My husband and I had the pleasure of staying in the stable suite at the Cartier mansion for our "minimoon" the couple of days after our wedding. Jenna and Chris are awesome, they have really thought of everything. The breakfast was phenomenal, I will definitely be attempting some of their recipes at home, they were super helpful in providing local recommendations and extreme detail was given to the design of both the mansion and the sable suite. They provide modern amenities while keeping the charm of the original architecture.. read more

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My wife and I had a lovely time celebrating our wedding anniversary. We stayed in Hayloft 2 which is in the Carriage House. The loft was beautiful and contemporary while still maintaining the genre of the era. The attentional to details by the innkeepers was phenomenal. The Cartier Mansion itself was exquisite, and the woodwork in the mansion was beautiful. Finally, the breakfast that we were served was simply divine, meeting the standards of this Foodie. Highly recommend this property for a B&B stay! read more

When planning our girls trip for our 50th "Friendaversary", we researched the best girls trip in the nation. I'm a Mitten girl and my BFF since 6th grade lives in Phoenix. We were shocked and delighted to discover that the best Historical Bed and Breakfast in the nation was right here in Michigan!! So we read up on the Cartier Mansion and decided to make that our place to celebrate. Let me tell you, the narrative on the Cartier Mansion website paled in comparison to the actual facility and experience. There is no possible way to describe in words how breathtaking the Mansion is in real life. Not only that, but the cuisine ( which we later learned was created and prepared by the head chiefs who spent 6 weeks in Europe learning the best international dishes to serve in order to start your day feeling pampered with amazing endorphins from the meal !!). Jenna and Chris ( the owners) greeted us personally and gave us a thorough tour with the historical perspective. Every amenity that we could've imagined was thoughtfully provided plus many that we couldn't even have thought we needed, but completely enjoyed. Not only was the facility something that FAR exceeded our expectations, the recommendations for meals, shopping and activities were spot on. If there was a way to rate Cartier Mansion and it's owners anything above the top level, I'd double it. Thank you Jenna and Chris for the best experience..... it was far above our dreams and expectations :) Wendy and Gail read more

The Cartier Mansion Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful escape and first class hospitality with every interaction you will have with your hosts/owners! My husband booked this quietly as a birthday surprise for me. It's spotless! The architecture is stunning and it's impeccably maintained. You will enjoy observing each gathering room for its remarkable period craftsmanship. The breakfast was the best experience. We enjoyed the calm music from an antique player piano playing in the background, while indulging in a mouth watering experience that was carefully curated to deliver! I cannot wait to return next year . read more

The Cartier Mansion was an amazing experience! The home is owned and operated by a super friendly and helpful couple. The history of the mansion is all over, making it fun to find something new about the orginal owner and the build every time you walk around the property. The original woodworking is beautiful, my wife and I spent at least an hour of our trip just looking at the all the details the house was built with. The breakfast was fantastic and comfy with the owners serving the food with a description of what it is and where it originated from. Being just walking distance to downtime made it fun to just walk to lunch and dinner. We look forward to staying here again. read more

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This is truly the Best B&B I ever stayed at! The owners are fantastic! Husband and wife. Chris and Jenna! Chris makes a fantastic 4 course gourmet breakfast. Jenna his wife is amazing at her decorating and paying attention to every beautiful detail to make sure your stay is perfect. To her welcoming music with the auto piano. To Cocktails as we checked in. Jeanna also tells the stories to all the guests of the Cartier Mansion history and gives referrals for restaurants and activities. A husband and wife team that is truly Amazing! If you're ever in Ludington MI.and want a romantic B&B this is the perfect place for you. We were celebrating our 18th Anniversary. Taking the Badger ship ferry to Manitowoc WI. They even made sure we had breakfast early. The Beds are so comfy. They even put your name outside the room as a welcome. We will be back. We stayed in the Lighthouse room. read more

