Trailer was clean and everything worked great. Location is fabulous - easy walk to the beach and even found some morel mushrooms in the woods. We had rain most days so didn't have a fire, but Mary brought firewood for us. The cooking supplies were great and Mary even shared some farm fresh eggs with us. Wonderful place to unwind.

One of the absolute highlights of this property is Mary herself—warm, inviting, accommodating, flexible, reliable and a wealth of island history. During our stay she brought us firewood, duck and chicken eggs from her farm, (homemade!) goat cheese, an island biking guide (invaluable for exploring the island, we purchased one at the visitor's center before departing for home—it's chock-full of interesting island facts and history) and shuttled us (and our bikes) from and to the ferry dock. We fell in love with the location of the campsite Mary selected—Bill Wagners Campground sits on the east side of the island about 8 miles south of town, gorgeous for swimming, stone skipping, sunrises and morning coffee. And the stargazing is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Be sure to check out Circle M for a fabulous meal in an amazing setting. Needless to say, we started dreaming about a return visit during our ferry ride back to Charlevoix... Thank you again, Mary!

Seamus is an incredibly thoughtful, kind, considerate, and knowledgeable host. We felt right at home and stayed up late into the night just chatting about life. He knew all of the best spots on the island and helped us map our weekend to spots we would otherwise have never found. There was no cell phone reception, internet, or TV and all we had to listen to were the wind in the trees and the occasional bird. It was an important lesson on what life is really about: experience, love, happiness, and connection. The energy on Beaver Island, Tara's Meadow, and from Seamus has left a mark on our lives and soul's forever. We will be back.

My husband and I couldn't have pictured a more wonderful first time to Beaver Island. Seamus and his partner Amy went above and beyond with their hospitality - supplying hot breakfasts, giving us rides in the back of their pickup truck, making recommendations on what to see, and just being darn good people to be around. Our experience of the island was that much richer with Seamus's company and knowledge. The house itself was a comfortable, quiet place, tucked way into the woods, with a great space for reading upstairs while looking out at the trees. One practical tip for fellow travelers: Tara's meadow is 10 miles from town (with its restaurants and amenities), which is at least a solid hour by bike. If that's too much cycling for you, a car is a must-have! We heartily, heartily recommend this place.

This is by far the best experience I have had on airbnb. Tara's Meadow is a very special place, and Seamus is extraordinarily generous and gracious host: He picked us up from the ferry, cooked dinner for us on the night we arrived, and took us on a tour of the island. He is passionate about ecology and the island's history, very easy to talk to, and a warm and compassionate person. That said, he also respected our privacy and gave us our space when we needed it. Tara's Meadow is about 20-30 minutes drive from St. James, located in a remote and peaceful part of the island. The meadow itself is very beautiful, but it is also close to gorgeous sand beaches, several pristine inland lakes, and a beaver marsh--the natural beauty at Beaver island can't be matched, and Tara's Meadow is a great home base from which to explore it. This was a unique experience that we will never forget. Thank you so much, Seamus!

WORDS alone are insufficient to describe how wonderful this space is and how awesome Seamus is as a host. Much love and an entire island community contributed to the creation of the Lodge at Tara's Meadow. The place and space alone are enough to ease the stresses and tensions that tend to blur our everyday lives into an oblivion of constant running around - but when you add the grace of Seamus the host - you have a recipe for a guaranteed great time! Time slows down here. In fact, leave the watch, phone, and laptop at the airport, and enter God's Time on Tara's Meadow to rekindle that which REALLY matters to you! The pictures do not do justice to how beautiful the Lodge and Meadow really are - you just have to experience it. I have three degrees and run a business - in no way am I being reimbursed for this review - I am speaking from the heart - if you found this review - then you DEFINITELY need to visit this place! Get out of the constant hustle and bustle, catch a fifteen minute flight to the island, ask to sit in the copilot's seat on the plane, and get ready for the best adventure the Midwest has to offer! Seamus is the best host! He also does tours of the island and lives an intimate and very real connection to the history of the island and the history of Ancient Europe in general. When I asked for a much needed retreat here, Seamus first met with me to plan out every meal - fresh whitefish from Lake Michigan from the local deli on the island, blueberries from the mainland, herbs from the island, he is the most gracious host offering to split the cost of food. Seamus lives humility and grace. He walks and talks the island traditions. Take advantage of this amazing situation while you still can! As I said, I have several degrees, one in biochemistry and environmental chemistry, and I call Seattle a second home, so I am not easily impressed to say the least. But for me to have this much good to say about a place - and to say that my words are an understatement - truly reveals the impressive quality, the attention to detail, and amazing grace that is all that Seamus and Tara's Meadow have to offer. Invite the whole family! You will not regret it! In fact, like me, you will be eagerly awaiting your next visit! Plane ride and all, this place and this host are hands down AWESOME!

