Location: Blue Hill, Acadia, Maine, USA (Located a mile from the village of Blue Hill.) View Map
Accommodations: House, 1 Bedroom + Convertible bed(s), 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 3-4)
Keywords: House
Price reduced to accommodate difficult economic times! Plus, we've added Wi-Fi internet, a small dock with swim ladder, and a gas grill.
This little house is a true gem. Perfect for those looking for a quiet, simple retreat, the house is nestled in the trees on the edge of Woods Pond in Blue Hill.
Though only a mile from town and a half-hour from Mt. Desert Island, the setting is tranquil with walks along the shore or the gravel roads in the neighborhood. Consider this a perfect place for a second (or first) honeymoon.
A cherry spiral stair leads up to a cozy bedroom under the eaves. Lie in bed and watch the clouds or eagles through the skylights. Listen to the mysterious, haunting sounds of the loons who swim around the lake all summer.
Granite counter tops grace the kitchen and radiant heat keeps the hardwood floors warm on a chilly morning. Across a little bridge there is a 12' x 12' screened gazebo with three Adirondack chairs and a view of the pond -- a nice spot to sit and watch the sun set.
From here you can slip your canoe or kayak into the water. Woods Pond is a quiet pond with few outboard motors and no jet skis.
Utilities are in a separate building so only the refrigerator makes any noise to disturb your silence or creative play.
Please book Saturday to Saturday.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Linens Provided : Bring your own and reduce the cleaning fee.
- Off Street Parking : House is secluded and off the main road.
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Convertible Bed : One full size foam mattress.
- Entertainment
- Jetted Tub in Bath : Upstairs tub and shower has jets for relaxing warmth.
- CD Player
- Music Library : There are a few CD's -- bring your own. The player also plays cassette tapes and has a radio. No TV means "Think retreat!"
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : Granite countertops and a quiet fridge with freezer.
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill : New this year!
- Lanai : Open porch on the west side of the house offers views of the pond. Chairs and table add comfort.
- Gazebo : Fifty feet off towards the pond is a screened gazebo (12' x 12') with 3 chairs.
- View/Location
- Lakefront : Woods Pond is a relatively shallow pond ideal for kayaks and canoes. There are usually loons and lots of other wildlife around. There is a small dock to assist with boating and swimming.
- Mountain View : Blue Hill Mountain is visible from the house and is a recommended leisurely climb for a great view of the whole area.
- Communications
- Telephone : Cell phone reception is also excellent.
- Broadband Internet : We've added high speed DSL with a wireless/cable router just in case you want to be in touch with other worlds.
- WiFi (Wireless Internet) : WiFi is at the house and also available at the library in town.
- Other Amenities
- Radiant in-floor heat, Loons calling, No Smoking on property
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly : Dogs with additional deposit. No cats.
- Not Suitable for Children : Because it's fairly small, families with teenager(s) find it too crowded and kids can find there's not much to do (no TV, etc.)
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters : 25 and up preferred.
- Smoking Not Allowed : No Smoking on property
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Hiking
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Many Excellent Restaurants, Kneisel Hall Summer Music Festival in Blue Hill, Wooden Boat School in Brooklyn, World famous Pottery Shops, Galleries, and Crafts, Haystack School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Boat sightseeing, Excellent music, theatre, art in Blue Hill and surrounding towns, Lobster, Nearby villages include Brooklyn, Penobscot, Brooksville, Deer Isle, Ellsworth, Castine, Stonington, and more, 40 minutes to Acadia National Park
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Jul-Aug ...... $1,325/week (6/25 through 9/8/2012)
June, September & October .... $1,200 /wk (5/19 - 6/23 & 9/8 - 10/13)
Other times .. $ 1,050/week. Heat and plow fees included.
Lodging tax of 7% applies.
$100 cleaning fee.