Really enjoyed our two nights at the Cartier Mansion. Been coming to Ludington during the summer for over 40 years; however, this was my first trip in the winter. I've always wanted to stay at this place, so this trip gave me the opportunity. The hosts are fantastic - they really go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. The facility is wonderful - very well preserved, and all the rooms are unique. They advertise a gourmet breakfast, which they truly deliver. Breakfast is three courses, with the main course being an egg soufflé with hickory smoked bacon the first morning, and southern eggs Benedict (poached egg on cornbread with pulled pork and Arthur Bryant's BBQ sauce) the second. The location is great, as you can walk easily to downtown Ludington for shopping and dining. I highly recommend a stay here! read more

Let me add my voice to the fabulous reviews that are already listed. This was probably the best bed-and-breakfast experience I've ever had! I strongly recommend that you visit this wonderful establishment. Kudos to Chris and Jenna for nearly achieving perfection! read more

Wonderful weekend at the Cartier Mansion! Beautiful accommodations and lovely breakfast each morning! We really enjoyed the location and could easily walk to lots of restaurants etc and also to the marina and Stearns beach. Highly recommend this amazing B&B with such great hosts! read more

A must try for those traveling solo in Ludington Michigan. The hospitality was warm and friendly, as well as fine art complete. The guest breakfast lacked all that awkward vibe that at times ruins a good meal. So if you are looking for a non-pretentious home away from home, The Cartier just might be the answer to your lodging needs. Juls Ramsay Riverside, Ca. read more

This was our first experience at a bed and breakfast. I could write a novel on why this was such an awesome experience, I will give you the cliff notes. We stayed in the king suite, if you stay here get that room, it's not expensive. This was the owners personal room in the early 1900's. The house is all original to the early 1900's. The trim work, floors, lights, everything is as it was back then and it's gorgeous. The current owners were friendly, they checked us in and walked us around giving us some history. Our room had a private balcony that we utilized in the evening, as well as a separate lounge area. The king size bed was comfortable and the shower was amazing! The owners thought of everything. My wife forgot deodorant, they had travel size new ones. Anything you forgot they had, all at no charge. Snacks, water, coffee, games, everything. The attention to detail was amazing. Breakfast in the morning is in the dinning room. I think we had 12 guests or so. The breakfast was very good! Sausage, egg, French toast, fruit. Really good food. Cons: yes it had a couple. Really only issue with the stay at the house were the pillows. Only two pillows for the king bed. The pillows were horrible, your head sinks right past it. Also, not their fault, however we found Ludington boring and not very clean. It seemed to be kind of dumpy or lower income. However, the lighthouse pier and sun set were amazing!! Stay here! Don't be afraid of a bed and breakfast. Honestly we would love to go back. If this place was Saugatuck, Holland, petoskey, harbor springs, mackinaw, this room would be $500-$600 no question. We stayed here on our tour of the west side of Michigan. Can't say enough about this place and how much we enjoyed it. read more

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I've been in many historic homes through my tour company (Tours Around Michigan) and am blown away by Cartier Mansion. Not only is this a breathtaking place to stay (feel SO special here). It's like staying in a work of art while also feeling like you're submerged in a history attraction. I spent four days exploring here (especially the black walnut library). This 1905 Neoclassical home was never restored because it was never neglected. It has always been lovingly maintained to keep it as if it were just built... down to washing and oiling the massive amount of wood trim every four months. Jaw dropping details around every corner, original wallpaper and furniture, different wood trim in each room (perfect for a lumber baron's home), chandeliers to match the feel and intent of each room, and some surprises. (Hint: Keep going through the library for a room built only to relax by a cozy fire.) The breakfasts as part of my stay were so creative and delicious. And who couldn't use a freshly made smoothie sipper before eggs benedict? Or oatmeal that felt more like a breakfast dish. While enjoying some wine later in the day, I felt perfectly content in this setting to put my pinky up (just for fun). This home is a place to relax in luxury, but also feel like you're home. Elegant and super cozy at the same time. Just staying here feels like an all encompassing vacation. I can't wait to return to Cartier Mansion and explore staying a different room. (I was in the Blue Silk Room, which was Kate Cartier's bedroom, and it has an amazing romantic feel.) Keyless entry, my own temperature controls and lots of free movies were great, especially when I wanted to put up my feet for a bit. Next time, I'll try to get out in the Ludington area, which offers so much, but for this trip, I was too fascinated with what was inside the house itself. read more

