Fantastic Stay

Guest: Chipmunk (East Hartford)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 10/04/11

This was my fourth trip to MDI but my first staying in Bass Harbor. I really loved this side of the island and I would definitely stay there and in this perfect house again. As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was home. This house has everything you need for your stay. And the surrounding areas offer so much to do that I am not even sorry I didn't bring my kayak. And I'd like to recommend breakfast at Grumpy's in Southwest Harbor. There's nothing like eating outside right next to the water. The food was excellent and the staff was super friendly.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing.

Cooper

Guest: Connecticut Ron (United States)
Date of Stay: 09/17/11 Review Submitted: 09/27/11

This will be our second stay!...God willing we will make another one to this amazing well kept n'fully stocked house on Beautiful Bass Harbor...once again Thank You to the owners ! The cottage was immaculate.Without a doubt a gem in the rough....WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE....!.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Perfect vacation cottage!

Guest: Melissa & Chris (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 08/27/11 Review Submitted: 09/05/11

We are long-time visitors to MDI who had the good fortune to stay here the week prior to Labor Day. This house easily surpasses any others in which we have stayed. The other reviewers’ comments about this being “quintessential Maine” are dead-on! The views from the deck and living room/dining room are spectacular whether it’s clear or foggy, high or low tide. The house offers many amenities within walking/cycling distance and is a short drive to Southwest Harbor and many Acadia National Park trailheads. And it is a cozy, comfortable place to relax once you get home from your adventures – it’s full of natural light and brimming with charm. We definitely felt “on vacation” as soon as we walked through the front door. This is not a cookie-cutter vacation rental. It is the owners’ personal vacation home, and their pride in ownership is evident. The house is extremely solid (circa 1920), well-maintained, and immaculately clean, with touches both practical (mudroom, full-size washer/dryer) and aesthetic (art, photographs) that make you feel immediately at home. Linens and dishes were more than adequate. The setting affords considerable privacy; the kitchen is well-equipped; and books, puzzles, and DVDs abound to entertain you during rainy days and evenings. Because we were traveling north to Maine just ahead of Hurricane Irene, we had the chance to interact with the owner quite a bit. He could not have been nicer or more accommodating – he even checked in with us after the storm (which did not affect us much after all) to be sure everything was OK. He also was quite responsive during the reservation process, and had a ton of great suggestions for exploring the area. In Southwest Harbor, we loved Red Sky, Sips, and Cafe 2 for dinner, and the fresh blueberry muffins at Sawyer's market are amazing. Sips also has great espresso as well as wines by the glass/half glass. Popovers at the Jordan Pond House are not to be missed. It was fun to discover the nearby Wonderland and Ship Harbor trails (easy, suitable for kids/dogs). Flying Mountain, one of our old favorites, is only a short drive away. For more strenuous hiking, we are fans of the Beehive (near Sand Beach) and the Cadillac North Ridge Trail. We were glad we rented bikes from Southwest Cycle to check out the carriage roads. We hope to visit again soon – next time, we are bringing our kayaks (yes, you really can launch off the back lawn). Our only complaint about this house is that it’s not ours!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

The quintessential summer cottage on the water

Guest: bonobo60137 (Glen Ellyn)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/24/11

When we were planning our first trip to Maine, we were hoping to find the quintessential summer cottage on the water on the quiet side – and this adorable house surpassed all our expectations. The house is immaculate – very well-tended and extremely clean. It had everything we needed including comfortable beds and pillows, and a lovely family room that looked out onto the deck and the tide beyond. Our children enjoyed playing in the large yard and exploring the little beach for shells and rocks, and when they came inside, they put together jigsaw puzzles on the huge round coffee table in the middle of the family room. The enormous deck was the perfect place to relax and watch the ebbing tide. In fact, I think the deck offers the best and most comfortable vantage point to witness Maine’s amazing sunsets. It was incredible. The owner is easy to work with, very responsive to all our questions via phone and email. We took a number of his suggestions for hiking, visiting and dining, and all were excellent. The caretaker welcomed us by leaving fresh eggs from her chickens in the refrigerator – it was such a thoughtful (not to mention, delicious!) gesture. It was one of the most delightful vacations we’ve ever had. We did spend part of each day in Bar Harbor or Acadia National Park, and we found it so restful to return to the house each evening.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing, families with young children.

The ideal retreat!

Guest: B&M (Bristol, CT)
Date of Stay: 06/17/11 Review Submitted: 06/27/11

My wife and I last visited Acadia two years ago and fell in love with this island. We stayed in a small cabin with our dog just outside of Bar Harbor and visited the Village almost every night. This year we decided to try the quite side of the island and we were glad we did. The house in Bass Harbor was very clean and is well depicted by the photos and description. There is a large deck overlooking a huge lawn which rolls down the water. Our dog loved the open space to run and play, a great place to fetch a ball. This house served as a great starting point for daily adventures, including kayaking right off the back lawn, and at Long Pond and Seal Cove just minutes away. Great hiking is also close by at Beech Mt, Day Mt. and several other peaks in just a few minutes drive. Bass Harbor Light and Wonderland are both a short bike ride from the front porch. With all there was to do, we never even made it to Bar Harbor, although the Island Explorer picks up a few minutes walk from the house. Everything we needed was close by. I highly recommend Wonderland for the best tide pools on the island, and Seafood Ketch for the cinnamon bread. Sips has the best blueberry pancakes and Cafe 2/Eat-a Pita has the best soups and sandwiches, and is a great place to eat outside with your dog (both in nearby South West Harbor). Take your kayaks to the south end of Long Pond and you can chose from several great hiking trails to walk before a prestine paddle. Road cycling is fantastic almost anywhere on the island with lots of rural roads to explore, but the Acadia Park loop road is as good as road cycling can get. The owners of this house were extremely attentive. After I mentioned a small plumbing problem, they responded immediately, and the caretaker was there in minutes. We were never inconvienced and were quite impressed by the rapid dispatch. I would recommend this place to all my friends, as this is the ideal place for a Mt. Desert vacation.