$200 advance deposit required + $100 if there's a dog. No cats please.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Tranquil Retreat on Woods Pond
Year Purchased: 2002
Why the Owner Chose Blue Hill
We built this house close to where we live because we wanted to be able to retreat regularly -- slip away from the pressure of our busy, committed lives. Being near the pond, the presence of loons and other wildlife, and the simple quiet that sometimes descends made this location just perfect. It's easy to slip a canoe or kayak into the water, and there aren't any jet skis or big power boats.
Now I choose to share this idylic spot with others, realizing that this sort of place doesn't exist very often in our cynical, difficult world. I hope you will join others who have found this beautiful place a place for new intimacies -- with yourself, with your partner, with the natural world. Welcome.
The Unique Benefits at this House
Personally, I spend a lot of time either reading or just looking out the windows, letting my being settle into the moment. Quiet inside, quiet outside. It takes a little time, a day or so to let that happen, and it's so delicious.
I take walks, go for a paddle, talk with my dog and sometimes take the peace with me on a trip to Bar Harbor or to visit a friend, returning in time to slip into bed and listen to the loons talking to each other.
A little village with everything from galleries to restaurants to little shops and markets.
Just the best sandwiches and soups as well as a huge assortment of organic vegetables, local products, and good food like you would expect to find in the finest whole foods market.
Actually the whole of Mt. Desert Island is a kind of paradise, though it's nice not to live there. There are trails and scenic drives throughout Acadia National Park.
A fishing village with boat trips out among the islands or take the ferry to Isle au Haut for the day. Check out the Stonington Opera House for great plays, movies and community events.
A beautiful place to visit for the day. Take the ferry from Stonington and enjoy this bit of Acadia National Park that's off the beaten track. Or just spend a bit of time in the village itself and t
Rental, with free delivery and pick up, for canoes and kayaks. http://www.theactivityshop.com/
Owner's Map of Blue Hill
I'd like very much to introduce you to our Woods Pond Retreat. It's a place that I absolutely love and treasure the days spent here, often alone, just bathing in the silence or in the cool waters of the pond. Sharing the retreat with others has proved to be a rewarding adventure, trusting people I don't know in advance with something deeply precious to me.
Property Photos
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- Round front facing Woods Pond - Blue Hill, Maine Vacation Home
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- Living room looking towards the kitchen and staircase - Blue Hill, Maine Vacation Home
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- Living room and dining room seen from bedroom balcony - Blue Hill, Maine Vacation Home
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- Bedroom under the eaves
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- Kitchen looking into the dining room
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- Screened gazebo at sunset
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- Woods Pond
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- Snowshoe tracks on the ice on the Pond, February 2009.
Traveler Reviews (14)
Heaven
Guest: Rellimarual
(USA)
Date of Stay: 08/08/09
Review Submitted: 08/11/09
Remarkably beautiful in every detail, with thoughtful and sensitive owners, this place is my ideal cabin in the woods. Quiet, peaceful, spacious and well lit. It's wonderful to be right on the lake for a tranquil afternoon swim if you're not keen on the boisterous scene at the local beaches. The setting is gorgeous and it's surprisingly close to town for shopping & meals. I even appreciated the *lack* of such modern "conveniences" as a microwave, TV, AC and dishwasher. One thing: it's really better for singles or a couple, as the second bedroom is really small. A great place for a romantic getaway, absolutely.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, pet owners.
