House

Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat.

Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat.

Photo gallery for Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat.

Living area
Property grounds
The stable yellow kayaks are great for younger children
Watts Cove is a safe spot for children, but connects to the St George channel
You won't need the woodstove in summer, but it's great for fall guests

Overview of Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat.

10 out of 10 Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8158 sq m

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer

Check out the area

St George, ME
  • Popular LocationTenants Harbor Marina5 min drive
  • Popular LocationMarshall Point Lighthouse15 min drive
  • AirportRockland, ME (RKD-Knox County Regional)18 min drive
  • Popular LocationSamoset Resort Golf Course22 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat.

Completed in 2016, River Tide faces south on a tidal cove off the St. George River estuary, in the heart of Mid-Coast Maine, and has over 350 feet of shoreline. The location on a dead-end lane is peaceful and secluded, but close to the lobstering villages of Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde, and an easy drive to vibrant Rockland and Camden.

After visiting Maine for more than twenty years, Jen and Philip designed the three-bedroom house as a quiet and inspiring year-round retreat, lovely in the fall or early summer and well as in the traditional vacation months, where we could bring family and friends. We used traditional local materials - a hemlock timber frame, birch flooring, and white cedar shingle - and were looking for a Craftsman style with a contemporary emphasis. The house is high-ceilinged, light-filled and uncluttered, but warm and intimate. Views from every window across the grass to the water only 75 feet away are framed by mature oaks and spruce. The tide is a constant mesmerizing presence, as its 11 foot range moves twice a day from an open expanse of water lapping on granite rocks, to a variety of water birds feasting in the shallows, to clam flats, and then back again. The tidal estuary is a mile or more across at this point, and can be quite choppy, but our cove is sheltered, and great for swimming (for the hardy), kayaking, and paddle-boarding.

In the house each of the three bedrooms has access to a deck or screen porch overlooking the water. The stunning master bedroom with its soaring hammer-beamed ceiling is designed so that you can look out over the water and watch birds from the king-size bed as the sun rises. A door off the bedroom leads to a second-floor deck, good for star-gazing and late-night conversations. The other two bedrooms, both with queen beds, are in the original cottage, now fully renovated and joined to the new house. Both have sliding doors onto a screen porch, with steps leading towards the water. While we generally limit guests to six, an additional child or two are generally fine. A younger child might want to sleep in the pull-out sofa bed next to the master bedroom. We don't allow pets.

The kitchen connects to the living and dining areas, and is large and with stained concrete countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a gas range. It is ideal for family cooking projects, whether for a pancake breakfast at the counter, or preparing for an outside sunset dinner.

There are two bathrooms, one with a tub and shower, and the other with a shower. There is also an outdoor shower. There are two flat screen televisions with Roku and Netflix, wireless internet, and a phone with unlimited US calling. Sheets and down comforters are hotel quality,. We have a large front-loading washer and dryer. There are family games, puzzles and a variety of books. An appealing high-efficiency woodstove complements electric heat in the shoulder seasons and the winter. A dining table seats eight comfortably. Binoculars support those with a bird-watching habit. A 5' by 6' Geological Survey map in the kitchen hallway allows you to plan your days.

Outside there's a picnic table, a grill and a fire pit, a hammock, two swings, and Adirondack chairs beside the water. Kayaks (two sit-on-top and three sea kayaks) are provided. On calm days you might paddle down towards Port Clyde, or across to Cushing.

Nearby on the peninsular there is a range of public beaches with sand, rocks, tide pools, and walks in the woods. For eating out you can sit beside the dock at Luke's down the road in Tenants Harbor, eating a range of traditional Maine fare, or try the Happy Clam, with its German menu in addition to lobsters and fried clams, drive or bike a couple of miles further to Port Clyde, where a range of eating possibilities keep you entertained as, perhaps, you wait for the ferry for a day trip to Monhegan Island, the much-loved artists' retreat. Towards South Thomaston, maybe three miles away, McLoons Lobster Shack is probably the most picturesque setting for eating a lobster that you'll ever come across.

