Oceanfront Cottage in Downeast Maine with solar power: Two Jetties Cottage

PLEASE NOTE: The minimum stay is 6 nights (Sunday noon to Saturday 6 pm). We will typically open our summer calendar for booking in late January/early February of the same year. We do NOT have internet/WiFi.

This unique cottage is in a very scenic area, still largely off the beaten path. Two Jetties Cottage is perched on a granite ledge a stone’s throw from Pigeon Hill Bay. It has superb views of the ocean, the shifting tides (tides run 10-14 feet), colorful sunsets across the bay, wildlife such as great blue herons and eagles, the fir tree-clad coastline and islands, and lobster boats at work. The two jetties, made of massive granite blocks, are the remnants of a dock.

The cottage is “off the grid” - not attached to electric power lines. Solar panels on the roof provide electricity to operate the water pump, run electric lights, and charge your cell phone and other electronic devices. The refrigerator, wall lamps, hot water heater, and the magnificent vintage range run on propane gas. The living room includes a large collection of books, as well as some puzzles and games, for those foggy Maine days. The kitchen is equipped with every sort of non-electric gadget you are likely to need, plus an electric coffee grinder.

In addition to the queen bed in the master bedroom, there are bunk beds (2 beds) and a queen bed in the second bedroom. The twin bed on the sun porch allows you to sleep with the stars while still comfortably indoors! Finally, we have a tent platform in the woods by the shore.

The shoreline is rugged pink granite, not sand. There is a beach on the other side of Tom Leighton Point, not far away, that has a natural seawall and sometimes a sand beach, though there are some years when the currents carry most of the sand away from the shore. The water is cold, but the bold do swim in it! There are several lakes in the area that provide excellent swimming. Depending on the season, berry-lovers can find blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, lingon berries, and finally cranberries in the fall. Clams cannot be dug without a license.

Milbridge, which is about five miles away, is more of a working town than a tourist town. It has a supermarket, library with computers and also WiFi that you access from outside the library at any time, post office, pharmacy, laundromat, art gallery, and several restaurants (not fancy!).

There are many wonderful options for day trips in the area, with Acadia National Park at the top of the list. It has hundreds of miles of hiking trails and carriage paths, a rugged dramatic coastline and “mountains,” and even a few sand beaches, and of course the tourist town of Bar Harbor. It can be very crowded in the summer, however. The town of Ellsworth, on the way to Acadia, offers plenty of options for shopping. Route 3 between Ellsworth and the national park has a number of amusements. We have a notebook in the cottage with descriptions and maps for finding good hikes and other activities.

Our cottage and the rugged terrain around it may not be ideal for toddlers. Dogs are welcome at our cottage (with an additional $50 pet fee). However, be aware that there are hazards in the woods for dogs--especially small ones--including owls, fishers, and porcupines.

You can still find a number of small towns along the coast where the harbor is full of lobster boats. There are some good restaurants, too, though you have to track them down. Campobello Island, where you can visit Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s summer “cottage,” lies just over the border in Canada (bring your passport).

Please note that we rent by the week only, and our rental week is six nights and seven days. Arrive on Sunday at noon or later, and leave on Saturday in late afternoon.

We do not have WiFi. We do not have a grill or fire pit, but we do have a vintage gas range with an excellent built-in grill.

The Town of Milbridge collects garbage on Tuesdays; you will need to bring your trash, and any trash generated by the guests the week before, to a nearby collection point on Tuesday morning. If you stay for two or more weeks, you will need to wash towels and other used linens at the laundromat partway through your stay.

Keywords: Cottage, Cabin, House