Lighthouse Tour along the West #Michigan Gold Coast

Lighthouse Tour along the West #Michigan Gold Coast

We get excited about lighthouse tours just like you do! Between vineyards, beach towns and festivals, enjoying a tour along the west coast of Michigan can be one of your best beach vacations ever. To help you plan your lighthouse tour, we have now compiled a list of terrific lighthouses along Lake Michigan.

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While enjoying your Michigan lighthouse tour, take a drive down the West Michigan Pike. With wine and craft beer tours along serene and quiet beach towns, you’ll want to stay for more, which is why you will want to rent a Michigan Vacation Rental along the coast. Enjoy the street performers of Holland, Michigan or the sand dunes at Silver Lake. Enjoy a historical sail across Lake Michigan on the Friends Good Will Ship, telling the story of commerce in the 1800s and War of 1812. To view area rentals, click here: Saugatuck Vacation Rentals

Holland Harbor Lighthouse

Holland Harbor Lighthouse

Have you ever heard of St. Joseph, Michigan? A popular destination for those that live in the Chicago and surrounding area love to visit the      “Riviera of the Midwest” with the deep waters perfect for fishing and a golden sandy beach that stretches for miles with a spectacular view of the St. Joseph Lighthouse. Only 90 minutes from Chicago, you don’t want to miss this incredible town along the way. To find rentals in the area, look at our Benton Harbour area vacation rentals

The Great Lakes hold more than 6,000 sunken ships. In the springtime, Lake Michigan can be so clear that even finding shipwrecks from an airplane can be easy. The cold freshwater at the bottom is about 39 degrees year-round which is a great temperature for preserving shipwrecks and even the handful of airplane crashes. If you’re looking for excitement on your lighthouse tour, here it is!

The maritime history among all the lighthouses are a nautical nod to our nation’s past in historical events such as the Pearl Harbor attack, World War II, and the Cold War.  The Little Sable Point Lighthouse is a must see for travelers looking at Michigan lighthouses. This is the tallest along Lake Michigan and is great view from the top. A great way to admire the sunset on Lake Michigan. Another popular one is north of Grand Haven is the Grand Haven Lighthouse and Pier, festively decorated with lights along the pier. A famous and most often photographed is the majestic Ludington’s North Breakwater Light. Ranked #1 in the state, this lighthouse is also a must see on your Lake Michigan lighthouse tour. All lighthouses have a nominal fee of around 5.00 dollars to better ensure the future of these historical markers.

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Summertime is great for travel to West Michigan as tours of the lighthouses are always going on. But added bonuses to this type of travel is the aurora borealis, also called the northern lights, after the night begins to fall. This rare glimpse of Mother Nature’s magnitude is highly recommended and can only be seen in certain parts of the world. The golf courses along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan are also some of the best in the country. In the fall, treat yourself to visiting some of the most haunted lighthouses. While most of them are legends, some great storytelling and history are combined to create a different kind of vibe. Be careful when planning though, most lighthouses close around the end of October.

All lighthouses can be done over a span of 2 days but be sure to include delightful lunches along the shore and check out the area’s art history and museums for a glimpse into history. Enjoying all of the western coast of Michigan can be rejuvenating and a refresher from the hectic daily schedules, so we suggest booking atleast 4-6 days to fully take in what Michigan has to offer.

For more information on Michigan Lighthouses and to see a map and events, please click through to our new lighthouse page! Michigan Lighthouse Tour

From Millennials to Baby Boomers: Booking #Vacation #Rentals Directly with Owners/Managers is Preferred

At RentWisconsinCabins.com we understand that renters want a vacation rental website that allows them to compare properties and BOOK DIRECTLY with the owners or managers. In fact, we have rolled out several state-specific, vacation rental websites that provide a clear path to book directly with owners/managers. Wisconsin (2009), Minnesota (2013), Michigan (2013), New York (2014), and earlier this month Montana.

In addition to studying search habits and keeping an eye on vacation rental industry communities; we ASK renters what is important to THEM. After renters send an inquiry to any of our property owners/managers, we ask them to take a short survey. We get several responses each week, going back to early 2012.

Our survey responses continue to show – from Pre-Millennials to Baby Boomers – the ability to connect AND book directly with owners or property managers is a very big deal.

  • Ages 19-26: 100% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Ages 26-35: 83% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Ages 36-45: 75% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Here’s where it gets interesting …these 2 demographic accounts for 75% of our website traffic:
    Ages 46-55: 89% of survey respondents prefer to book direct
    Ages 56+: 100% of survey respondents prefer to book direct

So why do big booking websites ignore what renters want? What future renters want? They need renters to click that Book Now button so they can continually take booking commissions – on rental properties they don’t even own. RENTERS ARE SMART! Tens-of-thousands use booking websites to find rental names just so they can “Google them” in an effort to book direct. For renters to go through such a process speaks volumes about HOW they want to book vacation rentals.

