We came to Maine to be together and remember the many years we had spent here with Mom/Nana. Between this house and the other one we used we had plenty of space to spend together. There was lots of flexible space, including a bedroom on the 3rd floor.
Pros:
incredible location. We have long enjoyed Gooch's beach and were delighted with how close it is to this house. The views of the beach from the deck and the porch as well as from two upstairs bedrooms are lovely.
the eating space -- in the dining room as well as the porch & deck in the sunnier weather accommodated our family beautifully. It was very nice to have the small children outside so we did not worry about food spills on the dining room flooring.
Living room space -- we gathered as a family morning and evening, and the space in the house was wonderful for the whole group. At other times we were able to take advantage of cozy smaller spots.
The kitchen is well equipped.
Downsides/suggestions:
The bathrooms are unusual -- one en suite bathroom with a shower but no sink; another ensuite bathroom with no shower. The downstairs bathroom, as the owner noted, is having a problem with water seeping under the wood floor. This necessitates special attention when using that shower.
Locks: (or the fact that there are none) I think locks on the bathroom doors as well as the bedroom doors would be helpful in having the small children not walk in unexpectedly. We made the decision to have the newlywed couple over at the other house.
Expectation on clean up: Somehow we didn't see or didn't realize that we were expected to wash, dry, fold, and put away all the linens and towels we used. With all the work of packing up in time for a 10:00 am checkout, that was difficult to do. We finally thought of asking, and the owner told us we could leave the last load in the dryer -- getting as much done as possible. We LOVE having the linens provided -- makes packing incredibly much easier, especially for those who are trying to fit everything into a carry-on -- but needing to wash everything on leaving day is tricky.
We all enjoyed the time immensely. Thank you!!