ANCHOR INN – Lakeside Comfort in Traverse City

Anchor Inn is a 1940s-era motel and cottage resort with 11 units set on wooded grounds along West Bay. Units range from cozy queen rooms to a two-bedroom cottage and the Lake House, each with air conditioning, private bathrooms with showers, and kitchenettes. All rooms include a dining area, sofa bed, and gas fireplace, with free WiFi and on-site private parking provided.

The resort offers a private beach area directly across the road with Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, and a shaded picnic area. Guests have access to kayaks, life jackets, canoes, and water sport facilities on site at no extra cost. A wood-fired sauna sits near the beach for post-swim warmth, and badminton equipment is available for hire.

The grounds feature a large bonfire pit with firewood and lighter fluid provided at no charge, plus an outdoor fireplace and an additional fire pit near the cottages. A children's playground, volleyball net, and expansive lawns with picnic tables and outdoor furniture are spread across the property. Each unit has its own grill with charcoal supplied, and complimentary s'mores kits are available at the office.

Anchor Inn is a 5-minute drive from downtown Traverse City and a 10-minute drive from Suttons Bay, with direct access to the 17-mile TART paved biking trail. The inn is 9 km from Cherry Capital Airport and near Dennos Museum Center (8 km) and Clinch Park (5 km). Guests can rent e-bikes on site to explore the Leelanau Peninsula wineries and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The inn is dog-friendly, with easy access to grass areas for bathroom breaks and cleanup stations provided. Families can use the playground, borrow yard games, and gather at the two fire pits or the private beach for shared activities. The Lake House offers a fully stocked kitchen, making it suitable for groups preparing group meals.

Private beach: Kayaks, canoes, fire pit, and wood-fired sauna

Rooms: 11 units with gas fireplaces and kitchenettes

Outdoor: 2 fire pits with free firewood, grills with charcoal

Family: Playground, yard games, s'mores kits

Pet friendly: Dog-friendly rooms with cleanup stations

Activities: E-bike rentals, TART trail access, volleyball