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Had an excellent stay at the Cartier Mansion, a beautiful historic property. The room was unique but modern and the proprietors have thought of every convenience, including usb chargers in the room, ample free snacks and coffee, well-appointed bathroom, and comfortable king size bed. They had a fire pit to enjoy as well as corn hole outdoors and several indoor games. They served a delicious breakfast and the owners and staff were so friendly and accommodating. The town is charming with so much to do. History buffs will enjoy the mansion's connection to captains of industry from our country's history. There are a lot of B&Bs and hotels nearby in Ludington and this is the one you should choose! read more

This was the finest B&B I have ever stayed at. The history of the house was rich and well preserved. We met the owners and they were gracious with their time and chatted with my wife and I over a camp fire on the property. We stayed in the King Suite which was amazingly comfortable and was perfect to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. The hot breakfast that was served both mornings was made from scratch and delicious. Definitely need to stay more than one day to really enjoy the area while exploring. The tour of the house was delightful as the owners have strived to keep as many of the original furnishings and fixtures functioning. Can't say enough other than we will be back for sure! read more

Nice enough B&B, but we won't be going back. The price was right--$100ish for a tiny but very nice room with its own bathroom. The bed was hella squeaky but fine. The room had a strange little hospital TV, but, what the heck, it worked. We picked through their collection of complimentary DVDs--99% Lifetime Channel and Herbie the Lovebug. Still, we found Clue in the bunch, and that was a fun aphrodisiac. (Murder + Tim Curry, yeah. Well, I'm sure whatever does it for you is fine with me.) The hosts were a little creepy, but I'm pretty sure all B&B hosts are a little creepy. The breakfast was also the kind of thing you only get at B&Bs--the weird, not-exactly-bad but certainly-not-good food that you expect that a nonprofessional cook would start coming up with out of sheer boredom. Since the bed was okayish and the price was good, why won't we be going back? Way too much Christian stuff. There's even this weird wall of righteousness, with newspaper clippings about the proprietor's local holy activities. The photos make it look like they hold seances there or something. I paid for a bed and a change of scene, not subterfuge evangelism. read more

