Entire home

Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!

Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!

Photo gallery for Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!

Property grounds
Exterior
3 bedrooms, WiFi
Living area
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Overview of Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!

9.4

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • Lake viewLake viewLake view

Check out the area

AuGres, MI
  • AirportEast Tawas, MI (ECA-Iosco County)30 min drive

Space details

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sleeps 6
1200 sq ft
Bedroom 1
    4 twin/single beds
Bedroom 2
    1 queen bed
Bedroom 3
    6 queen beds
Bathroom 1
    Shower
Bathroom 2
    Shower

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!

A 400 acre wildlife preserve with 4 miles of pristine, undeveloped shoreline with an inland harbor. Charity Island is a nature lovers paradise complete with a mature hardwood forest canopy covering most of the Island and a night sky unblemished by artificial lights. Charity Island lodge has a master bedroom with a queen bed and a loft with 4 twin beds. The new Bunkhouse contains 6 queen bunks and a bathroom with shower. The Lodge kitchen has an electric refrigerator, gas range and a coffee percolator. The cupboards are stocked with dishes and cooking utensils as well as most common cooking spices. Please do not bring electric cooking equipment as our power is limited but propane is plentiful. There is also a gas grill and a grate over the fire pit for outside cooking. Our water system is an NSF approved system that draws water from Lake Huron and is filtered and treated with Ultraviolet light and stored in an elevated storage tank for continual water service to the Kitchen and bathroom.

Charity Island Lodge added an off-grid power system in 2019. The cottage has 24-7 power via a battery bank that is charged by wind and solar and is backed up by a generator. The cottage is completely wired as any cottage on the mainland. New in 2022, we have screened in the front porch of the lodge!
Charity Island Lodge is the only cottage on Charity Island with the exception of the historic Charity Island lighthouse. Seven miles from the closest land, you will feel the isolation as recreational boaters depart the surrounding waters of Charity Island and the spectacular sunset sky begins to unfold. It's now bonfire time and the spacious fire pit is the place where stories unfold and lasting memories are made. Folding chairs are provided.

Whether you like hiking, fishing, kayaking, recreational boating, bird watching, night sky watching or just chilling out on a secluded island beach, Charity Island Lodge will be your new favorite destination in Northeast Michigan. There are no stores or restaurants on the Island so come prepared.
..
Beginning in 2023, we are requiring 4 night minimum stays due to the extensive logistics and time required in getting to and from the Island and making it available for guests. If you require transportation, that can be arranged separately from either Brown's Landing in Tawas City or Captain Tom Cariveau in Caseville. Both services offer ample room for all your passengers, gear and are Coast Guard licensed vessels. You can also come via your own boat (no cost) and tie up to our 24' dock. The fishing around the Island is legendary and having your own boat is nice to have! Lastly, as with any back country experience, mosquitos and black flies can be bothersome on the hottest days and when the breezes do not cooperate. We have two kayaks for exploring the 4.5 miles of shoreline on these days and usually you can find some wind on the other side.

Dear Fall Guest to Charity Island, September and October are absolutely our favorite times of the year to enjoy the island. Autumn sun, cool nights, minimal bugs and total tranquility make for an amazing experience! With all of this grandeur however comes the reality of unstable fall weather patterns that can disrupt travel to and from the island. Lake Huron can turn vicious in a matter of a few hours so we must always be monitoring the weather. When we see potentially dangerous weather in the making, we will contact you and advise you of options. In short, travel can be delayed or postponed to and from the island We will never make an unsafe crossing for ANY reason and it is conceivable that your departure could be delayed or you could get stuck on the island for an extra day or two. We do provide full refunds when weather prevents safe travel.

Property manager

Dean P. Wiltse

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car not required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower only
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • Near an outlet shopping mall
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak on site
  • Water sports equipment on site
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Smoke detector

General

  • 1 unit
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,200 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 1:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

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

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, 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

We should mention

A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Exclusive Island Getaway House AuGres
Exclusive Island Getaway AuGres
Cottage Exclusive Island Getaway AuGres
AuGres Exclusive Island Getaway Cottage
Exclusive Island Getaway House
Cottage Exclusive Island Getaway
Exclusive Getaway Au Gres
Exclusive Island Getaway Cottage
Exclusive Island Getaway Au Gres
Exclusive Island Getaway Cottage Au Gres
Vrbo Property
Exclusive Island Getaway

About the area

North America

Frequently asked questions

Is Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!?

