Bass Harbor - Quiet Side - Mount Desert Island

Great place with all the room and everything needed for a great family getaway!!

Ten —adult sisters and their men— shared this home. The house, especially the dining room and porch, is big with enough chairs for wonderful gatherings, the kitchen is superbly outfitted, while the en suite bedrooms give privacy. There are kayaks (with paddles and clean PFDs), hikes, books, puzzles to keep everyone entertained, and Acadia National Park locations are close enough for repeat visits. We had an absolutely awesome vacation!

There were 11 of us and to the person -- ages 4 to 70 -- we were thoroughly enchanted by Natascha's property. The house was spacious and equipped with everything we needed for a well-fed, active family vacation. I even made crab cakes from a recipe leaned up against a bulletin board off the kitchen. The scenery was pure Maine and even the guys who mowed the grass (Terry's one) were extraordinarily nice. Some nights we ate at restaurants just a few miles away in Southwest Harbor or at The Ketch in Bass Harbor. Archie's was a favorite. Others we fixed seafood recipes in the kitchen or on one of Natascha's grills. Days we hiked, kayaked (using Natascha's kayaks), rode bikes at Acadia, or just hung out reading on the marvelous wrap-around porch. If anything, the photos with Natascha's VRBO don't do the place justice. Even the Lobster Cottage, where Katy and I stayed, was nestled in privacy and was spacious and just as quaint as the main house. So, yes, I give it a 5-star without any reluctance. I hope we one day return.

The property and homes are even better than described and shown in pictures. It’s a wonder location that is convenient to everything and yet quiet enough that you feel like you’re isolated from everything. Southwest harbor is super close and had everything needed for supplies and restaurants. Archie’s down the road was amazing for food and young kid entertainment. I would highly recommend this wonderful property and the owners who were readily available for anything.

We could not have been more happy with our stay. It was our first time to MDI and are so happy we decided to stay on the Quiet Side. All the kids (age 8-13) agreed kayaking in bass harbor was the best part of the trip. The adults loved it too. We even kayaked as a group over to Archie’s for a lobster lunch! All the books and guides in the house were so helpful in planning our adventures each day. The washer and dryer were great and 2 fridges a definite plus! Plenty of room for us to hang out together around the big dining table, on the porch, making fires outside each night and playing games in the yard. We loved the hiking: Gorham Mt trail, Acadia Mountain, Jordan House Pond and many more! Our favorite dinner spots were Beal’s Lobster Pound, Archie’s and Copitas.

Our large family loved our stay at Summah Rye. We rented the Maine House and Lobster Cottage, and together they provided a great set up for our group. The Maine House is spacious, comfortable, and well equipped. The kitchen and dining area offered plenty of room to cook and eat with a large group, which we really appreciated. The Lobster Cottage is cozy, light and bright, and was an amazing extra space for us. The very large lawn was perfect for games (croquet and bocce!), and we made good use of the fire pit area. The yard slopes down to the beautiful waterfront, and we had a wonderful time kayaking. (For us it didn’t seem like the easiest place to swim, but there are lots of good places to swim nearby.) We absolutely loved the peacefulness of the property, and the easy access to Southwest Harbor, hiking trails, Echo Lake, and the soft serve stand! Just a great spot! Thank you Natascha!

Summah Rye is a well furnished cottage for a family gathering: open living/dining area with bedrooms/bathrooms for our children and young grandchildren, games and puzzles provided, kayaks and lifejackets, large inviting lawn sloping down to the harbor, house surrounded by a roof covered porch/deck so that children could play outside during occasional rainy time. We enjoyed being in the Bass Harbor area to explore familiar trails nearby plus ferry to Cranberry Island as well to expand our adventures. We recommend the cottage, location and ease of communication with owner.

Our four generations enjoyed the most wonderful week at Summah Rye. Our family has been coming to the Seawall area for 60+ years and this by far was our favorite rental. The home is so well stocked, and the quality and love put into this home is obvious. We are so grateful to the owners for sharing this wonderful property with us. I'm afraid to share how wonderful it was so it doesn't get all booked up, as we will definitely look to rent here first. This is an absolute gem.

Having read all the good reviews before arrival, we were still pleasantly surprised by what we saw at Summah Rye. Every room is spacious with its own full bathroom. Everything is clean and well organized. There are plenty of games and books, and lots of toys for MANY kids. The living room is full of lovely decorations. The dining table is good for 12 people. A big basement with a flatscreen TV is perfect for us to watch Luca with kids. This is just the inside. Outside there is a big all-around deck, and big lawns extending to the beach, where 6 kayaks are inviting you for a voyage into the bay. Life jackets and paddles are in the basement. The house is located on the quiet side of the MDI, which is close to the Sea Wall and Wonderland of the Acadia NP, and Echo Lake and Long Pond. Lots of fun activities. We are already planning on going back.

A great house with room for 6 adults and 4 children aged 10, 6, 5, and 3. A family group. A beautiful location with lots to do. Kayaking on Long Pond , swimming at Echo Lake (both about 15 minutes away). Hiking at Wonderland (an easy hike with the kids & close). Also saw the Bass Harbor lighthouse. (May have to wait a bit to park, but worth it), and Seawall. Both around 15 minutes away. Also took a 2 hour tourist boat ride which was very nice. And of course beautiful Acadia National Park! Stunning views everywhere! Drove up Cadillac Mountain ( need reservations for a timed entry. And Thunder Hole is worth a look. Had a couple nice meals at the Seafood Ketch ( just around the corner), and the Upper Deck in Bass Harbor. Both very accommodating for 4 kids and 6 adults. Had no issues with the house at all. Talked to Natascha a few times prior to our trip and she was great! And the weather was gorgeous! All in all a wonderful home in a beautiful location and we hope to return!