Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Real Maine Experience!

Guest: Dale and Doug (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 07/11/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

Mists blowing in from the harbor, cold blustery rain, beautiful sun warming the day, full moon reflected on the water – this past week we’ve had a real Maine experience. The Lobster Trap is a great old girl with many treasures . . . everywhere you look there’s an interesting painting or family heirloom, a fabulous view. We came from Indiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Florida and have had a million laughs and have tried to eat every LOBSTER possible! It’s been great to be together in such a lovely spot. Thanks so much for your gracious hospitality.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Bucket list!

Guest: Andi (Florida)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 06/21/11

Ellen, it was such a pleasure meeting you last week when my family stayed at your lovely home in Stonington. I had never visited Maine before and it was on my bucket list of things to do. I couldn’t have been more pleased with our wonderful accommodations, the beautiful area, the hospitality of the people in the village and of course the LOBSTER! I’ve been recommending The Lobster Trap to everyone I’ve talked to since my return to Florida.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

The harbor views were endlessly interesting

Guest: Liz, Michael, Maddie & Alexandra (Cambridge, MA)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 11/09/10

We are sorry to have to leave this wonderful house. It was the perfect place to be as we (impatiently) wait for our fractured bones to heal. The house is so comfortable and well equipped it made us feel cared for. Even Maisy Brown (the dog) felt at home and turned into a fish, swimming in front of the house daily. The views of the harbor in its many and varied states were endlessly interesting and picturesque. I may have taken 100 photos of the same view! Thanks for sharing this piece of heaven.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, pet owners, sightseeing.

Destination: Lobster Trap

Guest: Kim, May, Donna, Retta, Ellen & Deb (Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, New York)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

Once upon a time, there were six beautiful women who loved spending time together. When four of these women were turning 50, it was decided that they should celebrate together. One woman spent long hours at the computer and chose the Lobster Trap as a destination. For months, the beautiful women each pondered and planned; from Alabama to North Carolina to Ohio and New York, plans were hatched. Finally, July arrived. The six women were together for a magical week that included lots of Proseco, good fun, good food, lots of laughs, and tons of pictures. The Lobster Trap will forever be part of our memories! Thank you, Ellen, for a wonderful week.

Recommended for:Girls getaway

50th Anniversary Celebration

Guest: Paul, Georgia and Family (Michigan and Switzerland)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

Our long awaited Lobster Trap adventure has been everything we wished for. We’ve loved the spaciousness of this lovely house filled with wonderful art, collections of bountiful books, a plethora of fluffy towels – we wanted for nothing except more time here. This place will stay in our memories as we go our separate ways. Thank you.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners.

Loved the Lobster Trap

Guest: Trish & David (Alabama)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

Selecting the Lobster Trap for our family vacation has proven to be one of my better ideas. We have enjoyed everything that you, Stonington, the island, and the parts of Maine we have visited have had to offer. Loved eating fresh lobster cooked by our son-in-law, viewing the lighthouses by boat, and even taking a trip out on a sailboat. Thank you so much for allowing us to “live” in your beautiful area of the U.S.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Guest: Don Jackson1 (Salida, Co)
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/08/09

