See all properties
Entire home

The Westender

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Westender

A wooden structure with a view of a lake and clouds.
A kitchen with a Kenmore stove, a window with a view of trees, and a door with a patterned curtain.
A bunk bed with a lower bunk, a bedside table with a lamp, and a plain wall.
A covered outdoor seating area with a wooden bench and a cushioned bench, a picnic table, and a wall with a framed picture.
A cabin with a dock extending into a lake, surrounded by trees.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathrooms2200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Fireplace
  • Lake view

Explore the area

View in a map
Hessel, MI
  • Place, Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Place, Mackinac Bridge
    ‪35 min drive‬
  • Place, Headlands International Dark Sky Park
    ‪44 min drive‬
  • Airport, Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.)
    ‪38 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

A waterfront hotel with a parking lot, a view of the sea, and a distant island.
Hamilton Inn Select Beachfront Mackinaw City
Mackinaw City
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
4.0 out of 5, Very good, 3,013 reviews
$87 nightly
The price is $94
Oct 25 - Oct 26
Total with taxes and fees
Hamilton Inn Select Beachfront Mackinaw City

About the neighborhood

Hessel

When you stay at this cottage in Hessel, you'll be on the waterfront and steps from Lake Huron. .This cottage is 30.4 mi (49 km) from Lake Michigan and 11.5 mi (18.6 km) from Sandy Cove.
View more Cottages in HesselOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace - 29 min drive - 31.3 miles
  • Mackinac Bridge - 35 min drive - 40.0 miles
  • Headlands International Dark Sky Park - 44 min drive - 45.2 miles
  • Wilderness State Park - 51 min drive - 52.6 miles
  • Bay Mills Casino - 57 min drive - 66.5 miles

Getting around

  • Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Tipper Room - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Les Cheneaux Culinary School Restaurant - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Snows Bar and Grill - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Islander Bar - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Ang-Gios - ‬6 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.

The Westender

Summary:

Welcome to The Westender Retreat—a charming cottage tucked away on the serene west end of the Les Cheneaux Islands, offering breathtaking views of Lake Huron. Unwind in the cozy main cottage with a crackling fire in the classic fieldstone fireplace, or head to the guest house for an additional private space to relax, sleep, or gather. Down by the water, you’ll find a screened-in dock house—the perfect hangout spot for meals, games, and late-night chats by the lake.



Other Things to Note:

Bring your boat and explore all that the Les Cheneaux Islands have to offer from the water!
Make yourself comfortable in this cottage, which features a fireplace. There's a private balcony. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected.
This smoke-free cottage offers games.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Games
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Coin laundry

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak

Safety features

  • 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)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 2,200 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

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

Rules

Must be 25 years or older to rent. No smoking in premises. Quiet hours between 10PM-8AM. No events or large parties without prior authorization.

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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 has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
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

Property is also known as

6a8361b7d47cac0041adf15a

The Westender Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 3 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

7.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Our favorite spot!

The Westender has become our favorite vacation spot. Wonderfully relaxing atmosphere with access to most amenities you could need on vacation. The boathouse provides a nice hangout spot with a calm breeze. We’ll be back for sure!
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
We were not made aware of the cameras on the property and the one that overlooks the beach where we were all spending quality time was uncomfortable. Had this been clearly stated in the listing we would have passed on the rental. Also, the owner and his family used part of the property throughout our stay and it didn’t feel like the much needed private getaway we were going for.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Beautiful view with lots of space to spread out and relax while enjoying nature.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Another Great Year

We have been visiting the Westender for several years now. It’s always a wonderful vacation. Located in a quiet spot, but close to lots of fun things in Hessel and Cedarville, as well as within a reasonable drive for lots of other adventures. We are already looking forward to visiting again!