Peas & Quiet in Casco Bay

Our rental offering is one-half of an owner-occupied duplex, built like a separate house, completely private, with a separate entrance. On the first floor is a living and dining area (with woodstove for chilly nights), and a kitchenette on one end. A large sliding glass door at one end looks into a Japanese garden. The kitchenette is small but well-furnished and has everything one needs to cook summer meals.

A bright, open stairway to the second floor offers views through a skylight of the water during the day and stars at night. On clear days, Mount Washington can be seen on the horizon. From the skylight and a small balcony off one of the two bedrooms are stunning sunset views of Portland, Little Diamond and Mackworth islands and Diamond Passage. Many boats—ferries, fishing, and pleasure boats—travel between Portland and the islands. There’s always something interesting to see.

On the second floor are bedrooms and a full bath. The bathroom has a tub and excellent shower, with tiled floor. One bedroom holds a queen-sized bed with a new, comfortable mattress (bedding provided), and quilts for cool nights. The other bedroom has a single bed. Both rooms have closets and storage space.

The house is clean and well cared for with light, polished floors throughout. Outdoors is an attractive garden with two Adirondack chairs for enjoying coffee, drinks or meals and taking in the view. The space is perfect for a couple, or for a solo person wanting a happy, quiet, summer retreat for writing or painting.

Owners in the separate house adjoining are quiet, mature writers who produce books of fiction and poetry and run a small press. In summer, we grow vegetables and share extras when vegetables abound.

Property is an easy 10-minute walk from the ferry, less than a 10-minute walk to Centennial Beach (a long, lovely beach with sunset views). There’s easy access to hiking trails through the woods and to the Atlantic side of the island (a 20-minute walk).

High speed wireless internet, TV, cable (if desired), DVD, AM/FM radio and CD player, charcoal grill, fully equipped kitchenette, full bath, garden and water views, sunny outdoor sitting space, summer breezes, great neighborhood with friendly dogs and people, short walk to the beach.

Peaks Island is a wonderful, lively year-round community, only a 20-minute ferry ride from Portland, with 16 ferries a day, running from early morning to late at night. The island is four miles around, with varied terrain: quiet views of neighboring islands and the city of Portland on one side and more dramatic views of lighthouses, open ocean and crashing waves on the other. There’s a sandy beach, a longer pebbly beach, woods, fields, marshes, horses, ample bird life. The island is loved by its residents, with over 20% of its land environmentally protected. It’s an excellent place for kayaking, biking, sailing, picnicking, swimming, or just plain relaxing on the shore.

A surprisingly large proportion of year-round residents are artists and writers and musicians. In the summer months, visual artists open their studios regularly to visitors. The island’s cooperative art gallery has constantly changing shows of island artists. The two Maine regiment buildings on the island host regular summer concerts and pancake breakfasts. There are many lively annual summer events, more than any one person could enjoy. Peaks is home to the world’s only Umbrella Cover Museum.

In addition, there are several good restaurants, a coffee shop, a well-stocked general store (with good selections of wines and beers), a laundromat, an excellent small library and community center (that shows free movies Saturday night), and a fine bike rental shop. There’s also a health center, three active churches, and summer yard sales around every corner.

Across the bay, Portland is a thriving town, with Amtrak, bus and air service, an excellent museum, first-rate restaurants and coffee shops, movie theatres, galleries, day-trips on schooners, whale-watching expeditions, interesting shops in the Old Port, and entertainment for young and old. Freeport, home to L.L. Bean’s and many other outlet stores, is a 20-minute drive away.

We would prefer to rent by the month, or for the entire summer. Base rate is $690/week. For monthly rental, $2500 per month. For entire summer, $6900. Rates drop for monthly renters and drop further for the entire season.