Incredible views overlooking Southwest Harbor and beyond.
House in Southwest Harbor, ME
14 guests · 7 bedrooms · 7 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Includes essentialsGarden, Pool, Pets allowed and more
About this house rental
The views from Island Watch are spectacular. To the northeast is the fjord of Somes Sound, and further south is a more intimate view of Southwest Harbor and several of the offshore islands, all with Acadia National Park's mountains as a backdrop.
Island Watch sits on a ridge above the village of Southwest Harbor and has a vista that is as unique as any on the Maine coast, yet is removed from the busier, in-town atmosphere. We are a bit more secluded, but we do have our own private path that will take you into the center of Southwest Harbor. From there you can board the free Island Explorer bus, wander through an art gallery, have a gourmet dinner, or just have an ice cream at the local café. We are only minutes away from some of the least used and most scenic trails in Acadia National Park.
Formerly run as a Bed and Breakfast, Island Watch is now available to rent on a weekly basis. The seven bedrooms of the main house each have their own bathroom. The suite on the lower level has a complete kitchen and fireplace. The main deck area provides a relaxing gathering area for your entire group, where you can kick back and watch the boating activities below. We also have a separate efficiency apartment rental unit, called the Bird's Nest (651708), over the detached garage on the same property.
The views are spectacular from the decks at Island Watch. Sit and relax in the quiet splendor of the Maine woods while taking in the panoramic beauty of the islands, mountains, harbors and the village of Southwest Harbor!
You're within walking distance to the local restaurants, bike rentals, sailing, boating, an ice cream parlor, and exclusive shops. Some of our local establishments are Beal's Lobster pound, Rogue Cafe, Sawyer's Market, Red Sky Restaurant, and the Wendell Gilley Museum.
You will enjoy spectacular ocean and mountain views, beautiful sunrises, quiet times, and the many activities in nearby Acadia National Park. The Rockefeller family constructed beautiful carriage roads throughout the park in which you can enjoy on foot, in a horse-drawn carriage, or by bike.
Come and stay at one of the most beautiful places in the Maine. Experience a quiet family vacation or one with friends. Be active or just kick back, read a book, work on a jigsaw puzzle, or paint a picture — all while enjoying the fresh air and pristine views.
Southwest Harbor has an active marine industry base of boat builders, marinas, and lobster and sail boats.
Island Watch watches all of this from its peaceful perch above the harbor. It is the Real Maine...Simple! “The way Life Should Be!”
Island Watch sits on a ridge above the village of Southwest Harbor and has a vista that is as unique as any on the Maine coast, yet is removed from the busier, in-town atmosphere. We are a bit more secluded, but we do have our own private path that will take you into the center of Southwest Harbor. From there you can board the free Island Explorer bus, wander through an art gallery, have a gourmet dinner, or just have an ice cream at the local café. We are only minutes away from some of the least used and most scenic trails in Acadia National Park.
Formerly run as a Bed and Breakfast, Island Watch is now available to rent on a weekly basis. The seven bedrooms of the main house each have their own bathroom. The suite on the lower level has a complete kitchen and fireplace. The main deck area provides a relaxing gathering area for your entire group, where you can kick back and watch the boating activities below. We also have a separate efficiency apartment rental unit, called the Bird's Nest (651708), over the detached garage on the same property.
The views are spectacular from the decks at Island Watch. Sit and relax in the quiet splendor of the Maine woods while taking in the panoramic beauty of the islands, mountains, harbors and the village of Southwest Harbor!
You're within walking distance to the local restaurants, bike rentals, sailing, boating, an ice cream parlor, and exclusive shops. Some of our local establishments are Beal's Lobster pound, Rogue Cafe, Sawyer's Market, Red Sky Restaurant, and the Wendell Gilley Museum.
You will enjoy spectacular ocean and mountain views, beautiful sunrises, quiet times, and the many activities in nearby Acadia National Park. The Rockefeller family constructed beautiful carriage roads throughout the park in which you can enjoy on foot, in a horse-drawn carriage, or by bike.
Come and stay at one of the most beautiful places in the Maine. Experience a quiet family vacation or one with friends. Be active or just kick back, read a book, work on a jigsaw puzzle, or paint a picture — all while enjoying the fresh air and pristine views.
Southwest Harbor has an active marine industry base of boat builders, marinas, and lobster and sail boats.