We rented the Lobstertrap for 2 weeks at the end of September and beginning of October. We had as many as 10 guests visiting. It was a dream. The location was superb located right in the heart of a wonderful lobster fishing village. Each morning we awoke to watch the sunrise and the Lobstermen head out for a hard days work. We walked to town whenever we wanted, simply around two corners. This family home is furnished perfectly full of wonderful touches and family memories. We did not want for anything. We used the kayak daily and relaxed on the decks. The 5 bed comfortable bed rooms made everyone comfortable at bed time, three baths allowed us all to use these facilities without waiting, the home was large enough to allow for anyone to find a quiet corner to read or relax. The decks were really magnificent. The town of Stonington is a real gem. We wanted to stay in a fishing village and not pure visitor town. The restaurants were inviting and the quality of food was superb. The Harborview Restaurant had a great special 2-1 1/4 lobsters for $17.95. Needless to say we enjoyed many dinners there. There was no reason to cook. The staff was a delight and we really enjoyed Stephanie our server. However I am not sure if the feeling were mutual... My mother required three times a week dialysis in Ellsworth Maine. The center there treated her wonderfully. Although the 1 hour drive was less than convenient we simply planned to explore the area during her treatments. It worked out wonderfully. We are hopeful for a return visit. This house is perfect for that getaway to a beautiful spot on the Maine Coast for a large group or family that wants to spend quality time together but also needs their own private space to relax. Ellen our host was wonderful.We would have loved to get to know her family. The location is perfect if you want to be a part of the lobstermen scene and we definitely wanted to be there. We really chose wisely. The Burntcove Market has just about everything you could need. It is a great find. Do be careful to not plan your stay too late in the season, it seems that businesses were getting ready to close up shop. If we had been much later I think most of the town would have been shuttered.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

We had a great family reunion at The Lobster Trap in September. It was perfect! The puppies loved it too!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Lucca Laura (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

It was the first time to Maine for almost all of us, and there was no better place to get a Maine experience but The Lobster Trap. The comfort of your home combined with the view of the harbor, the smell of the sea, the sound of the fog horn soothing us into a relaxed state of life. . . We spent our days exploring the beaches, nooks, and islands around us, and the evenings with puzzles, conversations, and the Olympics. The kids loved drawing views from the upstairs bedroom windows while the adults relaxed on the deck. As much as we tried to make use of the two kitchens, we never could but loved the concept. When we get back to Chicago, we will dream of Maine and look forward to returning soon.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Awgirl (Awendaw, SC USA)
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

This place is magical, from the tall sailing boats to the working lobstermen: A perfect location and home. Your house is well-equipped and beautifully decorated. By far, it is the best home we’ve rented yet. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

The Lobster Trap was perfect for us. We really enjoyed meeting you both and hope we can get together again . . . The Lobster Trap feels like a home, and our week flew by. We are already looking forward to next time. Thanks for your many thoughtful touches!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/02/08

10/13/08 What can we say about your beautiful home and lovely town? It was the perfect setting for our anniversary celebration and provided complete relaxation! The views, the comfortable beds, the well-equipped kitchen, the beautiful decks, fabulous art and book collections . . . all combined for a memorable visit we will not soon forget. We already know we will be back; it is just a matter of when! Thanks to you, and your parents, for preserving such a treasure of the Maine Coast.

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Guest: Earl and Joyce Ross
Date of Stay: 08/30/08 Review Submitted: 08/29/08

Dear Ellen, Our family had such a wonderful time staying in your home. We loved sitting on your deck and looking out to the lobster boats and the beautiful islands. We marveled at all of your pretty things and all of your neat decorating touches throughout the house. Everyone said how comfortable the beds were, and the linens and towels were great! We all hope to come back again. Thank you so much.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/29/08

Parents, daughters, sons-in-law, and 8 grandchildren (age 5 mo. to 11 years) vacationed in the wonderful “Lobster Trap” house in Stonington, Maine, in August 2008. To never hear a child say, “We’re bored”, is close to perfect for a vacation. That happened here in Stonington. The house was spectacular (decks, cozy nooks with comfy chairs and beautiful views, kitchen with everything, books galore, home away from home), playground for the children via the waterfront shoreline, places for strolling in a quaint and charming little village, nearby hiking paths for discovering and collecting, blueberries for eating, nearby attractions for visiting, Opera House for entertaining, Lobster Co-op for purchasing fresh lobster for dinner, and children who were never bored! Amazing! The Lobster Trap is a wonderful gem hidden in Stonington, Maine. A week was not enough for us and the family, particularly the children, was sad to say good bye at the end of our week. So much to do, so much to see, so much to appreciate. This is all said with enthusiasm and sincerity even after we had about the only “kind of” rainy week of the season. We still had an amazing vacation. Thank you, Ellen and Ray, for your kindness and generosity in allowing us to vacation in your wonderful home and for giving us the opportunity to experience a taste of Maine. Carole & Joe Narcavage Laura & Scott Tarnosky JoEllen & Aaron Gray Pam & Dan Hoehler and Grace, Emma, Libby, Dale, Charlie, Ben, Meghan & Katie Crofton & Baltimore, Maryland 8/2/2008

