Homestead Resort Michigan: You Can Do Better with Kids

The Homestead Resort in Michigan is a quiet four-season retreat parked in the middle of nowhere, and it’s perfect for the AARP crowd that makes up most of the guest list. Families with young kids? Less so. There is very little here to keep them busy, especially in summer, and you’ll pay hundreds a night for the privilege of finding that out. If you’re going anyway, here’s exactly what you need to know to plan the trip without getting blindsided.

Quick Verdict: Is the Homestead Resort Worth It with Kids?

Short answer: you can do better. The views are genuinely beautiful and the staff are lovely, but the resort is expensive, isolated, and thin on things for kids to do. If you go, book a room in The Inn, keep the stay short, and treat it as a base camp for Sleeping Bear Dunes rather than the main event.

• Where: 1 Wood Ridge Road, Glen Arbor, MI 49636, inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
• Best building for families: The Inn (interior doors, near the pool and beach)
• Building to avoid: Fiddler’s Pond (unless you’re bringing a pet, the only area that allows them)
• Rates: high — figure hundreds per night; the official site quotes by date, so check current pricing
• Best for: couples, golfers, and skiers. Kids are allowed, but the experience is wasted on them.
• Closest real attraction: Sleeping Bear Dunes, about 15 minutes by car

What Do You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip to the Homestead Resort Michigan?

1. Where is Homestead Resort Hotel?

2. Homestead Resort Glen Arbor Rental Options

3. Ways to Save

4. Cancellation Policy

5. Homestead Resort Check-in Time

6. Download the Homestead Resort Glen Arbor Map

7. Parking is a Nightmare

8. It Has Quiet Time

9. Homestead Resort MI Dining Options

10. What to Do at the Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor, MI

11. Nearby Tourist Attractions

12. Does the Homestead Allow Dogs?

13. Pack Appropriately

14. Homestead Resort Checkout Time

15. The Employees Are Great

16. Is the Homestead Good for Families?

17. What Might Be Better than the Homestead Resort Glen Arbor, Michigan?

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Homestead Resort Michigan

1. Where is the Homestead Resort in Michigan?

Next Stop Heaven The Homestead Resort sits at 1 Wood Ridge Road in Glen Arbor, tucked inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan’s Leelanau County. It is genuinely isolated from pretty much everything — Traverse City, the nearest city of any size, is about 40 minutes away.

Need to reach them? Reservations are at (231) 244-1521, and the general resort line is (231) 923-4626. Tee times for golfers run through a separate number, (231) 228-6000.

2. Homestead Resort Rooms

The room options here are more complicated than at most resorts. There are several different buildings, some charging hundreds of dollars a night, and the amenities aren’t consistent between them. Certain properties even have access to pools that others don’t, so where you book matters more than usual.

The resort hotel section is made up of four buildings: The Inn, Stony Brook Lodge, Little Belle, and Fiddler’s Pond. Beyond those, there are privately owned condos, villas, and homes — ranging from one to four bedrooms — that you can also rent.

Note: The resort charges an extra-guest fee of $100 per person, per day if you exceed your room’s occupancy limit, so book a room that fits everyone from the start.

Resort Hotels

The Inn

The Inn has been around for decades, and it shows in the decor. The upside: it sits right near the pool and beach, and it’s one of the few buildings with interior-corridor rooms. This should be your building of choice with kids — it’s also stupid expensive, but it’s where you want to be.

Rooms here range from studios to two-bedroom suites. The suites come with a kitchen, and all rooms have fireplaces.

Pro tip: This building has a guest laundry facility — a real one, useful after a sandy day at the dunes.

Number of guests per room: Two to four

Air conditioning: Yes

Wifi: Yes

Stony Brook Lodge

Stony Brook Lodge has one- and two-bedroom suites. It’s rustic — lots and lots of wood. The selling point is its own outdoor pool that only Stony Brook guests can use, which keeps the crowds down.

Number of guests per room: Four

Air conditioning: Yes

Wifi: Yes

Little Belle

Little Belle is marketed as an adults-only, couples retreat. Two adults only — kids aren’t welcome here, even though they’re allowed across the rest of the property. I find this Just. So. Odd. What does roping off one building for couples do for the experience? Does Sandals own this building? What if one adult gets stood up by the other?

