Located in Downtown Mmpire within a short walk of Lake Michigan, this vacation home is within a mile (2 km) of other popular sights such as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a refrigerator, and a microwave.
Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles
Empire Bluff Trail - 4 min drive - 1.4 miles
Front Street - 32 min drive - 28.8 miles
Crystal Mountain - 36 min drive - 30.5 miles
Getting around
Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 41 min drive
Restaurants
Shipwreck Cafe - 4 min walk
Joes Friendly Tavern - 6 min walk
Trattoria Funistrada - 13 min drive
Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - 6 min walk
Food For Thought - 7 min drive
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
My Roam'n Empire - Super Cute with Water Toys and Great Location! Walk to Downtown and Beach!
My Roam'n Empire is a super cute single story home that is just 2 blocks from Empire's charming little downtown. Available year-round and very family-friendly! Includes high-speed Wi-Fi, two live streaming televisions, a washer and dryer, and light, beachy styling throughout the home. Outside, it includes a backyard deck with a gas grill and outdoor furniture as well as a cute fire pit for making s'mores together! Also includes beach and water toys in the garage, including 2 paddleboards!
GUEST INTERACTION:
We have a local property manager that lives in the area and is available to address any guest issues, concerns, and/or questions.
NEIGHBORHOOD:
Empire is a truly charming little beach town on Lake Michigan! It is surrounded by sandy hills with beautiful hiking trails and views. There is also a cute little sandy lake (South Bar Lake) that is just north of town and next to Lake Michigan. It's quite shallow and great for kids. Empire also has a spectacular beach (Empire Beach) that is right on Lake Michigan. My Roam'n Empire is just 3 blocks from downtown Empire , which has a cute collection of shops and restaurants, including Tiffiany's Cafe, a charming and historic ice cream shop, which works great for evening walks for ice cream and to see gorgeous sunsets on Lake Michigan. The cottage is only one-half of a mile from Empire Beach on Lake Michigan! It's also just 1 block away from Grocer's Daughter Chocolates, which is becoming regionally famous and which we would personally highly recommend for wonderfully creative and delicious chocolate creations.
Empire is also located in the middle of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is a huge national lakeshore with a great variety of nature trails for hiking and bicycling. There are truly spectacular views of Lake Michigan from Sleeping Bear's dunes! Canoeing, kayaking, or tubing on the Platte River through the park and out to Lake Michigan is also a very popular activity. Part of the national lakeshore is south of Empire and part of it is north of Empire. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center for Sleeping Bear Dunes is also located right in Empire just one-third of a mile from the property! Thus, My Roam'n Empire provides a truly exceptional central location for exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes!
Outside of Sleeping Bear Dunes, there are fun beach towns both north and south of Empire that are a little larger than Empire. To the south, Frankfort has a growing collection of family-friendly shops, restaurants, and cafes in addition to a very popular local microbrewery (Stormcloud) and a vintage movie theater (The Garden Theater) that plays both new and old movies year-round. It also has a large beach that is family-friendly and dog-friendly (at the north end) and is located next to a fun pier and Frankfort's famous lighthouse. To the north of Empire, Glen Arbor is a bit more upscale and luxurious with its own collection of specialty shops, restaurants, and cafes.
If a little more entertainment, nightlife, and/or variety is desired, downtown Traverse City is only about a 30-minute drive east from the property along M-72. Traverse City is the gemstone of northern Michigan tourism and has a vast collection of restaurants, shops, bars, breweries, cafes, and attractions.
GUEST ACCESS:
Guests have access to the entire property, except for the basement, which is locked off for owner storage. Please also note that although guests have access to the 1-car garage, it is used for storage and cars cannot be parked in the garage.
THE SPACE:
The home has 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. It has been recently renovated by the new owners and it is decorated with light, beachy tones throughout the home. It is gorgeous and truly fits in with the small, family-friendly beach town environment of Empire.
For heating, the home has a forced-air gas furnace. It does not have air conditioning, but, given the latitude and the proximity to the cool waters of Lake Michigan, air conditioning is rarely needed in the area.
The home has a modern kitchen with all appliances, including a dishwasher. There is also a very convenient stacked washer and dryer in a closet next to the kitchen. The home has high-speed Wi-Fi and two live streaming televisions, both of which utilize Roku.
TRANSIT:
It is highly recommended that guests have their own means of transportation. There is no Uber service in the area and public bus service is limited.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
1) AIR CONDITONING: The home does NOT have air conditioning. (Given the latitude and the proximity to the cool waters of Lake Michigan, air conditioning is rarely needed in the area though.)
2) PET POLICY: Up to 2 dogs are permitted. All dogs must be house trained. Pets other than dogs are not permitted and more than 2 dogs are also not permitted. If bringing 1 or 2 dogs, please make certain that the dogs are included on the reservation so that the pet fee is properly applied.
3) GARAGE: The 1-car garage is used for storage and is not available for guests to park their vehicle. Guests are welcome to use any of the beach and water toys that are in the garage though. We just ask that guests make certain to return all items back to the garage.
