Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue
Garden
Explore the area
Tremont, ME
Acadia National Park
Place, Acadia National Park
2 min drive
Ship Harbor Nature Trailhead
Place, Ship Harbor Nature Trailhead
6 min drive
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Place, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
6 min drive
Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
Airport, Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
27 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
2nd Floor Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
2nd Floor Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
2nd Floor Bedroom 3
2 Single Beds
1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom
1st Floor Half Bathroom
Toilet
2nd Floor Bathroom
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill!
Once the home and antique shop for a local family, charming "Higgins Cottage" in Bernard offers updated interiors in a sweet residential village on the "quiet side" of Mt. Desert Island. Relax on the sun porch and enjoy the peacefulness of the private landscaped backyard or take a stroll through the neighborhood to enjoy a picnic or brisk dip in the water at "Back Beach", a lovely, lesser-known cove facing the mouth of Bass Harbor. Many other wonderful sites within minutes by car include the Seal Cove Auto Museum, the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, and the trail to Ship Harbor. For dining, walk to Thurston's Lobster Pound only one-half mile away, or head to the shops and restaurants in Southwest Harbor just three miles away via car or the free Island Explorer Shuttle running from late June to mid-October.
All in all, the quiet side of the Island and Acadia National Park has much to offer including hiking, swimming, and paddling, but when you're ready for more, just continue a little further by car or shuttle to enjoy more hiking, scenic carriage roads and the Park Loop Road running through the east side of Acadia. Then once you're ready to slow down, head into the bustling village of Bar Harbor and wind down with additional dining and movie options.
FIRST FLOOR: A sunny and spacious Kitchen with newer appliances, plenty of counter space, and a dining table for six. Comfortable Living Room with gas stove. Enclosed Sun Porch overlooking a lovely backyard. Half bathroom. Laundry Area with washer and dryer.
SECOND FLOOR: Two bedrooms with a Queen bed in each with window ac units during the summer months and the third bedroom with Twin beds and a play nook for children share a spacious hallway bathroom with a combined tub and shower.
OUTDOOR SPACES: A lovely landscaped backyard and lawn with lawn chairs, firepit, picnic table, and grill.
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When submitting a booking request, please include the total number of your guests, including the ages of your children.
Please refer to the Rental Agreement. By moving forward with booking, you agree to the terms of the Rental Agreement with the homeowner.
This is a non-smoking property.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 1883376vb
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
About the area
Bernard
Located in Bernard, this holiday home is in a rural area and by the sea. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park and Wild Gardens of Acadia, while Wendell Gilley Museum and Maine Granite Industry Museum are cultural highlights. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating.
Ship Harbor Nature Trailhead - 6 min drive - 7.2 km
Wonderland Trail Trailhead - 6 min drive - 7.6 km
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse - 6 min drive - 6.5 km
Wendell Gilley Museum - 7 min drive - 8.3 km
Getting around
Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 27 min drive
Restaurants
Archie’s Lobster - 2 min drive
Milagro's - 7 min drive
Circle K - 6 min drive
Little Notch Bakery - 5 min drive
Thurston's Lobster Pound - 13 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill!?
As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill! on 12 May 2026 start from NZ$830, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill!?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Walking distance to Back Beach, comfortable, well-stocked w/fire-pit and grill! located?
Situated by the sea, this holiday home is 0.8 mi (1.4 km) from Acadia National Park and within 6 miles (10 km) of Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and Ship Harbor Nature Trailhead. Wonderland Trail Trailhead and Wendell Gilley Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a lovely stay. The house is spacious and comfortable, with everything we needed. It was great to get away to the quiet side of MDI after hiking in Acadia and shopping in Bar Harbor.
This cottage is in a wonderful location to explore. From the park to light houses to other areas of Maine, this home was a great base. Also, it’s comfortable and well equipped. Great stay!
Clean and well stocked house. Proximity to Acadia couldn't have been better. Neighborhood is nice and the porch was perfect for morning coffee and evening sunset hour.
Great house! Perfect location. It was perfect for three kids, a couple, and a senior. We loved taking evening walks. Great recommendation in the book they left.
Jennifer T.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 October 2025
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for this wonderful 5 star rating! The owners send their appreciation and we hope to host your family again someday.
Warm regards,
Marla J.
This place was clean, spacious and very comfortable for our family of four - a perfect place to come back to after a day exploring Acadia and the “quiet side” of MDI. Would very happily stay again in the future.
Amy L.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 9 August 2022
Hi Amy,
Thank you for your feedback and the five star review! We hope you return and stay with us again.