If you are looking for more sophisticated diversions, Rockland is a real cultural magnet, with excellent restaurants (one favorite is Suzuki's Sushi Bar, often with amazing local delicacies), interesting stores, a lovely Art Deco movie theater, the impressive Farnsworth Art Museum, and a unique mile-long granite breakwater leading to a lighthouse. And if you want to go a little further afield, you can visit Camden, with its many shops and harbor full of impressive sailboats, or walk in the Camden Hills. We can recommend the owner of a 35 foot Cape Dory who will take you and your friends for an evening or a day sail. Or you can go south to Damariscotta, which apart from being a totally lovely little town, has the original Remy's, the most amazing general/department store you will ever find, where you can buy whatever you forgot to bring on your vacation, and thousands of things you never knew existed.

Because we are still relatively new to the business of renting our vacation home to guests, we hope you will call us with any questions or suggestions during your visit. We want to make your stay as pleasant and memorable as possible. We love River Tide, and want you to love it too. While we live in the Boston area, we have local connections and are able to take care of any concerns quickly.

Property manager

Philip Parsons

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill

House Rules

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

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
We attempt to keep a shoe-free house

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Tenants Harbor

Located in Tenants Harbor, this holiday home is by the ocean. General Henry Knox Museum and Marshall Point Lighthouse are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Maine State Prison Store and Sail Power and Steam Museum. Travelling with kids? Consider Coastal Children's Museum and Oakland Park Bowling Lanes. Discover the area's water adventures with waterskiing and sailing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and mountain climbing.

What's nearby

  • Tenants Harbor Marina - 5 min drive
  • Marshall Point Lighthouse - 15 min drive
  • Rockland Harbor Park - 17 min drive
  • Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center - 17 min drive
  • Samoset Resort Golf Course - 22 min drive

Getting around

  • Rockland, ME (RKD-Knox County Regional) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • Flipside - 13 min drive
  • The Quarry Tavern - 5 min drive
  • The Block Saloon - 13 min drive
  • Happy Clam - 5 min drive
  • Thomaston Cafe - 13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful house, big tides, magical setting. Year round retreat. located?

This family-friendly Tenants Harbor holiday home is located by the ocean, 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Tenants Harbor Marina, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Maine State Prison Store and General Henry Knox Museum. Owls Head Transportation Museum and Marshall Point Lighthouse are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 49 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

james l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Maine
Great time
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

C L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful home and location
We enjoyed our brief stay - spectacular setting and immaculate, beautifully furnished home. Convenient location to so much of wonderful Maine.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Susan
Absolutely best week of the year spent at this perfect location in this very nice home
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Doug B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family retreat
We got away from our everyday. Great place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catherine C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful
Beautiful house with lots of loving touches. A peaceful spot on the St. George peninsula- the meditative tides of the cove were soothing and rivaled views on more open water. We appreciated the kayaks and the perfect paddling locale for beginners, hammock, chairs by the water, ping-pong and inspiring book collection. Long time visitors to St. George, we also enjoyed easy access to all of our favorite spots to visit including Rockland and Spruce Head. One of the most communicative (yet respectful of privacy) hosts we’ve encountered through the years!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Philip Parsons

Host profile image
After retiring from a major planning and architecture firm, Philip, with Jen (originally an architect but now a physician), indulged a long-term dream to plan, design and build a retreat in Mid-Coast Maine. Having rented houses for many years, we had an idea of what we wanted, and what visitors to Mid-Coast Maine were seeking, and worked closely with a talented and creative local builder, using local materials and designing to fit into the landscape and neighborhood. Philip completed the drawings and served as general contractor.

Why they chose this property

What makes this property unique

River Tide offers a perfect retreat from this difficult time. The house is beautiful inside and out, and there is no need to go anywhere.
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