The Cottage at Bass Harbor

• Enjoy the Charm of the Quietside

  Enjoy the Charm of the Quietside

  • Guest Carolyn
  • Date of stay 07/28/12
  • Review Submitted 08/23/12
  Imagine the best in cottage chic decor lovingly maintained in what I would call a beautiful home rather than simply a rental cottage. A meticulously cared for property that has every amenity you can think of. We loved it and have already reserved again for next year! A view of Bass Harbor's fishing harbor and the sunset at night make for outstanding atmosphere. Two restaurants (including our favorite Seafood Ketch) and a wholesale lobster pier within walking distance. Near two of my favorite hiking trails for photography: Ship's Harbor Nature Trail and Wonderland - the latter is especially awesome during a minus tide. Island Cruises out of Bass Harbor has one of the best wildlife viewing cruises on Mount Desert Island, also within walking distance and great for young children. Another plus: the free Island Explorer shuttle bus. I can take the car and head over to Ocean Drive or something early in the morning to take photos, tell my husband to take the bus and meet me in Bar Harbor for breakfast. Could be good for teenagers due to free bus transport to Echo Lake or other locations. One downside is that there is a bit of traffic due to location across the street from the Bass Harbor Ferry Terminal. Cars and trucks line up in front of the cottage during the day to head over to Swan's Island. This occurs between 7:30 am and 5:30 p.m. But if you're a people watcher and keep your eyes and ears open while sitting on the porch, you might catch some interesting gossip about island life and some great Maine accents.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

  Owner response: Sounds like you found alot of the spots we call our favorites. Wonderland (the grandkids like the tidal pools and hunt for crabs at low tide), Ship's Harbor (a favorite hike), the Seafood Ketch, and CH Rich for lobster. The road in front can be busy during a summer day with traffic waiting for he ferry but after the last boat at 1730, the area is all ours. The evenings on the porch are enjoyable as the sun goes down over the harbor. We're very happy that you enjoyed your stay!

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• Perfectly appointed cottage on quaint harbor

  Perfectly appointed cottage on quaint harbor

  • Guest CT KJN
  • Date of stay 07/21/12
  • Review Submitted 08/07/12
  We thoroughly enjoyed our week in this lovely cottage during our first visit to Mount Desert Island. We thought the pictures and description were too good to be true, and it was even better than that. The property was spotless, and every detail was attended to. We loved the screened-in front porch, especially, and walking down to the seafood distributor to pick out our own lobsters. We ate more meals at the cottage than we expected, mainly because the kitchen was so well-appointed, and it was fun to hunt and gather at the local markets and specialty stores on the island. There are a couple of good seafood restaurants within walking distance as well. This property is definitely on the Quiet Side of the island, which was fine with us. But if you're looking for the action of Bar Harbor on a regular basis, this is probably too far out of the way for you. If you're looking to get a real sense of how the locals live and be steeped in the natural beauty of the area, this is the place for you. The ferry to the islands is also right across the street. A couple of considerations: There is a fair amount of traffic on the road in front of the cottage, because of its proximity to the ferry. Also, this is not an area that lends itself to walking, biking, or boating right out the door (especially if you have little ones). So you do need to be prepared to pile in the car to get to a carriage trail or a good hike. That was fine with us and more than worth the trade off for all that this spot has to offer.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

  Owner response: We're very pleased that you enjoyed staying in our cottage at Bass Harbor. It can be busy at the Swan's Island Ferry during the day, but after 530PM it becomes very quiet. Thanks for staying.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Visitor

  Visitor

  • Guest Bob and Jan
  • Date of stay 09/04/11
  • Review Submitted 09/18/11
  Our stay at this pristine "cottage" was perfect in every respect. The house is beautifully laid out, spotless and wonderfully situated overlooking one of Maine's beautiful working harbors. From its comfortable porch we watched lobster boats going to and from their fishing grounds, beautiful sailboats gliding to their moorings, the comings and goings of the Swan Island Ferry and sunsets whose colors were truly unbelievable. A short walk took us to the pier where we bought fresh lobsters to take home and also to a wonderful seafood restaurant if we chose to eat out. It's on the quiet side of Acadia, a great place to relax after a day exploring all that the National Park and Bar Harbor have to offer. For us it's the perfect place to stay and experience all that Downeast Maine is famous for. We'll be back.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+.

  Owner response: We are very happy that you enjoyed your visit to the cottage in Bass Harbor. Thanks Bob and Jan for visiting and look forward to having you at the cottage again, soon. Chuck and Joan

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Such a wonderful locatrion and cottage

  Such a wonderful locatrion and cottage

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 08/13/11
  • Review Submitted 09/15/11
  We had a marvelous week at the Cottage at Bass Harbor. Close enough to everything you need but far enough away from the hub bub of Bar Harbor to make it a relaxing get away. We were pleasantly surprised by how nice and fresh and new it seemed unlike other rental properties that show their wear. Highlights: sunset across Bass Harbor with four large schooners moored in the harbor, walking to buy fresh seafood down the street, walking on the shore looking for sea glass, sitting on the screen porch listening to the fog horns and reading, and hiking to the light house and the trail beyond. The whole week was special. We plan to come back someday!

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+.

  Owner response: We're glad you had a nice time in Bass Harbor. We had a similar experience ourselves over Labor Day. Beautiful sunsets over the harbor, fresh lobster from the dock down the street, a walk to the lighthouse, and several hikes out to Ship Harbor. We were with friends who like to bike and kayak so we able to do both. Thank you for staying at the cottage. The Frosts

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

May 4 - June 29, 2013 ..  $1,375.00/week
June 29 - August 31, 2013.. $1,650.00/week
August 31, October 26, 2013..  $1,375.00/week
7% Maine Sales Tax

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.