Whaleback Inn

We spent two nights at The Whaleback Inn and absolutely loved it. The property managers were so welcoming. Our room was clean, comfortable, had a gorgeous view of the lake, and the AC worked great. The location was perfect! We had several excellent restaurants to choose from in the area and we loved the little town of Leland/ Fish Town. After dinner we experienced a glorious sunset over Lake Michigan. There are several beaches to swim and enjoy within a short drive. |There was a very lovely hike within easy walking distance from the Whaleback Inn. |Lake Lelandau is beautiful and directly across the street there are two docks for the guests use. The grounds and porches offer lovely spaces to read and relax. We would definitely stay here again.

This is way overdue! My husband and I stayed here last June for 3 nights. It was great. We stayed here starting 40 years ago and they have made many improvements to the place. The rooms are immaculate and views can’t be beat. Location is excellent, we hit Leland and some wineries, Suttons Bay for lunch, hiking trail. So much to do around the inn. The innkeepers were very friendly and we loved hanging on the porch with resident cat, Hank either having coffee and muffins or an evening drink.We are planning a return trip this summer. Worth every penny!

This place is amazing!! We pulled in yesterday for two nights. Low key, great view, comfortable beds and I would love to come back already and we haven't even left. I would give more stars if possible. We are on a two week tour of Michigan and was going to stay in Traverse City. We are happy that we changed our minds! I would highly recommend whenever I can. Best place we have stayed in and we have been on the road for a week and a half!

Perfect place for a great relaxing and refreshing weekend respite. We stayed on south manitou for a week and were more than thankful to have booked our stay for a second time at this amazing inn. We found it immediately welcoming, quiet and pure bliss. Plus the innkeepers do everything in their power to make your stay as relaxing as possible. They even were so kind to jump start our car. Our hope is they will always be available for vacation in the future. Ps if you visit please beware of Hank the gorgeous orange tabby. He likes to be in the drive way.

We picked to stay here because it looked nice and was right on the water, not to mention very close to where we were visiting. We had an amazing view of the lake from our room, got to hike a nearby trail and enjoyed the amenities of this location. The staff were amazing and very accommodating. I plan to come back someday and hope to have the same amazing experience!

Absolutely loved staying here. I wished we could have stayed longer. The place was perfect for our party of five - two adults and three teenagers. We had adjoining rooms and patio. There is a common kitchen area which enabled us to prepare our meals and sit as a family to dine. All the kids LOVED Hank the resident cat :) The Whaleback Inn is located across the street from the water with gorgeous views. We are not a family of swimmers, so it was perfect for us. Although, they do have water vessels to use/checkout if that’s your thing. It was a short drive into a couple of quiet towns. Very enjoyable stay.

Had a wonderful, relaxing stay at the Whaleback Inn. The room was very comfortable and spotless! Big shoutout to the team who cleans and cares for the rooms - their attention to detail shows. Enjoyed sitting on the dock on Lake Leelanau - awesome view! The view from the main porch and the room’s shared porch (Queen Bed Lakeview room) is also stunning. I highly recommend a stay at Whaleback.

You will relax the moment you arrive at the Whaleback Inn. We were warmly greeted and shown the amenities of the property. Our room was very clean and comfortable. We had a lake view room and I loved looking at the lake from our patio. The grounds are well maintained with many places to sit outside - on the lawn, porch or your patio -to take in the lovely scenery. Bring your dinner or glass of wine and unwind outside. After a day of hiking at Sleeping Bear Dunes, I couldn't wit to cool off my feet in the lake and reading a book on their dock. We ate breakfast on the porch each morning. Thank you for all of your hard work to make our stay so memorable. I am already looking forward to another stay here.

Had a wonderful time. Rachel and Ty are very kind and helpful. They made sure we had everything we needed. Accomodations were clean and quaint. We loved seeing Hank on the porch! Close to town. Restaurant suggestions were very much appreciated. Breakfast at Fiddleheads and dinner at The Cove topped off a great mother's day weekend.

Amazing place. Great quiet location. Very comfy beds. So relaxing. Highly recommend. And of course, Hank the cat makes things even better!

The rooms are very comfortable with a great view of the water. The couple who runs the inn are the friendliest and nicest people we have met. We plan on staying here again when we come back to the area.

We stayed here while in the area for a family wedding. It was one of the three hotels where there were room blocks and where the couple arranged to have a bus pick up and drop off wedding guests. I am fairly certain that is what helped influence our decision to stay here. My sister and I arrived after our mother, with whom we were sharing a room. We went to the office to check in and the gentleman working was prepared for our arrival with our key, happily showed us where our room and parking spot were (there is one spot available per room, directly in front of the door of your room). He was also happy to give us a quick tour of the amenities, including a snack/gathering room, dock area across the road, where the continental breakfast would be, etc. The room was not large. But we didn't need a big room. There were two generously sized, comfortable beds. There was reliable wifi. The owners/staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. It is convenient to the town of Leland and some absolutely cute shops and wineries. It is only about 15-20 miles to Traverse City, but I didn't mind being further away from there. It was lovely. And I would gladly stay here again for a getaway!

