James is an excellent host. My husband and I recommend this stay. Very clean. Full size kitchen is like home++. The upstairs 2-bedroom apartment is comfortable and quiet. Thick towels. Beds and pillows excellent. Water pressure in shower and washer/dryer downstairs in the garage -- both great. James will offer quarters for the washer/dryer if you forget to bring. The location is not far from Acadia National Park and the Quietside of Mount Desert. A terrific home base from which to explore Acadia National Park and the Quietside of Mount Desert. Also not far from the Schoodic area, the Charlotte Rhoades Butterfly Garden, Somesville, Blue Hill (check out the Blue Hill Co-op), Deer Island, Bass Harbor, Stoneville, and more. We bought fresh fish in season from the local grocery store on James' specific recommendation and saved. Taking advantage of the gas grill provided. Ellsworth has much to offer, too -- Union River Lobster Pot restaurant (where we saw a Bald Eagle), Lamoine Beach, Woodlawn historic site. Bottomline is, why stay in an overpriced hotel when you can have the convenience of home?

We loved the location of this place. Close to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, within 1/2 hour. We also went to Orono and Bangor and that was within an hour drive. James,the host, was very attentive to every detail to make our stay enjoyable and he has great recommendations too!

There are not enough stars to be able to give this VRBO a proper rating - it was one of, if not the best, vacation rental experience we've ever had! 1. James is a spectacular host! Every communication received a quick response, and any concern or question was addressed right away. He was so warm and friendly. He greeted us upon our arrival, helped us bring our bags in, and showed us around. He checked on us during our stay to make sure all was good. He even gave us a homemade wild blueberry pie, farm fresh eggs, and fresh wild blueberries! We really enjoyed chatting with and getting to know him a bit during our stay. By the time we left, we felt like family! 2. The apartment is spotlessly clean and is very nicely decorated - it really gave us the feeling of being on vacation in Maine. The bedrooms were a good size, and the beds and pillows were super comfortable. It was perfect for my husband and myself as well as our two teens. The bathroom was similarly well equipped, with plenty of towels and toiletries. 3. The eat-in kitchen is fantastic too! Besides the pie and eggs, James had stocked the fridge, freezer, and cabinets with other staples and condiments. There is an entire complement of spices, pots, pans, wraps, oils, etc. - we really felt right at home, and it made our stay even more enjoyable and comfortable. 4. The location is convenient for trips to Acadia and elsewhere in the area, and there are supermarkets and good restaurants nearby. Our highest recommendation!

Great place to stay that was off the beaten path. Roomy with a good lay out of the property. The host was awesome, the homemade blueberry pie in the fridge was a huge bonus!

This was the best place we could have picked for our stay. Not only are you close enough to Acadia and Bar Harbor, but you are far enough you don’t have to deal with the chaos during peak season. James is the best host there is. He had great recommendations and was very attentive. We really appreciated the extra goodies! The apartment has everything you will need, parking, it’s clean, and the property is very well maintained. We will definitely return the next time we head to Maine!

Location is great. Place is clean & comfortable. Lots of extra touches to make stay enjoyable. James was a nice host with recommendations for the area.

James was a great host! Quick to respond and helpful with questions on local area. Home was nice and clean and had everything we needed and more! James gave us some wild Maine blueberries and made us some cookies that were delicious! Appreciate all he did. Highly recommend this place to stay!

From the moment we booked the Hidden Gem until we departed, James was communicative, hospitable and generous with his time, recommendations and unexpected gifts which made our stay memorable. This location is perfect for getting to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Would definitely return.