Northern Exposure

HARRISVILLE – Ever feel like you just want to get away from it all? Fortunately in Michigan that's not so hard to do, and you don't have to go very far to reach pristine beaches, acres of woodland forests, and clean rivers.
One such place is Michigan's northeastern shoreline on Lake Huron, near the left index finger of Michigan's famous mitten. We recently spent a week at a cabin that was just about 100 yards back from white sand beaches. Each morning the sun rose over the wide expanse of the lake in a beautiful display of colors, tones and textures.
"The area is the state's best kept secret," said Janet Andreichuk, the owner of the property which includes one large, two bedroom house with two smaller cabins, each perfect for a couple to cozy up. "Where else can you walk a picture-perfect, beautiful beach and hardly see another soul?"
Because the eastern side of the state is less developed than the touristy western shores that include the Leelanau Peninsula and the famous dunes areas, the rental fees at $500 per month for the small cabins and $2,000 per month for the big house, are just a fraction of what you would pay on the western shore. "The same quality of property on the other side of the state would cost three to four times more," said Andreichuk.
The setting would lend itself to a group or several couples that may want to vacation together but still have their privacy. It would be perfect for three or four couples to vacation together and share the common picnic and grill area.
The surrounding area is a mix of quaint villages like Harrisville, which looks like a movie set for an all-American small town. Further south is Tawas, a larger town with lots of shopping and services available. The state park is just a few miles down the road from the Andreichuk property, and there are hiking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, and boating and Jet Ski rentals. If you're up for a day trip, the Mackinac Island ferry is only about an hour's drive away.