A calm, professional atmosphere. We stayed in the Harborside Suite (you can see the harbor before the trees leaf out in late May). Clean, comfortable room and superb breakfasts. They were also kind enough to let us stay there with our normally well-behaved toddler. We will stay there again if they'll have us!

My stay at the Harbour Cottage Inn was a wonderful experience. Don and Javier are very gracious hosts, and the Inn is a beautiful place-each room is unique, with a historic, nautical flare.

Breakfast each morning was more than filling, with fresh fruit, cereals, fresh baked goods and a main entree. Definitely right on the mark for all of the hiking and biking I did.

It's a definite recommend and on my "must return to" list!

2008 will mark our fifth consecutive year vacationing at Harbour Cottage. If you don't think it's possible to be homesick for a place where you didn't grow up and where you have no family ties, think again. Given the gorgeous B&B itself, owner/hosts Don and Javier's just-right combination of solicitousness and casualness, the impeccable housekeeping, yummy breakfasts, and the natural beauty of Southwest Harbor, Acadia, and the Island in general, you'll wish you had lived here all your life within five minutes of arriving.

We've stayed in various rooms, and loved them all for different reasons. The Downeaster is great for its private entrance, 2-level setup, and skylight. The Clipper has an AMAZING large bathroom with a clawfoot tub and separate shower, and the room has a view to the harbor. The Captain's Nook is charming with its nautical decorations, separate sitting area, and skylight. The Harborside Suite has a great corner bedroom, an additional BR (great for kids to share) and another impressive bath. Basically, you can't go wrong!

The common area is fabulous - the "living room" has a gas fireplace, all kinds of books, magazines, and board games, and comfy furniture if you just want to relax. The sweeping front lawn is a great place to doze in the Adirondack chairs or to look out onto the harbor. The covered front porch is wonderful for breakfast or just sitting and birdwatching.

It's an easy walk, less than 2 blocks, to Beal's Lobster Pier for lunch or dinner, a bit farther but still manageable to the center of the village. And it is blessedly on the other side of the island from (yet a quick enough drive to) Bar Harbor. They call this side of the island The Quiet Side for good reason.

If you want luxury with that "welcome home" touch, you have to try Harbour Cottage Inn!

We went to Maine for the wedding of my neice. Two other neices and families came along also. We had two rooms in the main house and the cottage out back. There were 8 people in all. It was a wonderful family week. The Harbour Cottage Inn is gorgeous in every detail. The breakfasts were wonderful each morning out on the porch. All of us are homesick for this wonderful place and the charming owners. It is on the list of must return places for the whole family. Very relaxing if you wish or there are many places to go to for hiking in the national park. You can park your car and take the free bus to the busier Bar Harbour for the day. This B&B is a real treasure. Enjoy!

Sandra Brookshire
Venice, Florida