Entire home

Spectacular Views, 4 min to Acadia, Walk to Town, Gas Fire Pit, Quietside

Looking down from upper lounge to the great room

The upper deck for stargazing - now with gas fire pit - see next photo

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

5 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 124150 sq ft

Popular amenities

Dryer
Fireplace
Washer
Kitchen
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Southwest Harbor, ME

Wendell Gilley Museum
‪11 min walk‬
Acadia National Park
‪3 min drive‬
Asticou Azalea Garden
‪23 min drive‬
Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
‪26 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Lower Level King

1 King Bed

Lower Level Twin Room

2 Single Beds

Master Suite

1 Queen Bed

Master Suite 2

1 Queen Bed

Twin Room

2 Single Beds

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Guest Bathroom

Toilet

Lower Level Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Main Level Master

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upper Level Master

Toilet · Shower only

Upper Level Spa Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Dining area

About this property

Spectacular Views, 4 min to Acadia, Walk to Town, Gas Fire Pit, Quietside

This gorgeous, spacious, and comfortable family-owned home is just a 4 minute drive from Acadia National Park, and just a 5-10 minute walk to the town of Southwest Harbor. Enjoy magnificent harbor and mountain views, and stargaze from the upper deck while warming up by the gas fire pit.

There are a total of five bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms feature queen size beds, two of them have two twin beds each, and there is one king room on the lower level. There is also a TV room on the main floor with a sofa bed that may be used to extend occupancy from 10 to 12, but no more than 12 people strict max! YES, THIS GUEST LIMIT INCLUDES INFANTS!

MORE INFO IS BELOW - BUT FIRST, PLEASE NOTE: if you put in a reservation request, please tell us about yourself and your group. We will require some back and forth communication with you. Please do not ignore those messages that come through VRBO! If we do not hear back from you, we may have to decline your reservation request.

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There are four full bathrooms and one half bath. The house has three levels. There are both indoor and outdoor dining areas, as well as some counter seating. In addition to a double height space living room, the upper level also features a lounge area with stunning views. There are also three different decks from which to enjoy the view of the water and mountains, maybe best of all, stargazing from the upper deck with sofa and gas fire pit. The house features game tables and a workout room.

The house does NOT have air conditioning. 5 ceiling fans in the main areas, 1 in upper level master bedroom, and other bedrooms have Vornado room fans. It can sometimes feel hot in the summer afternoons - generally this will happen a few spells each year. It is almost always quite cool at night.

Entry to the house in on the main level. There is a queen bedroom and a twin room (two singles) on the main level. On the upper level there is a queen room. On the lower level, there is a king room and another twin room.

There are no pets allowed.

Property manager

Rachel Goldstein & Jonathan Hefter

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washing machine

Dryer

Free WiFi

Gym

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

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

All infants count toward the maximum.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

No campfires No more than 12 souls on premises including infants

We require some back and forth communication before your reservation request can be accepted. Please review all messages and respond accordingly.

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

This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

Property Registration Number B7191P878

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Southwest Harbor

Located in Southwest Harbor, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. Bar Harbor Whale Watching is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park and Acadia National Park's Visitors Center. Travelling with kids? Consider Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Southwest Harbor, ME

What's nearby

Wendell Gilley Museum - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
Acadia National Park - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
Flying Mountain Trailhead - 6 min drive - 3.6 km
Asticou Azalea Garden - 23 min drive - 25.0 km
Cadillac Mountain - 30 min drive - 29.0 km

Getting around

Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

‪Jordan Pond House Restaurant - ‬32 min drive
‪Hansen's Outpost - ‬8 min drive
‪Beal's Lobster Pier - ‬7 min drive
‪Gott's Store - ‬8 min drive
‪Tan Turtle Tavern - ‬24 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Spectacular Views, 4 min to Acadia, Walk to Town, Gas Fire Pit, Quietside pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Spectacular Views, 4 min to Acadia, Walk to Town, Gas Fire Pit, Quietside?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Spectacular Views, 4 min to Acadia, Walk to Town, Gas Fire Pit, Quietside?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Spectacular Views, 4 min to Acadia, Walk to Town, Gas Fire Pit, Quietside located?