Island Watch watches all of this from its peaceful perch above the harbor. It is the Real Maine...Simple! “The way Life Should Be!”
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Wheelchair accessible
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Southwest Harbor, ME
$$$$
Ratings and reviews
5.0 / 5.0
Excellent property! Beautiful views from the deck. Plenty of room for gathering and enjoying each other’s company. Great location for discovering Acadia and surrounding communities. The property owners were fantastic and welcoming. I can’t say enough good about our week in southwest harbor!!
5.0 / 5.0
The house was great, it has a fully stocked kitchen with everything you would need. Take a quick look before shopping there are spices, olive oil, bug spray etc. Store is a quick 5 min ride. There were 12 of us and never felt crowded or loud. Bedrooms were virtually sound proof, sometimes a rarity in an older home. There are many amazing hikes nearby right in SW Harbor. We really enjoyed the "quiet side" of the island and didn't mind the driving with Acadia and Bar Harbor being a 30 min drive. We loved the ability to walk into town via the path behind the house and go to the cafes and dinner. The views are beautiful.
5.0 / 5.0
Perfect home for 3 generations. Comfortable beds, plenty of bathrooms, deck with a gorgeous eastern view. Very well appointed kitchen. Owner very responsive and easy to work with. Gave us good suggestions. Hiking trails nearby that aren’t as busy as main part of Acadia. Southwest Harbor is quieter side of island but easy access to Acadia NP and Bar Harbor. SWH has excellent restaurants, bakeries and ice cream!
5.0 / 5.0
A beautiful oasis just far enough from the traffic of Acadia but close enough to easily reach everything we wanted to see and do.
5.0 / 5.0
Wonderful time in beautiful Maine with all our children and grandchildren
5.0 / 5.0
Cozy, fun loving. Great hikes and swims. Beautiful views from porch! And a wonderful kitchen to cook in. Friendly and helpful hosts.
5.0 / 5.0
Perfect for our group-lots of space to spread out and great rooms to gather in. The wildlife-foxes and deer-kept us all entertained. The view was incredible!
5.0 / 5.0
This was a magnificent house for our family of 10. There was an extra bedroom beyond what we needed, so a large space. The common areas were large enough for everyone to spread out but close enough to interact. Wonderful, spacious, well stocked kitchem.
5.0 / 5.0
Wonderful property for a family vacation, we were a group of 11, ages 16 to 82. There was enough bedrooms and bathrooms for all to be comfortable and space to be together or time alone. The amenities provided went above and beyond anything I have experience in any other rental house. The views over the harbor were outstanding and the location was very convenient to get around Acadia and Bar Harbor. Great communication with Susan before, during and after our stay. Thank you
5.0 / 5.0
Great views and location for our annual women’s hiking group! Near southwest harbor and close to Acadia’s many many hikes! The kitchen and common space were fantastic; views from the large sitting area(s) were breathtaking.
5.0 / 5.0
Wonderful, great space to be with friends and family. We actually had a 50 year reunion with 4 other couples. All agreed this was a Great setting, wonderful views, the best kitchen ever. Lots of room to sit and talk. A wonderful fireplace with all the wood you could use for a nightly fire. The only drawback was that some of the bathrooms had showers that were quite small but that did not detract from our week stay at Island watch..we would go back on an instant!
5.0 / 5.0
Our group of 10 friends and family enjoyed a wonderful vacation at the beautiful Island Watch home in Southwest Harbor. The house provided for all our needs including a fully stocked kitchen where we found everything to prepare a Friendsgiving turkey dinner. The weather was great and we enjoyed spectacular views of the harbor from the deck with glorious sunrises and sunsets the early part of the week. Unfortunately, the smoke from the Canadian fires made things a little hazy later in the week. There is so much to do close by - exploring Acadia (don't miss going to Cadillac Mountain, hiking, kayaking or biking around the lakes), whale watching in Bar Harbor and enjoying lobsters on more than one occasion at Beal's Lobster Pier in town. The bakery down the street makes a great blueberry pie! Almost daily we saw deer, turkeys, foxes and a pileated woodpecker while enjoying time at the house. We highly recommend Island Watch!
