Higgins Cottage: Walking Distance to Back Beach and Thurston's Lobster Pound

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Entire home

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

Fireplace
Dryer
Washer
Barbecue grill
Kitchen
Parking available

Explore the area

Tremont, ME

Acadia National Park
‪16 min walk‬
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
‪6 min drive‬
Acadia National Park's Visitors Center
‪23 min drive‬
Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
‪27 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

2nd Floor Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

2nd Floor Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2nd Floor Bedroom 3

2 Twin Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

1st Floor Half Bathroom

Toilet

2nd Floor Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Once the home and antique shop for a local family, charming "Higgins Cottage" in Bernard offers updated interiors in a sweet residential village on the "quiet side" of Mt. Desert Island. Relax on the sun porch and enjoy the peacefulness of the private landscaped backyard or take a stroll through the neighborhood to enjoy a picnic or brisk dip in the water at "Back Beach", a lovely, lesser-known cove facing the mouth of Bass Harbor. Many other wonderful sites within minutes by car include the Seal Cove Auto Museum, the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, and the trail to Ship Harbor. For dining, walk to Thurston's Lobster Pound only one-half mile away, or head to the shops and restaurants in Southwest Harbor just three miles away via car or the free Island Explorer Shuttle running from late June to mid-October.

All in all, the quiet side of the Island and Acadia National Park has much to offer including hiking, swimming, and paddling, but when you're ready for more, just continue a little further by car or shuttle to enjoy more hiking, scenic carriage roads and the Park Loop Road running through the east side of Acadia. Then once you're ready to slow down, head into the bustling village of Bar Harbor and wind down with additional dining and movie options.

FIRST FLOOR: A sunny and spacious Kitchen with newer appliances, plenty of counter space, and a dining table for six. Comfortable Living Room with gas stove. Enclosed Sun Porch overlooking a lovely backyard. Half bathroom. Laundry Area with washer and dryer.

SECOND FLOOR: Two bedrooms with a Queen bed in each with window ac units during the summer months and the third bedroom with Twin beds and a play nook for children share a spacious hallway bathroom with a combined tub and shower.

OUTDOOR SPACES: A lovely landscaped backyard and lawn with lawn chairs, picnic table, and grill.

Property manager

The Knowles Company

Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor Space

Parking available

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Please send an "inquiry" before booking request, if questions/concerns. Sat. to Sat. bookings are typically required.

Please submit: The total number of guests w/ ages of children and USPS mailing address with booking request. (Your address will not be shared)

Review the Lease Agreement and Tenant Policies. Disclose ALL party members. No unapproved pets, smoking, vaping, early arrival/late departure.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Bernard

Located in Bernard, this vacation home is in a rural area and by the sea. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park and Acadia National Park's Visitors Center. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum are also worth visiting. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Tremont, ME

What's nearby

Acadia National Park - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
Wonderland Trail Trailhead - 6 min drive - 6.0 km
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse - 6 min drive - 5.1 km
Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 23 min drive - 23.1 km
Cadillac Mountain - 38 min drive - 33.1 km

Getting around

Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

‪Hansen's Outpost - ‬2 min drive
‪Beal's Lobster Pier - ‬8 min drive
‪Gott's Store - ‬3 min drive
‪Tan Turtle Tavern - ‬27 min drive
‪Seafood Ketch Restaurant - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Higgins Cottage: Walking Distance to Back Beach and Thurston's Lobster Pound pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Higgins Cottage: Walking Distance to Back Beach and Thurston's Lobster Pound?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Higgins Cottage: Walking Distance to Back Beach and Thurston's Lobster Pound?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Higgins Cottage: Walking Distance to Back Beach and Thurston's Lobster Pound located?

Situated by the sea, this vacation home is 0.8 mi (1.4 km) from Acadia National Park and within 6 mi (10 km) of Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and Ship Harbor Nature Trailhead. Wonderland Trail Trailhead and Wendell Gilley Museum are also within 6 mi (10 km).

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

8/10 Good

Sheryl K.

