Fun Family Vacation

Guest: Lisa (Newbury, NH)
Date of Stay: 06/29/09 Review Submitted: 04/19/11

My husband and I rented the Carriage House in June of 2009 and vacationed there with our three young children (9 mos., 2 years, and 4 years old). The owner had a portable crib available and set up for our use when we arrived. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed the loft area and the Weeble Wobble tree house as well as the playground up the road at the YMCA camp. The kitchen is equipped with all the amenities of a high end kitchen so if you enjoy cooking you'll love this house. Also, it was a nice, quiet location for our family and the screened in porch was great for the kids to play on and my husband I to relax on after the kids were in bed. The stairs to the 2nd floor are steep, but manageable for kids. The property was very clean and well equipped with comfortable furnishings. We ran into one problem with the water heater and Mary Lou took care of it immediately. She also gave us helpful recommendations for food and activities. The Botanical Garden, YMCA, and kayak launch were all within walking distance of the house. The beach and downtown area are a 10 minute drive away.

Recommended for:Families with young children.

Comfortable and Welcoming

Guest: Chuck, Nancy and Dublin (the Irish Water Spaniel) (Baltimore)
Date of Stay: 08/08/09 Review Submitted: 03/08/11

We have stayed at the Carriage House several times. Unlike some rentals, the Carriage House excudes warmth and a true home feeling. The kitchen is suburbly outfitted and the entire downstairs is an open floor plan. The wrap around SCREENED porch is where we all spent our time. We used the little landing directly across the river to launch our kayaks and enjoyed hdaily paddles of varying length around the islands. Drive down to the country store for your newspaper, return to the porch with coffee and its a perfect start to the day. Don't miss the many walks available by virtue of the Conservation Trust.

Owner response:Chuck, Nancy and Dublin were among our first renters...and gave us inspiration to continue by enjoying many of the activities we so love...and blazing new trails of their own!

Recommended for:Pet owners, adventure seekers, families with young children.

The Porch, The Porch, The Porch

Guest: David & Susan (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 09/14/10 Review Submitted: 03/04/11

My wife and I celebrated my birthday in this wonderful house at the top of a hill. Although it was just the two of us, there's plenty of space. It's a perfect getaway for families with children. Even though there was a chill in the September air, I spent almost every waking moment on the screened-in porch.

Owner response:The Carriage House is a perfect year round get away. There is oil heat, along with woodstoves upstairs and down. Newly insulated walls and windows that make it cozy even on the coldest Maine days. The fall colors are beautiful, and the porch is a favorite spot to leaf peep from, for those who prefer to curl up like a cat on their vacation. Nearby trails for those who prefer more dog-like recreation.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Wonderful Waterfront Vacation in Boothbay!

Guest: Pat & Donna (Staten Island, NY)
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 02/26/11

We had a really wonderful time at the Carriage House in Boothbay. The home sits on a beautiful green sun-filled lawn, just a short ride from town center. Our two kids, ages 14 and 9, had a blast on the river, taking out the kayaks almost every day. The porch that wraps around the home was our favorite place to unwind in the early evening before dinner, as the sun set over the back river. I especially loved the kitchen, the big stainless stove, the espresso machine!! and the t.v. room with Atari games for the kids! The master bedroom has a nice private bath, and there are many nooks and crannies for the kids to read and find quiet time. This house is great for families like us with a big water loving Golden Retriever who maybe had the best time of all! It has all the important updates, and all the country charm we were looking for! We will definitely be back again, and again!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

Memorable times in Maine

Guest: Patty (Kinderhook, NY)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 02/23/11