All rooms are one-bedroom with a tub that holds two. It’s like the Poconos, except the tubs aren’t shaped like a champagne glass.

Number of guests per room: Two

Air conditioning: Yes

Wifi: Yes

Homestead Resort Fiddler’s Pond

Motel 6 Fiddler’s Pond is a cluster of buildings with exterior-door rooms, and it’s the only part of the resort that allows pets. I cannot state emphatically enough: skip these buildings if you’re traveling without a dog.

On our stay the rooms were outdated and dark, the dresser drawers shrieked like nails on a chalkboard, and the location wasn’t great. Worst of all, the beds the resort called queens did not feel like any queen I’ve ever slept on — more on that in the room-change saga below. (The rooms have since been remodeled and the official listing now describes two queen beds, so your mileage may vary.)

When we pulled up to our room — which ran close to $300 a night — our eight-year-old asked why we were staying at a motel. If a kid who thinks Taco Bell is fine dining can spot the problem, something is wrong. Spend the extra money to stay in a different building.

Pro tip: Some Fiddler’s Pond rooms allow pets — this is the only area of the resort that does. Note that an unauthorized pet will get you a $200-per-night cleaning fee, so don’t try to sneak Fido into another building.

Bonus pro tip: All rooms are studios, but you can book connecting rooms if you need more space.

Number of guests per room: Two to four

Air conditioning: Yes

Wifi: Yes

Homestead Resort House Rentals

You can also rent a private home or villa through the resort. Booking through the resort instead of an outside agency gets you access to the hotel amenities, which is the whole point. Helpfully, the resort ranks these rentals by quality so you can search by tier: Grand, Classic, and Simple.

Note: Only the Grand-tier properties are guaranteed to have air conditioning and Wifi. If those matter to you — and in a Michigan summer, A/C might — confirm them in writing before you book a lower tier.

3. Ways to Save

Homestead rates are steep across the board — expect to spend hundreds per night, with rentals climbing higher. The site quotes pricing by date, so plug in your travel window early. A few ways to soften the blow:

Homestead Resort Discount Packages

The resort periodically runs prepay-and-save packages where you pay upfront for a lower nonrefundable rate. Terms change, so read the fine print before you commit. Check the packages page for whatever current deals are live at the time of your booking.

Join the Loyalty Program

Planning to come back more than once? The resort has run a points-based loyalty program rewarding stays and referrals. Ask the front desk whether it’s still active and worth enrolling in for your travel plans — programs like this get rebranded, so confirm the current details directly.

Third Party Homestead Resort Bookings

Some of the Homestead’s vacation rentals show up on third-party sites like Expedia, Tripadvisor, and Travelocity. The catch: book this way and you won’t get Beach Club access, which is the prettiest part of the property. Weigh the savings against losing the best amenity.

Use Miles and Points

Because the Homestead isn’t a chain hotel, you can’t redeem hotel points here — but a flexible travel card can still take the sting out. The Capital One Venture line lets you erase travel charges from your statement: book the resort directly, then wipe it off with points. New to this? Start with our guide to earning travel points and the best beginner travel cards.

4. What is the Homestead Resort Cancellation Policy?

The cancellation terms are stricter than they used to be, and they differ between hotel rooms and the privately owned homes and villas. Read these carefully, because the close-in penalties are harsh.

• Hotel rooms: cancel 14 or more days out and your deposit is refunded minus a $50 fee (or you can apply it to a future stay). Cancel inside 14 days and the deposit is held for future use. Cancel within 72 hours of arrival and the deposit is forfeited.
• Villas and homes: cancel 14 or more days out for a refund minus $50. Cancel within 14 days and your deposit is forfeited — no future credit.

Policies do change, so confirm the current terms on the reservation policy page before you book. The short version: don’t book a villa you’re not sure about.

5. Check in Time

Check-in begins at 5:00 p.m. — late, as resort check-ins go. If your room happens to be ready early, they’ll let you in.

Pro tip: You can use the resort amenities on arrival day even if your room isn’t ready, so come dressed for the beach and don’t let that 5 p.m. clock waste your first afternoon.