Seamus followed up our reservation request immediately and was very helpful all the way through the process of making the arrangements to go to Beaver Island. He is a wealth of knowledge about the island's past and present, since he is a historian of the island and very involved in current efforts to develop tourism--particularly ecotourism--on the island. He offered to pick us up at the airport, but we ended up bringing our own car over on the ferry. He was very helpful in giving us directions and even came out to the road to catch us as we drove up. He spared no effort to make us comfortable and was a very amiable host and conversationalist. When we came back in the evening from exploring the island, he offered us snacks and stayed up talking with us until we were ready to retire. He made us a delicious breakfast in the morning and gave us the run of the place until we were ready to leave. In sum, Seamus was a perfect host, a gentle, amiable, and engaging man who can tell his guests anything they want to know about life on Beaver Island, past and present.

Seamus met us at ferry station and lead us to his house. he was very friendly. his house was very secluded, clean, we enjoyed the stay.

Seamus was an incredible host, sharing his beautiful home and retreat center in the nurturing woods and dazzling wildflower meadow. I immediately felt at home at Tara's with a delightful balance of great conversations, explorations of trails, lakes and blueberry patches, intervals of solitude and journaling, and trips into town to catch art shows, live music, chats with locals at the library or pub. The room itself was spacious and inspiring, hexagonal design, upper floor, among the tall trees and sunlight, perfect for yoga or hanging out on the balcony with a good book. The first floor room is more intimate and cozy and another great option to explore my next trip. Seamus enjoys good wholesome food which made for delicious breakfasts, snacks and dinners. My five days felt expansive and timeless at Tara's Meadow thanks to Seamus and his care and attentiveness to place, space, and people.

I had a great stay at Tara's Meadow. Seamus was a very welcoming host – he met me at the harbor as I was departing from the ferry, and even let me join a historical tour he was giving free of charge. It was easy to coordinate my trip with Seamus (a fair bit of coordination is required for trips to the Island due to the ferry schedule and poor cell reception), and he was generally very helpful. I had a good time preparing dinner with him and dining on his canopy-level balcony in the forest. The house is remote, deep in the woods on the south end of the island. A car is necessary to reach the house from St. James, where the ferry drops you off. A public transit shuttle can be arranged, and I was actually able to rent a truck for the day from one of the Islanders. The space itself is very nice. The main area of the lower level is a comfortable living space and kitchen, with the guest bedroom off to the side. The main space of the upper level is an open meditation/yoga space; Seamus' room is off to the side on the upper floor. The guest bed was a little soft for my taste, but complaining about that is picking nits.

The house is lovely. It is much nicer than I expected from the photos. It's right on the water and we were able to wade into the water from the lawn. The bed I slept in was surprisingly supportive and comfortable. Kitchen was decently equipped, and we cooked a number of meals here for our group of seven. I hope to stay here again!

Our stay at The Mermaid was wonderful. Beaver Island was a great, relaxing place to spend time.

The Mermaid Cottage was beautiful, the views were amazing, and the house and property were both quite nice. We saw some wildlife, went swimming in the (extremely cold) lake, and generally just enjoyed our stay. Three things I would mention for other guests: 1) Cell phone service is a no-go for Verizon and AT&T at the cottage. However, a 5-minute drive North will get you a few bars. 2) I wish I would have seen the other reviewer that mentioned that (SENSITIVE CONTENTS HIDDEN)'s "pin" on their Maps app for the cottage is WRONG. I know this has already been said, but I wanted to reiterate. We spent a really long time trying to find the cabin and had to ask a few locals for help. 3) Take the plane over if you can. The ferry ride is fairly long, and in bad weather, it's no fun. Also, after the beginning of October, there are a very few residents on the island, with many shops and restaurants only open a few hours a day. With that said, I would very much recommend staying here, we certainly enjoyed our stay.