Owner response:It is wonderful to hear how our guests enjoy and experience Mt. Desert Island. Our house, Blackacre is conveniently located to everything the island has to offer. We always leave a welcome note with some of the best resturants and attractions we like and love to pass along any information along to our guests. And as we all know, word of mouth is the best reference. Thanks again, Brian and Marion.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Wonderful views! A+ House!

Guest: D&B (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 09/12/10 Review Submitted: 09/22/10

We thoroughly enjoyed the use of this house. We appreciated the accurate description; the house was even more charming and so well appointed. We had a great time hiking and sightseeing in the area, but especially enjoyed coming back to the beautiful view and peace and quiet of the house at the end of the day. We would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it. P.S. For dog owners, the area is extremely dog friendly.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing.

Terrific place to stay

Guest: Ollie (Cambridge, MA)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 09/15/10

Thank you to the owners for sharing their piece of Bass Harbor with us. We felt so comfortable at the cottage that after enjoying the outdoors (hiking, biking, etc.) in the morning we usually spent the afternoon on the deck or in the living room. We would top off the day with a kayak trip around the harbor right out the back door. The cottage is well appointed and well maintained. We appreciated that Bass Harbor is one the Quietside, but it was easy enough to go to Bar Harbor for a night "in the city". I have already recommended this property to friends as a terrific place to stay.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Two Thumbs Up!Greenwich Ct

Guest: Connecticut Ron (United States)
Date of Stay: 08/23/10 Review Submitted: 09/07/10

What a gem,pictures and words cannot justify this beautiful house!The house was impeccably clean and very well maintained,it had all the amenities and then some( frosted beer mugs in freezer....!)The owners and caretakers were very helpful in their knowledge of the area...I must thank the caretaker for recommending me to Nemo's,a local haunt...it has a lot of character...and lots of info on getting lobsters @ non tourist prices..(Bernard Lobster docks)Its true Lobster taste better in Maine! Our mornings would start with sunrise coffee on the deck...seagulls singing and lobster men going out for their catch!Once again the sheer beauty and serenity cannot be photographed or explained,the view from the deck is priceless!From the house you have many great things in walking distance , The Bass Lighthouse,great restaurant Seafood Ketch..Swan Island ferry.The house is minutes away form everything ,from great places to eat,to one of the most beautiful nat'l parks..we definitely recommend sunrise on Cadaillac Mountain...awesome!Bring your bikes,kayaks, hiking boots etc. then relax at your"home on bass harbor"Our stay was a very short 5 days,but IT WAS GREAT!We would like to Thank the owners again for letting us share their beautiful home,and Thank you again for letting us bring our Rottweiler! arghh arghh!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Two Thumbs Up!Greenwich Ct

Guest: Connecticut Ron (United States)
Date of Stay: 09/21/09 Review Submitted: 09/07/10

What a gem,pictures and words cannot justify this beautiful house!The house was impeccably clean and very well maintained,it had all the amenities and then some( frosted beer mugs in freezer....!)The owners and caretakers were very helpful in their knowledge of the area...I must thank the caretaker for recommending me to Nemo's,a local haunt...it has a lot of character...and lots of info on getting lobsters @ non tourist prices..(Bernard Lobster docks)Its true Lobster taste better in Maine! Our mornings would start with sunrise coffee on the deck...seagulls singing and lobster men going out for their catch!Once again the sheer beauty and serenity cannot be photographed or explained,the view from the deck is priceless!From the house you have many great things in walking distance , The Bass Lighthouse,great restaurant Seafood Ketch..Swan Island ferry.The house is minutes away form everything ,from great places to eat,to one of the most beautiful nat'l parks..we definitely recommend sunrise on Cadaillac Mountain...awesome!Bring your bikes,kayaks, hiking boots etc. then relax at your"home on bass harbor"Our stay was a very short 5 days,but IT WAS GREAT!We would like to Thank the owners again for letting us share their beautiful home,and Thank you again for letting us bring our Rottweiler! arghh arghh!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Lovely Place To Temporarily Call Home

Guest: a happy family (Burlington, VT)
Date of Stay: 07/12/10 Review Submitted: 07/30/10

We stayed for a much-too-short week in mid-July and loved everything about the house! It is literally right on the water, so we made sure to slip our boats in nearly every high tide. At low tide, the beachcombing is great - lots of crab shells. The deck looks out to the most spectacular sunsets, which makes it the perfect place to unwind after a busy day in the water or on the nearby trails. Though it's near plenty of conveniences, it's quiet and peaceful - giving visitors a real Maine experience. The house is well-stocked with supplies and is immaculate. The pictures can't even begin to capture the charm and grace of this home!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.