Picture Bay Motel

I showed up at the Picture Bay Motel planning on staying just for one night and didn’t leave for the next four months!

I was captivated by the beautiful view of lake in back and the authentic Superior Northwoods feel. I would sit in the back yard and eat lunch or work on writing projects in the shade of the maple trees and watch beavers and ducks swim in the lake. I loved falling asleep to the fresh breeze coming off the lake at night and waking up to the colorful sunrise.

I also loved the easy access to outdoor activities. Across the road is a network of snowmobile trails that stretches across the UP. I hiked there daily and never saw another person out there. Along the trails, there are lots of wild mushrooms, including chanterelles, oysters, lobsters, reishi and chaga as well as raspberries, blackberries, and apples. The quiet Lake Superior Big Bay Beach is less than two miles away. There are also quiet roads for bicycling including the Club Road and Dam Road.

I stayed in the room with the kitchenette, which provided everything I needed for my love of cooking, including a spacious mini fridge, two burner stove, microwave, coffee maker, pots, pans, dishes and silverware. It felt like home right away and the kind owner often checked in to see if I needed anything.

If I had a better tolerance for winter, I might have never left!

Wonderful roadside throwback motel, feels almost like home. Updated with flatscreens and Dish Network, free WiFi, a fire pit and picnic table to relax by. Highly recommended.

It's the go to place when I'm in big bay michigan... Kurt the owner just put new beds in and flat screen T v's...its hard to get him to answer the phone he is disabled so keep trying

Fantastic! Very nice owners. Love the scenery.

My Big Bay go to..

Good location, will be a very nice place after owner finishes the renovations to rooms, installing new doors and windows, very good WI-FI, just hooked up to city water system so good water pressure and plenty of hot water.

Nice place and reasonable

Unfortunately, the motel hasn't been maintained, there's no AC, and it's quite a ways from Marquette.