Mermaid Cottage was a wonderful place to stay. Diane gave clear directions on how to get there, including who to contact about getting to the island. Over all the house was beautiful, the kitchen was stocked enough for use to make any meal that we wanted, and there was enough space for six adults to stay comfortably. There were beautiful views of the water, we only wished there was a way to access it from the house.

Going to a Beaver Island was quite the adventure. It was a cute little city with a lot of history. The public beach there was calm and relaxing. The Mermaid Cottage was a bit difficult to find at first because (SENSITIVE CONTENTS HIDDEN) maps locates it at the other end of the island, but luckily residents of the town were able to eventually help us locate it. The house looks better in person and was very accommodating. It is definitely a private area with no surrounding neighbors. I wish their could have been a dock so we could reach the water over the marsh land, but the view from the deck was still stunning.

Mary Rose was perfectly accommodating and the cabin was a welcomed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life.

We loved it! It was such a joy to stay in the pristine quiet natural beauty of northern Michigan. The house is conveniently located at the center of the island and is only reached by the island's unpaved roads. I would definitely recommend to bring a car, food and bug spray with you. So relaxing to stay in this beautiful location. Thank you!

This place was amazing! We had a great time and were very comfortable there. The view was awesome and we loved the porch. Mosquitos are a pretty common scourge across the island and they were a bit scary in the driveway but we didn't have much of a problem at all in the house or on the back porch.

The house was great! Super clean and organized. Perfect weekend getaway for a couple or a group of friends. Just outside of town, and only a short walk to the local ice cream joint.

This was our first time to Beaver Island and Kayla made our stay very comfortable and fun. The location is great - close enough for a quick bike ride to town, restaurants, or parks, and has everything you need to be comfortable. Kayla was very helpful and accommodating with our arrival and made sure everything worked great!

Sue is a local, and knows the local history. In a place like Beaver Island, that is fantastic! I can't imagine how much less interesting our stay would have been without her help. Just the Protar story was worth its weight in gold. We were able to take a 2-hour bike ride around some of the trails and saw Protar's home and tomb in the quiet woods. Gorgeous. Sue also helped us find places to eat, and things to do. She is a real gem! Along with that, her house is a 5-minute walk from downtown, but has a lovely quiet beach on the north side of the island. It's a beautiful spot. She even has good bikes available to borrow.

What an awesome place! I went on a whim for memorial day and it was one of the coolest trips I've been on. Only 300-400 people live on the island year round so it was way local and everyone knew everyone. The bar scene was small but very colorful and we found plenty to do. Our host was great, we had no need for amenities and he does a great job keeping the place nice. Recommend you try the Stoney Acres pub and the Harbor Market for food. I would definitely go back.

My husband and I had a very nice stay here. The apartment is quite spacious and well laid out, and a short walk to the harbor, beach, restaurants and grocery. We took advantage of the bike rental across the street and found great running areas as well. A a wonderful, quiet place to relax.

We had a wonderful weekend stay at Jeff's apartment. The unit was very spacious and had a great location right in the middle of town - walkable to everything. He was a great host and met us at the ferry. My only regret is that we didn't stay longer! I would highly recommend staying at Jeff's versus a hotel.

We had a magical time on Beaver Island at Jeff's rental. Our lodgings were excellent: the apartment was spacious, well-appointed, and even nicer than the amazing pictures led us to believe. Jeff made sure we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay, down to details on hidden Island gems. He even personally escorted us on a customized nature hike. We highly recommend this lodging and host.

Jeff was a great host. His rental was clean and had great views of Main Street. He was on hand to help with anything we needed

If you are looking for a place to stay on Beaver Island, stop looking and book this immediately. This place is incredible. I have never had a more hospitable and generous host. He lent us his SUV for the weekend plus a million other little things that were above and beyond. The home is very clean, comfortable, and tastefully decorated for the 3 couples in our traveling group. We will be coming back.

