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Smuggler's Retreat ExploreTrails, Botanic Gardens, Kayak and MORE

Riverside holiday home with kitchen and balcony

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East Boothbay is surrounded by coves and inlets -- a kayaker's paradise.
tucked into the woods in East Boothbay, The Smuggler's Retreat is a great vacation retreat.
Private kitchen
The kitchen is small, but mighty.  It has everything you need to make great meals.
A shady haven to come home to after your daily adventures.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Cabbage Island
  • Place, Grimes Cove Beach
  • Place, Boothbay Harbor Marina
  • Airport, Wiscasset, ME (ISS)

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Other Space 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Smuggler's Retreat ExploreTrails, Botanic Gardens, Kayak and MORE

Sit on the deck, feel the breeze and enjoy the view over the Little River. From your leafy vantage point, you can revel in your privacy,

This cottage is located in a lovely setting with woods wrapped around on three sides and a water view. You can see the setting sun over Glen Cove and Little River from the second-floor deck. This two-bedroom cottage has an open kitchen, dining and living area, two bedrooms (queen and full beds) , and a bath on the second floor. The kitchen is fully stocked with everything you need to prepare delicious meals including a drip coffee maker, pots, pans, dishes and all utensils. A cozy gas fireplace in the corner flips on with the convenience of a switch.
What’s included?
Each home comes with full linens and one set of towels per guest. So, if the home accommodates 6 people, you'll find 6 sets of towels waiting for you.
Feel free to use the washer and dryer on-site to freshen them up anytime.
Further, Coastal Maine Vacations has you covered with a handy starter kit. We provide an initial supply of shampoo, conditioner, paper towels, dishwasher detergent, soaps, trash bags, and more. While it's not meant to last your entire stay, it's perfect to get you through your first night or two and help you settle in comfortably.
There is a spacious walkout deck just off the dining area on the second floor with room for grilling, dining, and relaxing. It is a great spot for reading, napping, or listening to nature -- the wind in the trees, birds, and abundant wildlife.
Back inside, an interior spiral staircase takes you to a great room downstairs with a second bathroom, brand new Full sized sleeper sofa and a grade-level walk-out.
From the cottage, you have access to a two-mile loop that takes you out to the open ocean where you can see Cuckold lighthouse, Damariscove, and Ram Islands as well as the Damariscotta River. Take a left from the cottage for your short evening walk and follow the road bordering the river to where it meets the wild, crashing sea. Take a deep breath and smell the piney woods mingling with the salty air. Yes, this is why you came here.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD - A birdwatcher's paradise, the best neighborhood for any nature lover. Follow the Land Trust trail and walk to East Boothbay General Store, or go the other way and walk all the way into town.

The perfect neighborhood for kayaking or canoeing. Glen Cove is full of nooks and crannies and hidden coves, teeming with wildlife including seals and puffins. Glide over a shipwreck or enjoy a guided tour of the local wildlife and the harbor, or let the day unwind and enjoy the rich vibrant colors of a Maine sunset.

Coastal Maine Vacations requires a Safety background check and a rental contract to be signed at the time of booking. If you would like to see a copy in advance please contact us.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 and a deadlock

About the area

East Boothbay

Located in East Boothbay, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a river. Boothbay Region Historical Society Museum and Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Boothbay Region Land Trust and Boothbay Harbor Marina. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and Maine State Aquarium are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with sailing and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and mountain climbing.
Map
East Boothbay, Maine

What's nearby

  • Grimes Cove Beach - 6 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Carousel Music Theater - 12 min drive - 9.0 km
  • Opera House at Boothbay Harbor - 14 min drive - 9.7 km
  • Boothbay Harbor Marina - 14 min drive - 10.0 km
  • Burnt Island Living Lighthouse - 14 min drive - 10.1 km

Getting around

  • Wiscasset, ME (ISS) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Carriage House Food and Beverage Store - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Tugboat Inn - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Boothbay Lobster Wharf - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Harborside 1901 Bar & Grill - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪McSeagull’s Restaurant - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Smuggler's Retreat ExploreTrails, Botanic Gardens, Kayak and MORE pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Smuggler's Retreat ExploreTrails, Botanic Gardens, Kayak and MORE?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Smuggler's Retreat ExploreTrails, Botanic Gardens, Kayak and MORE?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Smuggler's Retreat ExploreTrails, Botanic Gardens, Kayak and MORE located?

Located in the heart of East Boothbay, this holiday home is 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from Linekin Bay and 2.2 mi (3.6 km) from Grimes Cove Beach. Carousel Music Theater and Boothbay Region Land Trust 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.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brian G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house in a quiet neighborhood. Centrally located between Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor. If you stay here, book a lobster boat experience with Acadia Lobster Cruise - Jason Clark.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

John H.

