Private Light Filled Cottage, Water Access, Artist's Retreat

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Entire home

Light filled cottage features 5 French doors opening onto perennial garden

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 492.9 sq m

Popular amenities

Parking available
Dryer
Washer
Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Roque Bluffs, ME

Rogue Bluffs Beach
‪18 min drive‬
Roque Bluffs State Park
‪20 min drive‬
Jasper Beach
‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bayside

1 Double Bed

Garden view

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Garden

Dining area

About this property

WaterColor Cottage in beautiful Roque Bluffs, Maine offers guests a unique coastal vacation experience. WaterColor is the owners' second home and artist's/writer's retreat, lovingly maintained and generously shared with our guests.
As our guest, you will enjoy the art -filled open living areas, beautiful hand-crafted furnishings, quality linens and kitchen ware, perennial gardens and stone patio tucked into a fenced backyard. In the evenings, light a fire in the wood stove before venturing out to the garden to view the stars and late summer meteor showers.
Stroll along the shore and watch local lobstermen and women check their traps, rent a kayak (or bring your own) and paddle in the Bay or at Roque Bluffs State Park just down the road. Enjoy local lobsters, mussels, and clams fresh from the Bay!
WaterColor Cottage, across the lane from Little Kennebec Bay, has easy access for launching a kayak or canoe at the Duck Cove Road boat ramp. Or, you can walk across the road to the shore, sit on the rocks watching the eagles soar and the seals play. Enjoy a hike through the woods, past blueberry barrens, and along the shore -- all from your front door.
The Sunrise Trail, a rails to trails gravel path, stretches from Ellsworth to Calais, Maine and runs through Machias, providing wonderful opportunities for biking, walking, running, and snowmobile/ATV adventures.
Just seven miles from Machias, our vacation home is for rent by owner and located outside of the crowds, close to nature, and within minutes of East Machias, Machiasport, Jonesport, and Cutler. Day trips to Eastport, Lubec, Campobello Island in Canada, and Acadia National Park offer visitors a distinctive Down East vacation experience.

Keywords: pristine coastal location, private garden courtyard, wooded setting, well-appointed, art filled interior, quality/hand crafted furnishings, passive solar, fenced yard, clean, hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, beach combing, convenient location, birding, fishing,

Property manager

Beverly Rhoads

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 13–17

Children must be at least 11 years old.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)

Pets must be 2yrs old, under 45 lbs. and non-shedd

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

No smoking, no vaping

We do not allow motorcycles or ATVs.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Machias

Located in Machias, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Roque Bluffs State Park and Rogue Bluffs Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Roque Bluffs, ME

What's nearby

Rogue Bluffs Beach - 18 min drive - 10.7 km
Roque Bluffs State Park - 20 min drive - 9.1 km
Bad Little Falls Park - 23 min drive - 12.4 km
Jasper Beach - 32 min drive - 19.7 km
The Bold Coast - 49 min drive - 38.6 km

Getting around

Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 116 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬22 min drive
‪The Anchor - ‬23 min drive
‪Subway - ‬24 min drive
‪Rivers Edge Drive In - ‬24 min drive
‪Blue Bird Ranch - ‬24 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Light Filled Cottage, Water Access, Artist's Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Private Light Filled Cottage, Water Access, Artist's Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Light Filled Cottage, Water Access, Artist's Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private Light Filled Cottage, Water Access, Artist's Retreat located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is within 9 miles (15 km) of Roque Bluffs State Park, Rogue Bluffs Beach and Bad Little Falls Park. Jasper Beach is 12.2 mi (19.6 km) away.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Victoria S.

12 Aug 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved our stay at Watercolor Cottage

Clean, quaint, wonderfully decorated/furnished, exquisitely quiet cottage where we refreshed our souls! Owners were very accommodating to every request for information and our ever-changing schedule due to flight cancellations.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christine C.

11 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just ducky

Well cared for, convenient to beaches, quiet neighborhood.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kerry I.

1 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just What I Needed

Watercolor Cottage was practically perfect. It had everything I needed. Great location and Duck Cove has the nicest people too. Beautiful bay view just down the road. Managed well. Loved it!

