Spotless property with stellar views in serene location. Every detail of this home was impeccable. Comfortable beds, fully stocked kitchen, amazing, friendly host. Every question was answered quickly. Path to the lake was clearly marked and kayaks and equipment available. This is the best VRBO I’ve stayed at.

This home was just what we hoped for. A wonderful place to retreat to at the end of long days out exploring the various peninsulas that make up the Maine Coast. We especially loved Donna’s hospitality (and the infamous welcome treat), the centrality to things, the insanely gorgeous deck view that we took in at all hours (no book or cellphone required), the Danish architecture and furnishings, and jaunts down to Forest Lake for some kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. Loved this house, its owner’s welcoming nature, and Maine!

The house is beautiful and clean. Owner goes above and beyond to make your stay one to remember.

Our stay was beyond amazing! We are so happy Donna let us experience her beautiful home and views. The home is clean, spacious and so cozy and relaxing, this was the perfect place to come disconnect and relax while we enjoyed our honeymoon in Maine. We loved enjoying the ocean front view while having our morning breakfast. Highly recommend staying with Donna, who is the sweetest and most generous homeowner I have had the pleasure to coordinate with. She is very easy to talk to, answered all of our questions and gave us a call during our stay when we couldn’t find something around the home. Not to mention the surprising treat she left for us to unwind to, our first night in! Donna we hope to be back in Friendship one day in the future.

The host went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. This rental property was perfect for two couples. The kitchen was fully stocked, the deck was a perfect place to relax and enjoy the quiet in the woods.

We've been vacationing in Maine for years, but never have we stayed at a property as wonderful as Donna's Friendship chalet! We spent hours on the amazing deck, reading, eating seafood galore and soaking in the unparalleled views over Muscongus Bay by day, stargazing and sharing wine around the crackling firepit by night. The house is sparklingly clean, beautifully and thoughtfully appointed, and the kitchen is a cook's dream! Donna is a consummate host, her generosity apparent from the moment we walked in the door to find the sumptuous spread and chilled wine that greeted us. We loved every minute of this vacation and have already booked our stay for next summer!

We agree with the "Host of the Year" nomination for Donna as mentioned in a previous review. The attention to detail in our stay was remarkable and the house has the most amazing patio with an incredible view and all the comforts you might want. The lake with kayaks and paddle board is remote and includes a bald eagle. The cleanliness of the house is above and beyond. If you are looking for a quite, Maine escape, this is the place.

The house had everything you could ask for: a gorgeous deck with a firepit and view over the treetops to the water (what a wonderful way to start the day with your morning coffee!); proximity to the lake for a refreshing dip and paddleboard time; and a short drive to Jameson Lobster Pound for the best oysters and lobster we've ever had. Also, not to mention the incredible welcome spread we received from Donna after many hours of travel. Our stay was a big warm Maine hug :)

We've rented properties in Maine for a number of years, and this was the best yet! Architecturally, the house itself was extremely interesting (a Trelleborg “0-energy” house designed in Denmark and built on-site in 1987), and it has been well maintained. The house was immaculate and very well equipped. The setting was gorgeous, and the view from the huge deck, which overlooks a steep cliff and Muscongus Bay, was stunning. Location-wise, the house is an excellent base for seeing mid-coast Maine, and Friendship itself is a cute little town that lives up to its name. (We especially appreciated Jameson Point Lobster Company, the new seafood restaurant in town!) Perhaps the highlight of our trip was our visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (well worth the entire trip just by themselves, especially this year with their display of trolls built along the paths in the wooded part of the property). Later in the week, we explored the property, which includes water frontage on Forest Lake, where we found a couple of kayaks (noted in the VRBO listing, though we didn’t actually use them). Getting to the lake is a short walk along a well-marked, but somewhat steep path. Along the way, we found several fairy houses (a really nice touch, foreshadowed by two books on the subject that we found in the living room) — yet another magical touch at this enchanting rental. Donna, the owner, was the most hospitable of the VRBO rental hosts whom we can recall. On arrival at the house, we found an extensive array of welcome gifts, including numerous Maine products, a charcuterie tray, and a bottle of wine, on ice, ready to drink. (The week before, Donna had called to ask just two questions about our upcoming stay: “Red or white? Dry or Sweet?”) No need to cook or go out the first night! We just took the tray out to the deck, where we relaxed, ate, and enjoyed the amazing ocean view. While Donna was on her own vacation during our stay, she did check in with us to make sure everything was going well (which it was, of course). When we departed, we inadvertently left behind a gift we had purchased for a neighbor. Once we let Donna know, she dropped it in the mail and we had it in just a day or two. All in all, it’s hard to imagine a more enjoyable place to spend a week in Maine. I’m sure that we’ll return soon!

Beautiful views of the bay and lobster trappers checking traps. Coffee on the deck. Lunch on the deck. Cocktails on the deck. Fire in the pit and stars on the deck in the evening. The house had everything we needed and much more. Easy access to local towns for souvenirs if necessary.

This is a remarkable home - the view from the deck over Muscongus Bay, the forested and quiet surroundings filled with fairy houses, the simple A frame design and layout, the kids toys and activities, and the thoughtful touches left throughout the home by the owner. Other reviews have remarked on the owner's kindness and generosity-- she is truly amazing. Our family had a wonderful time exploring the area, including trips to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Birch Point State Park, and Damariscotta Lake. We would highly recommend.