lovely two week stay
Guest: T-man
(Concord MA USA)
Date of Stay: 06/25/11
Review Submitted: 07/10/11
Sunday July 10, 2011 HI Vicki (& Howard) - Well, we awoke this morning and heard a plane flying overhead .... and knew we were no longer in the idyllic Woods Pond cottage. Sigh. Next, we realized that SOMEONE ELSE was probably waking up where we'd been waking up for the past couple of weeks - another disturbing thought!! HOwever disquieting, we are forced to acknowledge that our little vacation has ended. But we wanted to communicate to you folks, more fully than our scrawled napkin-note of yesterday's departure, our vast satisfaction with Blue Hill in general and your cottage in particular. It was truly all as advertised, and we couldn't have been happier. We did get a canoe from the Activity shop, which knew your place and delivered, and had five splendid paddles over the last ten days or so of our stay. We ate in, but also ate out a lot and were actually HIGHLY impressed with how many very good eating experiences we had over our two weeks - the worst places we went were OK, the best ambrosial. We recommend Cleonice highly, and also had great breakfast & sandwich type stuff at c.shell's coffee spot in the brick building downtown in B.H. Arborvine was good, rather than great, but we'd probably go back there. The Lookout over in Brooklin, though underpopulated when we were there to dine (four tables on their porch the only eaters), still gave us excellent food. The Brooklin Inn had amazingly good Mussels Dijon, but the dinner fell off after that starting success. We Kneiselled two Fridays - it really doesn't get any better musically .... but that of course you know as you shared both the music and the mosquitos with us two nights ago. The drive to Acadia isn't much fun, but we got over there for hiking and biking three times - oh, and we did get over to visit our Isle au Haut pals for a night, too, hauling lobster traps with them and happily wolfing down our catch. Galleries, Khen Rinpoche talk at one of the local churches, even the Blue Hill Pops over at GSA on the 3rd w/ the flashing pans, Paul Stookey, et al... all this, plus gazebo-sitting several evenings with a perfectly chilled fume blanc. So: it were more than swell! Thanks, and keep up the good work! All best, Tom and Christopher.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway.
Close to Perfect
Guest: Diana
(Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10
Review Submitted: 01/06/11
We had a wonderful time at the Woods Pond Retreat. An already beautiful place was made even more so by the perfect weather. We kayaked on the pond, ate blueberry pancakes, bird-watched from the porch and the screen room. Our dog happily ate blueberries, hung out on the porch and slept on her bed placed under the spiral staircase. We tromped on many of the trails within an easy 30-minute drive, ate great seafood and had a perfect Maine vacation. We are delighted to have discovered Vicky and Howard's exquisite hideaway on Woods Pond--a very comfortable and beautiful cottage, completely private but minutes away from the village of Blue Hill. Vicky and Howard were great hosts--answering all our questions and giving us good advice on kayaks and trails.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+.
Piece of Paradise
Guest: Linda
(Maryland)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10
Review Submitted: 10/19/10
Our stay at Woods Pond was spectacular. The cottage was charming, well maintained, clean and furnished beautifully with all the necessary amenities. The photos and description on the website of this gorgeous home and property were perfect. The owners were very helpful and kind in wanting us to have a positive experience during our visit. We are appreciative that the owners allow pets - our Samoyed enjoyed the outdoors. The town of Blue Hill offers restaurants, shopping and a co-op grocery store - delightful area. We feel very fortunate to have found such a lovely place to revisit in the future. Thank you Vicki & Howard!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+.
Amazing retreat!
Guest: nashkim
(Nashville, TN)
Date of Stay: 10/07/10
Review Submitted: 10/16/10
We loved our recent stay at this Woods Pond retreat.The owner was nice & house was amazing in every detail- the lake view was awesome, even the view from master bed was planned to look up thru skylights at the dark starry sky! We really enjoyed the fact that due to no light pollution the sky was amazing at night. Took a night walk w/ flashlights down to their dock on lake with our little boy who'd never seen such an amazing scene at night. Awesome gourmet kitchen, however, we didn't get to use it much since we went to Acadia & other local sights. I laughed when my hubby noticed no window blinds, but explained there's no one but trees to see you for hundreds of yards at least! You can't go wrong with this if looking for quiet, peaceful place to stay. We can't wait to return for a longer stay. Kim from TN
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.
This tranquil retreat is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places I have ever been.
Guest: Jon
(Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 09/25/10
Review Submitted: 10/13/10
I spent a week here with my partner and our golden retriever in late September. We were seeking peace and quiet and found that and more, incredible beauty, water views, lush woods, beautiful foliage, amazing outdoor space (the gazebo, the dock and the porch), incredible hikes, great canoeing, delicious local seafood and produce, wonderful seaside architecture and incredible tranquility. The owners were especially accommodating and welcoming of both us and our dog. I thought perhaps that the lack of a daily newspaper or a television would be an issue for me but I can honestly say that once I arrived I was actually glad to be able to turn off that part of my regular life. I would highly recommend this home for anyone looking for a true getaway and a chance to reconnect with their loved ones and nature. The Buddha sitting above the granite boulder sets the tone for the sense of harmony that pervades the entire property. I look forward to returning again and experiencing Wood Pond in all of its glory during the other seasons of the year as well.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing, pet owners, age 55+.