6. Download the Homestead Resort Map

The resort is sprawling, confusing, and genuinely hard to navigate — we needed more than one lap around the property just to find our room. Pull up the Homestead Resort map before you arrive and save yourself the scenic-tour-by-accident.

7. Parking

Parking is included — one space with most accommodations. That is the extent of the positive things I have to say on this topic. (Note: no camper or RV parking is permitted, so plan accordingly if you roll big.)

You need a parking permit to park anywhere on property. On more than one occasion we had to park very, very far from our room. There’s also no parking near the pool except for guests staying in the immediately adjacent buildings. There’s no resort shuttle to bridge the gap either, so factor the walk into your day — especially with little kids and beach gear.

8. Quiet Time

Quiet hours run from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. No one is making noise anyway, but it’s nice to have a policy on the books for good measure. Worth knowing: noise violations carry real fees — $500 in a hotel room and $1,000 in a vacation home or villa — so keep the after-hours pool parties in check.

9. Homestead Resort Dining Options

There are a few dining options on property and a handful more nearby, but overall the choices are limited and lean pricey. The resort doesn’t even serve a sit-down breakfast, so plan your mornings — coffee and a plan beats wandering hungry.

Homestead Resort Restaurants

The four named restaurants on property are Cafe Manitou, Nonna’s, Cavanaugh’s, and Whiskers. Here’s how they shake out.

Cafe Manitou

Cafe Manitou is the resort’s water-view fine-dining room, open to guests only. Entrees cost roughly the same as a kidney on eBay. I would most definitely not bring children here.

Homestead Resort Nonna’s

Nonna’s serves Italian and runs expensive. Fine dining here shifts seasonally between Nonna’s and Cafe Manitou, so the one that’s actually open depends on when you visit — check the current hours before you build a dinner plan around either.

Cavanaugh’s

The grocery store Cavanaugh’s is where you buy the things you forgot at the grocery store. It does cook some food too, and the family-sized pizzas (not gluten free) are a decent value by Homestead standards.

Pro tip: Gluten-free pizza is available, and it’s not totally terrible.

Bonus pro tip: For an actual grocery store near the Homestead, head to Anderson’s in Glen Arbor.

Whiskers

This is where you’ll find the kids. Whiskers is the casual food-and-beer spot on property. The menu is the most affordable on site, but it won’t be your best bet with dietary restrictions.

Pro tip: You can play bags (cornhole) outside this restaurant for free — a rare no-charge activity here.

Restaurants Near Homestead Resort and Spa

Off property, there’s basically one street a few minutes away with a handful of restaurants in downtown Glen Arbor. That’s really it, and the street stays packed because there’s nowhere else to go.

Pro tip: A lot of Glen Arbor spots are cash only, and your bank almost certainly won’t have a fee-free ATM nearby. Bring more cash than you think you need.

Cherry Public House

Cherry Public House (the Cherry Republic spot at 6026 S Lake Street) has the best food near the resort. It’s got a cute outdoor area, a walk-up ice cream window, and a store that sells all things cherry.

Pro tip: Gluten-free buns are available.

Bonus pro tip: Hours are limited and it’s typically closed on Wednesdays, so this is not the place for a late-night dinner. Check the schedule before you head over.

M22

M22 is a winery with a small outdoor seating area. The wines and ciders are tasty and reasonably priced — a pleasant adults-only break between dune hikes.

The Pine Cone

The Pine Cone is a walk-up ice cream stand — cheap, with a lot of flavor options. Easy crowd-pleaser with kids.

Pro tip: The Pine Cone is cash only.

Boone Docks

Oh, Boone Docks. Avoid. Avoid. Really. Avoid. The food is terrible and overpriced, there are no gluten-free buns, and my son’s grilled cheese arrived with the cheese unmelted, swimming in a pool of liquid. There’s a reason this place has the reviews it does.

Hop Lot Brewing

Hop Lot is about 30 minutes from the resort, out toward Traverse City, but it’s worth the drive. There’s ample outdoor seating, reasonably priced food and drinks, a woodsy area to explore, and free bags. It’s far better than anything on property.