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/29/08

Parents, daughters, sons-in-law, and 8 grandchildren (ages 5 mo. to 11 years) vacationed in the wonderful "Lobster Trap" house in Stonington, Maine, in August 2008. To NEVER hear a child say, "We're bored", is close to perfect for a vacation. That happened here in Stonington. The house was spectacular (decks, cozy nooks with comfy chairs and beautiful views, kitchen with everything, books galore, home away from home), playground for the children via the waterfront shoreline, places for strolling in a quaint and charming little village, nearby hiking paths for discovering and collecting, blueberries for eating, nearby attractions for visiting, Opera House for entertaining, Lobster Co-op for purchasing fresh lobster for dinner, AND children who were never bored! Amazing! The Lobster Trap is a wonderful gem hidden in Stonington, Maine. A week was not enough for us and the family, particularly the children, was sad to say good bye at the end of our week. So much to do, so much to see, so much to appreciate. This is all said with sincerity even after we had the only "kind of" rainy week of the season. We still had an amazing vacation. Thank you, Ellen and Ray, for your kindness and generosity in allowing us to vacation in your wonderful home and for giving us the opportunity to experience a taste of Maine. Carole & Joe Narcavage Laura & Scott Tarnosky JoEllen & Aaron Gray Pam & Dan Hoehler and Grace, Emma, Libby, Dale, Charlie, Ben, Meghan & Katie Crofton & Baltimore, Maryland 8/2/2008

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/01/08 Review Submitted: 06/28/08

Want a real Maine experience with all the comforts of home......the Lobster Trap is it!! From the lofty bedding to the well equipped kitchen, everything was exceptional. The children, ages 4 thru 12 played outside on the huge granite outcroppings in the harbor, while we watched them from the deck, very close at hand. No traffic lights or fast food restaurants to be found in this quaint town, where the old Opera House dishes up a Friday nite movie that our whole family enjoyed. We kayaked to nearby islands and went to Bar Harbor and Acadia Nat'l Pk. A postcard setting that will take you back 70 yrs in time...the kind of place I'd recommend to my friends abroad.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/10/07

We enjoyed our visit very much. The Lobster Trap is awesome. We loved everything about it: the views from the beautiful deck, the great bedrooms and comfortable beds, the well stocked kitchens, the lovely furnishings, etc. It's hard to think that a little over a week ago we were anticipating this great vacation and now it's over. We enjoyed meeting you and Ray and wish you the best. We would love to vacation at the Lobster Trap again.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/10/07

Thank you so much for renting out your charming house. We love it! The kids want to live here. The views, the morning ferry horns, the night-time fog horns, the lobstermen (and -women) going out in the early morning -- it's all Maine at its very best. Stonington is a treasure. We loved the farmers market, the ice cream shop, art galleries, and even the amazing Burnt Cove Market. Who'd have thought we could get chipotle peppers in adobo in Deer Isle, Maine? Wow! Mainly we loved the peace and quiet and the gorgeous, unique islands. . . . Thank you for allowing us to bring along our ancient dog Samantha. She'll have to go to a doggy spa -- she'll need the rest when we return home. She had such fun swimming . . . and climbing on and off the boats. Our best to you. We will hope to return here very soon! Our best, The Green-Pooles and The Lawrences

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Guest: Maria and Jeff Klang
Date of Stay: 08/17/07 Review Submitted: 08/16/07