Boothbay Cottage

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We had a great stay in Boothbay. The house was spacious and well-appointed. We enjoyed playing games, savoring coffee on the deck, and taking a walk in the lovely neighborhood. Thanks for renting such an inviting home.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Walter J.

Wonderful stay in Maine

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We had a great stay in Boothbay. The rental property was nestled in the woods. We saw wild turkey, ducks, and osprey from the house. The house was comfortable, very clean, well equipped, and beautifully decorated. It was exactly as described. Our questions were addressed promptly by text.A great place to use as a home base to visit mid-coast Maine.

8/10 Good

Sharon B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great except for the broken window in one of the bedrooms. The glass wasn’t broken, but the plastic lock mechanism and the up/down mechanism of the window were both broken. The window didn’t lock and when I raised the bottom window to open it, the window wouldn’t stay up. It just fell inward into the room. The property manager called someone to fix it, but he forgot to come. I think they were going to fix it after we left. I hope they did!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Frederike S.

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

The Smugglers Retreat

Quiet and peaceful. Everything we needed was provided for. We even saw deer one morning from the bedroom window.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Amy L.

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

Beautiful Home close to the Bay

This was a last minute booking and we found it to be close to many wonderful places to explore. Loved the general store near by! Walked the loop over the dam, walked the rocks at the nearby beach. Close to Boothbay and many other beautiful places. Con: Late check in time of 4pm.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Barbara B.

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

Smuggler's Getaway a home away from home

This property is very nice, clean, well taken care of and certainly equipped with everything you should need while staying there. Nice quiet neighborhood. Very easy to get to and the hosts were great. They responded back to questions quickly even when it was "after hours". I would highly recommend staying here I don't think you will be disappointed.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rebekah K.

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

Relaxing retreat

We had a wonderful time. The deck is great for meals, the area around is great for morning, noon, or evening walks, and the house was comfortable. Our kids loved the spiral staircase. The location was pretty central to our activities. The managers were extremely responsive with any questions I had. Overall, a wonderful vacation. (I know they can’t control the weather, but we had beautiful weather all week. Even with fog one day, the walk on the road was great.) Definitely would recommend this house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Karen C.

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

great getaway

We would ALL book this property again, we were very happy with the home. If you would like to make it PERFECT :) here are some suggestions... the instructions given for locking/unlocking front door are not correct, the trash cans white/black bags were not found, only gray bags and not sure, but we put trash cans out by street for pick up (not sure if we should have left them where they were), one bedroom did not have a QUEEN bed as advertised, and bed was a little uncomfortable, would be nice to have another nightstand and light on both sides of the bed, downstairs bathroom could use more hooks (never too many hooks!) and the hot water in that shower does not go very hot, the non stick labels are coming up from shower floor, toilet paper holder should be turned the opposite way because every time you use it the toilet paper comes off the holder, there was used soap by the sink and the sink did not seem to be cleaned very well. Of course, these are all very picky items just to make next visitors completely satisfied! We loved our stay and were very very very happy with the cabin and LOVED the sense of humor for check out :) Also, we left some leftover food items which I wasn't sure if we should just dump, but I figured whoever cleaned it could decide which they felt more comfortable with. Again, thank you and have a wonderful weekend, Karen Chin
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dee J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay! Clean and well maintained. Nice relaxing location. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Angie R.

Great location!

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The house was in a great location. It is situated on a beautiful, quiet 2-mile loop that has gorgeous views of the water. The loop is excellent for walking/running. Also, it is close to Boothbay Harbor and other fun towns. The house does not have AC so my warmer-blooded sister and nieces were warm at times. Also, the house description states that it has 2 queen beds but actually it is 1 queen bed and 1 full bed. The living area downstairs is a great place for kids to play, and it stays cool. However, the utility closet, which contains the heating unit, water, etc., is really loud at all times of the night, so the sofa bed downstairs really isn't a good place to sleep unless you can sleep through anything, or like I did, wear a sleep mask and earbuds. Overall, the house is a great place to stay if you are in the area. I think our group of 6 was probably too many, considering the couch downstairs was hard to sleep on, and the 1 bed is a full-size bed. Also, the couch upstairs is very small, so unless you are a child, I would think it would be very hard to sleep on. I think it is more suitable for 4 people, but we had a great time and made it work. Honestly, the location made up for a lot and it was a good price for what it was.

10/10 Excellent

Lorin H.

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

Very nice stay

We really enjoyed our stay! The location was so peaceful, the house had everything we needed, and we really enjoyed exploring the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Beth S.