This family-friendly Southwest Harbor holiday home is located on a lake, within 3 mi (5 km) of Wendell Gilley Museum and Acadia National Park. Long Pond and Flying Mountain Trailhead are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Exceptional

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

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Ed W.

13 Jul, 2025

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

Great view of SW harbor. Great community space for family to connect. Smores on the gas firepit upstairs with a great view. My family had a great time. Acadia has something for everyone.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Trent E.

6 Jul, 2025

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

Fourth of July Week 2025

Absolutely, beautiful and gorgeous home overlooking Southwest Harbor and the town below. This home is within a four minute walk to downtown southwest Harbor, Maine and very close to amazing restaurants and ice cream shops. In addition, the home is very clean and has an open floor plan with three levels, including a top floor outside deck with fire pit for watching the Fourth of July fireworks (Just a spectacular fireworks show over the water). We would come back and stay at this home again in the future.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hunter B.

9 Jul, 2025

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

Beautiful House

We really enjoyed our stay in Southwest Harbor. The house is beautiful with excellent views and is very peaceful. Our only complaint was how hot the house got even with every window open and every fan running, it reached 85 degrees on the main floor during the day - I’m sure that’s not normally the case as there were record highs for our stay. Nonetheless, a portable A/C would’ve been nice to knock the edge off.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cecilia C.

17 Oct, 2024

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

Spectacular stay in Southwest Harbor

Our group had a great stay at this property! It has spectacular views, great access to Acadia NP, and a quick walk into Southwest Harbor. The place itself was very spacious, and we really enjoyed the group games available. We'd love to stay here again in the future!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Justin P.

18 Nov, 2024

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

Beautiful views!

Very nice house! Great views and a lot of room to spread out. Pretty short drive to Acadia park.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Howard H.

2 Oct, 2024

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

Wonderful stay

We had stayed last year with friends and at a wonderful time. It's a lovely house with owners and a property manager who were very responsive. Based on our experience last year we again stayed for almost a week with friends and again had a wonderful time. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

7 Aug, 2024

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

Great house for a larger group of family or friends

We couldn’t have picked a better house for our first trip to Maine. This house was perfect…beautiful, well-maintained, and spacious. And, the views were amazing! We loved being on the quiet side, but still close enough to enjoy everything that Maine had to offer. We would definitely stay here again!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie R.

17 Aug, 2023

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

Beautiful property, perfect for large family vacation to Acadia

Amazing views, lots of stargazing spots. Close to Acadia and Bar Harbor, with easy walk into cute downtown of Southwest Harbor. Our large group had plenty of room to spread out! Highly recommend!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy Y.

4 Sept, 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The View

Acadia View House is a terrific property! The views were amazing. Everyone in our group loved the house. It is very spacious and well equipped. We would rent this house again.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sue S.

21 Jul, 2024

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

Wonderful stay!

We had a wonderful stay at this property for a week. The home was wonderful for our family of 9 with both adults and children staying. We had a warm week but there were good breezes through the house. It is close to many of the must see sites in the area. Communication with the owners was rapid and helpful. I highly recommend this home for a family stay!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol H.

13 Oct, 2023

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

Beautiful

Home was amazing! Beautiful view. Very spacious and perfect for our family. Thanks so much!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew G., Northampton, Massachusetts

13 Sept, 2023

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

Spacious, comfortable home with great views

We had a great stay in this wonderful home on the quiet side of MDI. Views were amazing from throughout. Kitchen was well-appointed and the game room downstairs was really fun. We spent most of our days out and about, but even if rain had forced us to stay in, we would've had a great time.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott E., Champaign, IL

12 Jun, 2023

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

Beautiful and comfortable place

This a fantastic place to stay. Great location, quiet neighborhood, and a picturesque view. We had two families together with 5 teen girls. The girls loved the basement for entertainment and the amazing front room for puzzles and reading. Absolutely worth the money.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jo Ann W.

