Frequently Asked Questions

Everett Cottage is one of the very few genuinely oceanfront vacation rentals on Mount Desert Island — at high tide, the water laps directly against the deck (or very near it, depending on the phase of the moon). Most rentals in the Bar Harbor area are inland or claim water "views" from a distance. The property sits immediately adjacent to the Blagden Preserve (a Nature Conservancy property), so there are very few neighbors, no road noise, and no development between you and Western Bay. Kayaking, a fire pit on the beach, a tennis and pickleball court, and direct trail access to the preserve are all on-site.

It's ideal for groups of 2–10 who want a private, nature-immersive base for exploring Acadia National Park. Families, multi-family trips, friend groups, and milestone celebrations — reunions, anniversaries, milestone birthdays — all work well here. The layout (two loft areas, a private master bedroom, a sunroom, and a pull-out sofa) handles mixed-age groups comfortably. Well-behaved dogs are welcome with prior approval, and a pet fee.

We do many rentals through Airbnb and VRBO, and love working with them. But they typically add 10–15% to your total on top of the rental rate. Booking direct means that money stays in your pocket. You also get direct contact with the owner and our on-island caretaker — faster answers and better support if anything comes up. Returning guests who tag us on social media (@EverettCottage on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or X) will receive a loyalty discount code that isn't available on the listing platforms.

July and August are peak season — warmest weather, all of Acadia's boat tours and amenities fully running, and maximum daylight. June and September are our personal favorites: noticeably fewer crowds, lower rates, and often more dramatic light and weather. September is particularly special — still warm enough to swim and kayak, cool enough to hike hard, and the park feels like it's yours. October offers stunning fall foliage but the water gets cold.

Everything you need for a full stay: all bed linens, pillows, towels, and washcloths; a fully equipped kitchen including a lobster pot and cracking tools; kayaks (rental add-on required via guest portal); life jackets for all ages; a gas grill; fire pit and outdoor fireplace; tennis racquets and pickleball paddles; WiFi; two smart TVs; washer and dryer; and a Brita water pitcher. You provide food, beverages. Firewood is readily available at roadside stands.

Bangor International Airport (BGR) is the closest full-sized airport at about 1 hour away and has direct flights from several major cities. Portland International Jetport (PWM) is about 3 hours with more flight options. Many guests drive from Boston (roughly 4.5 hours) or New York (about 7 hours). There is no public transit to the cottage — a car is required.

Very private. The cottage is reached via a private road through the Blagden Preserve, and the nearest neighbor is out of sight. You can have a campfire on the beach, kayak in the bay, or dine on the deck without anyone nearby. Hikers use the preserve trails adjacent to the property during the day, but the cottage grounds themselves are entirely private.

There are two king-sized beds, three full-sized beds, one twin bed in the sun room, and a queen-sized pull-out couch in the family room. If each full-sized bed has one person, sleeping capacity is 10; if each full-sized bed has two people, capacity is 13. Bedrooms 2 and 3 are lofts with privacy screens, the only bedroom with true privacy is the master bedroom, and the family room (with sofa bed) can be made private by closing its door.

Yes, harbor seals bask in the sun at low tide on rocks about 50 yards off shore in front of the cottage. The best view of the seals is from the deck.

We offer a 10% off coupon code to returning guests that post a photo of their time at Everett Cottage on social media and tag us (@EverettCottage) on their post. That handle works on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and X. Please send us a message through the contact page on this website and let us know which social media sites you tagged us on.

Garbage is picked up on Wednesday. The driver needs to drive a pickup truck all the way to the kitchen door where the outside rubbish bin sits, so don't park anywhere that blocks his path on Wednesday morning. All trash must be bagged—even pizza boxes must be folded and bagged—or it won't be picked up.

All proceeds from Everett Cottage merchandise — t-shirts, hats, and other shop items — are donated to the Marine Mammal Stranding Program at the College of the Atlantic, which rescues and rehabilitates stranded seals and other marine mammals along the Maine coast, including the harbor seals that rest near the cottage.

Everett Cottage sits on protected Western Bay on the western shore of Mount Desert Island, about 15 minutes from Bar Harbor village. The property is adjacent to the Blagden Preserve, a Nature Conservancy property. It is a very quiet location with very few neighbors.