10. Homestead Resort Activities

The resort has activities, but the vast majority come with an extra charge, and there’s little to nothing organized for kids. If you want something genuinely free to do here, the answer is basically: swim. That’s it.

Homestead Resort Beach Club

The Beach Club is the highlight of the property: beachfront access on Lake Michigan, an outdoor pool, and a hot tub. It’s genuinely pretty and not to be missed — and it’s the amenity you lose if you book through a third party.

Pro tip: Parking here is a nightmare. Be prepared for a long walk, or have one adult drop everyone (and the cooler) off before going to hunt for a spot.

Bonus pro tip: Pool hours can be limited and they vary by season. Check them at the front desk when you arrive so you’re not standing at a locked gate.

Stony Brook Pool

This outdoor pool is reserved for Stony Brook guests only — a quieter option if you’re staying in that building.

Mountain Village Pool

This small pool has an even smaller water slide and a hot tub. It tends to draw a crowd, so it’s the rowdiest of the swim options.

Pro tip: They’ll lend you towels to use, but you can’t take them back to your room.

Homestead Resort Fitness Center

There’s a fitness center on property for guests who want to keep up a workout routine. Equipment selection at small resorts shifts over time, so peek inside on arrival if a full gym matters to you.

Homestead Resort Spa

Spa Amira offers treatments at a substantial added cost. It’s adults only, and there’s a pool attached that’s also reserved for adult guests — handy if you’ve earned a kid-free hour.

Pro tip: Check for spa specials at the time of your visit.

Lillyjade Salon

Lillyjade is the on-site salon for hair and nail services. Unlike Spa Amira, Lillyjade welcomes children, so it’s the better pick for a mother-daughter manicure.

Tennis

The resort has tennis courts — four Har-Tru clay courts near the Beach Club. You might assume court time comes with your stay. It does not; courts and lessons cost extra. Rates change, so ask for current pricing when you book a court or a lesson rather than budgeting off an old number.

Bags

You can play bags in front of Whiskers free of charge — one of the very few things here that won’t show up on your bill.

Homestead Resort Winter Activities

Honestly, the Homestead is a more compelling resort in winter if you ski. There’s a lift on property, plus rentals and lessons available on site. Snowboarding and ice skating round out the cold-weather lineup.

Pro tip: Check the Homestead Resort trail map to sort out your priorities before you click into the bindings.

Note: The ski hill is open to the general public, so guests don’t have it to themselves — but they do get a discount.

11. What to Do Near Homestead Resort

Sleeping Bear Dunes

The big draw near the resort is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, about 15 minutes away by car (you’ll need a vehicle). The beaches, dune climb, and hiking trails are the real reason to be in this corner of Michigan. Guided tours to Sleeping Bear Dunes run from the Traverse City area if you’d rather not drive yourself.

Heads up on fees: The national lakeshore charges an entrance fee — $25 per vehicle for a 7-day pass, $15 per person on foot or bike (ages 16+), or $45 for an annual pass. The park has been cashless since 2023, so bring a card. For the full rundown, see our guide to whether Sleeping Bear Dunes is worth the trip.

Homestead Resort Golf Course

Manitou Passage Golf Club, the resort’s championship course, is an Arnold Palmer Signature design nearby. There’s also a shorter par-3 nine-hole course on property if you want something quicker (or kid-friendlier).

Boat Rentals

You can rent a variety of watercraft to get out on the water, and fishing trips can be booked as well.

Bicycle Rentals

Bikes can be rented from The Cyclery nearby — a solid way to hit the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

12. Is the Homestead Dog Friendly?

Is the Homestead Resort pet friendly? Sort of. Pets are allowed, but only in a limited number of Fiddler’s Pond rooms — nowhere else on property. Bring a dog to another building and you’re looking at a $200-per-night cleaning fee, so book the pet rooms specifically and confirm availability when you reserve.

13. Pack Appropriately for the Homestead Michigan

The resort sits on the water in northern Michigan, and the weather can turn cold and windy even in summer — Lake Michigan does not care about the calendar. Check the forecast before you pack and bring layers.

Pro tip: If you plan to hike the dunes, pack real shoes — the sand is no place for flip-flops. For a fuller list, borrow from our tips for traveling with kids.

