Entire home

South Bristol, Updated Christmas Cove Cottage

Photo gallery for South Bristol, Updated Christmas Cove Cottage

Exterior
Exterior
Exterior
Kitchen
Dining room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
South Bristol, ME
  • Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park
    ‪27 min drive‬
  • Boothbay Harbor Marina
    ‪47 min drive‬
  • Opera House at Boothbay Harbor
    ‪48 min drive‬
  • Wiscasset, ME (ISS)
    ‪40 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 1

Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Bathroom 4

Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

South Bristol, Updated Christmas Cove Cottage

This South Bristol 19th c. Cape in picturesque Christmas Cove on Rutherford Island has new amenities yet retains its charm as a shipbuilder's home.

The home has been remodeled and updated with a large eat-in gourmet kitchen and tastefully decorated with local antiques and artwork. Honed black marble countertops, kitchen island with seating for 5, top brand appliances including KitchenAid and Thermador gas burners, Damariscotta Pottery tile work, and well-stocked kitchen make for a wonderful retreat. New England charm abounds in this well-appointed cottage with top-grade bedding, down pillows and comforters and new mattresses. Outdoor living is equally inviting with a covered front porch, fire pit, and large outdoor screened-in porch. The cottage is surrounded by gardens and lawn with woods on three sides.

In addition to the full bathroom and two half bathrooms, there's an outdoor shower with hot/cold water. High-speed internet access is available.

Christmas Cove is well known as one of Maine’s prettiest harbors. The destination of many yachtsmen, the island is peaceful and serene. It's easily accessible over a swing bridge from the working harbor village of South Bristol.

The Coveside Bar & Restaurant is just down the street and serves lunch and dinner. They also have a lively and fun bar with live music on weekends during the summer months. Access to dingy docks and mooring rentals are available at the Coveside Marina. Not far is South Bristol, a historic working fishing village that offers limited additional dining and grocery shopping options.

It is a smallish island with summer homes and year-round residents (maybe 100). In the summer months, there are many families with their children. While the area feels remote and peaceful, in many ways it has all the modern-day comforts.

So. Bristol is an active fishing village with commercial lobster and fishing boats plus two small markets and delis.

An enjoyable outing is a drive to Pemaquid Point and also the harbor (about 20 -30 minutes drive) for touring of the historic lighthouse and old fort, antique and art stores, and additional seaside restaurants. There's a very nice sandy beach there, as well. It's also close to where you can catch the ferry for a day on Monhegan Island, an absolute must if you have the time.

The closest town is Damariscotta. It's about 15-minute drive away with a couple grocery stores, bookstore, restaurants, antique shops, and art galleries and fun shopping. A great stop on the way is Walpole Barn for tasteful house gifts, oysters, and wine. They host fun wine tastings on the weekends.










Keywords: Cottage

Property manager

Melissa Welles

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children welcome
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
Pets considered
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Non smoking only
This is an older home and it has two narrow and steep staircases, so probably not appropriate for anyone with mobility challenges
Rental longer than 7 days require paying $150 for our housekeeper to come clean and change sheets every 7 days.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

South Bristol

Located in Christmas Cove, a neighbourhood in South Bristol, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. Boothbay Region Land Trust and Boothbay Harbor Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Pemaquid Craft Co-op and Penobscot Marine Museum. Maine State Aquarium and Boothbay Railway Village are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
South Bristol, ME

What's nearby

  • Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park - 27 min drive - 21.9 km
  • Boothbay Harbor Marina - 47 min drive - 50.1 km
  • Opera House at Boothbay Harbor - 48 min drive - 50.3 km
  • Burnt Island Living Lighthouse - 48 min drive - 50.3 km
  • Cabbage Island - 52 min drive - 52.1 km

Getting around

  • Wiscasset, ME (ISS) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Boothbay Lobster Wharf - ‬52 min drive
  • ‪East Boothbay General Store - ‬50 min drive
  • ‪Coveside Bar & Grill - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪McSeagull’s Restaurant - ‬51 min drive
  • ‪Footbridge Brewery - ‬47 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is South Bristol, Updated Christmas Cove Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at South Bristol, Updated Christmas Cove Cottage ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at South Bristol, Updated Christmas Cove Cottage ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is South Bristol, Updated Christmas Cove Cottage located?

Located in Christmas Cove, this cottage is 3.6 mi (5.9 km) from Fort Point and within 12 miles (20 km) of La Verna Preserve and Pemaquid Craft Co-op. Biscay Pond and Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 12 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kacper W.

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

Great stay spot!

Stayed for a week with the family. Great location with a well equipped kitchen. Plenty of space for four + guests.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Phillip O.