You will receive the address and the backup GPS coordinates in your welcome email. Most navigation systems will take you there without any difficulty.

Yes, we strongly recommend arriving before dark on your first visit. The road is easier to navigate in daylight. Also watch for deer, foxes, and wild turkeys on the road.

Any vehicle is fine. There is plenty of space to park multiple cars, or even an RV.

The posted limit is 15 mph — most guests keep it to about 10 mph. There may be speed bumps installed by the Blagden Preserve during the summer, so be careful. The road also serves as a walking path for hikers using the Blagden Preserve, who have the right of way. Please drive slowly and give hikers a friendly wave.

Deliveries can be tricky due to the dirt road. Many guests order from Walmart (which delivers to the address) or stock up in Ellsworth before arriving, where you'll find Hannaford, Shaw's, and Walmart with much better prices and selection than in Bar Harbor. We recommend against attempting Amazon deliveries, because you can't select delivery method. Most delivery services like UPS and Fedex are not a problem, but USPS does NOT deliver to our address and there is no way on Amazon to communicate to them to exclude the postal service.

There is no landline, but almost everyone gets at least two bars of cell service at the cottage.

The easiest way is right here on this website. By direct booking, you save a lot of money on fees. But the cottage is also available on all of the major vacation rental sites. Everett Cottage is a very popular and well-reviewed Bar Harbor Airbnb and VRBO rental. The AirBnB link is www.airbnb.com/rooms/18629844 and the VRBO link is www.vrbo.com/4407202.

The cottage has a smart lock on the kitchen door. You should receive an email with your custom code, but if not, the code is typically the last four digits of the phone number of the person who made the reservation. There is a white binder on the kitchen counter with additional information.

The cottage is down a winding mile-long dirt road. Use the street address in your GPS first, and as a last resort use the GPS coordinates. It is highly recommended to arrive before dark, as the cottage is harder to find for the first time in the dark. The speed limit on the road is 15 mph (most try to keep it to 10), there are speed bumps, and you should watch for deer and hikers who have the right of way.

The cottage is in Bar Harbor, Maine, on protected Western Bay, immediately adjacent to the Blagden Indian Point Preserve. It sits right on the ocean, about 20 minutes from Acadia National Park and the village of Bar Harbor. It's located down a winding mile-long dirt road in a very private location with no neighborhood.

The speed limit is 15 miles per hour, though most people keep it to about 10. Much of the road is a walking path for hikers on the Blagden Preserve, and they have the right of way. Please watch for deer, foxes, and wild turkeys, and note there are speed bumps.

The cottage has a Schlage smart lock on the kitchen door. You'll receive an email with a custom code, but it's typically the last four digits of the phone number on the reservation. Punch in the four digits and wait until you hear the gears move twice before opening the door.

Check-in is at 3:00 PM or later. Check-out is at 10:00 AM or earlier. Please respect the checkout time — our cleaning crew needs the full window to prepare for the next guests. A $250 late checkout fee applies if you stay past 10:00 AM.

No — check-in is self-service. The kitchen door has a Schlage smart lock and your custom access code will be sent to you by email before arrival. The home will be ready when you get there.

Please: (1) strip beds you used and start linens and towels in the washing machine; (2) place dirty dishes in the dishwasher and start the cycle — never leave dirty dishes, as this can attract mice; (3) turn off all room thermostats (baseboard heat is expensive); (4) return all kayaks to their racks in the garage and lock it; (5) take out trash; (6) lock the kitchen door on your way out. If you get a chance, please put your washed linens in the dryer. That would be very appreciated.

Check-out time is 10:00 am. This allows the cleaning crew enough time to prepare the cottage for the next guests. Please check out on time to avoid being charged an additional fee.

The cottage comfortably sleeps up to 10 guests. The septic system is large and handles a full house without any issues.

There are 7 beds total: a king in the master bedroom; a king and a full in one loft; two fulls in the second loft; a twin in the sunroom; and a queen pull-out sofa in the family room. The master is the only room with full wall privacy — the lofts have privacy screens.

3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. One note: the downstairs bathroom shower is located inside the adjacent laundry room (both rooms have locking doors). The upstairs master bath has a full tub with shower.