5.0 / 5.0
Our week was fantastic even with having to hunker down indoors due to Hurricane Lee. There were 5 couples and we had plenty of room and space to all eat and hang out. Susan stopped by as we were arriving to introduce herself and was at the ready to bring us a generator when we lost power. Luckily the power came back on before we needed it. All in all a great week with family, in a great place and with fantastic hosts!
5.0 / 5.0
The house was great, well-maintained and stocked and extremely clean. Kitchen had everything you could ask for; gas grill and lobster pots were perfect, as we enjoy barbecuing. Great for a family of all ages. Lots of indoor and outdoor space; convenient location close to Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, etc. The owners were quick to respond when we had questions. We would definitely return.
5.0 / 5.0
Susan was a gracious host and the house met all of our expectations. Being on the "quietside" was perfect. The house was centrally located for everything we wanted to do, gave our group of 8 enough space to spread out, and had the best deck for coffee and happy hour! Highly recommended!
5.0 / 5.0
Terrific house for a big family. Beautiful views of the harbor and distant vistas. Southwest Harbor has everything to create a home base town as one ventures about Acadia with all the area has to offer: hiking, kayaking, swimming, sailing, dining out, or just lounging on the house deck.
5.0 / 5.0
Spacious house for large family gatherings. Extremely well stocked in every way! Gorgeous views with visits by deer and turkeys. Huge kitchen with room for all our ‘chefs’.
5.0 / 5.0
Our family had wonderful time visiting Mt. Desert Island and staying at Island Watch.The house is clean, fully stocked with all the essential amenities, and the view from the back deck on a clear day is fantastic! There were 13 guests in our group and the house was large enough to accommodate us all without it feeling too cozy. The communication with the owner was very easy. I highly recommend this property and we hope to be back in the years to come!
5.0 / 5.0
The house was perfect for our 10 adult family trip!!!
It was immaculate ! The views of the harbor from the back deck were fabulous. The house was as pictured and the hosts were very responsive when we had questions. The kitchen is huge, very modern and cooking for 10 was easy with a ton of kitchen appliances and pots!! We highly recommend Island Watch !
5.0 / 5.0
My family really enjoyed staying here, the house was spacious, clean, and the views were spectacular! Definitely would consider doing it again!
5.0 / 5.0
The Island Watch is an amazing home to stay in! It is updated and beautiful. Kitchen is better stocked and equipped than my own home. We had 12 people ( 2 couples, a family of 7 and me) staying together. There was separate space for millennials to play games late into the evening while little children slept. The views are incredible! We enjoyed morning coffee on the massive deck surrounding the back of the home or the sunroom during the rain. The littles loved exploring the path in the backyard down into town. The owners are immediately responsive and very helpful. We were welcomed by a nice bottle of wine and notebook with all the necessary instructions for a fantastic week. I can not express how wonderful this home is as well as the perfect ! location location location! We had 6 other families in 6 other properties for our family reunion in Dessert Island . Hands down! Island Watch was the winner. If I travel again as 1 or 2 people- I would choose the Birds Nest on the property- Just to have Susan and her husband host us. Thank you. We have a lifetime of memories now.
5.0 / 5.0
Island watch was the perfect house and location for our adult family. Nice hikes close by, hike down the mountain to town. Comfortable and all of the conveniences of home….well stocked kitchen. The drive to bar harbor was easy and allowed us to explore different parts of the island and Acadia! Would recommend for anyone with a large group!
Cherie and family
5.0 / 5.0
The house was wonderful ! Very clean! Amazing views. Owners were very responsive to messages!
5.0 / 5.0
Great property and great owners! Seven bedrooms 6 1/2 baths made the weeks stay so pleasant for all. Owners we ere very responsive and helpful. House could use a bit of updating (deck, a few windows) but nothing concerning. Hopefully can find the time to come again next year!
5.0 / 5.0
This house is beautiful…and big! Clean, well appointed and convenient. Views from the living room and the deck are spectacular. Got up very early several days to watch the sunrise and again at night to watch the moonrise. Just beautiful. Cooked in, grilled out and walked the path to town to dine out ( don’t forget your flashlight). Kitchen is well stocked with tons of counter space to prep. A Short drive gets you to Bar Harbor where you can shop to your hearts content. Owners very easy to work with and responded very quickly. I highly recommend this property, don’t hesitate, you’ll love it!
P.S. Rent Ebikes and do the carriage trails, what a blast.
