Everything was wonderful! There wasnât one thing that wasnât thought of, we had more than everything we needed. The view was amazing and the house was very clean and comfortable. We will definitely be back. Thanks for making our first trip to Maine an amazing experience.
The Pond House was very well stocked and accompanied for our week stay! Pictures donât do it justice- the view of the lake and outdoor living are glorious. The lake is so peaceful and quiet. Iâm an open water swimmer, and thatâs the clearest water Iâve seen in a lake. Sleeping arrangements were great for our family of 5. There is a single air conditioner in the main living area, so if you are used to central AC (like we are) it can be a little warm some nights in the bedrooms. We cooked dinner most nights (bought our groceries in Ellsworth and Bar Harbor). We made day trips to Acadia/Bar Harbor and Schoodic Point. Everything was about an hour each direction from the house, and we didnât mind the drive. 5 stars all the way around!!!
We LOVED everything about the property! The view was amazing, we spent every morning on the dock listening to loons. The house was very clean and had everything we needed and even some things that most rentals donât have. Paula was very responsive. We made a ton of memories and hope to come back again in the future!
We thoroughly enjoyed our time on Donnell pond. While the drive to the main part of Acadia was a bit long (but as described, so no surprise), we loved hiking Schoodic mountain, and biking the one way lightly travelled road around the Schoodic Peninsula. We would return happily and recommend to anyone who wanted to stay on a pond and be in the area around MDI.
We had a wonderful stay at the Pond House. The property was clean, well organized, and cozy. We loved having the pond right outside the back door to fill in those lazy moments between excursions to Acadia, Bar Harbor, and the surrounding area. Communication with the host was great, and we would absolutely stay here again. If you are willing to venture off the beaten path, and if your tastes lean more towards outdoor adventures, itâs a great base for a Maine vacation.
This is a very cosy place to stay for families. The entire house is vey clean with everything you needed and beyond. There is a dock for fishing, boating, and swimming. Unfortunately there it rained 5 out of 7 days. Fortunately there is also a fire pit that brought warmth in unseasonably cold weather. If you come in a warm, sunny week, it would be even better.
The pond house was a relaxing escape from the Texas summer heat. All amenities were available, including games that we played after dark. Although we toured Acadia NP for a short day, we had more enjoyment paddling at Donnell Pond, taking a small puffin tour out of Steuben, and heading up the coast for nature areas with few people. We loved our visit to Maine. The pond house was a great location. We also easily rented two extra kayaks from Waterâs Edge so we could paddle as a family.
Genuinely one of my new favorite places to be! We got emotional leaving because it is such a special place. The lake is gorgeous, and we even had two days of rain and it was no issue or detraction from the serenity of the pond house. The host Paula was exceptionally nice and accommodating, always available if you needed help and provided an abundance of resources for the area. Ellsworth itself is so very cute and youâre only about 45-50 mins from Acadia- we went three out of our four day trip and the drive was pleasant! I canât recommend staying here enough- I know there are a lot of options to choose from but you definitely wonât regret staying here!!
We wanted something near the tourist sites that would still let us do some glamping on a lake/ocean/waterfront. It was this and more. It was extremely easy to find. It was beautiful inside and the host thought of everything. Dishes, cookware, assorted spices, utensils, even left candy. The outside was gorgeous. The grill had utensils, we had a couple campfires, and we thoroughly enjoyed breakfast at the upper level deck. Roughly equal distance drive to Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and Schoodic (Winter Harbor). Quoddy was slightly farther but still an easy drive. Other reviews have cited the owner (Paula) as being terrific, and they were completely accurate. We absolutely had a fantastic time at the Pond House and would definitely go back.
Pond House is a Great Lake rental. I especially loved the super well-stocked kitchen and expansive area for food prep. Paula is the most responsive host ever. We had a bit of a hard time getting in the lake because itâs very rocky (large rocks) and in no time she had a ladder installed at the end of the dock, which really helps. There are some lily pads to swim through but you get through them quickly. The kayaks are smallish and plastic but with the shoreline I think those are the best (only?) choice, and they work fine. The living room is comfortable and has a nice view. Be sure to drive to Schoodic Beach for an amazing swim (takes about 30 minutes to get to that part of Donnell Pond due to the roundabout driving route). Our friends rented Memory Cove next door, which makes for an awesome âcompoundâ vacation!