The cottage uses baseboard electric heat with individual room thermostats, plus a wood-burning Vermont Castings fireplace in the living room and electric blankets. Please turn off room thermostats when you leave the house — baseboard heat is crazy expensive.

Yes. Full-size refrigerator, stove/oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal, lobster pot (holds 4–5 lobsters), lobster cracking tools, and a Brita water pitcher. The tap water is from a well and safe to drink. During dry spells, please conserve water to keep the well healthy.

Yes — a washer and dryer are in the laundry room. Use HE detergent only (Tide Pods are provided). Leave washer and dryer doors open when not in use to prevent mustiness.

Yes. Bed linens, pillows, towels, and washcloths are all provided. Extra blankets and even an electric blanket are in the master bedroom closet.

Yes — fiber optic with speeds of at least 250 Mbps (up to a gig) up and down. More than enough for video calls and 4K streaming. WiFi credentials are provided in your booking confirmation.

The cottage has open lofts that pose a fall risk for very young children, and the rocky shoreline is slippery at low tide. We recommend it for children aged 5 and up with careful supervision. Cribs, high chairs, and stair gates are not provided — please bring your own if needed.

Both TVs are WiFi-enabled smart TVs. Log in with your own streaming accounts (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) and log out before you leave.

Yes — a propane gas grill is on the deck. Roll it well away from the house before lighting. The salt air tends to rust the internal spark igniter, so you can use a lighter or matches as backup.

Our caretaker Karlena is available for any repairs or questions during your stay. Her number is (207) 460-8014.

Yes — a wireless Canon MX439 printer is available. It should connect automatically to the cottage WiFi, or you can plug in via the USB cable stored in the drawer beneath it.

Many people, even locals, say that Indian Point is the most beautiful spot on Mount Desert Island. Given the adventure and the amenities, for many people this is the ideal Acadia cottage.

My mom and dad renovated the cottage in the mid 1970's, so the style reflects that era. I have suggested to my kids that maybe it's time to update it, but they flatly refuse to even consider this. "It would ruin the vibe," they say.

There are two king-sized beds, three full-sized beds, one twin bed in the sun room, and a queen-sized pull-out couch in the family room. Sleeping capacity is 10 if each full bed has one person, or up to 13 if each full bed has two people. The master bedroom is the only truly private bedroom; bedrooms 2 and 3 are lofts with privacy screens, and the family room door can be closed for privacy.

The primary bedroom is air conditioned, and the cool air can spill into other parts of the house. For the handful of really hot days each summer, there are fans available.

Yes, many visitors come to see the harbor seals basking in the sun at low tide. The best view of the seals is from the deck.

Groceries are expensive on the island, so most people stock up in Ellsworth on the way to the cottage — Hannaford, Shaw's, and Walmart are the three big options there. The closest option is the smaller, more expensive Hannaford in the village of Bar Harbor (86 Cottage St), about 20 minutes away. Pine Tree Market in Northeast Harbor has a full butcher shop with excellent meat and fish. Southwest Food Mart (Southwest Harbor) and Town Hill Market (Rt. 102, Bar Harbor) are smaller options — Town Hill has great ice cream. Beech Hill Farm Market (organic, Tue–Sat 8am–4pm) is nearby too. Walmart in Ellsworth also delivers to the cottage address — many guests use the Walmart+ free trial to get supplies delivered and skip the drive.

Yes — there are 4 kayaks (2 singles and 2 doubles) stored in the garage. Kayak use requires adding the kayak rental fee to your reservation through the "Browse Add-Ons" button in your Hostaway guest portal. You can add it any time before your first use.

Yes. Because the cottage sits on the rugged Maine coast, all guests — adults and minors — must be listed on a watersports and shoreline waiver before accessing the water or kayaking. Each adult signs their own waiver; minors are listed under an adult. Without a waiver on file, shoreline and kayak access is not permitted.

Yes — everyone must wear a life jacket while kayaking. Life jackets of all sizes (including for small children) are provided in the garage.

No. Federal and state law prohibit approaching resting harbor seals within 50 yards (they will stampede into the water if you get within 200 yards). However, at high tide when their resting rocks are submerged, you can legally paddle to that area — the seals are known to swim up and curiously investigate kayakers at close range.

No. The harbor seals rest very close to the property, and motorized watercraft disturb them. Please do not bring jet-skis or other motorized boats.

