Reviews
Spectacular!
We just returned from two weeks at the Featherbed Island House. This is a VERY special place - both the house itself - as well as the amazing setting. The photos as great but truly don't do it justice. IT IS DRAMATIC! And the house is just lovely. Very comfortable and stylish - with everything you need right there to cook, grill, relax, and just enjoy some down time. And there's really lots of great things to do in the area if you like to explore. The locals are great fun.. Maria and Gary have done a great job to make a DownEast vacation truly memorable.
-
Stayed: August 2014
-
Submitted: September 15, 2014
-
Source: VRBO
Recommended for: Age 55+, Adventure seekers, Girls getaway, Sightseeing, Families with teenagers, Families with young children, Romantic getaway
Amazing place!
We just got back from a week at featherbed island and can't say enough wonderful things! The house itself is beautiful with fantastic views and has everything you could need- the owner had even left birthday candles which she told us about as it was my daughter's birthday! The property the house sits on is gorgeous. My favorite thing to do was sit out on the adirondack chairs and watch the seals, eagles, hummingbirds and other sea birds go by. It was so peaceful. My family also likes muck so we had a great time exploring the beach at low tide and wading in the water. We brought our kayaks and had fun adventures out with the seals. All around a great vacation!
-
Stayed: August 2014
-
Submitted: August 27, 2014
-
Source: VRBO
Recommended for: Pet owners, Adventure seekers, Families with teenagers, Families with young children, Romantic getaway
Wonderfully quiet with spectacular view!
My husband and I had a wonderful week here. The view of the water is spectacular and the house very comfortable. We went on three glorious hikes that we'll never forget (one about 10 minutes away and two near the town of Cutler about 20 minutes away). My only note of caution is that if you are 6'5" or taller, this may not be a good fit for you... my husband hit his head three times on the door frames. It's an older house very nicely updated and decorated, but the door frames weren't built for tall people.
-
Stayed: August 2014
-
Submitted: August 19, 2014
-
Source: VRBO
Recommended for: Age 55+, Pet owners, Adventure seekers, Girls getaway, Sightseeing, Families with young children, Romantic getaway
A vacation unlike any other
It’s been a week since I left the beautiful Featherbed Island house. I’ve been dreading doing this review because I just don’t think I have the capacity to truly capture its beauty with words. We were all tired from the long 9 hour drive from NYC to Machiasport, but I will never forget how magical it was when we first arrived at the house. Nestled at the end of a small winding street, you drive pas a few other houses, some more derelict than others. Just as your expectations are dampened, the trees give way to reveal a beautiful house in an almost impossible setting. Having always stayed exclusively in hotels and resorts for vacations, this city kid could not have stayed at a more polarizing place than that I was used to. The air was clean with a lingering scent of sea, the sky a shade of blue I have rarely seen, and the noise, or rather the lack of was comforting. And the view, every review should start and end with the view. Aside from the aesthetics of the house from the outside, the inside is equally beautiful. It also came equipped with everything we needed, we were able to cook full meals almost every night and ate our meals on the deck frequently. We made a trip to visit Acadia National Park, and another trip to Bangor during the day Hurricane Arthur hit to do some shopping. Otherwise we travelled mostly around the area, we went to Lubec and Campobello Island, saw a parade on 4th of July at Eastport and had a nice walk at Roque Bluff beach. The location, although a bit far from the big cities (2 hours to Acadia, 3 hours to Portland), did not prove to be too bad as we had plenty to do nearby. It’s honestly hard to think of anything negative from the trip. Mosquitos were probably the only thing that bothered us, they had a field day with me, perhaps NYC blood was something they haven’t had in a while. We bought a few of those candles and tiki torches and sprayed ourselves to no avail. But what’s a few bites to experience this retreat. All in all this was one of the best vacations I’ve taken. My parents could not stressing how much they loved it there and my sister had a field day instagraming away. The wifi in the house was fast enough to upload pictures and carry about our usual needs. On our last day of the stay, Hurricane Arthur hit and we lost electricity. Maria was extremely helpful, we didn’t mind too much since this is completely out of their control. We ended up playing cards over candle lights and had a blast star gazing.
-
Stayed: June 2014
-
Submitted: July 12, 2014
-
Source: VRBO
Recommended for: Age 55+, Adventure seekers, Sightseeing, Families with teenagers, Families with young children, Romantic getaway
On the water in Maine
This was my first extended stay in Down East Maine, and I definitely will be coming back to Featherbed Island House. From my bed the moment I woke up, until dark, I was surrounded by views of water, the panorama of Machias Bay which can be seen from every room in the front of the house, including two bedrooms- you can actually see the water from the bed! To the rear of the property there is a tranquil pond, one of the best things about this house is the natural beauty of the setting. An apple tree was in full bloom, the yard was full of lupines and poppies, and we saw wildlife every day, from bald eagles to deer to seals playing in the water. At low tide we walked across the estuary to historic Featherbed Island, with its dense forest and rocky bluffs, it's just beautiful. I have stayed in many rental houses before, but this is easily the best equipped. There was any kind of kitchen item I needed, from fondue pot to blender and everything in between. The house is beautifully decorated with a combination of lovely Maine antiques and comfortable modern furniture. We loved the fire pit overlooking the water , where we made s'mores one night, and after dark and on the occasional rainy day, there were books, games, music to listen to, including an old Victorola complete with records in addition to the TV and wifi. Staying at Featherbed Island House was such a great experience that while I was there I started searching for a house to buy in the area. Let me tell you, every house I looked at paled in comparison to the charm of Featherbed Island House itself, and the amazing water views that are seen from it. I will keep looking for my own home in Maine, but until I find it, I will be back to Featherbed Island House as soon as I can- which will have to be in the fall- it is already booked through September. I can already imagine sitting under the pergola on the deck, enjoying the fall colors and the beautiful water views that never get old.
-
Stayed: June 2014
-
Submitted: June 13, 2014
-
Source: VRBO
Recommended for: Age 55+, Pet owners, Adventure seekers, Girls getaway, Sightseeing, Families with teenagers, Families with young children, Romantic getaway
Beautiful Setting
We were so fortunate that we were able to have a last minute getaway, albeit in the middle of winter. It really didn't matter because the views were really spectacular. There really was nothing better to do than to sit in front of the giant windows and watch the tides flow in and out. We'll definitely be back during a different season!
-
Stayed: March 2014
-
Submitted: April 13, 2014
-
Source: VRBO
Recommended for: Age 55+, Girls getaway, Sightseeing, Romantic getaway
-
Peaceful time. Had lobster everyday. Town folk are very friendly. Enjoyed the ever changing weather and tides. We were thrilled that Maine practices recycling.
Ontario, Canada