Relax & Reconnect to nature
Guest: Bob & Mary
(Sarasota, Fl)
Date of Stay: 06/19/10
Review Submitted: 07/07/10
Beautiful location, tranquil and serene. We had a wonderful relaxing stay at your retreat. Would recommend to those who need to relax and recharge. Nice escape from a hectic schedule. Would love to return in fall or winter. Blue Hill is great location close to many lovely areas of Maine. The couple at the Activity Shop were great, rent your kayaks there! The co-op is great too. Thanks Vicki & Howard for sharing your retreat!
Recommended for:
So glad we picked Woods Pond! Tranquil, private, gorgeous
Guest: Ben & Beth
(Cambridge, MA)
Date of Stay: 03/14/10
Review Submitted: 03/28/10
We wanted a quiet, beautiful place to spend a few days for my wife's birthday--and must have looked through a hundred different cabins on Vrbo. We're so glad we picked this one! We drove five hours through a rainstorm to reach it, arriving late on a Sunday night--and found a lovely, warm, spotless, utterly secluded and relaxing cabin. It was dark when we arrived, so we didn't discover the view until morning: sunlight flooding in through huge windows, picturesque trees all around--and a stone's throw away, a pristine pond. It was just what we'd dreamed of. This is a very special place indeed. It's a one-of-a-kind cabin, built perfectly in tune with the surroundings. The open kitchen is stocked with dishes and tableware; we picked up groceries around the corner and cooked our own delicious meals. The place fills up easily with music from the owners' boom box; we used the tape adapter from our car to play Van Morrison from an iPod, but you can bring CDs or listen to the radio. In warm weather, you can sit outside--on the porch or, close by, in the gazebo looking out at the water. One day, we hiked up Blue Hill to watch the sunset; another day, we drove an hour to Acadia National Park, climbed Mount Cadillac, and then stopped at a soda fountain in Bar Harbor for a malted milkshake and grilled cheese. Evenings, we played cards. When our time was up, we didn't want to leave. One's experience in a place like this is very much shaped by the character of the owners--and in this case, the owners were delightful. They've poured their hearts into this spot, and they want visitors to enjoy it as much as they enjoy it themselves. They were responsive and gave us plenty of privacy. You'll treasure your time at Woods Pond. Please leave it in as good shape as you find it--because we hope to come back!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, age 55+.
Guest: Kate44
(Alexandria, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/18/09
Review Submitted: 09/18/09
We had a perfect vacation for our family of three. The property was clean, uncluttered and the owner provided excellent customer service. We opened the windows and enjoyed breezes and the sound of nature, alternating our days at the cabin relaxing and exploring the lake in our kayaks. One day we drove to Acadia National Park, and another was spent visiting nearby Deer Isle and Stonington. The village of Blue Hill has a well-stocked grocery store, a grocery co-op, great restaurants, a few galleries, and a bookstore. Our biggest regret was that we discovered the Blue Moose Restaurant at the end of our visit. They have the best blueberry pancakes!
Owner response:Thanks, Kate. It goes both ways and having kind, considerate guests makes for a mutually enjoyable arrangement. I hope to see you soon again. Vicki
Recommended for:
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/15/09
Review Submitted: 08/15/09
Some experiences defy description--the Retreat at Woods Pond challenges the vocabulary. You are tempted to over use adjectives--suffice to say: sublime by design. 'Tis a beautiful place--a gift of the sacred--thanks for the experience--Rick and Nancy Small--P.S. Note the light throughout the day and in changing weather.
Owner response:Thanks for that, Rick and Nancy. I so enjoyed having you and am happy for your appreciation of the sacred feel of this place. Vicki
Recommended for:
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