Firefly Lodge, Giant Riverview, Hot Tub, Woodstove

Grand, light-soaked, and sitting right on the river's edge with a cedar deck cantilevered over the current — Firefly Lodge is the Traverse City rental that sleeps a crowd without feeling institutional, thanks to a vaulted wood-ceiling great room, a wood-burning stove, and a setting deep enough in the pines that you'll hear the water from every window.

Inside the cabin

The great room is the lodge's main event: a vaulted tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling runs the length of the space, with tall windows on three sides pulling in green forest light all day. A freestanding cast-iron wood stove anchors one end; a broad leather sectional, a mid-century lounge chair, and a flat-screen TV fill the rest. The room flows seamlessly into an open-plan kitchen, warm maple cabinetry, a breakfast bar with bar stools, a full-size refrigerator, and plenty of prep counter for feeding a large group. A dedicated laundry room houses a full Samsung washer-dryer set and adds everyday practicality for stays of any length.

Room to rest

Four bedrooms accommodate up to 18 guests across two bathrooms. One of the bedrooms features a built-in loft alcove with LED accent lighting, a mounted TV, and its own ladder access, an instant hit with kids. A bright sitting room with two corner windows overlooking the forest doubles as a quiet reading or work space.

Outside your door

A cedar composite deck wraps the riverfront, set with a dining table and string lights above the flowing water. A pebble path and stepping stones lead through the plantings to additional lawn space, the whole yard is framed by towering cedars and firs.

What's Nearby

The Boardman River runs past the back deck and leads straight into downtown, you're walking distance from the restaurants, breweries, and waterfront that define Traverse City lodges at their best, with the Sleeping Bear Dunes less than an hour west.

Perfect For

Large families or multi-family groups wanting a genuine riverfront setting, a kid-friendly loft, a wood stove for cool nights, and enough room for 18 people to gather without getting in each other's way.