Our book direct philosophy certainly explains why traffic to all of our state-specific, vacation rental websites doubles every year. IT’S A WIN WIN: By helping rental owners grow their online brand, we’ve also made it easy for renters to book direct. Each property listing has THE resort/rental name; address; phone number; link to property website; links to property Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, LinkedIn. Last year we introduced YouTube videos too.

We give renters more options than any other listing website to learn about vacation rentals, plus made it easy to book directly with the best tour guides …the property owners/managers. Vacation memories should never include potentially paying more because of commissions or fees.

Relax. Enjoy your search. You’re on cabin time!

The JM Creative Group
Member RentWisconsinCabins.com
Member RentMinnesotaCabins.com
Member RentMichiganCabins.com
Member RentNewYorkCabins.com
Member RentMontanaCabins.com
Watch us grow…

A Welcome to Our Vacation Rental Owners in Montana

Here at RentMontanaCabins.com we have worked really hard to prove to vacation rental owners that the service that we provide is in the better interest for them, not us. We aren’t interested in stealing your hard earned dollars in booking commission fees. Instead, we promote EVERYTHING about you: Your cabin rental website (if you have one), your social media channels, and your brand. We get it – big booking websites have lost their focus. Have a look at what we can do for you:

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On the left of the screen, the vacation rental search begins by selecting a specific town, or needs such as bedrooms, rates, pet friendly, etc. On the right side of the screen, vacationers can use the map and zoom in to compare Montana Cabin rentals. Both can be combined in the search too.

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Users can also search for their cabin or lodge rental through the list of towns in Montana by scrolling down. This also gives them a chance to read about what there is to do in town, events, or major cities close by. On the right, there is a list of rentals that are in the area. Renters can see what the price range and how many it sleeps from the main screen. LISTINGS ALWAYS SHUFFLE, GIVING EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO BE AT THE TOP- FOR NO ADDITIONAL COST.

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Once vacationers select a cabin, ranch or lodge for rent, they can read all about it on a details page. How many it sleeps, how many bedrooms, the fun things to do in the area, photos and videos all show what makes that cabin and area Unique. Users can inquire directly with you while we get out of the way so you can be in charge of all of your rental bookings.

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Then, while users are filling out the inquiry form and reading all about it, they can watch videos about your property, testimonials, or popular attractions in the area.

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In addition to having plenty of space to explain your cabin, there is also ample room to explain rates, discounts, holiday packages, taxes and cleaning fees. Furthermore, it is followed by reviews and more detailed information of your website, complete with links to your social media.

Could it get any easier to make this decision to list with us? We don’t think so. WE ARE NEW TO MONTANA, BUT NOT NEW TO PROMOTING VACATION RENTALS. View our other successful listing websites in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and New York. To list your Montana vacation rental(s), please click here: List your rental

Relax. Enjoy Your Search. You’re on Cabin Time.

RentMontanaCabins.com rolls out 6/3/15

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Our journey to help promote Montana cabins, cottages, ranch lodges and homes has begun. On June 3, 2015 we launched our 5th state-specific, vacation rental website: RentMontanaCabins.com.

We are the JM Creative Group and we have rolled out websites for Wisconsin (2009), Minnesota (2013), Michigan (2013), New York (2014) and last week Montana. We are not associated with any other listing website. In fact, we are the opposite of those big booking websites. Helping rental owners/managers build THEIR online brand and clearing a path for renters to book direct is our foundation.

Rental owners/managers invest in their property website; they spend hours keeping vacationers engaged on social media; they might even have YouTube videos. So, why do those big listing websites hide that great information from renters? They need renters to stay on their website and click that “book it” button so they can grab your booking dollars! We link to all your brand-building efforts.

We read rental-industry blogs and LinkedIn community conversations daily. It’s crazy, either big booking websites are acquiring each other, or they are forcing “book it” buttons down the throat of their members. Their search engines have been reported to not work as promised for premier-paying members, plus they refuse to listen to renters –they prefer to book directly with rental owners and property managers 30 to 1.

Our honest and unselfish website service is a breath of fresh air for rental owners/managers that are looking to become less-reliant on big booking websites. We are a small group of internet marketers in Wisconsin whose passion for promoting the vacation rental industry stems from our founder Joe Mogensen who grew up at a lodge/cabin resort his family owned in northern Wisconsin.

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This is a cabin at the Alta Ranch. Our first member! See what their listing looks like.

Rates start at $95/YEAR for one rental listing (see our rates page). The more rentals you list, the lower each listing is AND the higher your return. No booking commissions, no book it buttons, no platinum fees that don’t deliver on their promise, no double booking. YES, we initially set up your listing(s) for you for no extra fee (it’s how we roll).

Why put some much time and expense into creating separate sites? We learned from our Wisconsin website that building state-specific, vacation rental industry brands results in a better search experience for renters, and a high-return advertising opportunity for members. Search engines like Google and Bing are quick to reward industry-focused websites that have quality content. There is no better way to show search engines your seriousness then by creating unique websites for each state.

