Located in Downtown Mmpire, this vacation home is a leisurely stroll from popular sights such as Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a dining area, and a refrigerator.
Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
Empire Bluff Trail - 19 min walk - 1.1 miles
Front Street - 32 min drive - 28.8 miles
Traverse City Beach - 40 min drive - 32.9 miles
Getting around
Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 44 min drive
Restaurants
Joes Friendly Tavern - 5 min walk
Shipwreck Cafe - 5 min walk
Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - 6 min walk
Trattoria Funistrada - 13 min drive
Food For Thought - 6 min drive
About this property
Wilce Cottage Your Cozy Empire Getaway
Wilce Cottage — Your Cozy Empire Getaway Located right in the heart of Empire, Michigan, Wilce Cottage is the perfect home base for your Northern Michigan adventure. This charming 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom cottage offers everything you need for a relaxed and memorable stay, including a washer and dryer, board games and puzzles, comfortable beds, croquet, and a few fun retro surprises. The location can’t be beat—Empire Beach and the sandy shores of Lake Michigan are just a 10–15 minute walk away. Playgrounds, the library, pickleball, chocolate shops, ice cream, and local dining are all just blocks from the front door. With space to comfortably sleep up to 5 guests, Wilce Cottage is the perfect home-away-from-home for families, couples, and small groups. Our Guest Services team is happy to help you make the most of your visit, including recommendations for bike rentals and local attractions. ________________________________________ — THE PROPERTY — Private | WiFi | Walk-to-Beach Location Bedrooms • Bedroom 1: Queen bed • Bedroom 2: Queen bed • Additional Sleeping: Sleeper sofa in living room Bathroom • Full bathroom with tub • Note: Entry to the tub is narrow due to wall placement ________________________________________ Outdoor Living • Dining set • Grill • Spacious yard ________________________________________ Kitchen Equipped with: Refrigerator • Stovetop • Oven • Microwave • Cooking basics • Coffee maker • Toaster • Paper towels/trash bags ________________________________________ Indoor Living • Smart TV • Comfortable living room • Washer & dryer • Board games & puzzles • Dedicated office space with desk ________________________________________ General Amenities Linens • Towels • Heating • Hair dryer • Window A/C unit • Ceiling fans Quiet hours: 10 PM–8 AM Accessibility Notes: • Steps required to enter the home • Washer & dryer located downstairs • Bathroom space is narrow Parking: Driveway (2 vehicles)
— REST EASY WITH US — Northland Vacation Rentals welcomes you to unwind, relax, and get into full vacation mode. We take cleanliness seriously and ensure every home is well-maintained for your comfort. If any issues arise, our friendly staff is available 24/7 to assist with urgent needs. ________________________________________ — POLICIES — • No smoking • No pets • No events, parties, or large gatherings • No fireworks • Quiet hours: 10 PM–8 AM • Day guests must be approved if total exceeds 5 guests (violations may result in fines or eviction) • Must be 25+ to book • Additional fees and taxes may apply • Photo ID may be required at check-in • Management and booking fees are non-refundable • Please review all terms, conditions, and rental agreement for full rules and cancellation policy Starter Supplies Provided: Paper towel, toilet paper, garbage bags, hand soap, dish soap, and dishwasher tabs (if applicable). Depending on the length of your stay, additional supplies may be needed. If a certain amenity is important to your stay, please reach out prior to booking.
The vacation home is air-conditioned and features a kitchen and space to spread out with a dining area. Guests can expect to find a Smart TV with a DVD player. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a coffee maker, and an ironing board.
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
This property doesn't allow pets
Children and extra beds
Children allowed: ages 0-17
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 25
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
Onsite safety features include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit.
Property is also known as
3213-278967
Frequently asked questions
What's there to do around this vacation home?
This vacation home is situated in Downtown Mmpire within a short 13-minute walk of Lake Michigan and also 9 minutes on foot from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You'll also find Empire Bluff Trail and Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive within a short drive.
Is parking available on site at this vacation home?
No, there isn't parking available at the vacation home.
Is this vacation home associated with a casino?
No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.
Will I find an indoor pool at this vacation home?
No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.
What amenities will couples enjoy at Wilce Cottage Your Cozy Empire Getaway?
Couples staying at this vacation home will appreciate amenities like a kitchen and a smart TV as well as a garden.
Does Wilce Cottage Your Cozy Empire Getaway have a hot tub?
No, there isn't a spa tub at this vacation home.
Does this vacation home offer breakfast?
No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.
Will this vacation home allow pets to stay for free?
No, pets aren't allowed at this vacation home.
Does this vacation home have connecting rooms?
No, this vacation home doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.
How close is the airport from this vacation home?
The closest major airport to this vacation home is Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), which is 28.6 mi away (44 minutes by car).
Can I book a room with a balcony at Wilce Cottage Your Cozy Empire Getaway?
No, there aren't any accommodations with balconies at Wilce Cottage Your Cozy Empire Getaway.
Wilce Cottage Your Cozy Empire Getaway Reviews
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 3 out of 4 reviews
10 - Excellent
3
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 4 reviews
8 - Good
1
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
10/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Lindsay G.
Sep 5, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
This was such a lovely home right in Empire! A 10 min walk to the beach and close to lots of hiking trails. The home had everything we needed, we enjoyed our stay.
Lindsay G.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
8/10 Good
Danielle G.
Aug 24, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Was a great trip overall and the house was perfect for our needs. The house was clean and close to the Empire public beach.
Danielle G.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Meredith L B.
Aug 15, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Loved our stay at this cozy cottage. It was perfectly located close to everything we wanted to do with our young children - the dunes, the beach/playground, a quaint ice cream shop, North Bar lake swimming and tubing on the Platte River. We had one cooler rainy morning and loved chilling in the living room space with games and books and working on our Junior Ranger booklets. Lots of natural light and old home charm that reminded us of our home back in Virginia. The cottage was very clean, organized and well taken care of. We took advantage of doing laundry in the basement and had plenty of space for our family of 5 (kids age 3, 6, 7). We fell in love with Empire!Worth noting that the AC is a portable unit in one of the main bedrooms but fans are provided for the other spaces/bedroom. We enjoyed the open air feel and temps were generally conducive to this setup during our stay but if you expect it to be icy cold all the time (in August) this may not be the place for you. Empire in August is dreamy!
Meredith L B.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Bethany H.
Jul 13, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Sweet cottage
This cottage is super cute, clean, and comfortable. There are so many little extra fun touches that were so thoughtful. On our first full day, we pulled up to the cottage after being out and our youngest proclaimed that the cottage feels like home. The play room is so perfect for kids of various ages! The rotary phones were a crowd favorite!