A week at ';Grandmother's Beach Cottage';

Bayberry Cottage, Ferry Beach, Saco Maine

Location: Ferry Park Avenue, Ferry Beach, Saco Maine

URL: www.eiderdowncottage.com/bayberry/index.htm

Having known about Bayberry (and sister-property Eiderdown) Cottage for a number of years, we finally decided it was time for a visit. With long-time friends, we booked Bayberry for just after Labor Day (13-20 September 2008), with the expectation of good fall weather and a less-crowded tourist scene. Excepting one rainy/foggy day, we had nearly perfect weather and little crowding.

The cottage, built in 1922, has been well maintained and is clean and comfortable, if not overly spacious. Do not expect luxury hotel accommodations--this experience is truly ';A visit to Grandmother%26#39;s.'; In fact, the cottage was once occupied by the owner%26#39;s grandparents, and it has remained in the same family who tend it carefully. It is a only a short (half-block) walk down Ferry Park Avenue to the Atlantic and a broad ,curving beach. For two couples (the cottage will sleep six) who know each other well (walls are thin!), it is a perfect base for exploring southern Maine, including Portland, Freeport (for shoppers), Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, etc.

Visitors provide their own linens (towels, sheets for double and (or) twin beds). There is a TV with limited channel choice, but this is a place for reading, listening to music, walking, touring, (eating lobster!) etc., rather than mass media entertainment. That said, there is an excellent local WiFi service, which I used. The kitchen is well-equipped, with a brand new stove delivered during our stay. The one bathroom is basic, but with lots of hot water, despite somewhat weak water pressure. Still, four adults showering in rapid succession each morning did NOT exhaust the hot water!

We would return—especially (again) in early fall and recommend Bayberry Cottage to folks looking for a simplified, low-key, restful experience in southern Maine. Enjoy!

JR Gerde

Gaithersburg, MD

[Author%26#39;s note: Because this is a privately-owned rental, our comments are not eligible to be posted in the primary lodging section of TripAdvisor.]