, and communication are all consistently rated at the highest level.
"First let me compliment Alannah and Nick on their stellar communication skills. They answered my messages very promptly and were very helpful with my many questions. Oh boy...the house! Our whole family fell in love with how charming it is. It was spotless and had a great layout. They thought of everything you could possibly need. Any snorers in your group? Ear plugs near every bed! The house is very tastefully furnished with so many interesting artworks and collections. A deer family hung around the house frequently. The beach is walkable and was almost like a private beach. We all wished that we had stayed longer in this peaceful abode."
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Karen
Airbnb
"My family and I stayed in this beautiful home for a week long vacation! It was so beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a better place to stay! The home was beautiful, calm surroundings, enjoyed seeing deer daily. We had a toddler with us, and the home was very small kid friendly. Easy access to the beach and other fun things in the area. The hosts were so nice and quick to respond with any questions or needs of ours. We would definitely visit again!"
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Elyse
Airbnb
"Alannah's space was perfect for our New Buffalo weekend! About a 7 minute drive into town and a short drive to nearby attractions as well. The space was super clean, quiet and stocked with everything we needed. We appreciated the ample amount of extra towels! Would definitely recommend and would stay here again."
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Argie
Airbnb
"Alannah and Nick's place is a beautiful gem nestled in the woods in Michigan City! A lovely escape perfect for a low-key girls' trip. We had a small issue with tripping a breaker and Alannah and Nick had remedied the situation within an hour which was amazing! The house is super cute and cozy and stocked with everything you need! Quick 10 minute drive to downtown New Buffalo. Highly highly recommend, would come back without a doubt!"
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Liesl
Airbnb
"Alannah & Nick thought of absolutely everything a family would need when staying in their vacation home!! It offered us such a warm, welcoming, cozy and relaxing week!!! Loved how bright the house is inside. A huge bonus for us were the ceiling fans in every room!! Furnishings so well appointed inside and outside. We cannot wait to return next summer!!"
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Martha
Airbnb
"This home was gorgeous, clean and comfortable. The hosts laid it out for many guests to sleep comfortably and with privacy. The hosts thought of so many details to make the stay amazing, including real indoor plants, fresh cut flowers, cabinet labels, phone chargers, eco-friendly cleansers and toiletries to name just a few. The grounds were well kept, peaceful and lush. Would love to stay here again!!"
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Janet
Airbnb
"Alannah's place was amazing. It was incredibly comfortable, clean, and had everything that we needed. Everything was labeled and easy to find. The location was private and very pretty. We walked to the public beach which was very nice. When we had to reschedule our trip when our son got sick, Alannah was quick to respond and so kind and understanding. We look forward to staying again!"
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Addison
Airbnb
"Fabulous stay. Alannah paid attention to lots of little details like leaving out pretty crystals and rocks in each room and providing extra charging cords. There were extra towels everywhere. The cabinets were beautiful and look new. There's a beautiful place to sit out in the yard and hang out — a big table to play games. Light and airy — very homey feel. Great place for a family or a reunion. Thank you!"
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Karen
Airbnb