14. Check-out

Check-out is no later than 11:00 a.m. The resort accepts late-checkout requests but won’t guarantee them, and if you linger past 11 without permission, they may charge you for an additional night. Don’t gamble on it.

Pro tip: You can still use the resort amenities after you’ve checked out of your room, so squeeze in one last beach morning before the drive home.

15. The Employees at Homestead Resort in Northern Michigan Are Great

The resort leaves a lot to be desired in a lot of ways, but the employees are not one of them. Everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful, and the manager who handled our room issue went genuinely above and beyond.

Room Change

We started our stay in Fiddler’s Pond. When the beds described as queens slept distinctly more like fulls, I contacted the front desk. I know complaining about bed size is a first-world problem, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s uncomfortable to share a too-small bed with a kid who rolls around all night.

I asked whether we could move to a room with the queen beds I’d booked. The very nice front desk employee explained that I did, in fact, have queen beds, and that all Fiddler’s Pond rooms are the same. Unfortunately for her, the width of a standard queen happens to be the same number of inches as one of my children, so I had a human measuring stick.

I relayed the discrepancy, to which she responded that the resort “considers” those beds to be queens. Well, that’s great, but the rest of the world doesn’t, so…..

To their credit, all I wanted was a room with the queen beds I’d paid for — not an upgrade. But when the manager called back, we got a big upgrade to a two-bedroom suite at The Inn plus a resort dining credit. I’m not sure if that was the greatest guest recovery ever or if the manager did some quick furniture googling, but I was happy with the result. (Worth noting: the Fiddler’s Pond rooms have since been remodeled, so the bed situation may have changed.)

16. Is the Homestead Good for Families?

Here’s the honest take after a stay with kids: the Homestead is a couples, golf, and ski resort that happens to allow families, not a family resort. The setting is gorgeous and the Beach Club is a real highlight, but there’s almost nothing structured for children, the dining is limited and pricey, and you’ll pay resort money for a stay your kids will mostly remember as “the place with the long walk to the pool.”

If you’re traveling as a couple, or your kids are older and self-entertaining, it’s a different calculation — and in ski season it gets a real bump. For families with little ones in summer, though, the value just isn’t there. Below are the questions we get asked most.

Homestead Resort Michigan FAQ

Which building should families book at the Homestead?

The Inn. It’s near the pool and beach and has interior-corridor rooms, which is what you want with kids. It’s the most expensive option, but it’s worth it over the motel-style Fiddler’s Pond rooms.

How much does the Homestead Resort cost?

Rates run high — figure hundreds of dollars per night, with private villas and homes climbing higher. Pricing is quoted by date on the official site, so check your specific travel window rather than budgeting off a fixed number.

Is the Homestead Resort pet friendly?

Yes, but only in a limited number of Fiddler’s Pond rooms. Pets aren’t allowed anywhere else, and an unauthorized pet in another building triggers a $200-per-night cleaning fee.

What is there to do near the Homestead Resort?

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the headliner, about 15 minutes away. You can also golf at Manitou Passage, rent boats or bikes, and drive 40 minutes to Traverse City for more family-friendly options, including a Great Wolf Lodge.

17. What Might Be Better Than the Homestead Glen Arbor?

If you’re set on the Sleeping Bear Dunes area, consider Crystal Mountain instead. It’s also pricey and isolated, but there’s more to do. Alternatively, Traverse City is about 40 minutes away and loaded with family-friendly options, including a Great Wolf Lodge with an indoor water park that’s open year-round. Touring more of the state? Our take on whether Fort Mackinac is worth visiting with kids pairs well with a northern Michigan road trip.

Final Thoughts – Homestead Resort Michigan

The Homestead Resort has knockout views from certain spots, but with kids you can do better elsewhere. It’s expensive, in the middle of nowhere, and short on activities to keep them busy. If you do go, spring for a room in The Inn, work it into a road trip, stay a couple of nights at most, and save real time for what’s actually worth the drive up here — the dunes, the lake, and the rest of what Michigan has to offer.

Related Articles to Homestead Resort Michigan: You Can Do Better with Kids:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: Worth a Trip to Nowhere?

Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa: Nice but Overpriced (at Least in the Summer)

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Homestead Resort Michigan