Home in Cranberry Isles
4.83 out of 5 average rating, 115 reviews4.83 (115)Escape to an Antique-Filled Farmhouse on Great Cranberry
Enjoy a short boat ride to the island. Dine under a brass chandelier in a dusky red-walled room with a pumpkin-pine floor, gazing over the water. Soak in the original claw-foot tub of this 1840s island getaway. Several bikes are shared with 2 other units, if they are occupied. With the new distancing rules, guests in this unit may prefer to enjoy the ocean view from our lawn across the road
The Antique Unit is the original part of the compound-a salt water farm house. My neighbor traced the house back to 1799. The large dining room overlooking the ocean has a refinished original pumpkin pine floor ; the WiFi is located there. The spacious full service kitchen was remodeled in 2010. All cooking accessories are provided. The second floor bedrooms are accessible by a rather steep stairway of the period. There is a half bath between the "Peach Room" with 2 twin beds and the "Pink Room" with 1 double bed. There are 2 bedrooms on the first floor--the "Lavender Room" with 1 double bed and the "Gold Room" with 1 queen bed. The full bath, on the first floor, has the original clawfoot tub with an added shower. All linens are provided.
The cozy living room has antique décor and a flat screen satellite TV!. The Antique Unit of the house is surrounded by fields on the barn side and across the street, extending down to the shore. Our private shore path runs down the left side of the view. There is a large deck overlooking the view. This deck is shared with the tenants in the "New" Unit, if that unit is occupied. Guests work with each other to arrange days and times of use or enjoy mingling together. A small "Zen" garden currently under construction occupies the space between units on the quiet side of the house.
Our water comes from a well. We ask our guests to be mindful of this and be alert to any "running" of toilets and to stagger their use of the shower, dish washer and clothes washer. Water left running will overheat the well pump and cause it to shut down. That will cause both the Antique and "New" Units to lose water.
There are 3 units in this compound, They share the fire pit, outside lobster cooker, gas and charcoal grill, 10 bikes and the use of 3 cars for transportation to and from the dock which is about 1 mile away. The Cranberry Explorer shuttle ( 8 passenger golf cart) runs from the dock to the end of the island every 1/2 hour from 10-5 in the summer. You can signal it to pick you up or drop you off in front of the Red House Compound.
The Red House is located in Great Cranberry Island. To get there, you park your car for free in one of our spaces in Northeast Harbor and take either the Beal and Bunker Ferry (leaves Northeast at 7:30AM, 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, 4PM and 6PM, costs 8$ per person each way) or one of 3 water taxis. Water taxis go on your schedule. They charge a flat fee for the whole boat. 2 of the water taxis can take 6 people, the 3rd takes up to 21 people, . Rates start around $38 and get higher as the hour gets later. If you have a group a water taxi may be more economical, depending on the hour. If you need transportation on a special schedule, such as after dining out on the mainland, a water taxi is a good option. If you have fewer than 6 people, you may be able to share a water taxi.
Please see "Guest Access"and "other things to note" for the "New" Unit listing for this property .Gt. Cranberry Island is 3 miles long and 1 mile wide at the widest point.The island is accessible by passenger-only ferry leaving Northeast Harbor 6 times daily in season and by 3 water taxis. Please see "guest access" section under the "New" Unit for details. You park free in our space in Northeast Harbor. We supply an island car for transportation to and from the dock, 10 bicycles to explore the streets and lanes, lawn games, wifi, satellite TV WiFi.
There is a general store by the dock with basic groceries and a limited organic selection, soft serve ice cream, cafe, fresh baked goods daily, fresh fish by order. The Cranberry House Museum operated by the Historical Society has interesting exhibits showing life on the islands through the centuries . Old movies are shown free in the upstairs theatre (they would like a donation) on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. Popcorn and drinks are available for $1. There are numerous art exhibits and special events throughout the summer. Cranberry House also has Hitty's Cafe- an outdoor restaurant serving lunch and snacks and breakfast and dinners by advance order. The Heliker-Lahotan Foundation hosts up and coming visiting artists throughout the summer. They have periodic openings where the public is invited. The Great Cranberry Congregational Church has seevices at 5 PM on Sundays, usually with a pot luck meal following. There is a small gym in the basenent of the church which is free for anyone to use-just sign in. The Cranberry Explorer is a free (donations accepted) 8 passenger golf cart which leaves the dock every 1/2 hour giving tours and transportation down the main road of the island. The Red House is located on the main road about axmile from the dock. Great Cranberry Island is really a place to get away from the "T-Shirt District"and all the touristy crowds of Bar Harbor. Our guests are free to roam the foot paths and explore the rock bound coast ,enjoying the many peaceful, scenic vistas which are a natural part of island life.
If we are on the island, we like to meet and greet our guests. Our residence is actually in Scarborough, Maine , 3 1/2 hours away but we spend a great deal of time on the island. We are always in contact via cell phone, text or email. We also have a caretaker who can help with any problems in our absence.
The home is surrounded by fields that stretch down to the shore. Great Cranberry Island is accessible by passenger-only ferry or water taxi. Leave the car in NE Harbor and transport luggage in the host’s island car. Visit the store, museum, and cafe.
The Cranberry Explorer leaves the dock every 1/2 hour daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. They go right by The Red House and will pick off and drop off guests. On the mainland, the Island Explorer buses leave from the dock in Northeast Harbor and go all over Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. They have bike trailers for the rider's bicycles and there is no charge-they are underwritten by LLBean.
Our guests may use our bikes for transportation on Great Cranberry Island only.
To get to the island, you park your car(free-we supply stickers) in one of two lots in Northeast Harbor and take the passenger-only ferry. The ferry, the Beal and Bunker Mailboat, leaves Northeast Harbor 6 times daily between 7:30 AM and 6 PM making 6 round trips between the harbor and 2 to 3 islands. The fare is $8 per person with a 10 trip ticket. I buy back any unused trips, There are 3 water taxis which run at your command from approx. 6 AM to 11 PM. Water taxis actually can be more economical depending on the number of guests and the time of day. We provide an island car for our guests to use to transport themselves and their luggage to and from the dock upon arrival and departure. If we are on the island, we will pick you up and drop you off. There are 3 cars which may need to be shared if any of the cars needs repair when all 3 units are occupied. See above for the Cranberry Explorer information.
Because the general store has a fairly limited inventory, our guests my want to bring their favorite groceries. There is a Shaw's supermarket and a Hannaford supermarket and John Edwards health food store in Ellsworth, the last large community before the road crosses onto Mount Desert Island. In Bar Harbor, there is a Hannaford and AandB Naturals, a nice health food store.
