Private Vacation Home
The beauty of coastal Maine. The comfort of a newly renovated historic home.
Harpswell, Maine, United States
We searched for years to find a bright, spacious historic home within walking distance of the water and hiking trails, yet close enough to great restaurants, shopping and culture of Portland, Freeport and Brunswick to provide the best of both worlds. The home is well situated in Harpswell, Maine, which DownEast magazine says "might be Maine's most scenic and unspoiled peninsula." Midway between Boston and Acadia National Park, and just over 35 minutes north of Portland, Harpswell is a convenient stop over point, but an even better destination. Distance from the house to the Portland jetport is 41 miles. brAn active land trust has set aside an extensive network of protected areas and peaceful trails, and the secluded coves here offer top notch kayaking opportunities and easy access to Maine Island Trails sites which are stunning islands that can be explored just offshore. There are small quiet beaches close by known mostly by locals, including some you can paddle to on islands you're likely to have to yourself. Two spectacular, unspoiled state parks with beaches - often called the prettiest north of Boston -- make for an unforgettable day trip. Bailey Island and Orr's Island are part of the Harpswell and are accessible from here by a short drive - or paddle. Bowdoin College and their excellent summer music programming is ten minutes away in Brunswick, which is a sweet town full of restaurants and shops, excellent antique-ing in the mill buildings, the original Gelato Fiasco (try it and thank us later ;)) grocery stores, a sweet village green and a friendly vibe. brBut you're thinking, "that's great, but what about the lobster?" Our neighbors are lobstermen, and the community as a whole is known for having a long tradition of delicious lobster spots, from the Dolphin Marina and Restaurant, on "the quiet side" over here to Cooks across the water. Or buy lobster right off the boat over from Allen's at Lookout Point or Erica's down at the point. We'll point you to the best lobster roll in Maine -- one without a long line of tourist leading to it. brThe house is an historic home from the 1880's which has recently undergone an extensive multi-year renovation. We added a spacious new kitchen with heated porcelain floor, stainless steel counters, shaker cabinets, a dishwasher and everything you'll need to cook here. The rest of the house has gleaming hardwood floors, a massive master bath with a super deep tub and separate marble shower, and a his and hers marble vanity. There is a second all marble bathroom as well. To rinse off after beach days, we have a west facing outdoor shower that basks in afternoon sun. Main floor has a powder room. Our bedrooms all have ceiling fans, feature hardwood bed frames, and comfy beds - a king, queen and a double. Gentle ocean breezes make for a sound nights sleep. brAn open concept main floor with nearly a dozen windows lets light spread throughout while a Marvin french glider opens to a generous backyard big enough to set up a badminton or volleyball net and still have plenty of room for the those whose idea of athletic activity is lifting a drink. A picnic table and and a simple Weber charcoal grill make it easy to grill fresh seafood at home. The covered front porch is perfect for sipping morning coffee or hanging out with a book. All the cookware, plates, glasses and utensils needed are provided. A large flatscreen tv and two audio systems -- one for streaming your music via apple music or spotify, another for playing a curated collection of vintage vinyl records -- are here for your enjoyment. brThis is not your typical rental -- we built this for discerning guests who appreciate quality furnishings, tasteful decor and treat the home as if it were their own. Our neighbors are friendly and the lifestyle here is relaxed. It's not the right choice for a party house. We aren't directly on the water but the reason we love Harpswell is that you're never far from it. We carry kayaks to the water from the house. Mitchell Field, a waterfront public green space with a great loop trail overlooking the sound has the closest beach and it's just down the road. Walk there in under ten minutes. Or bike to Stover's Cove and Pott's Point to explore tidal pools and get your feet wet. brAt some times of year the whole house is available, at other times we make two bedrooms available. Feel free to reach out and let us know your needs. We look forwarding to hosting you!
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