Our host, Jake, was always responsive to any questions or concerns we had. The house itself was as pictured, and will work for anyone familiar with what a rustic Maine coastal cottage truly is. To us, it seemed in need of maintenance, and could have benefited from a bit of freshening to make it more welcoming. Beds were comfortable and clean, but felt as if we were sleeping in someone’s attic. Bathrooms had been updated, and were clean, except for the many dead bugs in the upstairs tub, beneath the rubber bath mat. A few windows have been replaced with new ones, but the rest are suffering from dry rot. One window next to the kitchen table, actually fell apart in my husband’s hands as he closed it before we began our return trip home. Fortunately the glass didn’t break in his hands, and he was able to carefully place the window pane in the rotted frame. Several lights had burned out bulbs, including half of the string of Christmas lights used to light the way up the stairs. A few of the fans in bedrooms were very dirty. We were asked to take only short showers because the well providing water for the cottage was shared by other houses, and was in danger of getting too low. Dead, dried, flaking flowers in vases on the porch and kitchen tables greeted us upon arrival. If properly maintained, this would be an adequate rental for a family that only uses it to sleep, while enjoying everything the area has to offer. The natural beauty of coastal Maine, is well with the trip.

We have pretty much everything we need on this property. it is a charming rustic cottage, but location was just right for all the things we have planned to do - kayaking, oyster farm visit, tide pools and various types of the Maine coastline, good restaurants on Bailey Island. We were fairly close to all of that and more. We saw some beautiful sunsets on the property. We would suggest the owner include a sunset photo in his listing!

My boyfriend and I came up for a quick weekend away and once we got to the property, we regretted it wasn't a longer trip. The Spruces is full of rustic character and charm and it was incredibly peaceful to sit on the porch and just listen to the sound of the water. Our dog Korra had a blast running around the yard in between the wild flower beds like an obstacle course. It had everything we needed and we will definitely be visiting again soon.

I had a wonderful time at the Spruces, where there are ocean views from nearly every window. The home is well laid out, with spaces for family meals, multiple food prep areas and gathering around the wood stove on a chilly night. As an avid reader I appreciated the comfy well lit chairs inside as well as lots of seating outside on the porch, lawn and hammock. Outdoor seating in the meadow-like-lawn is optimum for sunset cocktails. The porch can also accommodate a large crowd at the table, or a nap. The gas grill is easily accessible on the porch, as well. After star-gazing at a sky with no light pollution, I slept soundly to the sounds and smells of the ocean and the spruces. The Lands End Gift Shop is a pleasant walk down the road, where I was able to explore the tide pools at Bailey Island Beach. For anyone who wants to, you can swim or kayak at the Little Harbor down the path across the street. All in all a restful vacation that left me with a sense of peace and calm as I returned home.

A group of five women —including three artists— spent a stellar vacation at the "Spruces” on Bailey Island. This summer cottage provided the perfect setting for us to explore, relax, eat, and paint. We didn't seek frills; simply “Down East” comfort and charm; the Spruces surpassed our expectations in all regards. The views from the house were spectacular: looking East, the sweeping Atlantic; looking West, the quaint harbor and inlet (Mackerel Cove). We gravitated to the enormous porch, equipped with a new gas grill, long dining table and chairs, and curl-up-with-a-book chairs with comfy cushions. We found that we never wanted to leave the ambiance of the porch to eat out, so we sipped wine, cooked in the kitchen, enjoyed our meals on the porch, followed by spectacular nightly sunsets. The fully equipped kitchen provided all we needed to prepare delicious meals. Some of us had brought groceries; others stopped at grocery stores in nearby Brunswick. After our full days of exploring the island and enjoying drinks, dinner, and sunset on the porch at the Spruces, we headed inside to the cozy living room, added logs (provided!) to the woodstove on chillier evenings, and chatted, read, or played board games—including the Bailey Island version of Monopoly. We then adjourned to our bedrooms, each with very comfortable beds and lovely views. The two full baths were spacious and up-to-date. We definitely plan to return to the Spruces next year, hopefully for a longer stay!

Overall the stay was nice. The view from the front porch was beautiful and the family is great to work with. We had an RV which was a major issue getting to the house due to narrow roads and bridges. There was no place to park near the house. We ended up parking at the end of the road and left our contact information. I can see this being a great option for the warmer months! Thanks for a nice getaway!

We stayed at the spruce cottage Labor Day weekend 2021 and fell in love with Baileys Island. The area was a completely different part of Maine that we had yet to explore. Once you go over the bridge and see the views of the cove with the rocks and lobster boats it’s just Picturesque. The cottage was perfect for the 6 adults and 2 dogs in our group. It had an Amazing porch overlooking the cove and on the other side, views of open Atlantic Ocean. The neighbors are beyond friendly. A half mile down the road is the gift shop and a small beach. We ate at Cooks Alehouse 2 nights and had amazing food and live entertainment. While we were in town we got to see the Blue Angels in Brunswick which was maybe 20 mins away. Communication with the owners was terrific. They answered any questions we may have had, were there to greet us at check in, left a booklet of things to do in area, restaurant menu, hiking trails, etc. Thank you so much Joan and Jake for letting us stay at The spruce cottage! Lisa Foxboro, MA