We are The Christophers (Frank, Madison, Frankie 19 & Abby 15) and The Third Coast Hideaway is our family's SW Lake Michigan dream vacation home that we found Summer of 2019. Even though we live on a lake at home, it didn't stop me from dreaming of owning a vacation home in an area that you're pretty much guaranteed full beds. There are so many things you cannot experience unless you have friends and family stay with you for days vs. hours. Like the irresistible fun that comes from an impromptu dance party while cleaning up the dishes - with wooden spoons as mics & laughing hysterically together. Or the days, where everyone goes off to explore different interests, then meets up at the house for lively, ping-pong dinner conversation(s). #TCHPriceless. It took us over 3 years of many weekend trips to find TCH. It's my happy place, and so it is incredibly important to me that we get all your questions answered, and all your worries replaced with excitement - before you book! Call me! Ask away! I promise to answer all with 100% honesty. We look forward to sharing its magic with you. :) Madison P.S. call me (269) 264-8750 - really. I'm a morning person so call me as early as 7:30 am (Michigan time - Eastern) and we'll have coffee together.
"Yes - We actually bribed our kids to find TCH!"
It took us a while to narrow down the town we wanted to be in along Lake Michigan, everyone has its own pretty personality. North Michigan is beautiful, but the drive isn't. So we started looking up and down the SW Coast from New Buffalo, Union Pier, St. Joseph, Three Oaks, South Haven, Holland, among others. The search seemed endless, we started questioning if this was ever going to happen. Three years of road trips, (and bribing the kids with fun activities) finally led us to Saugatuck-Douglas. It felt perfect - the energy, the people, the atmosphere of it, that this was where we needed to be. Neighborhood searching (more bribes) finally led us to the Third Coast Hideaway. A beautiful green gem, perched on a slight hill, in the most amazing location, the charming, hip downtown, the size with 5 bedrooms and 4 baths, room for a pool, the boxes were quickly being checked and we were feeling excited! Then I stepped onto that screened in porch, with the gardens and fountains and birds chirping and the incredible light, I was blown away and said to Frank in awe, "This is a sanctuary". Fifteen minutes later, grinning, we left with the realtor, and started the process of making it ours.
Why "TCH"? (Here's an actual, real-life scenario.)
Besides the high end, eye pleasing, well appointed, extremely neat and clean and safe property, hands down it's because it's a BIG GROUP - PEOPLE PLEASING PLACE! Everyone can do what they want, when they want. Picture this, you all arrive, and you have a group of 11 of all ages. Grandma who loves to cook & Grandpa who loves to walk. explore and talk to people, Mom with little kids who just wants to read a book, drink wine and relax, Dad who wants to golf every day, kids ages 1 (crawling), 4 (running), 13 (semi-independent), 16 (independent), your sister's family w/ their 24-year-old son who loves going out at night. They all want to experience their vacation in their own way and TCH is BeaUtIfUL that way! Grandma couldn’t be happier to have the kitchen all to herself since Grandpa keeps busy by exploring the downtown and waterfront on foot. Mom is ecstatic that she discovered that she can lock the backyard fenced-in-area so she can actually read an entire page in her book without fear of her little ones escaping, Dad is happy that she is happy and takes the car (no one will be stranded) to go golfing. The 13-year-old can go with the 16-year-old to Oval Beach & back on the Interurban. In the middle of cooking Grandma realizes she needs eggs, so she simply walks 3 houses away to the grocery store. Everyone meets back at the house by 6 for dinner. While the adults have after-dinner cocktails, the kids decide to duck out and go bowling one house away. The 24-year-old takes the Interurban to the BARge and back, no drinking & driving worries. It's a win win win win win! It’s a relaxing, no stress, happy, people pleasing place!