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

Perfect Christmas Cove Cottage

Quaint cottage just off Christmas Cove on Middle Road on Rutherford Island. The bedrooms (all upstairs) are small but comfortable. There is only one full bath, but it was fine for four adults. Two of the bedrooms connect, so it is cozy but worked well for us. Nice back porch and screened porch. Well stocked kitchen. Very close to Coveside restaurant and a nice walk to Kneaded Provisions (local bakery). We had a splendid time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Toby B.

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

Fantastic

I’ve been coming to the area my whole life and have passed by this house a thousand times. I never realized what a great property it is.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Paul Y.

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

Most relaxing stay in many years

I can't say enough about how incredible this part of Maine is and how peaceful this particular place is. If you like the outdoors, come here. All the spots to hike (including one trailhead 200-300 yards from the house) were my personal favorite. So much to do in Maine. The house was very well stocked and very comfortable. It's your typical old upper east coast house complete with all the charm while at the same time having a modern kitchen, forced air heat, and all the other modern conveniences. The property is also beautifully landscaped. We did communicate with the owners a couple of times-- very nice people and very responsive to any request.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

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

As ever a great house in a great location

Our third stay at this location and everything was up to the usual high standards. We can’t complain about anything. We go for the beautiful walks, the quiet and the views. I highly recommend this house.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Shaun G.

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

Christmas Cove

Lovely older home as the pictures suggest with a superb quiet private location. It is just a short walk to the beautiful Christmas Cove or sit on the front porch and view it comfortably from there. Nicely equipped kitchen for those who love to cook and a wonderful dining room adjacent to it. The mature gardens provided another unexpected charm to this property. So nice. The owners both Melissa and Bart were very nice and attentive. We hope to be back next year. Shaun G.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Marisa H.

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

Charming house in a beautiful spot

We had a lovely stay at this charming house on Rutherford Island near Christmas Cove. The eat-in kitchen is to die for and we had many happy meals there. Another favorite spot was the porch, where one could get a glimpse of the bay and a few boats and seabirds. The owner gave us some excellent suggestions for day trips. We went to Monhegan Island after she was so kind to tell us about that. We would surely love to stay in this house again. It was very nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Paul T.

We loved it except for the stairs which we got used to.

We were pleased at all the things provided. Basically, all we needed to bring was food. The view from the front porch was great.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sarah B.

Just about perfect Maine vacation cottage snd location

This is a lovely Maine cottage with a brilliant kitchen if you like to cook, which is next to a lovely dining room. The porch is ideal and the living room is cozy in the evenings. Christmas cove has been a summer spot for outsiders for nearly 150 years when boat was the only way to get there - the kind of outsiders who liked simplicity. The South Bristol lobster co-op is 5 miles away where you can watch the lobstermen bring in their catch while partaking of it. This is the place if you want peace and quiet. The four of us felt that we had landed on exactly the place we had meant to find when we decided on Maine this summer!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

We love the island and the house

This was our second stay at the cottage at Christmas Cove and we weren't disappointed. The location is perfect. The house has everything we needed plus a kitchen I wish I could take home with me. I complained about a few ants after a rainy day and the owner sent someone to deal with them a few hours after I texted her. We were grateful and impressed by the quick response. We hope to stay again next year.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

Great cottage in a great location

We love Christmas Cove, and we loved the cottage. Everything was as advertised: beautiful views, lovely rooms, and great working kitchen with everything you'd need. Maybe next year we'll do more than make toast and coffee. The porch is the best room not in the house, I regret that we didn't spend more time lounging. The only problem for some will be the steep and shallow stairs which might be dangerous for older guests. Also, Google maps sent us to the other end of the street. Other than that, the place is perfect and we hope to return next year.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful week at Christmas Cove Cottage

The cottage is so charming and well appointed. Beautifully decorated and very well kept. It's off the beaten path, but suitable as a home base for visiting the Midcoast region. Upon our arrival there were fresh cut flowers on the dining room table to welcome us. We enjoyed cooking many of our meals in the large cook's kitchen. There's a deck off the kitchen where we liked to grill on warm evenings, as well as a large screened in area to dine al fresco. The front porch was the perfect place to relax and listen to the birds or the foghorn and decompress after a long day of touring. The yard surrounding the house is nice for youngsters to run off some energy. Our son loved his big room with a library of storybooks for bedtime, plus toys and games to play. The owner is very friendly and provided lots of useful information about the area, and promptly answered all my questions. We wish we could have stayed longer. It was a great family holiday and we would love to return next year.

About the host

Hosted by Melissa Welles

Host profile image
We have spent many summers in this house and love the area.

Why they chose this property

Kayaking, swimming, hiking/walking and biking; oysters and wine from Walpole Barn, pre-cooked lobsters and steamers from the Co-op or the Coveside for lunch and dinner.

What makes this property unique

Many sightseeing options, comfortable and well appointed home.
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