Little Lake

Michigan's Upper Peninsula

FAQ

Answers

Where are you located?

We are in Little Lake, Michigan, in the central Upper Peninsula, about halfway between Marquette and Escanaba, and less than 15 minutes from the Marquette (MQT) airport. For directions to the resort, a map of the property, and snowmobile trails nearby, visit our Maps Page.

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How many cottages are at the U.P. Sunrise Cottages resort?

We have nine cottages total. Eight of them are situated around a circle drive at the resort in such a way that they all have a view of the lake out the windows or sitting on the decks. We have an additional cottage, Sunset Point, across Farmers Lake on its own private lot. For a more detailed look at the layout of the resort, visit our Maps Page.

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What is your pet policy?

We allow most dogs, with prior approval.

Please read our Pet Policy page in full, or just give us a call at 906-208-7178.

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Do I have to pay in full when I book?

A payment of 50% is due at the time of the booking. The remaining 50% must be paid 13 days prior to your arrival date. For rentals of more than 7 nights OR group bookings of 3 or more cottages, the balance is due 29 days before arrival.

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What time is check-in and check-out?

Check-in is after 4:00pm. 

Check-out is by 10:00am.

Call us or send us a message at 906-208-7178 to find out if early check-in is available. It depends on whether the previous guest departs early and how soon our cleaners can get your cottage ready.

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How far are you from Pictured Rocks, Munising, and Marquette?

We are about an hour drive from Munising, where the Pictured Rocks boat cruises and kayak tours leave from. Many of our summer guests make a day trip to Pictured Rocks. Boat tickets often sell out, so plan ahead and get your tickets early!

We are about 30 minutes from Marquette.

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How do we reserve the pontoon boat?

We have a 16′ pontoon boat available for rent. Many guests just talk to us when they get here about reserving a time. But if you need to reserve the pontoon for a specific time frame, or want to rent the boat for 8 hours or more, call in advance at 906-208-7178 and we will put you on the calendar.

We will handle paperwork and payment on the day of your rental.

For rates and other info, go to the Pontoon page.

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Where do I go for food?

Groceries:

About ten minutes away in Gwinn, you will find Larry’s grocery store, Family Dollar, and Dollar General. In Marquette, 35 minutes away, there are several grocery stores, plus Walmart, Target, and Meijer.

Please note: Brown’s Store in Little Lake closed at the end of summer 2023.

Restaurants:

The closest place to eat is The Throttle Bar & Grill in Little Lake, less than a mile away. There are several more restaurants in Gwinn, including Poppi’s Pizzeria Mozzi, Daisy Jo’s Ice Cream Parlor and Diner, and the UP North Lodge. But check the hours ahead of time, because most of the restaurants are not open every day, and don’t stay open real late.

Marquette has a wide variety of great restaurants, breweries, and food trucks.

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Do your cottages have A/C?

Some yes, and some no. We have plans to add central A/C to two more cottages this year, and will update this list once those projects are completed.
 
  • Sunset Point: 4 wall units in king bedroom, queen/twin bedroom, living room, entryway
  • Cottage #1: Central A/C
  • Cottage #2: one window unit in living room
  • Cottage #3: no A/C
  • Cottage #4: no A/C
  • Cottage #6: one window unit in living room
  • Cottage #7A: one window unit in living room
  • Cottage #7b: no A/C
  • Cottage #8: one window unit in dining area

 

It usually cools off at night in the Upper Peninsula, so a common practice around here is to open the windows at night, and close them in the morning. If you don’t have A/C, there are usually a handful of days in a typical summer when you will have to decide between being hot and complaining, or going for a swim and enjoying sitting in the shade down by the lake.

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Are bedding and towels provided?

For short-term vacation rentals, bedding and towels are provided. Towels should not leave the building, so please bring your own beach towels.

For extended stays, we ask you to bring your own towels and bedding.

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What cooking and eating utensils are provided?

Our cottages all have plates, cups, silverware, and basic pots, pans, cookie sheets, and cooking utensils.

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Do you have grills?

Each cottage has its own grill, along with grilling utensils. We have charcoal chimneys you can use to start the charcoal (so you don’t need lighter fluid), and we usually have charcoal available that other guests have left behind.