8/3 Dear Ellen and Ray What a week we had! Very good weather and lots of fun. This house is beautiful. Your renovations are very nice. Thank you so much for all of yur help and advice on getting around the island. We all hope to have to opportunity to come back soon. We will never forget the gorgeous views from this wonderful house. Now for the 12-hour drive home! Sincerely, The PA Gang! (Maria, Jeff and friends)

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Guest: David and Mary Flanders
Date of Stay: 08/17/07 Review Submitted: 08/16/07

August 5Dear Ellen and Ray,What a delightful time we are having in this fascinating house. You have done a masterful job and it is all fascinating.It has rained but we have found interesting things to do – the rock-bound coast of Maine is endlessly interesting.Thank you for letting us share. . . .Sincerely,[David Flanders for:]The FlandersThe LaubersThe SchweizersThe Kennedys

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/17/07

We had the good fortune of staying in "The Lobster Trap" twenty years ago and at that time we thought it was the most magnificent place on the Island, with it's breath thaking view and it's wonderful Victorian charm. However, when we went back to "The Lobster Trap" again this year--July '07--we were able to experience the same wonderful view, but, to our delight, it had been up dated with all new kitchens and bathrooms and gardens and a new balcony. She is the same Grand Old Lady she was 20 years ago with new amenities and a fresh look. She also has DSL now which is a real plus. We can't wait to go back and see her again with her red roof and a special bonus is that the owner is so very accommodating and available. We highly recommend this, on the water, jewel. Teri Breitinger, Chelsea,Alabama 205-678-3809

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Guest: Holly E. (Glen Ridge, NJ)
Date of Stay: 07/30/07 Review Submitted: 07/30/07

Dear Ellen, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful experience of renting "The Lobster Trap" in early July. The place was just as you described it, and more! The beautiful renovations you have done on the place make it ideal for a family reunion — plenty of space to gather together and plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone to feel accommodated. We loved having the lobster pound just up the street, and the ferry to Isle au Haut just out the door was another plus. Your well put together binder with maps and resources for the area made it easy for us to get around, and the two days we went to Mt. Desert it only took us an hour and a half, not bad at all for a day trip out.We look forward to sharing the news of your place with all our friends, and wish you many summers full of renters! Thanks for all your attention to all the little details, and thanks from Muriel (the dog) who was so happy to be able to come on vacation with us.Best, Holly & Bo7/2007

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Guest: Holly E. (Glen Ridge, NJ)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/29/07

Dear Ellen, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful experience of renting "The Lobster Trap" in early July. The place was just as you described it, and more! The beautiful renovations you have done on the place make it ideal for a family reunion — plenty of space to gather together and plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone to feel accommodated. We loved having the lobster pound just up the street, and the ferry to Isle au Haut just out the door was another plus. Your well put together binder with maps and resources for the area made it easy for us to get around, and the two days we went to Mt. Desert it only took us an hour and a half, not bad at all for a day trip out. We look forward to sharing the news of your place with all our friends, and wish you many summers full of renters! Thanks for all your attention to all the little details, and thanks from Muriel (the dog) who was so happy to be able to come on vacation with us. Best, Holly & Bo 7/2007

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/07 Review Submitted: 02/14/07

i stayed in the lobster trap a good while. there is nothing negative to say about it! you feel like you're living on a boat, the sea a moving painting out the windows. an added boon: the dinsmores. they are welcoming and gracious by nature. I felt well cared for. five stars out of five!

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Guest: Ellen Dinsmore, Owner
Date of Stay: 01/18/07 Review Submitted: 01/17/07

The Lobster Trap has been loved by my parents, cousins, and friends for 36 years. Mom and Dad thought they might rent the house when they first bought it, but they enjoyed having all their friends visit during the summer instead. The advantage of having the first floor apartment made entertaining for a week or two pretty painless! However, they are both gone now, and in 2007 for the first time we are offering this wonderful old place to renters. We know that strangers become friends very quickly in our lovely little village! Please give us a call if you have more questions. We have many more photos and plan to build our own website as soon as possible.

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