Refurbished Brick, Waterfront Home on Cushing's Island.

This was our second time visiting the Jailhouse. The house is well equipped for all of us to spend time together but also have time to ourselves. The kitchen well equipped with two ovens and two dishwashers. It had everything our large family needed. The upstairs living space was great for my husband and I to have peace and quiet. A drawback was a few hot days made the upstairs apartment pretty hot and fans could not keep up. The outside shower and hammock were a nice addition since our last visit. The island is magical and Casco Bay is beautiful. We kayaked, enjoyed hunting for sea glass on the beaches, and enjoyed discovering the island through many fairy tale like trails. All of us explored as we saw fit and met for family dinners to share our stories. Sunsets on the dock were a great end to the days. Every one of us aged 16-50’s enjoyed this vacation and we plan to return. Our two dogs also enjoyed their stay!

Wonderful stay, beautiful island, incredibly thoughtful hosts!

Really fabulous stay at the jail - the island is unique and beautiful, with a lot to do (fort/beaches/piers/tennis courts/nature preserve), everyone on the island was extremely friendly, and our whole party had a wonderful time. Portland is just 15m away by ferry or sea taxi, yet the island is its own little quiet wonderful world

Cushing’s Island has something for everyone. If you like adventure you can discover hidden trails that may lead to spectacular views of rocky cliffs on the blue Atlantic, climb rocks on the coast, and kayak the bay. If you want to relax you can look for sea glass on the shore (lots to be found!), fish, sit on the sandy beach, watch the sunrise or sunset from the beach or dock or read a book at the spacious jailhouse. We had planned to visit Peak’s Island for a day but we did not want to leave this island we quickly grew to love. We had 8 family members and our dog... hadplenty of room for everyone. The kitchen was very nice and well equipped. The second floor suite provided a spacious sanctuary. The porch is enormous and there were two additional decks for spending time outside. The house was not air conditioned but with cool New England air, it was not needed. We did not use the bunk house but it offered a cute loft bedroom and living room for a nice stay. Internet met needs of the youth! We were welcomed warmly on arrival and everyone we met was friendly. Though we went most places without seeing anyone or very few people. Many times we felt we had the island all to ourselves. Will return!!

Magical island, spacious and well-equipped home, and wonderful hosts. Could not have been better.

What a magical island! We all had such a good time walking and kayaking and lounging every day.

This was our sixth year at Cushings and we love it more each time. The jail is a one-of-a-kind accommodation and is stocked with everything you would ever need. We added a new jigsaw puzzle and a corkscrew this year. Enjoy lazy days punctuated with beautiful sunsets. Search for sea glass. Go shopping in town. Do nothing or stay busy; it’s your choice. The only bad day is the one when you have to leave.

Fourteen of us stayed here for a wonderful week! The island provided so much to do, the trails, the water, the kyaks, the raspberries, the sea glass, the sunrises and sunsets, the views, the friendly people, the flowers! The house was very well stocked, the architectural design and detail beautiful. The history of the island is very interesting, so many people took the time to share details with us. We had 3 families, with 8 children ranging in age from 9 to 15. The kids explored, added sculptures to Spicer's Cove, divided into teams to see who could find all three gazebos first, collected sea glass, kayaked for ice cream to Peaks, played croquet, jumped off the dock, and just enjoyed the freedom the island provided. Matt was ever so patient with our many questions and so easy to work with. A definite repeat trip in our future! I would suggest if you are a large group like ours, and plan to go into Portland or surrounding areas, look into a water taxi, it's a bit more economical and flexible, and will pick you up at the dock, which provides the lovely view from The Jail's porch!

Our group of 13 (3 families) spent an amazing week at The Jail this summer. We enjoyed our meals on the deck while overlooking Spring Cove. We never felt the need to leave the island. The house was spacious and well stocked and island was so beautiful. We found a new trail to walk on every day. We all took turns on the kayaks and even went to Peaks Island several times to stock up on a couple grocery staples so we didn't have to back to the mainland. A very special, unforgettable place to visit!

This was my second stay in this absolutely ideal vacation rental, and I plan to return every year. Anyone who considers staying here should know that they are actually getting two amazing benefits -- the house AND the island. Cushings Island is one of the best kept secrets in Maine; take a twenty minute ferry from downtown Portland and you enter a quiet, magical world that feels like a step back in time. You are instantly struck by how peaceful and calm the island feels: Empty beaches, dock-jumping, raspberry picking, quiet bucolic walks in the woods, ivy-covered abandoned forts. Even on rainy or foggy days, it's still wonderful to explore the island. Then, of course, there's the house -- which is a perfect choice for families or a combined rental with friends. It has everything you could want -- the kitchen is extremely well furnished with two dishwashers and two ovens (a big benefit when the house is full) and all the pans or appliances you need. We have made some truly amazing meals in this kitchen. Something else we really appreciated, because we stayed as two families with lots of kids, is how quiet the house is -- we can be as loud as we want in the dining room at night, without bothering the kids who are tucked away in their jail cells sleeping. The decor is a wonderful blend of historical preservation (high-ceilings, thick oak doors, and the ridiculously charming jail-cell elements) and new updates (refinished floors, television, stereo). The owners have clearly gone to great lengths to make sure that their renters are happy. I would unreservedly recommend this house to anyone who wants to anyone who wants to have an amazing, memorable, and relaxing summer vacation.