11 Jul, 2018

Beautiful property with stunning views. Great house for a family.

Loved the house for our visit to Mt Desert Island. Conveniently located near Southwest Harbor and enjoyed being on the quiet side of the island. The house had views from every window. Our grandson enjoyed the outside play structure and the upstairs loft area. We are ready to return!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jackson Christopher E.

16 Oct, 2023

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

Fun stay in SW Harbor!

Our stay was great! We had an awesome time exploring MDI and hanging out in Southwest Harbor. Staying in SWH was nice because it felt a bit more remote than some parts of the island closer to Bar Harbor but still close enough to all the hikes that we wanted to do. The house itself is great! Plenty of space for the 7 of us and easily could have fit 2-3 more. The house has space to work and is well equipped to be able to host a nice meal. One of the highlights of SWH was Harbor Table (a restaurant in town), we highly suggest going for dinner.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul L.

21 Sept, 2023

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

Incredible views, clean home, would come back!

We loved our stay! The house was clean, had all the amenities one could need, and the views of the water were spectacular. The remnants of Hurricane Lee impacted our arrival but we were able to work closely with Jonathan and Rachel to ensure the property was safe, accessible, and ready for use. The communication truly was above and beyond! We enjoyed stargazing from the upper deck, and being able to access Acadia/Bar Harbor less than 30 mins from this gorgeous home. I highly recommend staying here!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

David F.

19 Jun, 2023

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

Breathtaking views from a peaceful, relaxing, family-friendly & comfortable home

Clean, well-kept, modern home with excellent views of the water and stars, located on the quiet side of MDI. Far enough away from the cruise ships but close enough to access all things in Bar Harbor & Acadia. Held a small gathering for family members aged 6-45, and everyone had a wonderful, authentic and memorable experience. Highlights were Cadillac mountain on a clear day, Beehive Trail on a foggy day (challenging), Jordan Pond, Thurston's Lobster Pound, and Lulu's Lobster Boat.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Howard H.

1 Oct, 2023

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

A beautiful home

We had high hope for our stay and this house was everything we hoped for. The house was just as beautiful as the photos if not more so. I guess I'd summarize by saying this was like staying in somone's home where the owners go out of their way to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Whenever we had questions either Rachel or Jonathan responded promptly. The next time we come back to Southwest Harbor this will definitely be our first choice of where to stay.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diane A., Stephens City VA USA

18 Jul, 2023

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

Exceptional place

This house is our favorite place to stay of all the trips our family has taken together. The house itself is so well-designed and beautiful; photos simply don't do it or its setting justice. There are places to be together in a large group as well as "away rooms" when someone needs quiet time. The kitchen is well equipped. Everything about it just works for our family of eight--five adults, three kids. Jonathan and Rachel are the best hosts, attentive to all needs and providing everything guests could want. We had a wonderful week in this exceptional house.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexis L.

9 Aug, 2023

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

3rd time repeat visitors

3rd time staying at Acadia View House - fabulous location, quiet side of the island, easy ~5min walk into town, Southwest Harbor has a great wine store, ice cream, Little Notch Bakery for pizzas and sandwiches. 5 min drive to supermarket. Easy drive to carriage roads and hiking (15-25 minutes depending on where you are headed). House is spacious and very comfortable for two families. Screened in porch is wonderful for long dinners, great room is comfortable and bright all day long.

Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary S.

25 Jun, 2023

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

Amazing!