Nice B&B but I wish I hadn't held my wedding here Let me preface this review by saying that these are my opinions, and my experiences with Sue Ann and Gary Schnitker, the proprietors of the Cartier Mansion. If you're looking for a nice bed and breakfast, look no further. This place is comfortable and clean and has amazing food. The proprietor's son, Drew, is a fantastic chef and the historic mansion is a lovely place to stay. If you're a pending bride, about to trust your special day to someone, read on: I cannot even BEGIN to express how much additional stress having our wedding here caused me. I thought it would be stressful to plan an out-of-state wedding and having someone to do some organizing seemed like it would alleviate some of that stress. Not the case. My wedding was beautiful, the food was incredible, but the stress of having my wedding here was not worth the trouble. Prices for items detailed on a contract drafted and signed 8 months in advance were not honored (without a fight). Charges were added and inflated less than 3 weeks prior our event (when we had no choice but to pay them). There were suddenly charges for a PA system, the price of our cake had nearly doubled, and the price of renting a tent for our reception had gone up significantly. Questioning these increases was met with hostility and a refusal to do things previously agreed upon (ie: I was left scrambling to find a florist 2 weeks prior to my wedding when Sue Ann suddenly, and with no reason, refused to obtain flowers for me to make my own bouquets as we had previously agreed, something I was going to be charged extra for.) Communication on the day of the wedding was a problem. It meant a lot to us to have our ceremony on the beach because that is where the two of us first met 14 years prior. The weather was iffy (windy and cooler) and staff at the mansion told some of our guests that the wedding would be held at the house, when we'd decided hours earlier to hold it on the beach (as was always the original plan). No one consulted us on this decision even though within hours of the ceremony the weather was cool but otherwise fine. When we tried to get a hold of the mansion staff, the only person I was able to contact was the proprietors' son who luckily made sure chairs were in place for our ceremony. More questionable practices ensued when Sue Ann and Gary acted as bartenders during our reception and had the nerve to set out a tip jar for our guests knowing full well that they would be charging us an 18% gratuity on the alcohol sales at the end of the evening. In the end it was a blessing in disguise that the weather was cool, and Sue Ann had been unable to rent sides for the tent at the last minute. We were lucky to be able to have our reception in the lovely carriage house, a building behind the Mansion with a beautiful interior, nice windows and a floor made for dancing that is not an option in warmer weather due to the lack of air conditioning. The tent we were made to pay $400 to rent was nothing but a fabric roof on poles, pitched above an uneven cement driveway, not much of a place to dance or have a fun reception. Having the reception in the carriage house was also nice because otherwise we would have been spending all that money to rent the mansion only to have the majority of our reception in its parking lot. When we questioned the additional and inflated charges the day after our wedding, Sue Ann literally, screamed in my face in front of my husband and his family, before finally writing us a check for the amount in dispute, and then berated us further for being in her home 'past check out time'. This is not something I'd normally expect from someone in the hospitality industry. Sue Ann told me I was the 'most difficult, nit-pickiest bride she's ever dealt with in 30 weddings'. I find that hard to believe when I was only expecting the good business practice of honoring a contract. The sad thing is that after paying over $10,000 (rehearsal dinner, wedding and rental of all 6 rooms for 2 nights) an argument over a few hundred dollars left us with a horrible impression of the Cartier Mansion. We make trips to Ludington every year, and would probably have made an anniversary stay at the Cartier mansion a part of our itinerary had we been treated differently. read more

What a gem! We had never stayed at a bed and Breakfast before and we fell in love with this place. Andrew was amazing. He was the perfect host! The rooms were very nice and the little touches for the guests were so appreciated! We stayed in the Lighthouse room and it was cozy and inviting! I loved the tea and coffee press and even the homemade cookies were a nice touch! I loved the Aveda products in bathroom and the little basket of essentials Incase you forgot something. The history of the house is so interesting and Andrew did a great job making all of the guests feel welcome and at home and gave us a very informative tour. Breakfast was amazing. And we so enjoyed meeting and talking with the other guests. Thank you for an awesome experience! read more

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Sue Ann and Gary helped make our wedding weekend perfect! While the room we stayed in was a bit pricey (we were in the King's Suite), it was absolutely perfect for our wedding night. We had a huge bed, huge bathroom, and a lovely sitting room leading to the balcony where we had some great photos taken. I felt like a princess standing on the balcony of the mansion in my dress, with my handsome husband. There was wine and strawberries waiting for us, as well as potted roses that we forgot -- twice!! The little things, like using a french press for coffee and tea, and the chocolates they have in bowls around the mansion, make it seem so homey, and in no way are the innkeepers obtrusive. This is going to sound funny, but I am just in LOVE with the soap they use - it is a proprietary blend from a local shop, and I just need to keep a constant supply... the smell alone takes me back to the best weekend of my life. The shower in the King's Suite is crazy!! We will come back!! If anything, just to say "hi"! And thank you, again!! read more