Kind regards,
Marla
The Knowles Company
Loved our stay here. The property was very clean and as described. Close enough to the park to get to everywhere we wanted to go in about a half and hour. Very quiet neighborhood that has some really good dining (as in good tasting not necessarily fancy). We’re very picky. We’d stay here again without any hesitation.
Staying at Higgina cottage was a wonderful experience. After we were done hiking and checking out Bar Harbor, coming back and relaxing at the cottage with a book or a movie was
Ashley B.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 November 2022
Ashley,
Thank you for this five-star review of Higgins Cottage! We are glad you had a wonderful experience.
All the best,
Marla J.
The Knowles Company
We travel to Maine every other year, and this house was perfect for our family. The house was comfortable for our party of 4. Property manager and owner were attentive to the couple of questions we had. We will plan on staying here again for our next trip!
Cottage was perfect. On the quiet side but accessible to everything in the area. Great spot for birders just in the neighborhood and the yard
Dan B.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 14 June 2024
Dan,
Thank you for giving this property a five-star rating! How wonderful to hear that you enjoyed a variety of birds in the yard and surrounding neighborhood!
All the best,
Marla
The Knowles Co.
My wife, kids (2&5), and myself spent a lovely time in the cottage in September. It is a very comfortable spot to come back to after a day of exploring MDI. We loved the location for its easy access to hikes like wonderland trail, acadia mountain, and the echo lake beach. Southwest Harbor was also very close and had great food.
As always, we enjoyed our adventures hiking and biking in Acadia National Park. The spacious kitchen and living room at Higgins Cottage were ideal for relaxing after a busy day. Had we visited in the summer months, I'm sure we would have spent more time in the screened porch area.
Philip and Kristine M.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 26 November 2024
Thank you for your review, Philip! Very good to know that your group enjoyed the spacious kitchen and living room at the cottage. We would enjoy having you return during the summer months to enjoy the screened in sun porch!
Kind regards,
Marla J.
We loved our stay at Higgins Cottage. The house was very clean and well taken care of. We especially appreciated that the kitchen was extremely well-equipped — lots of cookware and more. The owners’ list of recommendations for local lesser-known hikes was great and led us to discover places we otherwise wouldn’t have. We would definitely stay here again! Thank you!
Melissa B.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 26 November 2024
Melissa,
Thank you for staying at Higgins Cottage! We are so appreciative of you comments mentioning that the house is clean and well taken care of. Glad you also enjoyed the the owners' wonderful list of recommendations of things to see in the area.
Please come back soon!
Marla
This was the perfect house for our group to come together from all over the country and share meals and talk about the day’s adventures in Acadia. There’s a lot of room and the location was quiet with a beautiful yard. Communication was swift and informative.
Jennifer C.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 November 2022
Thank you for your positive review of Higgins Cottage, Jennifer! We're thrilled to hear that your group enjoyed the spacious house and yard.
Have a great day!
Marla J.
The Knowles Company
Our family had a wonderful stay at the cottage. It was perfect as our homebase. We were gone all day and where so happy to be able to come home to a cozy (and spacious) little home away from home. We couldn't have asked for anything more. It was our first time in Maine and we absolutely loved everything about our trip. Thank you!
Regina F.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 21 December 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this excellent rating. We really appreciate your
feedback and are so happy to hear that you were cozy and loved your trip!
Kind regards,
Marla
The Knowles Company
It was the perfect little cottage for our family of 5. We really liked having all the bedrooms upstairs. Don't miss the book the owners put together about their favorite activities around the area! We did so many of them and they were all amazing recommendations. From where to eat to places to explore. It was a very convenient location while also feeling away from the tourists/crowds. Even during peak season, it was an easy and pretty drive into Bar Harbor and to the Carriage roads where we biked.
Katie S.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2024
Katie,
Perfect Little Cottage would be a great name for Higgins!
We appreciate your kind words and hope you will return.
Kind regards,
Marla and the team
The cottage is just adorable. Make sure you read there recommendation in the Cottage binder as everything they suggested was top notch!!! We loved coffee in the chairs by the view. Neighbors were also super nice as we chatted with them. Would HIGHLY recommend this adorable place! Only thing missing was maybe an outside fire but curling up by the indoor gas fireplace stove was lovely!!!
Diane S.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 29 October 2021
Diane,
Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful review of Higgins Cottage! I have passed your compliments and suggestion along to the owners.
We hope you return!
Kind regards,
Marla
About the host
Hosted by The Knowles Company
Located on Mount Desert Island surrounded by Acadia National Park, The Knowles Company has been a successful rental and real estate business since 1898. As a representative for the property owner, our experienced and knowledgeable rental professionals work as a team to provide the tenant guest with a level of personalized assistance to ensure an excellent rental experience.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests