What to Pack
Personally, we don't like to over-plan our vacations, but a little planning can help you get away from the daily grind and make your stay more enjoyable. We put this list together to help you decide what to pack for vacation, because we want your stay at the cottages to be as comfortable as possible.
What You Can Expect to Find When You Arrive
- a clean cottage
- a kitchen completely furnished with a stove, refrigerator/freezer, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, slow cooker, electric griddle, pots, pans, cooking utensils, dishes, and silverware
- beds with clean bedding
- a portable fan and a ceiling fan in each bedroom
Consider Packing These Items
- bottled water
- beach, bath, and kitchen towels
- a kid's special blanket or pillow
- a comfortable folding chair to sit on at the lake
- table cloths for picnic tables
- bicycles
- inflatable rafts and toys
- air pump for inflatables
- anything for around the camp fire -- axe, hot dog cookers, marshmallow sticks, fixin's for s'mores
- sweatshirts and hoodies
- mosquito spray
- cameras and binoculars
Food for Thought
- Meals: Preparing good, home-cooked meals doesn’t have to interfere with your vacation. We provide a slow cooker in each cottage so you don’t have to bring one. A slow cooker can free up a lot of your time so you can focus on getting away.
- Coolers with food: Good-sized coolers can sit outside the cottage door and free up floor space in the kitchen.
- If you fish, bring your poles, tackle box, bucket, rags, rain gear, and filet knife.
- Fishing licenses. They can be purchased in town at Wellman's Bait and Tackle, Rogers Ace Hardware, and Walmart in Tawas City.
- If you will be docking a boat, bring what is necessary to secure your boat to the dock.
- If you're not familiar with Van Ettan Lake, contact Greg to discuss how best to navigate these waters.
- Life jackets. We have some, but if you own one that fits better, you should bring it.
- Trailers: A boat/kayak trailer can be stored on our property.
- Each cottage has a gas grill, but we have a charcoal grill available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Sand toys. If you have young ones, playing on the beach in the sand is a given. If you forget to bring them, we have some sand toys you’re welcome to use.
Weather
On days when weather isn’t cooperating, go into town and shop or get acquainted with the area. On this website, locate the “Get to Know Oscoda” page in the menu and watch the video. If you see some place you’d like to go, let us know and we’ll tell you how to get there.
OOPS!!
- If we don’t have it, you didn’t bring it, and you still need it, there are grocery and hardware stores in town and a Walmart about 17 miles south.
- Laundry: There is a full-service laundromat in town.
- What NOT to Bring? Pets! We have a strict NO PETS policy. Please leave them home.