Oct 22, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place but needs some work done

There are a few things that need to be addressed on the property such as posting the house number with a little more visibility from the street, it’s very dark at night. Also need to have someone address the shower, water pressure is very low and the diverter to turn the shower on was extremely difficult to use

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carl B.

Oct 15, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Had a great stay

very nice and quant. Everything worked and was comfortable

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Victoria M.

Oct 7, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

Spacious, Peaceful, and relaxing. Just what we were looking for.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Philip and Kristine M.

Oct 7, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Autumn in Acadia

As always, we enjoyed our adventures hiking and biking in Acadia National Park. The spacious kitchen and living room at Higgins Cottage were ideal for relaxing after a busy day. Had we visited in the summer months, I'm sure we would have spent more time in the screened porch area.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

ben k.

Sep 26, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great cottage in Great location

I was very pleased with the cottage and the location. It was our first visit to Maine and I would love to return

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Madeline D.

Sep 3, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A beautiful cottage with everything you could need!

My friends and I had such a great stay at the cottage! The house is beautiful, and in addition to having everything you would need for our vacation stay in the home, the hosts even left us a well-detailed packet of recommendations for what to do, hike, explore, and eat around Mt. Desert Island. We got to try out a few of the hidden gems that they had suggested and loved it! The check in and out of the cottage was super easy and the location is quite perfect on the “quiet side” of the island which allowed us to have some peaceful morning walks before exploring Acadia. When I do come back to Mt. Desert Island, I will definitely be looking to stay here again!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katie S.

Aug 29, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect little cottage

It was the perfect little cottage for our family of 5. We really liked having all the bedrooms upstairs. Don't miss the book the owners put together about their favorite activities around the area! We did so many of them and they were all amazing recommendations. From where to eat to places to explore. It was a very convenient location while also feeling away from the tourists/crowds. Even during peak season, it was an easy and pretty drive into Bar Harbor and to the Carriage roads where we biked.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott M.

Aug 11, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet side

Great place on the quiet side , very spacious and comfortable

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Missy S.

Jul 21, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication

Higgins House

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Bernard and loved walking to Thurstons for meals. The house was very clean. The description of the house did not include that it is off a main route and on the main road into Bernard so the traffic noise is significant. Also, some attention to detail would help this house be a true gem to stay in while visiting the quiet side of Acadia. Blinds were not kept up and half broken, large windows in the back have no covering at all and there was no mattress cover on one of the beds. We loved the porch and if the trees in the back were trimmed a bit you would have a view of thee harbor water. The owner was very attentive to a problem we had with the shower and we appreciated that. The owner also provided a detailed notebook for things to do on the island that was most helpful and appreciated. Again this is a very clean house and that meant a lot.For the money we paid I would have liked a bit more updated details that I mentioned above.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brett W.

Jul 18, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Maine getaway!

A great place to stay! Very clean and close to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Clive H.

Jul 13, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful getaway

Made friends with the deer in the yard!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dan B.

Jun 13, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Acadia NF Trip

Cottage was perfect. On the quiet side but accessible to everything in the area. Great spot for birders just in the neighborhood and the yard

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Regina F.

Sep 24, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just lovely!

Our family had a wonderful stay at the cottage. It was perfect as our homebase. We were gone all day and where so happy to be able to come home to a cozy (and spacious) little home away from home. We couldn't have asked for anything more. It was our first time in Maine and we absolutely loved everything about our trip. Thank you!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hannah S.

Sep 22, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely, quiet Retreat

Higgins Cottage is fantastic retreat, set in a quiet street with relatively short drives to Bar Harbor and many of the incredible hikes and outdoor activities the area has to offer. We took advantage of the suggestions in the house binder and explored hikes, restaurants and activities no more than a 5-10 minute drive and it was some of the most memorable experiences of the trip. The house was ideal for our 10 and 16-year-old sons, and we spent many evenings together on the outdoor porch. We are grateful for this special time together!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kaila M.