Loved this place! Perfect place for a Pure Michigan getaway. Very charming, clean and close to all the attractions.

What a beautiful inn and location!!! We were up North for fall wine tasting and found this inn. We were greeted by the Innkeeper and given a brief tour. The room was lovely and in a quiet location. Ironically, there was a piece of art on the wall by the same artist that we have a painting at home. It is distinctive due to the birch trees going off the picture and "on the frame". We would stay there again and hope for warmer weather to enjoy the chairs and view of the lake.

This place is so cute, a little inn across from the water where everything looks exactly what you hope it looks like. Does that make sense, I hope it does. we met our mother here and got into our room. The rooms are decently sized, but the furniture takes up a good amount of space. It is all log style furniture, so it was large. But that was ok for us, we didn't need a bunch of extra space. The main building has a beautiful wrap around porch where they would serve a basic breakfast of toast, muffins, coffee, and hot chocolate in the mornings. It was just very picturesque and a wonderful place to say.

Cute, super clean and friendly. Stayed here a couple of days while visiting family nearby. Nice view of Lake Leelanau. Coffee and muffins on the porch in the morning 7:30-9 as you watch the sunrise. Lounge chairs on the dock across M22.

Hosts are very welcoming. View...beautiful! Healthy continental breakfast... yogurt, fresh fruits, whole grain breads, delish cherry jam? Sauce? Negatives- our room had a large king that was posted quite a ways off the floor. Difficult for short person to get on and off. Bed sags in middle. Skylights... woke us up at 6:30am with sunlight. Not cool on vacay.

It's a lovely area. You're paying mostly for the location. Nothing comes with the room which are smaller. Even the ice is a community bag in a community fridge. It costs to get more than a scoop. Everything else has a price tag on it. It has a senior community feel. Positive: The beds are good. It's very clean. The area is beautiful. The people are nice.

This place is just perfect! Our group of 12 want to return with a larger group and rent the entire Inn. The grounds are breathtaking, just across the road from Lake Leelanau. We stayed in #16 in a suite and it was lovely. You will need to walk across the road to reach the Whaleback Inn dock for swimming but it's doable. We had a blast swimming with our kiddos during our last afternoon there. You cannot imagine the beauty of this setting. The owners live onsite and are gracious and readily available to help answer questions about what to do and where to eat. They recommended the Cove for our friend's 50th birthday dinner and it was a neat place about a mile away in Fish town. Picture a super fancy camp and you're at Whaleback Inn. There were people of all ages there and most were very friendly. We met a guest who used to row with my brother-in-law at OSU and my friend met a guest who went to his high school. The front porch where the yummy continental breakfast (including bread, cherry jam, muffins, vanilla yogurt, blueberries, cantaloupe, coffee, juice) is served is the gathering place. There are also several tables on the lawn, facing the lake. There is a little kitchen with snacks available to purchase (on the honor system) and complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. You can buy a bag of ice and fill up your water bottles with purified water. It's a good place to have a late night dessert with your peeps. We set up a charcuterie dinner on the front porch, for our last night there and that was nice. Whaleback Inn is my kind of place to make memories! We'll be back!

Staying at the Whaleback Inn was a total delight from check-in to check-out. A very large group of us from all over the country (most of which were in town from New York City) stayed here for a destination wedding that happened about 20 minutes away. I couldn't imagine a more relaxing, comfortable and hometown-feeling place to stay. The very courteous staff were always working hard to make sure that everything went smoothly and that we were accommodated. The rooms are "rustic" in a Disney's Wilderness Lodge kind of way. Clean and attractive (with very comfortable beds), modern conveniences like HDTV and most have a view of the lake across the street. They are quiet and relaxing. There is a rec room where you can buy candy, popcorn, water, soda, coffee or ice (based on the honor system). I would have loved to have a bathtub in the restroom...but given the size of the space, it is understandable why not all rooms have one. The porch breakfast and "afternoon tea/lemonade" were both great. Plenty of hardboiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, breads, bagels and pastries (as well as coffee, tea and an assortment of juices). Don't miss the dock across the street! Carefully cross the street and bring a towel with you to sit on...there is a paddle boat and a few chairs. This place was a perfect example of a small, family run inn. I'd recommend it to anyone and hope to be back again sometime soon!

Stayed here for a long weekend with a group of girlfriends. Snagged a Cottage Suite, which was way more spacious than we expected--nice surprise! We had a full-sized fridge and a small stove. We didn't use the stove, but the fridge was great for storing all the L. Mawby! :) Whaleback Inn is beautiful, conveniently located, and well-appointed. The owners were super friendly and readily accessible. We enjoyed breakfast on the porch each morning, and took advantage of the Lake Leelanau access for swimming and hanging out on the dock. Honestly, the only complaints were the lack of a soap dish at the bathroom sink (the soap kept sliding off the sink and onto the counter!) and morning coffee that wasn't as strong as we would have wished... super minor things that don't merit a loss of star by any means. We'll definitely be back!