We have driven past this elegant 1907 lumber baron's home several times on our trips to Ludington and were intrigued by its history, so when we were looking for lodging in town this week and saw that Orbitz offered a discounted room, we jumped at the chance. We were so glad we did! We were so pleased with our room, the Garden Room -- romantic and comfortable, with period elements like the sink, claw tub and lighting fixtures, but also modern conveniences like ample outlets, powerful but quiet AC ( on a 90+ degree day)and flat-screen TV/DVD. A common area on the second floor, where the guest rooms are located, includes self-serve coffee- press coffee and an assortment of teas, wines for sale, ice, snacks, first aid and forgotten- incidental basket...we felt well cared for. The proprietors' son gave us a tour of the mansion, which is remarkably well preserved and has an interesting history. There' s plenty of outdoor seating on the porches and space in the lovely garden; we enjoyed sipping wine and watching the passers- by. The mansion is within reasonable walking distance of Ludington' s lively downtown, and is near other beautiful Gilded Age homes. We also enjoyed our breakfast the next morning. Our hosts were gracious and accommodating. The only downsides I would note are accessibility issues for some people because of the second- floor lodging and, at least in our room, the bathtub. We definitely plan a return visit. read more

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Amazing! Wish I had more time to spend at this lovely home. Was upgraded unexpectedly, and the service was so thoughtful. Had the best nights sleep, and loved all the details. Breakfast hit the spot and enjoyed getting to know the other guests. Would love to return some day. read more

Sue Ann is very moody. The staff was rude and not able to accommodate. There were multiple promises we had arraigned prior to our arrival that were broken once we got there because they were "too busy". It was very disappointing. read more

My two young daughters and I chose Cartier Mansion for our second visit to Ludington, and we were not disappointed. Our stay felt wonderfully personalized (even our room had a welcome sign with our names at the door, which my daughters found especially delightful), comfortable, and charming. ALL of the staff of the house are friendly and obliging. The house itself is gorgeous, and its gardens are immaculate and welcoming, with plenty of interesting historical information throughout. This is a very family friendly B&B, with a music room full of instruments (the girls loved that) and wonderful period accurate rooms to enjoy when you're not enjoying your private room. All of the amenities were first-rate and made our stay feel even more extravagant and lovely-- well worth paying a bit more for. The food was absolutely delicious, and obviously crafted by skilled, attentive cooks. Our room was clean, gorgeous, and perfectly comfortable-- one of the best night's sleep I've ever enjoyed while away from home. We will definitely stay here again, and highly recommend Cartier Mansion to anyone visiting beautiful Ludington for the first or 100th time. You will be comforted by all of the little perks and amenities, and again so when the Innkeepers, on showing you to your room, encourage you to behave as if the house itself is yours to enjoy--this was an added touch I've not experienced anywhere else. The addition of freshly baked cookies in the afternoon was a delicious, unexpected bonus my girls especially enjoyed! There are plenty of books and games to enjoy in the downstairs rooms, parking is a breeze, and entry to the Inn is made easy and personalized so that even kids can handle it. You really get the sense that the Innkeepers and their son Andrew, the GM, want to give you the best possible B&B experience you can have, and they absolutely do NOT disappoint. read more

My wife and I just stayed 3 nights in the Round Room, which is the smallest room in the mansion, and we absolutely loved it. The house is great with wonderful wood work. The price was very reasonable. We both thought that the breakfasts were delicious and ended up not even needing to eat much of a lunch. During our stay, we had Eggs Benedict, a quiche (which ended up being our favorite) and a French toast monte cristo. However, the extras really set this place apart. We had full access to their bicycles and helmets (which we used every day), rather nice beach chairs and beach towels, microwave popcorn, and French press coffee or a selection of fresh brewed tea at any time. The owners and staff were very nice, polite, and helpful. When we come back to Ludington for another weekend getaway, we will definitely be staying here again. read more

I was surprised to have been treated so rudely after hearing such great reviews about the Cartier Mansion. My husband & I stopped by the house while in Ludington to get more info for our next trip in the area. We were met at the door (then open) by Sue Ann who was VERY brusque, handed us a price sheet, and then closed the door behind us like unwelcome intruders. Maybe she was having a bad day but I certainly will never stay there based on that one experience - Her attitude said it all. read more