Sandy beach steps away!

My husband and I rented this cottage for our granddaughter and her husband and 2 small children as a Christmas gift. They haven't stopped talking about how much they loved the cottage and its location. There were 4 generations of us staying that week. We have been renting the same 2 cottages on Bailey Is. for the last 20 years. Of course, the family has grown considerably in that time and we now needed a 3rd cottage to accommodate all of us. This particular cottage is only one house away from where the rest of the family stays so it was perfect. This little, yellow cottage is absolutely darling and cozy but also roomy and open. The view from anywhere in the living rm or kitchen is spectacular....you can look at the ocean while standing at the stove. Jane and her husband are such gracious people and left a lovely jar of blueberry jam as a welcoming gift for my granddaughter and her family. It is the kind of environment that makes people want to return to year after year. I'm writing this review for my granddaughter only because she wasn't sure when she would be able to get around to it herself. She will definitely be back with her little family. My personal comment, being a senior citizen, is that it is also a perfect place for people my age as there are no steps to negotiate. I love it.

From the moment you turn onto the expansive property you're greeted by the sight, sound and smell of the ocean crashing on the rocks. The cottage is one of three houses (yet still very private) on the nicely landscaped grounds. The view from our deck was magnificent; by tweaking the lounge chairs' positions we had an unobstructed and panoramic view of the sea. It felt as if we were totally alone in this beautiful haven.

The cottage is deceptively small from the exterior, but once inside we were surprised at how spacious, open and airy it was. There are ocean views through every window in the open concept living, dining and kitchen areas. The latter was quite large and very well equipped, with modern appliances and everything one needs to do some serious cooking. The decor is straight out of the early 60's, whimsical and a delight to behold. The owners must have dedicated a lot of time to find some of the treasures that grace the house. Every time I turned around there was something that made me smile.

The cottage readily accommodates 4 people, and if a couple of them are children or teens, then 6 would not be pushing the limits. For rainy days, there are innumerable activities within the house; puzzles, games, videos and an eclectic library revolving around some very interesting (and esoteric) themes. For the shoppers, antiquers and browsers, Brunswick, Freeport and Portland are only 20-60 minutes from the cottage.

The cove is easily accessible by clambering down the rocks (or for the less adventurous, there is a convenient rock staircase). At low tide the sand gives way to course grains, then pebbles, stones and boulders. The tide pools are fascinating, and swimming is great regardless of the tide. I HIGHLY recommend surf shoes.

The owners, Susan and Adam couldn't be more gracious (BTW, inadvertently I captured a great picture of the two of you while photographing some ducks, I'll send it off if you give me your e-mail).

All in all, this was one of our finest ocean vacations in Maine, and we've been visiting Maine's ocean every summer for the past 15 years. Serene, beautiful, relaxing, romantic. Thanks for sharing!

Andrea and Bill

Cottage was as advertised and it was a perfect getaway for myself and my husband. Cottage was charming, cozy and spotless! Waterview and beach were wonderful. Our only complaint was that the bedroom was in the center of the cottage and the window opened to the sun room not the outdoors. It was a bit stuffy in there even with the ceiling fan.

We had a wonderful time exploring Bailey's Island (and other Maine locations) from this great cottage. The cottage was extremely well maintained, comfortable, and spotless. The pictures do not even begin to do the views justice. Getting up early with our five month old baby gave us several opportunities to watch the sunrise from the porch, living room couch, or dining room table. The proximity to the ever changing beach with crystal clear calm water offered much easy exploring. I was surprised when I got to the cottage that it was so close to many other houses, but it turned out to be just private enough. I hope to return to this magical place!

My husband and I found the cottage and the area to be perfect. This was our first visit to Bailey Island. Loved the lack of crowds, beautiful surroundings, friendly residents, and delicious seafood. Enjoyed biking, kayaking, hiking and lots of relaxing. The cottage was very clean and well equipped. It also is decorated beautifully and we felt very comfortable there. I would recommend it to family and friends.