Great place in downtown Beaver Island. Perfect for a family to stay at. Jeff was a great host

Jeff's place was great!

Loved our stay - first-time visit to Beaver Island, would enjoy returning.

We loved the place! It was private and at the same time just a short bike ride into town. We are grateful for finding such a wonderfull pet friendly place.

Rob was a great host! He quickly responded to my questions and needs. The house is as described and shown in the photos: Plenty of space, equipped with all essentials, beach access, close to town, in a beautiful setting. Kayaks provided are in good condition. The views from the deck are stunning. Overall I had a very pleasant stay! Only downside were the many spiders, horse flies and mosquitoes outdoors, but that is part of the beautiful nature that is surrounding the house. And as listed: No WiFi internet, didn't try the 1-2 TV channels, Cellphone reception is poor around the island in general.

Mary was more than accommodating! Very welcoming and hospitable. Mary toured me around the island in her truck with her friends, introduced me to the towns pig roast fundraising event and all the locals we met along the way. The weather this weekend was cold/windy and the bugs near the beach were terrible. Thanks mother nature. Mary's stories and willingness to share the islands history held my interest and inspired more questions. Still unsure how to define "glamping" but it's a good RV. Nothing overly fancy, so bring drinking water and come prepared.

Everything about this place was perfect. I've rented houses all over the island for about 25 years now and this house is at the top of my list.

We had an amazing, relaxing weekend! We were looking for a getaway where we could bring our dogs, play on the beach, relax, and really get away. Mary Rose's place was a dream come true! The house is perfectly situated on a quiet lake where we watched the sunrise every morning. The fenced yard made it a perfect reprieve for our two dogs who were in bird and squirrel heaven. We were about a mile from Donegal Bay where we, the humans and the canines, were able to swim, run, and play on the beautiful sandy shores of Lake Michigan. We felt so at home in Mary Rose's house and would definitely recommend her house to anyone looking to escape city life for an amazing stay in one of the most beautiful spots around. Was a special weekend we will always remember!! Hope to do this again!!!

Mary Rose's cabin is amazing! We were looking for a relaxing getaway for my girlfriend's 30th birthday and this was the perfect place. The screened-in porch is heaven sent. We brought our bicycles over on the ferry, which made for an easy ride into town for food, drinks, kayaking, and exploring. Mary Rose sent over a suggested list of things to do in advance, which helped out a lot. She sent a message via airbnb to check in on our stay, as well, which was nice to hear from her. All in all, I would strongly recommend staying with Mary Rose if you're considering it!

Lovely and peaceful stay on the vast Font Lake, lulled to sleep by the frogs croaking and wakened by the birds chirping- a perfect secluded get away with lovely breezes and island charm.

Our stay at Mary Rose's cottage was exactly what we were hoping for--convenient, relaxing, and comfortable. The home is laid out perfectly--we especially loved the view (and sounds) of Font Lake. Our dog was totally comfortable in the house, and took advantage of the fenced-in outdoor area. Mary Rose was easy to get in contact with and extremely easy going. We hope to stay here again someday soon.

The house was lovely. Cozy and well appointed. The view is beautiful and relaxing. The home was located a short bike ride from the beach and an easy ride to town. Mary Rose was attentive to our needs making sure we were comfortable and suggesting things to do on the island. We will definitely revisit. Thank you.

Very nice house with an awesome lake view. We have enjoyed our stay. Very serene and peaceful.

The island is very peaceful. Mary Rose is amazing at communicating, and very hospitable!!! Everyone is very kind. I loved learning all of the Irish History! There were not many people around, which made it feel so relaxing. Renting a car or bike is important for grocery/exploring. The views off the back porch are beautiful, morning, night or watching a storm come in. There is well water, so be sure to bring drinking water/buy from the store. There is not lake access at the home for swimming, but the beach is close. The atmosphere in the home is darker rustic cabin/cottage type, with a few updated touches. There is a fire pit, so bring wood to burn. I am glad we went! Thank you Mary Rose!