Our family of five stayed At the Pond House for a much needed family vacation. We canât say enough good things about the Pond House and Donnell Pond. The house was located about 20 minutes from Ellsworth the nearest large town on Donnell Pond. The house itself was beautiful, clean and had all the amenities you could possibly want on a vacation. We use the kitchen every day to cook, and spent many days in or on the lake using the kayaks and the floating dock. My three teenagers Were able to spread out in the house but mostly wanted to sit down by the lake or be on the hammock. My husband and I are avid runners and cyclists and went to Schoodic point, about 30 minutes away a few times to cycle and run. We highly recommend the Pickeled Wrinkle restaurant for their delicious food and craft beer. We spent three days at Acadia which was about a 50 minutes drive. Honestly the drive was very easy and we didnât mind as we loved being able to go back to the pond house at the end of the day. The Pond House is a true gem and Paula, the owner was an incredible host. We would highly recommend this property and canât wait to plan our next vacation to go back!
This anniversary getaway was absolutely perfect due to this amazing home. The views from the backyard was full of spectacular. All the essentials of home provided to make it a wonderful stay
Great place to stay in Maine. Clean, comfortable beds, and everything you need to make your stay enjoyable. Perfect setting on the "pond". Made full use of the 2 kayaks and stand up paddle board, swimming in the lake and the fire pit. Perfect location to be off the beaten path when you want or take the short drive into Acadia which we did often. When we come back to Maine we will definatley stay here again.
Paula has a lovely home on Donnell Pond with beautiful views. The area is a bit remote, but so serene and beautiful. We enjoyed eating in the town of Ellsworth. The home is a perfect base for exploring Bar Harbor and Acadia. We wouldnât change a thing!
We enjoyed the tranquility of Donnell Pond and were also able to explore Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Beautiful accommodations and a thoughtful host made for a great week!
We had an awesome week at the Pond House. Loved the peaceful water views, the birds, kayaking, fishing, and swimming right off the dock. The house is comfortable and relaxing for staying in, and also not far for adventuring into Acadia and Ellsworth. Paula was easily available to contact and her thoughtful suggestions and touches were appreciated!
The Pound House was a fantastic vacation rental. Everything was super clean, and the kitchen had everything we needed (including a lobster pot, coffee grinder, and mixer). There were plenty of towels and blankets; the beds were very comfortable. The view was spectacular. We loved waking up to the view of the lake. We didnât use them, but there were 3 kayaks available to us. The rental was just a 40 min drive to Arcadia. Paula was super accessible and just a text or phone call away. We would definitely return to the Pound House.
We cannot say enough good things about this property. It is the PERFECT place to stay. From the moment we walked in, we knew we had made the very best choice! Thank you, Paula, for every wonderful detail! The location is fantastic--close enough to Ellsworth and Bar Harbor, but also so much to do right there on Donnell Pond that the days we "stayed in" are some of our favorite memories! Rent a canoe when you first drive in if you have more than 2 people. We loved rowing over to the sandy beach and picnicking as a family!!! Lots of room for our family of 5 and everything was incredibly well-stocked. We could not have asked for anything better. Thank you for sharing your slice of heaven with our family!!
A home away from home with beautiful views of the water. The host has thought of everything.
We stayed with our family of 4 for five days to visit the mountain desert area and bar harbor. The Host thought of about everything that a family may need to make for a relaxing stay from a well equipped kitchen, throw blankets, games and puzzles, spices, kayaks, etc. We took advantage of exploring the huge pond (feels more like a lake). The house takes about 15 minutes to get to off a main road, traveling some on gravel roads. We were concerned at first, but ended up enjoying the remote location. We visited Acadia every day. It was about a 50 minutes drive.
The pictures donât do the property justice. The views of the pond are incredible, and the home has been wonderfully cared for. We found ourselves wanting to linger in the mornings before heading out for our activities, which was wonderful. Paula was a wonderful and responsive host. Would love to come back!