Notes from the host
Bear Beach Maine On the beach
Welcome to Bear Beach Maine!
If you are looking for a cozy yet spacious and extremely well-appointed home nestled peacefully in the woods and directly on a secluded, sandy beach this is your place!
From the moment you walk through the door you will feel warmly greeted by this log home designed to resemble an early American lodge. The open concept great room with its cathedral ceiling, large field-stone fireplace and comfy furnishings are equally favorable for both larger gatherings and intimate parties of two. The sunlight streams through the expansive windows in the afternoon. Enjoy a fire, a glass of wine or hot chocolate and a good book or movie on the Blu-ray/DVD player for a perfect day of relaxation.
There are two dining areas within the open concept, each with expandable leaves allowing plenty of room for meal time guests or family game nights. The hutch/book case contains enough games and puzzles to make even a rainy or snowy day enjoyable. Or head to the basement for a game of Foosball or ping pong (Some call it beer pong). A wooden folding table next to the hutch can be set up as a "working vacation" desk...Sometimes its needed. We do have free wifi!
In the kitchen you will find nearly everything imaginable to make gourmet meals or heat up a frozen dinner. From spices to a lobster pot, cast iron cookware, electric griddle, both Keurig and regular coffee makers, microwave, toaster, crock pot, wine cooler with lots of beverage glasses! If something is missing, you probably just have not found it yet.
Sleep soundly in the master queen bed to the sound of the ocean or to a crackling fire in the master fireplace. But first, unwind in the warmth of the claw foot soaking tub in the connecting bathroom.
On the same level, in the other wing of the house, are two bedrooms and the second full bathroom. Both have queen beds, one also has an ocean view with sliding doors to the covered oceanfront deck where you can sip your morning coffee while listening to the sounds of sea birds and lobster boats.
The spacious loft with four twin beds overlooks the great room and has stunning views of the ocean and also the back yard.
We have installed a Generac Stand-by Generator so you should always have power even through occasional outages due to coastal storms. The log cabin construction is very cozy in inclement weather.
Arguably, the most fun part of the house is not even IN the house. The Bare Den is located in the back yard and houses the sauna with cool-down room (open all year) and also the out-door shower (open seasonally). Nothing is as refreshing as taking a warm shower in the open air while watching the ocean and an occasional bald eagle flying overhead. Its also great for rinsing off sandy feet or pets! And at the end of a day, relaxing every muscle in the heat of the sauna and cooling down with an icy beverage is simply magical.
Bear Beach Maine is located on Holmes Bay in the town of Cutler. Because the house faces West on the bay, it enjoys the most gorgeous sunsets over the ocean. Relax on the front deck with a glass of wine, chilled cocktail or cup of coffee and its hard not to reflect on the many blessings of the day as the sun falls below the horizon.
Head down the staircase in front of the house to the sandy beach. Enjoy long walks along the varying shoreline at lower tide, or have kayaks delivered to the house from Sunrise Canoe and Kayak to view the coast from a whole different perspective. Pack a picnic lunch and kayak over to Hog Island a 15-20 minute paddle from the front of the house. A short hike around the island will have you searching for the Indian rock carvings (petroglyphs) which were pecked into ledges hundreds of years ago by the Algonquin Indians. These unique carvings are located on the southwest side of the island and are engraved into the latent shale stone.
If you do find the need to leave the house (like to get lobsters) head just a few miles out to Little River Lobster in the town of Cutler and watch your dinner come straight from the ocean to your table! At the end of our road, stop by A to Z Variety and pick up some freshly-harvested clams right from Holmes Bay! Add to that an amazing selection of fine wine and beer from all over the world (and local varieties) at the French Cellar in Machias, and you will have a meal to remember!
Be sure to click on the video (the last picture when scrolling through the pictures at the top) to get a better idea of the flow of the house and property. Or check out this link http://www.youtube.com/embed/cQskAauhVVc?rel=0
Other fun suggestions:
Cutler Harbor is considered one of the prettiest little harbors in Maine. And there you will find The Bold Coast Charter Company where Captain Andy Patterson can take you to Machias Seal Island to view the largest puffin colony along the coast of Maine. His tours book up very fast, so book early!
A few miles further toward the town of Milbridge, Robertson Sea Tours offers a number of unique and very educational tours including a whale-watching tour. Captain Robertson was a teacher who followed his dream of owning a tour company and becoming a commercial fisherman. He knows how to impart his knowledge and love of the ocean area to others!
Bear Beach Maine is also only a few minutes drive from two of the most spectacular ocean-side hiking trails on the east coast, the Western Head Trail (located on the west side of Cutler harbor) and the Bold Coast Trail (located just to east of Cutler harbor). Both of these hikes expose area guests to some of Maine's most rugged and bold crashing-surf shorelines east of Acadia.
Guests can also visit scenic Lubec where West Quoddy Head light house is located and its wonderful coastal hiking trail. Don't forget to stop by Monica's Chocolates for a decadent selection of hand-made Peruvian chocolates (She gives free samples!) Just across the bridge from Lubec is Canada's Campobello Island and the location of President Theodore and Eleanor Roosevelt's summer home. This is probably the best free tour you will ever take especially if you are able to score tickets to the morning seating of "Tea With Eleanor"...Keep in mind that Campabello Island is in the Atlantic time zone when making plans.
Both Lubec and Campobello Island are only 30 minutes from Bear Beach Maine. Also, New Brunswick, Canada is only 1 hour and 15 minutes away, and Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are just 2 hours from the house. These destinations are easy day trips from the property.
The house is 2 hours from Bangor International Airport, 5 hours from the Portland Jetport, 7 hours from Boston and 11 hours from New York City.
Bear Beach Maine is available all year. There is a four-night minimum stay. The months of June through mid October are rented on a weekly basis only with Saturday as the "change over" day.
Both a 50% deposit and a signed rental agreement are required before your reservation is confirmed.
The balance of rental fees and a $500 refundable security/damage deposit is due 30 days prior to your arrival.
Your well-behaved dogs are welcome with no additional pet fee (We trust that that pet parents are responsible and will remove waste from the yard before departure...Should additional cleaning be required, it will be deducted from the security deposit)
Cats are not permitted due to severe allergies.
We have a strict "No Smoking" policy that is clearly addressed in the rental agreement. Smoking is not allowed inside the house or Bare Den.
We have two security cameras on the property. One is located on the front deck aimed at the driveway. The other is on the back deck and captures the entry door. We have absolutely no interior cameras (There are some things a mom does not want to know)
Rates subject to change anytime until booking & deposit
Ask about monthly rentals
While our cancellation policy is 100% refund with more than 60 days notice from arrival day, the service fee to VRBO/Homeaway is non refundable.
We look forward to sharing our little piece of coastal heaven with you! iZ6D8