Jul 19, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This place gives me the feels

I love the coziness of this house. It feels like home away from home, but with the added bonus of being in nature with beautiful views. My family and I liked the layout. It's very spacious for a family of 4, yet you don't feel as though you've lost a child somewhere. The beds are very comfortable. The house is clean with newer furniture. They have board games and plenty of books to read. There is even a little table and Matchbox car container in the kids' bedroom nook.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ashley B.

Nov 1, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Home Away From Home

Staying at Higgina cottage was a wonderful experience. After we were done hiking and checking out Bar Harbor, coming back and relaxing at the cottage with a book or a movie was

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

Oct 17, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A space to come together

This was the perfect house for our group to come together from all over the country and share meals and talk about the day’s adventures in Acadia. There’s a lot of room and the location was quiet with a beautiful yard. Communication was swift and informative.

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

David A.

Sep 19, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Spot for Exploring MDI

My wife, kids (2&5), and myself spent a lovely time in the cottage in September. It is a very comfortable spot to come back to after a day of exploring MDI. We loved the location for its easy access to hikes like wonderland trail, acadia mountain, and the echo lake beach. Southwest Harbor was also very close and had great food.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Molly L.

Aug 9, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house on the quiet side

The house was a perfect fit for our family of five. We spent a lot of time out and about on the island so it was a great place to come back, relax, and get ready for the next thing. We thought we'd be far away from everything but that wasn't the case. There were several restaurants and stores nearby, as well adventures, like the Bass Harbor lighthouse, Echo Lake Beach, kayaking on Long pond, Bass Harbor Island Cruise, and many hikes.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy L.

Jul 23, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely, comfortable stay

This place was clean, spacious and very comfortable for our family of four - a perfect place to come back to after a day exploring Acadia and the “quiet side” of MDI. Would very happily stay again in the future.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

grace a.

Nov 7, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Somewhat remote but roomy

This is a roomy house. Good tv. All the kitchen items you need. I think this wood be a good place for a family with several children. We found it to be too remote—-especially in the off season when many places are closed. We were happy to discover a great bakery in Southwest Harbor as well as a nice restaurant. The location is approximately 18 miles south of bar Harbor.

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Diane S., Philadelphia, PA

Oct 13, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just Lovely!!!

The cottage is just adorable. Make sure you read there recommendation in the Cottage binder as everything they suggested was top notch!!! We loved coffee in the chairs by the view. Neighbors were also super nice as we chatted with them. Would HIGHLY recommend this adorable place! Only thing missing was maybe an outside fire but curling up by the indoor gas fireplace stove was lovely!!!

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

STEVE K.

Sep 30, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

VERY COMFORTABLE

Spacious with nice furnishings. Very clean. Comfortable bedding, lots of towels. Laundry was very nice to have.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Marla E., Brookline, MA

Sep 25, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

As Great as it Looks

Fabulous cottage with every thoughtful need addressed and every touch. Perfect, really and very romantic. The hosts’ suggestions for food and outdoor adventures are spot on, and walking across the road to the farm stand for homemade ice cream was a bonus. We would add Abel Lobster as even better food and setting. Only caution is if you are a light sleeper, there is a surprising amount of traffic very early in the morning (starting around 4 am) because the road is an access to a working harbor, but watching the boats come in during the afternoon was delightful. We will definitely be back.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

6/10 Okay

Ben A.

Sep 21, 2021

Liked: Check-in, location

Adequate for a short stay

The house is located on the Quiet Side with great access to the western half of the island. However, improvements need to be made to the house. With a little more work, this house could be a great rental.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by The Knowles Company

Located on Mount Desert Island surrounded by Acadia National Park, The Knowles Company has been a successful rental and real estate business since 1898. As a representative for the property owner, our experienced and knowledgeable rental professionals work as a team to provide the tenant guest with a level of personalized assistance to ensure an excellent rental experience.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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Higgins Cottage: Walking Distance to Back Beach and Thurston's Lobster Pound

Photo gallery for Higgins Cottage: Walking Distance to Back Beach and Thurston's Lobster Pound

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

2nd Floor Bedroom 1

2nd Floor Bedroom 2

2nd Floor Bedroom 3

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

1st Floor Half Bathroom

2nd Floor Bathroom

Spaces

About this property