This house is incredible! It’s tastefully decorated, spotless, and had everything we needed. The view of the forest and harbor from the living room and dining room is breathtaking! We had 7 adults in our group, so having 5 bathrooms made getting ready stress free. The bedrooms are spacious and have very roomy closets with plenty of hangers. It’s not listed, but there’s a gas fire pit on the balcony which was very cozy to sit around at night. We also enjoyed the shuffleboard and foosball games. It’s located just 20 minutes from Acadia and Bar Harbor. We went to both places several times. Southwest Harbor is a very quaint town and is a 10 minute walk from the house. It has several restaurants, ice cream shop, bakery, gift shop ( very nice tees and sweatshirts), bars, and coffee shop. The night skies are also gorgeous. Turn off gf the fire pit and watch the stars! This house helped make our vacation unforgettable.

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B.

2 Aug, 2023

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

Foggy bliss

We had an incredible time at the View House. From the moment we turned into the driveway—such a beautiful approach to the house—we knew we were going to love it. Everything was so comfortable and well considered. We cooked and ate at home a lot, supplemented by plenty of Beal’s lobster and one amazing meal at Peter Trout’s. The kitchen was very well equipped. The week we were there (and pretty much the entire summer leading up to it) was quite overcast and foggy. The views were still gorgeous, and when the sun came out, we were all the more thrilled! We hiked A LOT and the weather was perfect for it. Also swam several times in Echo Lake, from the Bluffs (flat—and slippery!—rocks you can dive off, and less crowded than the beach). Oh, and of course the teens loved the foosball and the boxing bag, and we ALL loved the table shuffleboard. Started every day with a tournament! Loved this house on the Quiet Side and can’t wait to return!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diane A.

22 Jul, 2025

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

A perfect place to stay

Our family loves this house! It's immaculately clean, and so well-equipped, with many places within the house to rest, have fun, eat well, or just have a quiet moment. The design is unique and thoughtful--and it's a big place. Communication with Jonathan and Rachel is always straightforward, considerate, and timely. This is a home that has been cared for by people who love it and are gracious to share it with others. We have a sense of gratitude every time we walk through the door. Highly recommend--you won't be disappointed!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pam H.

26 Sept, 2024

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

Wonderful Views

The house is very roomy, and had lots of places to hang out and relax. Very private, but close to trails and amenities. We enjoyed sitting around the fire-pit in the evenings and morning coffee in the great room. Communication was quick and easy. A great place for a large family gathering.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

sarah r.

18 Jul, 2024

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

Beautiful Views

This was our first time to Maine and Spectacular Views did not disappoint!! We had 2 families and 11 people total and had plenty of room. The view of the harbor was beautiful and you could see sunrise every morning from the master bedrooms (upstairs and main). This was close to Acadia NP, Bar Harbor, and everything we wanted to see. We also hiked and went swimming at Echo Lake. I wish we could have stayed longer!! Also, highly recommend the bakery at the end of the street- Emmy’s sweet treats!! Best blueberry pie!!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

About the host

Hosted by Rachel Goldstein & Jonathan Hefter

We are three generations, living in the Washington DC and New York areas. We have been spending summers in Maine together for the past two decades. This house was completed in 2006, and is where we all come together every year to hike, eat lobster, enjoy gorgeous views and each other's company.

Why they chose this property

Larry and Susie, the grandparents, have been avid hikers of Acadia National Park for several decades. After staying in rented cottages on Mount Desert Island for over a decade, they finally bought property in 2001, and completed construction of this house in 2006. Their son and daughter now have families of their own, and everyone comes together to enjoy their time in Maine each summer.

What makes this property unique

This house was designed by Larry & Susie's son-in-law, architect Josh Goldstein. It is specially designed to make the most of the amazing harbor view, while comfortably accommodating our big family and all of our various schedules and interests. Whether we are enjoying a lobster dinner together outside on the screened in porch, grilling on the grill deck, enjoying blueberry crisp, or stargazing from the upper deck, we always come together every night for big family dinners. Afterwards, we like to gather around the indoor dining area to work on a 1000-piece puzzle together or play cards.