This house was just wonderful! Even better than the pictures. Immaculately clean, and better equipped than any other house we've rented, from kitchen utensils (a meat thermometer!) to beach towels and more. Donna is the most generous and gracious host, leaving a beautiful tray of goodies and a bottle of wine to welcome us, letting us use her kayaks and quickly responding to our questions. The back deck is huge, with lots of seating and a beautiful view of the bay. This is a great place to relax and get away.

The property very well maintained, incredibly clean, with a great deal of thought put into every little thing. The kitchen had everything we needed and more. The beds were very comfortable. The owner is delightful and easy to reach if needed. The welcome spread she created for us was seriously gourmet! Finally, the view is amazing - hanging out on the deck was serene and spa like. We plan to be back whenever possible.

This is a wonderful, beautifully furnished and equipped house with a deck and view that cannot be beat. The owner is gracious, very helpful. And the welcome package she leaves takes the edge off your travel-weary day—beautiful spread of meats, cheeses, fruit, nuts, olives, crackers, chilled wine. We were delighted with every aspect of this property.

The house is very well kept and very nicely decorated. It is a unique and beautiful house, with a beautiful view, and the kitchen has everything you need to prepare meals. The property owner was very generous in providing a welcome basket when we arrived, and we were able to ocean kayak from the dock of her own home which is in the same town. The kitchen has everything you need to prepare meals if you choose to. We did several fun day trips to various places in this area of Maine, including Camden, Rockland, Pemaquid, and Boothbay. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay are not to be missed. We would highly recommend this property.

Not sure where to start, Donna is extremely friendly, helpful and made our stay very warm and inviting. The views are amazing, the home was really comfortable and being at such a private location gave us the peace and quiet we were looking for. Yet we where still really close to everything mid coast Maine has to offer.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this lovely, impeccably clean, well appointed, and beautifully decorated getaway in Friendship. The host communicated very well. We loved the large deck with gorgeous views down the bay, comfy bedding, and well appointed kitchen. We hope to return!

This was our second visit to Friendship Aerie, and we had a wonderful time. As before, Donna was the perfect host: when we arrived, we found a delicious zucchini and ricotta appetizer, substantial enough to be a meal, waiting for us, just what we needed after our long car trip. It was a rainy week, but the house is incredibly cozy, and we stayed indoors and read and cooked meals with produce from the local farm stands. The house is not only charming but peaceful and secluded, and the surrounding area is friendly and comfortable. It's the perfect place to stay if you're visiting mid-coast Maine.

We loved everything about this house - the location, the decor, the amenities, and of course, the view. The house is adorable and comfortable. It was the perfect size for us - parents, two kids and grandma. It was also a pleasant surprise to see how well equipped it was for kids - even down to the books, games and furniture. Donna is a magnificent host and made sure that there were lots of little touches (fresh flowers) to make our stay feel special. The deck is to die for - very spacious, gorgeous view, a grill, table, fire pit and a hammock. If you want to really get away from it all, this house is a true respite. It is far from the crowds, but accessible to some nearby towns with about 30min drives on average. Truly lovely.

Breathtaking view. Loved sitting outside reading and stargazing at night.

Over multiple summer trips to Maine's Mid-Coast region, we've fallen in love with the string of towns between Wiscasset and Camden, and the quiet, seemingly undiscovered peninsulas that reach south of them. We've stayed in a number of cottages over the past five or six years, but none of them has come near to touching the charms of Donna's Friendship Aerie. The location, high atop a wooded hill, is perfect for us, as we like to get away from it all -- there are no other houses within sight or earshot, which means no noise from traffic or other vacationers. The view across Muscongus Bay is indeed spectacular, and we spent hours sitting on the patio reading or sketching and taking in the beauty of the landscape. The house is an absolute delight -- a Danish A-frame kit house from the 1970s, intuitively laid out, with a large, well-stocked kitchen, a comfortable living room with couches that are perfect for naps, three cozy bedrooms with comfortable beds, and charming touches throughout, including an upstairs workspace. Everything is impeccable, and every care has been taken to make sure that anything you might need is present. And Donna is the most thoughtful host imaginable, always ready and willing to help us with anything that came up, making thoughtful suggestions, and preparing the house for our visit with fresh flowers and other treats. She helped to make our week in Friendship enchanting. We can't wait to return next year.

Friendship Aerie was the absolute perfect getaway for 2 couples needing to unwind from NYC life. Everything was even more breathtaking than the pictures suggest. Donna was an incredible host, from the very beginning of the booking process to our check-out. She was incredibly responsive and offered plentiful advice and helpful tips. Upon arrival, so many thoughtful touches meant she had literally considered everything to make our stay cozy and unforgettable (Homeaway: if you're reading this, Donna should be nominated for "Host of the Year". Really). I could go on. We had coffee on the incredible deck with the sweeping coastal view every morning, followed by a swim in the sweet little lake a few minutes' walk down the road, then lunch on the deck, naps, sunset cocktails, fires in the firepit... I think you get the picture. Perfection. We cannot wait to come back for another visit. Thank you Donna for a truly memorable experience. You are literally the BEST.