Yes. There is a stone fire ring on the beach and a masonry outdoor fireplace nearby. The cottage has a Bar Harbor campfire permit, but you must call the Bar Harbor Fire Department at 207-288-5554 on any day you plan to have a fire to get same-day approval. Flames must stay under 3 feet and fires must never be left unattended. Firewood is available at roadside stands on Indian Point Rd for about $5/bundle.

Yes — the masonry outdoor fireplace (about 30 feet from the cottage) has a metal grill attachment so you can cook over an open wood fire. You'll need to bring or buy your own firewood; roadside "Camp Wood" stands are common on Indian Point Rd and along most of the main roads on the island.

Most years, no. On rare summers, two types appear: Moon jellyfish (small, white/clear, harmless) and Lion's Mane (larger, red/orange, roughly dinner-plate-sized). Lion's Mane can sting you even when they are dead on the beach — a painful welt like a bee sting, and potentially dangerous if you're allergic. The easy check: look for washed-up red jellyfish on the beach before swimming. Most summers we see none at all.

Yes — the court supports both tennis and pickleball. Maine winters create surface irregularities each year that we try to keep patched, so please be careful not to trip (and use it at your own risk). Racquets and pickleball paddles are stored on the wall in the family room; serious players may want to bring their own. Please roll the pickleball net back to the fence and secure it with the bungee cords when not in use — high winds can knock it over.

Yes — on the tennis court. The surface has some cracks so use it at your own risk, and no dunking please (the standard is not anchored to the ground). Keep the basketball inside the garage when not in use.

The kayaks are in the garage. The code to the garage side door is sent to you in a separate message when you book the kayaks. Once inside, you can manually release the lock on the overhead garage door by flipping the small metal tab and twisting the handle. Please put each kayak back on its rack before check-out.

Yes, we have water shoes in an assortment of sizes. These are great for exploring the tide pools at low tide. Our north beach is sandy, but the south beach is rocky, so water shoes are very useful on the south beach at high tide.

Yes, there are four kayaks available to rent for a small fee that covers the entire length of your stay. You can rent them through the 'Browse Add-Ons' option on your guest portal page.

First, DO NOT TOUCH. It may not be abandoned at all, but rather the mom may have left it there temporarily to go fishing. You should immediately call the Marine Mammal Stranding Program at the College of the Atlantic. They handle all marine mammal strandings North of Rockland all the way to the Canadian border, so we are in their coverage area. Their number is 207-266-1326 (cell). A crying baby harbor seal sounds like a crying human baby, so you will feel compelled to comfort it, but please resist that urge and just call the experts.

Yes, kayaks are available to rent for a small fee that covers your entire stay, bookable through the guest portal. All guests (adults and minors) must be listed on a watersports/shoreline waiver before using the boats or accessing the shoreline. Each adult signs their own waiver and lists any minors under them.

Never leave anything on the beach. During a spring tide (any tide during a full or new moon), the beach can be fully submerged at high tide. The weather app on your phone should tell you what time the high and low tides will arrive each day.

Every few days, the morning weather may be calm enough for paddleboarding. The best place we've found is Acadia Paddle, located in the village of Bar Harbor. They will deliver to you at Everett Cottage. As of Summer 2026, their rental fee was $200 per week. They also rent kayaks, if the number of kayaks that we provide is not sufficient for your group. You can reach them at AcadiaPaddle@gmail.com or 207-801-1531.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a case-by-case basis with prior approval. Dogs must be vaccinated (records may be requested), flea/tick protected, potty trained, and kept off all furniture. A pet fee applies and can be added through your guest portal. Cats and most other animals are not permitted.

Your dog will love it, but please dry your dog off before letting him/her back in the house. Wet dog is not the fragrance we are going for.

Rates are per stay regardless of party size (up to 10 guests): May $399/night · June $699/night · July–August $899/night · September $699/night · October $599/night. A $195 cleaning fee applies to all stays.

Yes — 4 nights is the minimum stay. This is a Bar Harbor municipal requirement, so all vacation rentals should have the same rule.

Yes. Weekly and monthly length-of-stay discounts are automatically applied. Returning guests can also receive a 10% discount — contact us directly to arrange a future stay.

