You may have had a summer house like this in your family—or maybe you read about one in a favorite novel. Our 4,500 sq. ft. Victorian “cottage” is in the most sought-after neighborhood in Kennebunkport, just down the street from Walker’s Point, aka the Bush compound. Unplug, unwind and turn the clock back to when summer was about family meals, playing piano, darts, and ping-pong, and evenings on the porch relaxing in comfy wicker chairs watching the sunset as the waves crash against the rocks. Looking for old-school Victorian summer house character? Our house is just off Ocean Avenue, with an amazing ocean view. There’s an expansive front yard, perfect for Frisbee or volleyball or badminton (there’s a net in the sport/coat closet). Lots of board games. Toys for young children. Lots of books. Darts. And of course a washer-dryer. Wifi. And cable TV, if you can tear yourself away from your book, or the view. Slide between crisp, clean sheets in an old-fashioned wrought-iron bed with a white tufted bedspread, in a room where the antique furniture is lightly “distressed” because it’s old, not because someone hit it with a sandblaster in a factory in China; where the sweet blue striped wallpaper has lifted a bit in a corner or two, the way the set decorator would style it in a movie set in an old New England family’s summer house. If you're looking for a professionally decorated house with the latest high-end updates, look elsewhere! Our sheets are hilariously mismatched—checks, stripes, ruffles, we’ve got it all. Everything’s well-loved inside. The front porch was just rebuilt, and we're hoping the trim will be painted Spring 2022 before guests arrive, but we're not a swanky, professionally landscaped place like many of our neighbors. But if you're looking for a comfortable, beautiful old house full of character, come visit! Our 4,500 square foot, six-bedroom house was built in 1890. It boasts two fireplaces, an intricately paneled living room (painted a cheerful white), and most of its vintage sinks and bathtubs (hot and cold from separate taps). In 2017, we put a walk-in shower on the second floor, tiled the way Victorian showers were, with a rain shower and a hand-held. The third floor shower is a converted clawfoot tub, and the master bath has the best bubble-bath tub on earth—with a rust stain that defies scrubbing. The house isn’t winterized (it’s available May 1-Oct. 15 only) so in springtime and leaf-peeping season it’s about fires in the fireplace, cranking up the electric blankets, and turning on the forced air unit in the living room. Sweaters recommended. Seriously, it can be COLD. We don’t have an all-new gourmet kitchen—this is an old-school New England summer cottage—but we do have a gas grill, a gas stove, a microwave, a toaster oven, a food processor, a blender, two fridges, a dishwasher, and pretty much anything else you need to make what you want. And who else has an official Ping-pong Porch? We hope you’ll love our family vacation house as much as we do—and treat it gently, as if it were your own. Please note that this is a residential neighborhood, almost all owner-occupied, many neighbors over 65. It’s a laid-back cocktails on the porch kind of a place. We cannot accommodate events of any kind; please don’t ask. Feel free to invite a friend or two over, but there should not be more than 15 people total at the house or on the grounds at any time. Thinking about the house as having a max of 12, the max number it sleeps, is a good rule of thumb. And if your group wants to play loud music or party hearty, this is not the rental for you! Also, we know your pet is the most angelic pet on earth, and we love animals, but we are not set up to handle pet accidents. Please don’t ask for an exception. We’ll happily recommend a kennel. Guests have access to the entire house and garden, though cocktails and dining should be kept to the porch or dining room, as our neighbors are VERY. CLOSE. Please note that we cannot accommodate events of any kind. My sister and, depending on the time of year, her three kids, live in town and are happy to help with any problems that might arise. The house is just off Ocean Avenue, between St. Ann’s Episcopal Church and Walker’s Point, where the Bushes live. It’s a one or two minute walk to the ocean, to “Pebble Beach,” right in front of us, where you can climb rocks or skip stones or even swim if it’s not too choppy. A five minute walk to the left, and you’re at Spouting Rock, which, if you catch it at the right time, sends water spraying up 20 feet in the air. Ten more minutes and you’re at Blowing Cave, which does a similarly dramatic spray, even taller in the right weather, though now it’s known as home to the “Bush Watchers.” Yes—our house is just a short walk from Walker’s Point, aka the “Bush Compound.” The bells of St. Ann’s Episcopal church, the Bush’s summer church, right around the corner, sound out each hour during the day. Walk ten minutes the other direction and you reach the small sandy beach in front of the Colony Hotel, the Port Lobster fish market, Mabel’s restaurant and ice cream, the Breakwater restaurant and spa, and a few cute shops. Dock Square ("downtown" Kennebunkport) is a short bike ride or a long walk from the house. Cars are fine, but bikes are even better! The summer traffic through the tiny port can be slow going. This Victorian home doesn’t have air-conditioning—that’s the whole reason generations of families summered in Maine; you barely ever need it. (Bring your flannel pjs just in case.) But there are fans for those unusual nights when you might need a bit more of a breeze. Spring and fall can be cold—there are electric blankets for the unheated upstairs. (There is a built-in space heater in the living room, plus two fireplaces.) Please note that we cannot accommodate events of any kind, small or large. You can invite a friend or two over, but there should be no more than 15 people in the house at any time. Twelve, the max number the house sleeps, is really the better rule of thumb. Another important note: We've heard from friends of friends that they have been discriminated against as vacation renters based on race. So we want to make it very clear that we warmly welcome guests of any race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We simply want you to enjoy our home and treat it with care!