Quaint Oceanfront Island Cottage, off Bar Harbor

Feel the stress melt away at Barnacle Hall, a peaceful, romantic getaway w/ stunning water views, just steps to the sea. This snug & welcoming cottage is tucked away in tranquil Burnt Coat Harbor, with its own private rocky beach and a bluff with radiant Maine island sunsets. Truly unwind, stepping into a by-gone era in this quaint cottage, w/ a charming stone fireplace w/ woodstove. Rustic-feeling, with full services. Families welcome! Wifi now available. [NOTE: Not a great option for Acadia] The space [If this is not an instant-book, please acknowledge you have had a chance to read this by messaging me on AirBnB before booking.] >There are no cleaning services available to us, so we rely on guests to clean up after themselves & then we refund $99 cleaning fee (after images sent) >Guests need to bring their own linens, blankets or sleeping bags & pillows >The ferry requires planning from guests >Wood stove heat only, this requires that you buy hardwood bundles on way >Sound carries on this very quiet island. After feedback from neighbors, we ask that guests permit no yelling, loud singing, loud music, no music speakers etc. >There is now a $500 fee for violating the town ordnance of leaving your trash outside the gates of the dump when it is not open. You can search for the hours, or haul your trash off island. >Often people want to stay here to visit Acadia for a number of days. With the length of time to get ferries and then get to Acadia, the costs of the ferries back etc, this is not the best alternative to staying on the mainland. There is plenty of hiking and beauty on Swans as an alternative to Acadia! though! >We are currently unable to find anyone to clean/launder due to the combination of the economy and limited options on the island, so please not that we will be charging and then removing the cleaning fee if you choose to rent, but it will require a tidying up when you arrive and after you leave to prepare for next guest. The main things required: 1. Bring your own linens (blankets and/or sleeping bags) pillows, towels etc 2. Neaten up 3. Sweep 4. Swiffer bathroom area 4. Remove all food, crumbs etc 5. Remove all trash to on island transfer station , or remove all trash off island with you.] Upgrades notes: -We now have wifi, full bathroom, full kitchen, washer/dryer as well as full water pressure from a new well, and the water is filtered in a multi-stage system and is safe to drink! -We now have full power, plugs and electric lights -There is an electric coffee maker now that guests can use -There is now a high-efficiency wood stove for heating the cabin. Instructions for safe/effective use are above the woodstove. See note on wood below. The cottage, lovingly nicknamed "Barnacle Hall" is nestled at the bottom of the winding driveway, on a knoll in a small meadow that sweeps down to the waterfront, on a very private ~4 acres. The cottage is about ~745 Sq Ft including the covered front porch, a full kitchen, a spacious living room area with a charming stone fireplace with wood stove (glass front), and a table to eat meals near the kitchen. There is now a mudroom/bathroom addition with a new deck facing the sunset view, with a full bathroom and a small stacked washer/dryer. There is one main bedroom inside on the first floor that has a new queen bed. All mattresses are fully encased for everyones' comfort. The second room in the main part of the cottage is actually a loft above the main bedroom with two different ladders for access. The loft is semi-private, in that it is open to the cathedral ceiling area, but is elevated, and has its own queen bed as well. The bunk room has four bunk style beds (two sets of up and down beds) with separate covered door access outside on the porch, directly adjacent to the front door of the house. Guest access To get to the island, use the Bass Harbor ferry terminal (or boat and rent our mooring if you have a dinghy to get to shore). In the summer months, it is best to reserve your ferry tickets for you and your vehicle(s) 30 days ahead of time (reservations open 30 days in advance fo arrival date). We are not responsible for missed or sold out ferries, but can certainly get you the information you need to plan ahead. To ensure your place on the ferry, we recommend that you can pre-purchase tickets by calling Bass Harbor Ferry Terminal as far in advance as possible. Do an Internet Search for Bass Harbor Terminal (from Maine DOT) with "General info and schedules" and "Swan's Island Ferry schedule" to find full details and to obtain the number to call. There is no public transportation on Swan's Island, so aside from the vehicle you use to get to the island, you will either need to bike (bring your own, or rent electric bikes from Tim Trafton/Trafton's Wharf) or walk or boat (if you have a boat:). Please stay parked in the small parking area at the bottom of the hill, and please do not bring vehicles onto the lawn area around the house. Other things to note Often people want to stay here to visit Acadia for a number of days. With the length of time to get ferries and then get to Acadia, the costs of the ferries back etc, this is not the best alternative to staying on the mainland. There is plenty of hiking and beauty on Swans as an alternative to Acadia though! We recommend coming to the island with all your groceries and supplies to begin with (bring coolers as well), as there is very limited retail on the island. There is a single but very good convenience store on the island (TIMS, The Island Market and Supply), right near the ferry terminal when you arrive at Swan's Island. You can obtain the basics like ice and water, but also much more like fresh (and often very local) fish and local main beef, pet food and more. Do an Internet search for "Swan's Island TIMS store" to look at that website. There are no other stores or restaurants at present, though in nearby Minturn village (walkable) and at other spots on the island you can at times find free-standing kiosks with fresh lobsters, steamers and more being sold island-style- by the honor system (put you money in a jar for what you take). Other than TIMS store, there are really no commercial towns or villages to visit on the island, just residential collections of houses around historic village areas. This contributes to the serene and quiet feeling of the island, so enjoy the peace, and the many woods and coastal trails you can also walk. Due to the significant increase in usage of the ferry in peak summer months, if you would like to take a day trip off-island for supplies or to visit Mount Desert Island (MDI, including Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor) or lovely surrounding towns like Ellsworth, we recommend that you pre-purchase tickets to avoid getting stuck off-island. See our more comprehensive informational email once you book for helpful links, including things to see and do, and where to get to sandy beach swimming options. Dogs welcome, just please cleanup after them and no wet dogs in the house :) Garbage: Swan's Island has no garbage service, so please haul out any garbage with you. There are decent summer dump hours that you can run your garbage to before you leave. There is lots of great wildlife (nothing dangerous). Keep on the lookout for the frequent Whitetail Deer that love to criss-cross the property. You can even find them swimming across the harbor! As with all of New England now, ticks, including deer ticks are present and can cause Lyme disease. The absolute best way to manage that is to spray Permethrin on all your clothes before you come, let them dry in the sun and then pack. There are detailed information and instructions from the CDC found by doing an Internet search for "CDC Preventing Tick Bites".