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Do you have firepits and firewood available?

We have two firepits available down by the lake, and two metal fire rings at Cottages #4 and 6. Sunset Point has its own firepit. We provide firewood onsite at no charge, and keep some paper, lighters, and kindling around.

We also have roasting sticks, and usually have S’mores supplies on hand. Just ask, and we’ll get you set up. If you’d like to see where the firepits are located, visit our Maps Page.

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Do you have laundry facilities available?

Sunset Point: washer and dryer in the cottage

Cottages #1-8: There is a coin-operated washer and dryer in our laundry building at the resort, but we do not guarantee its availability. 

There are two coin laundromats in Gwinn, about 10 minutes away.

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Do you provide life jackets?

We have quite a few life jackets in all sizes available for guests to use. There are a limited number of infant, toddler, and XXL sizes. Usually there are plenty to go around, but some people prefer to bring their own.

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What is your cancellation policy?

Because most people plan their vacations in advance, last minute cancellations usually mean that a cottage will sit empty. Therefore, we do not encourage cancellations.

If booked with us directly, the cancellation policy is as follows:

Please phone cancellation requests to (906) 208-7178; emails will NOT guarantee that your request was received.

  • Cut-off date for refund:
    • Rentals of up to 7 nights for 1-2 cottages: 14 days before arrival date
    • Rentals of more than 7 nights OR group bookings of 3 or more cottages with overlapping dates: 30 days before arrival date
  • 100% refund if cancelled on or before cut-off date, less 3% to cover credit card processing.
  • No refund if cancelled after cut-off date.
  • Snowmobilers: for cancellation due to trail conditions, visit our Snowmobiling FAQ Page.

 

If booked through an online travel agency (OTA), such as Airbnb or VRBO, the cancellation policy will be that displayed on the channel at the time of booking. Please be aware that refunds of OTA service fees are dependent on the OTA’s own policies and are out of our control.

Travelers Insurance

With all of the variables that life brings, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance from a third party. You can do this during our checkout process, or shop for a policy online. For under $100 worth of insurance, you can be reimbursed if circumstances force you to cancel your stay after the cut-off date for a refund.

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How good is your internet connection?

We have high-speed 200 Mbps internet to the property. Each of our cottages has its own Wi-Fi access point with a very fast, reliable internet connection suitable for business travelers or for watching your favorite shows on Netflix. (But you don’t have to tell your kids.)

Snowstorms or thunderstorms do occasionally interrupt our Spectrum internet service.

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Do you provide (cable) TV? Can I connect a DVD player?

We provide fast internet and Android smart TVs in all of our cottages. We do not currently provide cable TV, TV antennas, or logins to streaming services. All of the following are possible methods to get content on the TVs:

  • Streaming Services: log in to your own streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, fubo, Hulu, Cable TV accounts, etc. to stream content
  • Mobile Devices: screen cast content from a phone or tablet to the TV
  • Laptop Computer: play content via HDMI
  • DVD/Blu-ray Player: connect via HDMI or RCA cable
  • TV Antenna: plug in an antenna via coaxial cable
  • Please note: at this time we do not provide the cables, nor training in using the smart TV.

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Is there good cell phone coverage at the resort?

We have good service for phones that use AT&T’s network. Verizon signal is weak at our location, but better than AT&T in much of the rest of the Upper Peninsula. If your phone supports Wi-Fi calling, you can use our wireless network to make calls if necessary.

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Did I see your cottages listed on Airbnb, VRBO, etc?

Yes, we list on these channels, however, if you book through them, you will pay their fees of around 14%. So unless you have some particular reason to book through them, check out our Availability Page and save yourself some money!

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Are fireworks allowed?

We do not allow fireworks at the resort. However, if you are in the area around the 4th of July, there are several good fireworks shows nearby on different nights, and there are certain to be some other folks on the lake who will light off their own fireworks.

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I have snowmobiling related questions.

Do you offer extended stays?

We offer custom quotes for extended stays from 1 week to 9 months long between Labor Day and Memorial Day.

Give us a call at 906-208-7178 or send a message through the Contact Us page!

We are a prime location near Gwinn, KI Sawyer, Marquette, or Munising, MI for people looking for an extended stay in a furnished cottage with a complete kitchen and a high-speed Wi-Fi internet connection.