We found the carriage house to be the ideal place to feel like a home away home. One of our favorite features about the house was the huge wrap-around porch which allowed plenty of time to read late into the evening and enjoy the breezes coming off the tidal river. My Australian Shepherd loved just hanging out on the porch with us. Breakfast on the porch with the fantastic view of the water was a great way to start the day with a typical Maine fog dissipating as the sun came up. The Botanical Gardens property borders half the property lending to a very private yard. There are plenty of things to do such as kayaking, biking, shopping and restaurants galore in Boothbay Harbor (less than 2 miles away), Edgewood Pottery, various festivals during the summer and the best lobster rolls (just across the turn-style bridge). We found our private beach area at Porters Preserve and the Botanical Gardens were excellent, you could spend most of the day there going on the trails. My daughter found mussels by the shoreline on one of the trails and we tried to see the house from the edge of the Botanical garden forest(could just see the roof peak section). The kitchen is up-to-date and has most anything you would possibly need. This home has a cottage style decor and had a comfy feel to it. Enjoyed the historic photos showing the original carriage house and the numerous books available to read We will be planning on coming back for future visits.

Owner response:It's been so wonderful to share our home with people who care for it, and love it as much as we do.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Wonderful family retreat

Guest: Nancy and Rob (Calgary, AB, Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/11/09 Review Submitted: 02/23/11

We spent a wonderful week having a small family reunion at the Carriage House. The house was perfect for our 2 families and was very clean and comfortable. The wrap around porch was a favorite place for breakfast and quietly reading in the afternoon. The kayaks gave us a great chance to explore the waterways and were used every day! I'd recommend this place to anyone seeking a peaceful and beautiful place to recharge.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, pet owners, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Ann and Ron, Media (near Phila.), PA

Guest: Ann and Ron (Media, PA)
Date of Stay: 09/24/09 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

We were fortunate to be invited to a "destination wedding" in Boothbay Harbor, and the Carriage House was the perfect venue for us and our friends. We could enjoy the tranquil beauty of the 'way life should be' but were still close to all the activities in the Harbor. The large open living area and the wrap around porch were perfect for gatherings, and the view looking over the Back River at sunset was spectacular. Our friends still talk about these memories, and we can't wait to go back! A definite recommendation for all types of groups.

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

The Vermont girls

Guest: Joan (Vermont)
Date of Stay: 07/12/08 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Carriage house. This historic house is a real treasure. There is a beautiful screened in porch across the front overlooking the bay and the kitchen/living area has been updated to provide all the modern ammenities needed for great dinners and relaxing evenings. It is a pretty private location and has a good sized lawn which our dogs enjoyed. Just a few yards down the road there is access to the water for canine swims and kayaking. Shopping at Boothbay Harbor is just up the road with its quaint shops and restaurants. Of course we had to take the 45 minute drive back to Freeport a couple of times to go to LL Bean! The location is great. It gets you out of the busy southern coast area of Maine but still provides lots of things to do. The house is comfortable with lots of bedrooms with more great views from the upstairs rooms. We hope to go back and enjoy this home again on our vacations in the future.

Owner response:Dear Future Renters....I know you'll love the Carriage House...dogs are welcome for a small daily fee...we are animal lovers!

Recommended for:Pet owners, girls getaway.

View from the Porch

Guest: Nicola (Sunderland, Ma)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 02/21/11

This is was an ideal rental for us in SO many ways: the house is outfitted with everything we needed, from kitchen gadgets to kajaks. The house is spacious, inviting and comfortable. Cozy bedrooms each have their own character. Water view and private lot, but just a few miles from the grocery store, bank, restaurants, etc. The spacious porch saw a lot of kid time, conversation, reading, and yoga. We shared with a couple of other families, and the house has ample room for socializing, cooking & eating, and privacy as well (there are plenty of corners to curl up in with a book!) Freshwater swimming a bonus, right up the road. Neighbors with the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We are going back!

Owner response:Dear Future Renters... Although the Carriage House is spacious, we normally limit occupancy to 8, because of our vintage septic system. Larger groups may be accomodated, but only with special permission from the owner. In this case, this fabulous group of people was hyper responsible about water conservation, and treated the Carriage House as if it were their own. Plus they helped out with gardening and landscaping around the place...which is not a requirement, but was very appreciated.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.