5.0 / 5.0
We loved the house! This was our annual family reunion/vacation with 13 of our family members staying here in the house, with re remaining four members staying in a small cottage down in the village of Southwest Harbor -- only a few minutes away. The house was perfect for such a large group! The furnishings and beds were very comfortable and the house was very clean. And the view was spectacular from the large deck! We would stay again!
5.0 / 5.0
Well cared for home in a great location. We loved our stay at Island Watch!
5.0 / 5.0
Southwest Harbor was more calm and less crowded than other towns. The trail from the house is a great short cut to town. The drive from the house is also convenient. The property is a hidden gem and has a wrap around porch with different grassy areas. Our dogs loved it. Plenty of parking space. Inside is nicely decorated, spacious, and plenty of kitchenware. The private doors to go outside from two of the rooms were an added bonus for our handicapped father. Susan checked in on us and was a great host. We would definitely stay here again. The expansive views of the ocean in the massive living area was a favorite of the group.
5.0 / 5.0
The views were spectacular and our stay was great fun for all.
5.0 / 5.0
Island Watch was the perfect place for my entire family, children and grandchildren, to stay. Plenty of breathing room both inside and out. It was clean and had all the amenities we needed. If we needed something Susan responded immediately. The view was great with a morning sunsrise to enjoy.
5.0 / 5.0
The property was exactly as listed. There was plenty of space so that 8 adults and 3 children did not feel crowded. The kitchen was well stocked with both dishes, glasses, etc., and various condiments, spices, baking ingredients. The path to Southwest Harbor was fun. Thank you so much!
5.0 / 5.0
The house was perfect for our family. It was clean as well as beautiful. We were impressed with how well-equipped it was with “quality” items. The bottom floor was perfect for watching movies and it was nice to have the games and puzzles. The path to Southwest was enjoyed, especially by our younger members. The house has my family’s seal of approval!
5.0 / 5.0
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this property. Susan and Allen were great hosts. We think the location is great and the rental provides a great view of Somes Sound -- we prefer the "quiet side" of MDI.
2.5 / 5.0
The house was lovely, well appointed and attractive. Susan was extremely helpful. We felt at home. Tha k yiu so much..
2.5 / 5.0
I cannot say enough great things about this property to do it justice. The location is amazing; with a great view of the sunrise. There is plenty of space for large gatherings, with ample room for "me time" if needed. If you are thinking about renting this property, just do it. You won't be disappointed.
P.S.: just be aware that many of the shops and restaurants in the area close during the off-season. So plan to do a lot of home cooking while there during that time.
2.5 / 5.0
Great options for large or extended family. Great views and star gazing!
2.5 / 5.0
Very comfortable, lots of space, wonderful view
2.5 / 5.0
Island watch was the perfect place for our family to land. We had an abundance of space for us all to spread out and lots of areas for gathering to play games or work on a puzzle. The sun room was a great spot for board gaming!
Kitchen was really well equipped. Cooked in a few nights and did breakfast a few mornings.
Wandering into southwest harbor via the trail was convenient and a nice little workout!
Also, the neighborhood was fantastic for walking our pups. Quiet, not a lot of traffic and lots of side roads to explore.
Great property!
2.5 / 5.0
We have 11 people in our family from 77 to 8. We all enjoyed the beautiful house and all the kitchen equipment available. It was especially nice to have so many bedrooms and bathrooms. It is a nice secluded place with lots of privacy. We saw deer, turkeys and heard coyotes. It takes about 30 minutes to get to places but we did use the Explorer which helped. We would highly recommend the house.
2.5 / 5.0
We had a great time in the Acadia area and this home was large enough for our extended family of 10 adults. We could not get enough of the wonderful views. You can see Acadia from the living room. There was enough cooking utensils, pans, dishes and we enjoyed cooking our meals and having great family times. There was enough room to have your own space if you needed it. Very responsive owner.
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Southwest Harbor?
The average price for a rental in Southwest Harbor is $319 per night. This rental is $917 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Incredible views overlooking Southwest Harbor and beyond.. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Incredible views overlooking Southwest Harbor and beyond.. Enjoy the water!
Is Incredible views overlooking Southwest Harbor and beyond. pet friendly?
Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at Incredible views overlooking Southwest Harbor and beyond.?
We found 14 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, and internet / wifi.
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