The Most Beautiful Cottage on the Most Beautiful Island in the World

My husband and I rented from Mat for two summers in a row, and although we haven't been unable to return in a few years, we still talk about the place. If you value peace, quiet, country living, fresh air, the first morning cup of coffee while sitting in your pi's staring peacefully out at the ocean, great hiking, AMAZING fresh seafood right off the boat, and are willing to go a little out of your way for it, THIS is the place.

I was a little sketched out at renting off the internet, but Mat made it all so easy, and I immediately trusted him. He answered every email, and was just so kind. Plus, when he told me there were three kinds of coffee pots in the house, I knew we'd found our type of place! This place is classic Old New England, from the rustic stone fireplace to the beadboard walls to the Adirondack chairs on the patio. Deer graze in the back yard. It is just soooo peaceful. No one bugs you, but if you need something, the locals are happy to help out. We were staying a bit early in the season, in June, before all of the tourists were really around, and lobsters were a bit hard to come by. But then a local lobsterman offered to take half of our party out to pull a few traps, in exchange for some beer. After hours of story telling and more than a few beers, the rest of the party was greeted by two giant buckets of lobster and crab. It was a blast, and we will never forget the kindness of that lobsterman--or his entertaining stories!

We aren't sure when we'll be able to make our next trip, but we seriously hope Mat doesn't plan to retire to Maine any time soon, because we look forward to renting from him again in the future.

What a magical, wonderful place is IAH and what a jewel is Stone Cottage! To truly relax and enter another time, see what the world was like when nature was untouched and connect with a kind and interesting community of people is to vacation on IAH!

The house is clean, perfectly maintained, yet rustic and beautiful. There are plenty of books, games, eclectic furnishings and art work. The listing and information you will receive from the owner will be accurate and dependable. The kitchen has everything you will need to cook your meals, the bedding is warm on chilly nights, the view of the water from the front porch is incredibly peaceful.

Our 4 children loved playing in the yard or riding their bikes around the island or walking to the store in "town". It is safe and an excellent place to give children independence. My husband and I are both lawyers so we felt a special affinity wth the history of the place.

Although it felt great to leave all the craziness that urban life entails, I must admit I was concerned about leaving its safety net of restaurants and stores, particularly with 4 children in tow. However, the Owner (Mat) made that part a breeze. He readily answered my questions quickly and completely before we left. He put me in touch with the locals so that we would be met at the boat and personally escorted to the house. For me, the best part was beginning my vacation by walking into a fully-stocked kitchen --- all the groceries that I had ordered had already been delivered and put away when we arrived! Immediately, it felt like home.

We will equally remember the landscape of the most incredible hikes we have ever taken as we will the afternoons sipping iced hot chocolate at Black Dinah -- home of the best chocolate you will ever find! In fact, we ended up spending an afternoon there playing cards and enjoying the delicacies while my husband fixed my bike that had tanked just as we drove up to the place. After it proved unfixable, not only did we get a ride back to the house with the broken bike courtesy of the new friends that we had made while hanging out, but Kate, the owner of Black Dinah, offered her bike to me for the rest of the week. IAH is just that kind of place.

The often used "if you are lucky enough" applies here: If you are lucky enough to make it to this most wonderous place, you are lucky enough.