What phrases are Montana vacationers using to find your rentals? We’re glad to share some keyword studies, because that is what a marketing partner does. #1 Montana cabin rentals; #2. Montana cabins; #3. Cabin rentals in Montana; #4. Montana vacation rentals; #5. Montana ranch vacation. When you focus on a niche, amazing things happen.

Thanks for learning a little more about our new RentMontanaCabins.com website – and our JM Creative Group. If you are a rental owner in Montana, take a minute to look at our first member’s listings.  To diversify your online advertising, go to our signup page.

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Joe and Team
JM Creative Group, LLC
An A+BBB Company
Memeber RentMontanaCabins.com

RentMontanaCabins.com website coming soon!

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New to Montana, but not new to promoting vacation rentals. See how our “BOOK DIRECT” websites are helping rental owners/manager increase revenue in Wisconsin (since 2009); Minnesota (since 2013); Michigan (since 2013); and recently New York (2014). We’re just getting started.
No booking commissions. No $1299 premium rate -where you still end up being 157th on the page.
We provide renters with a clear path to rental owners/managers, because that is what a marketing partner is supposed to do. We’ve earned the reputation as a value super star because the return on investment we provide owners/managers cannot be matched. Listings start at $95/YEAR. Learn more on our “List your Rental(s)” page.
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Joe Mogensen
Founder of the JM Creative Group
Member RentMontanaCabins.com
Now with 5 state-specific, vacation rental websites

Minnesota Vacation Rentals That Come With Boats

Minnesota, “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

The state’s nickname is no exaggeration; Minnesota boasts roughly 15,200 lakes. Think about this: if we want to visit one lake a day until we have seen every Minnesota lake, it would take over 40 years. Unless it’s your dream to enjoy every lake in Minnesota, you shouldn’t be too discouraged. It only means that lake-bound vacationers have a huge selection. Whether you’re looking for a large recreational lake or a small peaceful getaway on the water, you’re sure to find it in Minnesota. And what better way to enjoy the Minnesota water than by boat! Here are a few vacation cabins, resorts, and homes that include boats.

Lakeside Vacation Rentals That Come With Boats:

Northland Lodge on Leech Lake
Paddle boats, row boats, hydrobikes, kayaks, and canoes
Paul Bunyan’s Guest House | Harborview Cabin

Dickerson’s Resort on Lake Florida
Kayaks, paddle boat, hydrobikes, canoes, fun bugs, sail boat
Cabin #10

Campfire Bay Resort on Fish Trap Lake
Kayaks, paddle boats, hydrobikes, row boats, canoes
Eagles Nest | Willow

Kayaking, lake, Minnesota, boat
Canoe, Lake, Minnesota, Boat

A no fail trip to the #Catskills is more than just possible

Sullivan County is not just any ordinary county in New York. It is a diverse landscape with loads of activities for the family. This is a great destination for a vacation for those that want to reconnect with nature. Sullivan county is 75 miles away from New York City. Perfect for people that just need a quick getaway to the famous Catskill Mountains to renew the spirit or refresh the mind.

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Sullivan County has been a popular spot for a wide variety of recreational opportunities and home to the famous Woodstock festival.  Boating and Mountain climbing are very popular in this region. Callicoon Center is considered the Trout Capital of the World by Field and Stream magazine.  Wet your line for great Rainbow and Brown Trout in the Delaware River.

Not into fishing? Take a ride down the Delaware River in a canoe, tube, kayak and even zipline! Enjoy multiple bodies of water for great fishing and swimming. A great family vacation off the Delaware river can be had at this vacation rental: Country Barn House 

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Between the fantastic mountain vistas, sparkling water, diverse culture and rugged trails, there is plenty to explore without ever being bored in the Catskills. Jump on the trails for mountain biking, hiking, or horseback riding.

Attractions are plentiful in this particular county. The original home of the Woodstock concert is the Bethel Woods Center of the Arts. Nowadays, it is home to huge name concerts, theater productions, and family fun with a museum shrine of the sixties. Who doesn’t love the 60s? Bethel Woods provides entertainment to all walks of life and different cultures. This is a must see in Sullivan County and is even worth the drive for a quick weekend away from the city.

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The Monticello Raceway is another great place for adult fun at the track. Watch the horses compete around the track or play a hand of blackjack at the casino.

Golfing in the Catskills is some of the finest and you have a large selection of courses to choose from. The scenery cannot be unmatched. We suggest the Lochmore for the experienced golfer or the Villa Roma Country club for great views with a course in always fantastic condition.

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Sullivan County is home to plenty of places to explore and appreciate art. To further explore the art galleries and the artists themselves, check out this art tour map for Sullivan County.

A family friendly activity to enjoy together is visiting the Apple Pond Farm and Renewable Energy Center. Listen to an educational program or try goat milking, or learn how they use vegetable oil to fuel their vehicles. To view their rental listing and get more information, click here.

Enjoy a quick getaway or a week out of the city and enjoy America’s first frontier. Climb to the top or ski all the way down the mountains. Zip or paddle down river and through vistas. Catch a show or be part of the show. Whatever your passion is, you can find it here. So go out there and do what you really want to do. Let go.