Excellent experience for 2 girlfriends getting away from families for a few days. This Inn faces East, so you're not going to see sunsets, but you will see sunrises over Lake Leelanau, which is a really nice lake. The people at the Inn were all so welcoming, helpful and friendly. We stayed in their smallest room with no view (#9) and it was really quite cramped, but it didn't take away from the experience of the wineries and local life around the peninsula. I loved sitting on the porch with my morning coffee and a book while my friend slept. Coffee was good, breakfast offered decent continental choices-- some super amazing cinnamon toast and cherry butter... OMG. My only complaint would be the air conditioning. We had a really hard time cooling the room down sometimes. It was really quite hot the few days we were staying, so I'm not sure if that's why. I would definitely recommend this place for couples or friend get-aways.

Very welcoming staff that came out from behind the desk, shook our hands and made us feel like family. Not only that but the property is gorgeous with amazing views of the lake. Don't miss the private doc with Adirondack chairs right on the water. Of course since this is a hotel we should also comment that the room was well equipped and very romantic.

Rented out all the rooms for a "destination" wedding. Everyone who stayed here had nothing but great things to say. Owners are super friendly and helpful. They were great at suggesting places to stop at while in the area. Rooms were very clean, cute, and updated. Inn is located across the street from the water and most of the rooms have a view. They even have a dock that you can sit at or bring your own boat to tie up. If we had more time we were thinking of renting a boat for a few days and the dock would have been perfect for that. Different review complained about prices, but after searching every possible option in the area for other wedding guests, this Inn was actually on the lower end. In the summer prices on all lodging spikes, especially with how popular Traverse City is becoming. Breakfast on the porch in the morning if you are a morning person and get up early enough. Great little Inn, already have another stay booked in the spring.

We adored this absolutely adorable and gorgeous inn. The owners were so kind and welcoming. Always available if we needed anything. The continental breakfast was yummy and perfect. We would drink our coffee and look at the views. We paid extra for the suite which was ah-mazing. Panoramic views of the lake in front of us. We just really loved this spot. It's so close to downtown Leland too. Please stay here!!! It's exactly what you would want in a small town Upper Michigan town.

A beautiful, charming, cozy inn with a beautiful lake view. Family owned with really sweet management. Paddle board and kayak rentals onsite, nice breakfast included. Very comfortable and a convenient location. Loved our time there!

Perfect view. Just stayed here for a wedding. I was very impressed. The view, the service, everything. The owners were easy to work with. They have a great breakfast and community room. You can walk down to the water and take in the view, or you can have a seat on the massive porch and look at the view. We stayed in a newly renovated room. We did not meet anyone who was not impressed. Its a must if in Leland. BTW lots of fun vineyards around. You have to go to town. good food.

I don't usually write reviews about hotels or resorts but after my experience at the Whaleback Inn this weekend I felt someone should to prevent future travelers from staying there. Pros: Scenic setting. The owners were nice. Cons: Overpriced, I have stayed at hotels worldwide and none have been as overpriced as this one. For $180/night we couldn't even get a dry towel. I believe they air dry the towels because both of ours were wet when we checked in, and still the following morning. Check in is in a little cabin where the owners also live. Apparently they keep their door open with a sign that says, "private residence" and you can look into their not-so-clean home. The A/C was in poor condition and we couldn't read the numbers on the display. Maybe our fault, maybe not, but we woke up like icicles. Check out is at 10am (in case you miss the unpleasant "CHECK OUT BEFORE 10AM TO AVOID EXTRA CHARGES!" sign in the room). Breakfast (plain continental breakfast) only lasts an hour and a half from 730 to 9am. I'm not sure what material the door are made out of but they definitely don't close well. The bathroom door had to be pushed pretty hard and pulled equally as hard to open/close it. Based on my experience, I would suggest you find a better place close by. I'm sure you can find a lot for $180+/night.

Great B & B in Leland MI. Coffee on the patio in the morning is great. This is close to Fishtown... 1 mile away.

What a fabulous find! Our stay at the Whaleback Inn was phenomenal. From the moment we were greeted by Scott and Tammie in the front office to the time we checked out it was a very enjoyable experience. We felt as though we had been invited in their home with warm hospitality. The location across from the lake is stunning. I highly recommend the Whaleback Inn and urge people to enjoy the beautiful peninsula.

We had a wonderful experience here, even in the very early spring. The owner generously gave us a bottle of wine to help celebrate the milestone we were celebrating. Very pretty views from the4 rooms, and the break room was very convenient. We hope to return to this lovely place.

The guy who runs this place was sooo friendly and helpful throughout our stay. Very peaceful and picturesque atmosphere.

Wonderful spot to vacation in Michigan! Owners are friendly and attentive. Many local attractions. Enjoy the sunrise from their dock over Lake Leelanau or take a short walk to see the sun set on Lake Michigan. You will have a great time!