Sept 2024 Smugglers Retreaat

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Lovely placc , very clean , great location and confident to the Botantical Gardens, ocean beach, Mohegan Island. Lovely walk from the house. Tthe property management company was very professional, friendly , pleasant and very helpful. We would rent from them again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Karen M.

Had a wonderful stay with two families with small children

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The home was such a cozy home away from home. We mostly used the upstairs and deck. The property was as described and more! There were so many hidden gems to read, hand made ceramics to mix salads in, and even toys for young kids! We could tell this home has facilitated many memories. There as exceptional customer service and we felt like we could ask anything at anytime.

6/10 Okay

Jessi T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute but could be better

When we arrived to check in the house had not been cleaned yet. So our stay started out with us exhausted from traveling from Michigan and checking in to a dirty unit. I had to clean all the counters, fridge. They sent someone to clean later that night but it wasn’t done thoroughly…for example the basement was not vacuumed and had bugs in the carpet, the shower downstairs was not the cleanest and curtain had pink mildew dampness all over it. The place itself is cute and had all the basics necessities. But it’s really the upper level that is more clean and useable. We enjoyed all the light as it sits in the woods so lots of windows was nice. it had a nice big washer and dryer I. The unit which was great. The area is beautiful. I would note a few things however. The listing says 2 queens but one is actually a full bed that is very hard. The queen bed was better but too soft/sinks a little. I rotated the Mattress and that helped a ton. I did wash the comforters and blankets as they weren’t cleaned from the previous renters, but that is the fault of the property management and cleaning service ( that also never cleaned before we checked in).The towels were very worn and Thinner with scratchy pilling on majority of them. The little ens smelled musty from sitting in the cedar closet over time, not fresh and clean smelling. I inquired twice to ensure the sofa bed in the basement was semi-comfortable as we were needing to it, it was horrible to sleep on.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ingrid D.

Perfectly wonderful

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Smugglers retreat was a great place to enjoy after touring boothbay. The most wonderful part was the deck where we could relax. The neighbor hood was quiet and restful. Bathrooms and kitchens were very clean and nice And contacts with coastal Maine vacations was so easy It was quite easy to get downtown to boothbay for lobster and touring
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Keith F.

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

Quiet and relaxing home.

Very well stocked and comfortable home. Off the beaten path, but close to shopping and dining. Our family really enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey B.

Excellent

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We love coming here! Clean, convenient, beautiful spot on the coast
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Myra B.

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

Boothbay stay

It was great!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Makaela D.

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

Perfection!!

The host was so responsive when I had reached out regarding our upcoming stay. We had to be there for a wedding and they were able to accommodate us so we could get an earlier check in. We really appreciated it and will definitely be looking into staying here again next time we’re in town!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer J.

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

Summer Family Vacation

Location was great along with the weather. Friendly neighborhood and a relaxing vacation spot. Plenty of space for the family. Downstairs was a bonus and a great space to study and complete some work tasks.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carol C.

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

Cottage in the Maine Woods

Loved our stay at Smugglers Retreat. Well equipped cottage. Lots of little extras. Close proximity to Boothbay Harbor, Coastal Botanical Gardens, Brewery’s and lots of other interesting places along the ME coast. Highly recommend staying here if you’re in the East Boothbay area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey B.

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

maine get away

this is my second year in a row staying here..the walk around the neighborhood is beautiful (views), little traffic, close to town and ocean. The cottage is clean, comfortable and well worth the drive from NC!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kate

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Bright and sunny inside the house even though in the middle of a wooded area with some water views. Deck table is beautiful. The owners provide pantry items so for the first night after a long ride all we needed was the food to cook or grill.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nanju K.

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

Great stay

Great stay thank you:)
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Coastal Maine Vacations

Host profile image
Coastal Maine Vacations is locally owned and locally operated from Southern Maine to Downeast Maine. We understand our market because we live, work, and play here too. Coastal Maine Vacations is operated by local entrepreneurs with a passion for Maine. Our guests and property owners appreciate that. We strive to achieve 5-Star ratings not just with our guests, but with our owners too.

Coastal Maine Vacations removes the stress of owning a vacation home. We look out for your home, keeping it safe, stocked, and sparkling clean.

And here is something especially for our guests - because Coastal Maine Vacations is local, you get vacation advice that is up to the minute. We give great insider tips and recommendations. Our goal is to create long-term relationships with our owners based on trust and a mutual focus on their goals and keep our guests coming back year after year.
Check out our listings. If you have any questions, let us know. We would love to help you plan your perfect vacation!

Languages:

English, French

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests