Hopes were low for our trip to Maine after repeated searches in the better known hotspots turned up few hits for acceptable lodging. I broadened our search, and we lucked into our stay at the Mary Elizabeth House. What a happy circumstance!
The house combines the best of modern comforts with the traditional appeal of Midcoast Maine--large rooms, comfortable furnishings and facilities, replete with all the necessities you'd need for a proper Maine visit: full kitchen, lobster steamer, grill, deck, modern washer and dryer, and room inside and out to spread out and relax. We especially appreciated the kitchen/dining area--room enough to cook, leave all our packs over by the door, and still be able to spread out and plan or play games. We also liked the isolation between the downstairs and upstairs--no need to creep about quietly in the mornings because our kids upstairs snoozed on regardless of what we did. One thing to note: the stairway upstairs is kind of tight and might be daunting to folks with mobility issues. That did not affect us, though, and I suspect most could ascend easily.
The location for us was ideal--after a long day of driving, what a welcome relief to be able to walk two minutes to the very scenic Waldoboro Village River Park to clear our minds. Or drive two minutes to a great little brewery. Damariscotta is fifteen minutes away with delicious ice cream and restaurants. And within a thirty or forty minutes' drive? Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, ferries to Monhegan Island (think "Little Acadia"), the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and more great seafood restaurants than we could visit during our stay. And at each day's end, we felt fortunate to return to quiet Waldoboro, minutes off Route 1 but miles from the touristy hubbub that we try to avoid.
Paul is a gracious host--communication was clear, he let us know when he'd be stopping by for yardwork or to retrieve tools for his work elsewhere. He repeatedly offered us local shellfish and recommendations for places to visit as well as offering to let us use his kayaks to explore. When I mentioned during our early correspondence that my wife was allergic to cats, he spirited Ari the Cat away for an exclusive cat vacation so we wouldn't have to worry about uninvited visits. He is kind, generous, and engaging, and he was in contact enough to answer questions but not hovering and obsessive like some hosts we've encountered.
Highly recommended!