Last updated on January 7th, 2025
Lovely Green Heron Bed and Breakfast on Lake Pokegama offers all the advantages of having your own place on a northern lake, but without the work. And both breakfast and happy hour are included! In any season, it’s the best place to stay in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
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A perfect retreat on Lake Pokegama
The Grand Rapids area is home to many picture-perfect lakes. Despite that, it can be a challenge to find a lakeside room for just a few nights. But Green Heron is the perfect answer to that challenge.
Green Heron Bed and Breakfast nestles in the wooded shoreline along beautiful Lake Pokegama.
(That’s the view from the dock.)
From the water, this small inn looks like just another fancy home along this popular lake. But step inside and you’ll discover a perfect bed and breakfast.
Stay for a day or two (or more) and you’ll feel like you are living in your own lake home – but without the chores that come along with lake home ownership!
It’s the perfect retreat in any season – even in winter!
Lovely lodging along the lake
The exterior only hints at how beautiful Green Heron is inside.
Inviting shared spaces
Step inside and you’ll immediately notice the book-lined study just off the front door. It’s a warm, comfortable space. Often used for happy hour (yes, Green Heron has a happy hour), it can as easily serve as an office if needed.
But, most likely, your attention will quickly turn to the living room with its huge fireplace and wall of windows overlooking the lake.
You’ll be forgiven for dropping your bag right then and there to get a closer look at this comfortable room and its view of the lake beyond!
And, if the double doors at the end of the room are open, the elegant dining room is visible beyond.
It’s another perfectly-decorated room with another wall of windows offering lake views. And it’s where you’ll enjoy the best breakfast anywhere, with large portions of homemade specialties that often incorporate ingredients harvested by your hosts and their family. (Think wild rice, maple syrup, and local berries.)
Perfectly appointed guest rooms
Green Heron only has two regular guest rooms.
The smaller of the two is the Sandpiper Room. It has a queen bed, dresser, small table, and other furnishings to create a welcoming space. And, of course, there is a lovely view of the lake through the large windows.
There is a large private bath off through a side door.
This is the room we usually choose, since it offers more than enough space for two of us even if we are staying for several days.
But when we want to splurge, we head down the hall to the Loon Room. It is equally luxurious, but much larger. And it offers the added luxuries of a king bed and a door directly into the back yard and beach.
Beautiful in any season
Green Heron’s location makes it the perfect summer escape. It has everything you could want, with a big, sandy beach, dock, and a variety of toys to help you enjoy the water.
If you have your own boat, they’ll make space on the dock for you and provide a spot for your trailer so you can spend your time exploring Lake Pokegama worry-free.
But even if you don’t plan to get out and play on the water, the large sand beach is a great spot to relax with a drink and/or watch the sun set.
I often end up here in winter. (You usually need to plan ahead farther than I usually do to get a room at Green Heron in summer.) Fortunately, it’s a beautiful spot then too.
I’m not sure there is a better place to sit out a snowstorm!
The most hospitable of hosts
Not only is Green Heron beautiful, but hosts Chris and Johnnie Fulton are delightful.
Of course, they make sure you have a wonderful stay, but it’s more than that. These are people you want to have as friends. Both seem to genuinely enjoy having guests in their home and it’s a pleasure to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine or beer with them. There is always a lot to talk about, as they are both well-traveled and deeply involved in the local community.
Even if Green Heron wasn’t the best lodging in Grand Rapids, you’d want to stay here just to get to know Chris and Johnnie and their very friendly dog Jake.
Book your room at Green Heron
The only way to book a room at Green Heron B&B is through their website.
Because there are only two rooms, Green Heron is usually fully-booked during peak vacation times. When possible, I check their availability for a week’s worth of dates around the time I want to travel before selecting specific dates. That increases my odds of finding an available room and planning my trip around it. But it isn’t always enough. The farther out you can plan, the better.
By the way, I pay for my stay at Green Heron just like you would. I did not get compensated in any way for writing this and won’t derive any benefit from your booking a stay there. It’s just a great spot I thought you should know about.
Other options in the Grand Rapids area
As much as I love Green Heron, I hardly ever get to stay there anymore because they are usually fully booked by the time I start making plans.
If you can’t get a room, there are plenty of places to stay in the area. Just none that are as fabulous at the Green Heron!
Hotels and resorts
Grand Rapids has a range of all the standard hotels. I’ve stayed in several of the moderate-priced ones and they were all fungible, but ok.
Check TripAdvisor for reviews of all of them. Just be sure to specify Grand Rapids, Minnesota, or you will get results from Michigan, which is not going to be helpful! Note also that, along with most B&Bs and resorts, at least one of the most highly-ranked hotels in Grand Rapids cannot be booked through TripAdvisor or other booking services.
Not too far from Lake Pokegama, Sugar Lake Lodge offers accommodations in their lakeside lodge or in a variety of “cabins” and “villas” (modern condo-style units). They also offer a full range of recreational options on and off the lake. During summer, a couple of restaurants provide both fine dining and more casual options. Breakfasts are great – with lots of options available. There has been a resort here for many, many years, although the current facility is relatively new.
- It’s expensive to stay at Sugar Lake, but it provides an easy “resort” experience on a very nice lake. I’ve only stayed in the golf course villas, which were pretty large, but fungible. Check reviews and book on TripAdvisor.
There are a number of old-fashioned resorts (most of which have been fully modernized) on the lakes around Grand Rapids. Most require multi-day reservations, usually a full week in summer. You can check reviews on TripAdvisor, but most must be booked directly.
- I’ve stayed at Wildwood Resort on Bass Lake and recommend it. The cabins are spacious, modern, nicely decorated, and have lake views. As a resort, they offer a wide range of recreational options.
The Visit Grand Rapids website has a fairly comprehensive list of lodging available right around the city. It includes everything from chain hotels to what appear to be companies that rent vacation homes.
Private rentals
Airbnb and VRBO also offer a variety of options in the Grand Rapids area, some of which are quite far from the city. I’ve stayed at a few places along different lakes, including a lake home with an amazing site on Wabana. However, it’s really a mix. And keep in mind that multi-night stays are often a requirement during summer and fall leaf season.
This is a complete update of a post about the Green Heron from March 2015.
Cindy,
Thank you! For the comments and for posting the photos! Just beautiful.
Johnnie
You’ve created a really special place for your guests – it’s been such a pleasure to stay with you and a refuge over the past few years.
What a beautiful place! I especially love that great room and your photo of it captured it so well, I feel like I am in the room (or want to be :) )!!
You want to be there. Trust me! :-)