May 1 through October 31, when the property has running water. Peak rental season is mid-June through mid-September.

Full refund if cancelled 60 or more days before arrival. 50% refund if cancelled 30–59 days before arrival. No refund within 30 days of arrival.

No — absolutely no smoking or vaping of any kind, anywhere on the property, inside or outside. Why even outside? Because the smell gets on the smoker's clothing and then comes inside. The next guests complain if they are sensitive.

No. Fireworks are always illegal in Bar Harbor. Please do not bring them.

No, please do not bring jet-skis or other motorized water-craft. The low-tide resting area for the federally protected harbor seals is very close, and these vehicles would disturb them.

The amount of the donation is the "Gross Margin". This means that for each shirt sold (for example), there a company (Printful) that buys the blank shirt, prints the shirt, ships the shirt and pays the taxes. Those are all together called "Costs of Goods Sold." The customer pays Printful for the printed shirt, shipping and taxes. Those together are Gross Sales. The difference between Gross Sales and COGS is Gross Margin, and that is what Printful sends us. 100% of the merchandise gross margin is donated to a local marine mammal charity, which means that we don't keep any of the profit. Currently, this money is donated on a monthly bases to the Marine Mammal Stranding Project at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor. They are a 501(c)(3) public charity. There is no official partnership. We simply donate the money to them through their website.

With light traffic, about 10 minutes to the nearest park entrance, 15 minutes to the main entrance, and 20 minutes to Cadillac Mountain — the first place in the continental US to see the sunrise in fall and winter. The park offers world-class hiking, cycling on carriage roads, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the scenic Park Loop Road. Normally you need a permit to drive up Cadillac Mountain.

For beginners: the Ocean View Trail from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs (3 miles, level, passes Thunder Hole) and the South Bubble/Bubble Rock trail (1 mile, easy). For a moderate challenge: Great Head Trail (1.4 miles, sea cliffs) and Acadia Mountain (views of Somes Sound, the only fjord in the continental US). The Blagden Preserve trails adjacent to the cottage are all level and great for an easy morning walk. Bikes are not allowed on the Blagden Preserve trails.

You can swim off the ledges in front of the cottage at high tide. Other options include Echo Lake (large Acadia park beach, warmer water) and Long Pond (largest body of water on MDI, with canoe rentals). Occasionally, we get Lion's Mane jellyfish in the bay, when this is the case some will wash up on the shore. They are large, red, and have a painful sting (even dead ones on the beach). They also can give some people a dangerous allergic reaction. The white/clear jellyfish are Moon jellyfish, which are harmless. We don't recommend swimming in the bay if you see Lion's Mane jellyfish stranded on the beach.

For an authentic lobster pound experience, we recommend Thurston's (Bernard), Beal's (Southwest Harbor), or Downeast Lobster Pound (Trenton). You can also buy live lobsters and cook them at the cottage — there's a large pot and all the tools you need.

Yes — Bar Harbor village (about 15 minutes away) puts on a great fireworks display on July 4th at 9:15 PM. Arrive well before dark (like several hours) and plan to grab dinner there, as parking fills up fast.

Puffins nest on small offshore islands and don't come close to shore, but several boat tour operators out of Bar Harbor village run trips to see them. Whale and porpoise sightings are also common on these tours.

Harbor seals resting on nearby rocks are visible from the deck with the naked eye or with binoculars. Bald eagles nest close by and are frequently spotted. Deer, foxes, and wild turkeys roam the property. Guests have even seen the northern lights from the deck on clear nights.

Acadia Repertory Theatre (1154 Main St, Somesville) stages live performances in summer. ImprovAcadia is a comedy club on Cottage St in Bar Harbor. The Somesville Public Library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday 1–4 PM if you need a quiet stop.

Absolutely — there's a large pot in the kitchen closet that holds 4–5 lobsters (up to 2 lbs each), plus cracking tools and real butter for dipping. For the best flavor, fill the pot two-thirds with fresh seawater from the north beach (it's clearer than the beach directly in front of the cottage). Buy all your lobsters the same size so they cook evenly. Cooking times after the water returns to a boil: 1 lb = 5 min, 1¼ lb = 6 min, 1½ lb = 7 min, 2 lb = 10 min. Please eat outside on the picnic table — lobster juice is very hard to get out of carpet.