4) GARAGE ENTRANCE: The entrance to the garage from the house is through a door in the primary bedroom, which could be a bit awkward to use. (The door to the garage does have a lock on it though.) it is probably easiest just to access the garage by opening the garage door.
5) INDOOR FIREPLACE: Please note that the indoor fireplace is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO USE and is absolutely not to be used by guests under any circumstances.
6) NUMBER OF GUESTS: Please note that our pricing is based upon the number of guests, with pricing being higher with each additional guest that is included on the reservation. Please make certain that the correct number of guests is specified on the reservation so that the pricing is correct.
7) EARLY CHECK-IN: Our policy is to allow early check-in on the day of arrival if the property is available for check-in. We will not know until the day before arrival whether or not the property will be available for early check-in or not. You can check with our local property manager the day before arrival or on your arrival day to see if the property will be available for early check-in or not.
8) LATE CHECK-OUT: We maintain a very strict and structured cleaning schedule. As such, late check-outs are strictly prohibited.
The vacation home is heated and features a kitchen and 1.5 bathrooms, and there's space to spread out with 3 bedrooms. Guests can enjoy a Smart TV and stay connected with free WiFi. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a coffee maker, and a desk.
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Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Deadbolt lock
General
Garden
Unit size: 1,304 square feet
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
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 welcomes pets
Service animals exempt from fees
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 deadbolt lock
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: 11:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 21
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
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 smoke detector, and a deadbolt lock.
Property is also known as
5ed5072d-33b6-4f40-ac4f-92188f193b08
Frequently asked questions
What's there to see near this vacation home?
This vacation home is situated in Downtown Mmpire within a short 13-minute walk of Lake Michigan and also 17 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 at this vacation home.
Is this vacation home next to 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.
Is My Roam'n Empire - Super Cute with Water Toys and Great Location! Walk to Downtown and Beach! a good place to stay for couples?
Couples staying at this vacation home will appreciate amenities like a kitchen and a smart TV as well as a garden.
Are there hot tubs at My Roam'n Empire - Super Cute with Water Toys and Great Location! Walk to Downtown and Beach!?
No, this vacation home doesn't have a spa tub.
Does this vacation home provide breakfast?
No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.
Will this vacation home allow pets to stay for free?
Although pets can't stay for free, they are welcome at this vacation home.
Does this vacation home have connecting rooms?
No, this vacation home doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.
What is the closest airport to this vacation home?
The closest major airport to this vacation home is Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), which is 29.9 mi away (41 minutes by car).
Can I book a room with a balcony at My Roam'n Empire - Super Cute with Water Toys and Great Location! Walk to Downtown and Beach!?
Yes, every accommodation at My Roam'n Empire - Super Cute with Water Toys and Great Location! Walk to Downtown and Beach! comes with a deck.
My Roam'n Empire - Super Cute with Water Toys and Great Location! Walk to Downtown and Beach! Reviews
Reviews
9.8
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. 8 out of 9 reviews
10 - Excellent
8
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 9 reviews
8 - Good
1
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 9 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 9 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
10/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Shelley W.
Oct 27, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Cute comfortable cottage, fully furnished kitchen, very clean. Walking distance to shopping and eating and also the beach. Close driving to numerous trails in the area. Would stay again
Shelley W.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
10/10 Excellent
Michelle S., Grand Rapids
Oct 26, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Very clean and well maintained. Centerally located for hikes, short walk to beach and in town.
Michelle S.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
10/10 Excellent
Arturo T.
Sep 29, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
We had a great time and the property was perfect for us. Clean, spacious and pet friendly. Empire is a great location - the beach and trails are just steps away and sleeping bear dunes is a quick drive. Also, bikes and paddle boards are free to use. Would definitely recommend and we would stay there again.
Arturo T.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
10/10 Excellent
Connie I.
Sep 18, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful place to stay. Clean and a very conscientious place to stay. We loved it and will go back!!!! They had everything you could ever want!!!!
Connie I.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025
10/10 Excellent
Constance D.
Sep 12, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great family vacation spot in Empire! Cute house, great walkable location, nice back deck and grill, and great yard for the kids to play. The house was very clean when we arrived, the kitchen is well stocked for cooking, and the selection of puzzles/paddle boards/beach supplies was a big plus! All around five stars, and we’d happily stay there again!
Constance D.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025
10/10 Excellent
Eric C.
Aug 28, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
This is the kind of place you go and want to stay forever. We’ve always loved Empire but being able to experience what it would be like to live in the neighborhood makes us love it more! The house was really nice with everything you need.
Eric C.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Megan M S.
Jul 20, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
This house was perfect for us and Empire is a lovely town, quiet, but has everything you need and you can walk everywhere. Highly recommend!
Megan M S.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Chloe W.
Jun 4, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice!
Clean property, cute decor! A lot of items included in the kitchen, and a very nice outdoor space!
Chloe W.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
8/10 Good
Chris H.
Apr 24, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Very good location & price
Close to the beach, bike trails, hiking trails, downtown, National Park, etc. some nice upgrades to an older place - has everything you need including good property managers