Traveling for work? Living the work-from-anywhere lifestyle? Just sold your home, or looking for one to buy? Working as a travel nurse? Want to spend the winter snowmobiling?

Contact us for more information!

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I booked through VRBO and my payment did not go through.

For VRBO bookings, we charge your credit card directly for your reservation. Your payment will not go through until we approve it manually, which sometimes looks on your end like your credit card payment failed. Please be patient.

Even though our reservation system is API integrated with VRBO, for some reason VRBO does not properly display the payment you made to us directly, and still shows a balance due. If you got a confirmation email from us that we received your payment, don’t worry, we received your payment even if VRBO shows that we did not.

On your credit card statement, you will see a charge from U.P. Sunrise Cottages, and a charge from VRBO for their commission. (Book with us directly to avoid this fee next time!)

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What is the mailing address for the resort?

To pay by check or for other correspondence, our mailing address is:

U.P. Sunrise Cottages
PO BOX 283
Little Lake, MI 49833

Please mail your deposit right away after booking, and plan ahead to ensure your final payment is received two weeks before your arrival.

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My question was not answered.

Give us a call at 906-208-7178 or send us an email from our Contact Us page.

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Location

U.P. Sunrise Cottages consists of nine quiet, cozy lakefront cottages in the heart of the Upper Peninsula, on spring-fed Farmer Lake in Little Lake, Michigan.

Many of our guests make day trips to places including Marquette and Pictured Rocks in Munising, while others spend their entire vacation relaxing at our waterfront.

For driving directions, Google “U.P. Sunrise Cottages,” or use the link here. Otherwise, your mapping software may get you lost or take you down an ORV trail. Really.

Find Us on Google Maps

Nearby Food and Supplies

  • Little Lake (one mile away)
    • The Throttle Bar and Grill
  • Gwinn (10 minutes away)
    • Larry’s grocery, Family Dollar, Dollar General
    • Restaurants including the UP North Lodge, Poppi’s Pizzeria, Daisy Joe’s and more!
  • Marquette (30 minutes away)
    • Walmart, Meijer, Target, grocery stores, etc.
    • Variety of great restaurants

Area Attractions

  • Pictured Rocks in Munising (1 hr drive)
    • Boat cruises and kayak tours
    • Hiking and beaches
  • Marquette (30 min drive)
    • Hiking, mountain biking, beaches, shopping, NMU, etc.
  • Further away:
    • Big Bay, Kitch-iti-kipi, Copper Harbor, Porcupine Mountains, Tahquamenon Falls, Fayette
  • Winter activities
  • Ice Fishing
  • Ice Climbing

Amenities

  • Bedding and bath towels
  • Fully equipped kitchens
  • Deck with a view of Farmer Lake
  • Fast Wi-Fi and smart TVs
  • Charcoal grill and grill tools
  • Picnic table
  • Access to many resort activities
  • Parking at your cottage
  • Most dogs allowed
  • Additional parking options for boat, ORV, or snowmobile trailer parking

Our Cottages

Sunset Point

3 bedrooms, 1-1/2 baths, up to 8 people

Cottage #1

3 bedrooms, 1 bath, up to 8 people

Cottage #2 entry

Cottage #2

3 bedrooms, 2 baths, up to 8 people

Cottage #3

2 bedrooms, 1 bath, up to 6 people

Cottage #4

4 bedrooms, 2 baths, up to 10 people

Cottage #6

3 bedrooms, 1-1/2 baths, up to 10 people

Cottage #7A

2 bedrooms, 1 bath, up to 5 people

Cottage #7B

2 bedrooms, 1 bath, up to 6 people

Cottage #8

2 bedrooms, 1 bath, up to 6 people

 

Activities

  • Sandy beach and swim area
  • Aquapark (early June – Labor Day)
  • Kayaks, paddle boards, paddle boats, canoes, row boats
  • Pontoon boat available for rental
  • Playground
  • Campfire pits – firewood provided
  • Lounge chairs, Zero-gravity chairs, hammock chair
  • Boat launch, fishing dock, and fish cleaning station
  • Basketball hoop and tetherball
  • Yard games and carpetball
  • Driveway for bikes, rollerblades, etc