Check-in begins at 1:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!?

Check-out is at 11:30 AM.

Where is Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Lake Huron and 17.4 mi (28.1 km) from Tawas City Park Beach.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 27 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrea K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome stay
Good times
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing getaway
what a fantastic vacation. if we would have brought extra food, we would have stayed a couple extra days. Host Dean was very fun, helpfull and informative on everything. A lot of neat ingenous things on the house and property. All of which worked to the T. Good thing we brought some warmer clothing, as it gets a little chilly when the wind comes in from the lake. we had 6 unbelievable sun rises right on the front porch. We had an ATV to use to go check out the lighthouse property and go to the beach on the other side of the Island. Huge tip...when going to the beach, DO NOT drive off the main trail. Its only a 2 minute walk. there are rare and sensitive plants on the island. the beach is definitly wotrh the walk. we will be back. also, our 3 dogs had a blast
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Laurie R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Summer family get-away
We had a wonderful time---kayaking, swimming, hiking, camp fires, relaxing... We had a problem with the generator but the owner talked us through that. Thankfully it was windy and sunny, so we had electricity most of the time. Unique get-away.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Joe L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Getaway
Had a great time staying on the island! It's an adventure destination, so it is not for everyone. But me and my family had a great time. The island is very peaceful, especially on the weekdays. Stargazing is the best in Michigan as light pollution is no-factor. You still get decent phone reception if you stand in the right spot, so you are not totally cut off from the mainland if you should need to reach out. Everyone we met from the ferry captain to our host was super helpful and accommodating. Don't be afraid to ask questions, Dean is always happy to help. The bugs were not bad for us at all. We landed in mid-August, and this had a lot to do with it. Previous tenants recommended immediately retreating to the other side of the island if the flies were bad, as their location was wind dependant. The beach on the sandy-side of the island is totally amazing. You will likely have a mile stretch of beach all to yourself. It is a bit rocky for the first few feet of water, then quickly turns into a gradually sloped sand bottom. Great for the kids. The fishing in the harbor is great for the kids also. Lots of small aggressive sunfish. We thought we'd catch something big, but weren't experienced enough to land anything. Saw some large smallies jumping around and teasing us. The house was very clean, though this may depend on the previous tenants because there is no cleaning service on the island. The off-grid power system could be a bit challenging. I would go in expecting to only run the basic utilities of the house and maybe the chance to charge your phones. Generator power is available, but if you don't want to hear the noise, plan for minimal consumption. Overall a great experience and a great value. Would recommend it to anyone wanting to get far away from everything without wanting to go very far!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place
This place is great to get a short taste of off grid living. A couple of hiccups to be expected with off grid houses. Exactly what we expected and Dean was a great host. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

David W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Escape
We had an amazing adventure to Charity Island. We would highly recommend this escape to those that enjoy connecting with each other and the outdoors. If camping is in your repertoire, this is your place. Like any “outdoor” adventure, weather dictates many things. The beauty of the island are the options that exist from one side to the other. The right amount of adventure!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Courtney D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing
This was one of our favorite vacations thus far! Highly recommended if you enjoy being in the wilderness, exploring, and water. One of a kind getaway!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melissa R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unplugged Adventure
We thoroughly enjoyed our time on Charity Island. The water was a bit choppy on the way to the island but was perfect for our ride back. We relaxed by the fire, spent time playing games, explored nature, and just enjoyed the sound of the waves. The cabin is well furnished and had all of the comforts of home minus the WiFi and television. The cabinets were also well stocked with food if we had ran out of our own. I will say you should bring your own sheets and pillowcases. As well as plenty of drinking water. I wish we could stay longer! Thank you to both our captin Damon and the host Dean.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Heather L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome adventure
We loved our time on the island. Damon was an awesome captain and helped my husband with our luggage. Dean was very kind to answer our questions about the cabin. My kids enjoyed exploring and swimming each day! They also became pro sorry! players. Beware of trying to kayak around the island if the water is rough or you’ll end up in the middle of Saginaw Bay (at least it felt like the middle)!

10/10 Excellent

Regina C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Secluded and very relaxing
Great place for relaxing and just to get away. Beautiful views of lake. We love to be near water and love to be in nature and this covered both areas. Internet and cell service is spotty on island but we didn’t mind. Will definitely be back!