Stayed 77 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christina M.

30 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great get-away in a cozy cottage

The WaterColor Cottage was incredibly charming and relaxing. The location was quiet, and well equipped for making dinners in with the fabulous local food yet convenient to machias for some scrumptious meals out. A short walk out the house takes you to a nice rocky shoreline to enjoy with morning coffee, and there are so many great hiking trails just short drives away that we never ran out of stunning places to explore. Bev was outstanding with communication in making sure we were prepared for our stay, had what we needed, and shared great tips for local food and trails! And their gardens and artwork were simply beautiful and a highlight that made staying at the cottage so special.

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

8 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Idyllic cottage

Quiet, spotless, private and comfortable. This lovely cottage in the woods is close to all the Maine coast has to offer. Great communication with the Host. Lovely patio for outdoor morning coffee or late afternoon relaxation before dinner. Wood stove was available to warm up in the evenings. Kitchen is extremely well equipped for cooking. Great find and we’re eager to return. Thank you Bev and Claire!

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Richard G.

23 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful retreat

The cottage is beautiful and very well appointed. The layout and decoration of the house as well as the outside garden promote a peaceful and relaxed lifestyle. This was just what we needed to slow down our hectic life. It was great to merely sit in the garden and watch the numerous hummingbirds and butterflies going around the perennial garden. We needed peace and quiet and this is what this cottage give you. Not a sound at night and barely any during the day, yeah! We did lots of great kayaking trips right out of Duck Cove (don’t miss an outing to Mill Pond). It was also fun to just hang around on the shore during lower tide (be aware that you have to go through a private property to get to it, but the owner (Pam) advised us that it was no problem). Finally, we met the great neighbours of the cottage (Pam, Al et Jack). They are a big part of our memories. We will certainly be returning in the future. Thanks to Bev and Claire for sharing this great place with us. Anne and Richard

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

holly m.

28 Sept 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beauty & Tranquility

This is a perfectly beautiful space. The artistic charm surrounds you in every room. My husband and I were looking to purchase property somewhere along the bold coast and this was meant to be our ground base while we looked, but became our inspiration and motivation! I hope to carry not just the beauty but the art of graceful living to our future Maine abode! Thank you Bev!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Janice J.

31 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Retreat

The house was well appointed and nicely decorated. Beautiful artwork graced the walls. The outside gardens were beautiful. There is a binder with several recommendations of things to do and places to go. Highlights: Lobsters from Mother Shuckers, Fresh fish and steamers from Earle in Machias on the dyke, Lubec, Eastport, hiking in Cutler Preservation land, Rogue Bluffs State park, Maine Salt Company, French Cellar wine and cheese shop, Jasper Beach (dog friendly), Catherine Hill Winery, Quoddy State Park and walking to the beach by the house. I highly recommend staying at Watercolors House.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

April M.

25 Aug 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This was an awesome remote vacation with many outdoor adventure opportunities.

The owners were helpful and made excellent suggestions for food, places to visit, and and any other miscellaneous questions we had. The property was very well kept, inside and out. We had everything we needed and wanted. The neighborhood cove is stunning.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Uli N.

28 Sept 2017

We had a wonderful time at the cottage! Beautiful place to relax and "recharge"!

The cottage is surprisingly pretty spacious and very tasteful furnished. Nice little terrace with natural flower and herb beds. One is surrounded by nature and tranquility. Wonderful hiking area and interesting beaches. It was nice to find all the info about near attractions, hiking trails, restaurants etc. We hope to come back!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Eleanor M., BRIDGEWATER

6 Sept 2017

Lovely cottage

We enjoyed our time here immensely!

Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lisa L.

4 Sept 2017

Beautiful spot and cottage with a few caveats

Great spot. Quiet. On a wooded lot with a garden that Claire and Bev have put lots of time into. Visits with hummingbirds, bumblebees and other living things. Just about everything you need here. Kitchen has all equipment and, all equipment worked well. Bed was uber comfy. Shower is small and a step up for those of us with mobility issues but doable and water pressure and temp were perfect. Lots of room in the cottage and it was very easy to feel comfortable. Coffee in the garden every day. Claire answered each and every question fully and promptly. Neighbours are lovely. A perfect place for a 3 day unwind. (Remember to bring your own shower soap and kindling. There is kindling at the cottage but they require it replenished and you might not want to search it out in town.) We would absolutely stay here again. Now the caveats or preparatory notes (that should not impact your stay if you know what the limitations are): a) The owners note there is easy water access, and this is true; however, if you want kayak you must have a way to get a kayak to the water. If you do not have a vehicle with kayak ability then ask Claire and Bev before you go how to work with Sunrise Kayaks to get the kayak to water (and then leave it nearish to the house but not from the front door). Everyone tried their best to help us out and make kayaking doable. b)This is a rural area and there is wifi but do not expect to get more than 1MBps bandwith speeds. I tested the speeds and they are very low. It's fine for email and very basic and slow surfing but not for streaming or, in our case, other work functions. It forced less work and more fun. Again, not a game changer as long as you are aware before arrival. c) Lastly, the 7 miles from town is no big deal, do note though that the last few miles are on fairly uneven gravel. We had a vehicle made for speed and the suspension was not in love with the road (so we went very slow ;). We would suggest arriving in daylight hours to make first arrival easiest.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Marian L.

15 Aug 2014

Another wonderful stay at the WaterColor Cottage

This is my second time staying at the WaterColor Cottage, which I loved the first time, when I was with my brother and nephew, and I loved it this time, too! The first time was during a heat wave a year ago, and still it was more than comfortable. This year the weather was idyllic and the cottage is rustic without being primitive, artful without being fussy, and everything was lovely and comfortable. For conscious and conscientious people. A true retreat.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Caroline G.

4 July 2014

Relaxing, well equipped, quiet, very dog friendly

I enjoyed my stay at Water Color cottage. The owners are very gracious and communications were excellent. The fenced in back yard was terrific for my dog. Lots of pleasant touches throughout the house. A great guidebook to the local area was much appreciated. The house is a bit off the beaten track so you'll want to plan ahead for in town errands. But it's close to so much of the gorgeous sights of Downeast. Many day trips are within an hour or two. I loved my stay!

About the host

Hosted by Beverly Rhoads

We are both college professors who love to travel and revel in the beauties of the natural world -- and who love to stay in clean and artfully designed homes. If you like these things, too, we bet you'll love our WaterColor cottage! We have other cottages in coastal Florida and the mountains of North Carolina. Find these on VRBO as well: Florida: 885529 and NC: 858916

Why they chose this property

Need you ask? Maine! The Bay! The perfect place to enjoy the pristine coast of downeast, Maine, out of the hustle and bustle of tourist-ville, but close enough for a day trip to Bar Harbor and Acadia if you desire. And, the Canadian maritimes are 45 minutes away. This is the "real Maine," and it is gorgeous, rugged, wild, and filled with friendly people.

What makes this property unique

There are so many reasons that we love our home in Duck Cove. Here's just a start -- come see more for yourselves! Enjoy your morning coffee or evening cocktail on the "drinking rock, "a rugged outcropping of rocks on the shore that gives you sweeping views of Little Kennebec Bay, numerous islands, and a view to the Bay of Maine beyond. From here you can keep an eye on our sailboat, "Honey," watch the seals swim by, the eagles and ospreys soar overhead, and, in the morning, the sun as it comes up over the confetti of lobster trap buoys dotting the bay. Our neighbors, lobstermen and women, are out early checking their traps in the mist of the morning. In the evenings, when the wind is right, the sound of the waves and the smell of the salt air will lull you to sleep. Knock off the Maine chill with a fire in the woodstove and a glass of your favorite beverage in hand. Watch the August meteor showers from the patio! Enjoy the flowers in our gardens and the treasures along the shore across the cottage road. So much to see and enjoy in this magical place.

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Private Light Filled Cottage, Water Access, Artist's Retreat

Photo gallery for Private Light Filled Cottage, Water Access, Artist's Retreat

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bayside

Garden view

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

About this property