Helpful Hints for Your Stay at 4 North Seabreeze Ave in Stonington

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at home | within 5-10 minute drive | on the island | extended area | food & wine | restaurants

Activities at the house or within a five-minute walk: boat watching, boating, kayaking and canoeing, biking, fishing, reading by the harbor or in our lawn overlooking the habor, watching the sunset, watching the tide, books and games, DVD player and VCR, cooking a great dinner while watching the boats and yachts go by.
  • Boat Watching in your front yard: It's fun to watch the boats from the Adirondack chairs in the front yard. During the summer months you will see yachts, large sailing boats (schooners), and many lobster boats. The number of schooners slows down in the spring and fall, but the harbor is always busy. Stonington is one of the best working harbors in all of Maine, and you have a view of it all right from the house! The mail boat from Isle au Haut arrives every morning. Lobster boats unload their catch at several docks throughout the day.
  • Boating: We are just minutes by foot from many piers and docks. You can take the mail boat to Isle au Haut and other nearby Islands for a very reasonable price. This is a great way to get out on the water and see Penobscot bay, and it's only a 2-3 minute walk from the house! Of course, see the list below of other boating options in other parts of the island. A partial list of charter companies (some further than a 5-minute walk) and/or boat power boat rentals includes the Jericho Bay Charters (348-6114), Old Quarry Ocean Adventures (367-8977), Eggemoggin Landing Boat Excursions (348-6115), and Sail Boat Charters (632-5229). Marine supplies, repairs, and a full-service marina can be found at Billings Diesel and Marine Service (367-2328).
  • Walking around Stonington: There are many shops in Stonington as well as spectacular views at every turn. If you head out of town by foot, you be on quite streets with great views within just a few minutes. Stonington is the village at the southernmost tip of Deer Isle, and it has great views of the islands to the south including Isle au Haut. It's off the beaten path but well worth finding. Those who do keep coming back. Stop by the Island Cow for homemade ice cream, explore the Granite Museum, browse through book stores and art galleries (see below), catch a show at the Opera House, or just enjoy a great town with amazing views and gardens at every turn. You can even pick up a great bottle of wine by strolling 50 yards from the house to our favor wine store-- The Clown (367-6348).
  • Art Galleries: Stonington is well-known for art and artists! Artists have been coming to Deer Isle for decades, and many of them have decided to relocate to this great island. Many of the art galleries are within a 5 minute walk of the house, so your location is perfect. Just set and explore! We will add a list of more art galleries soon. A partial list of galleries that are within a 5-minute walk of the house include the Hoy Gallery, Isalos Fine Art, D Mortenson Gallery, and Lans Art Studio (just further up your street-- North Seabreeze Avenue).
  • Shopping: Check out many specialty shops. Our son and daughter especially like the Grasshopper Shop (367-5070) (penny candy, apparel, and gifts). There are two antiques stores in Stonington (Bayside Antiques & Gifts [367-8714] and The Pirate's Den Antiques [367-2383]). Other local favorites include the Dry Dock (367-5528) where you can find apparel and gifts, and Dockside Books and Gifts (367-2652) which has great gifts and an amazing view of the harbor. Book lovers will enjoy Prints and Reprints (367-5821) for rare and new books.
  • Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House: The Opera House is a non-profit arts organization that provides year-round films, performances, arts-related workshops, and community events. Check out their website for the latest news on shows and activities for the 2004 season.
  • Seafood: There are two wholesale and retail vendors within minutes by foot of the house. Check out the Stoningont Lobster Co-op (800-315-6625 or 367-2286) or Greenhead Lobster LLC (888-756-2783 or 367-0950). Stonington Sea Products is also a must visit for seafood specialty products-- it's a fine minute drive from the house, but it is one of the best. They stock several fine restaraunts in New York-- they even have won awards in NYC and received outstanding reviews in the New York Times. Our most recent favorite is Carter Seafood on Oceanville Road (just a 5 minute drive from your house. As if you needed other options, another excellent choice is Island Seafood (Doug and Ruth Hardy; 348-6604).
  • Restaurants: Many restaurants are within walking distance. Some specialize in breakfast, others in casual dining, others in afternoon tea, and still other in fine dining. In Stonington you can visit the Fisherman's Friend Restaurant (367-2442); Lily's Cafe (367-5936); The Harbor Cafe (367-5099); The Maritime Cafe (367-2600). See also the list below for other restaurants on the island.
  • Have coffee, tea, or lunch on the deck at the Inn on the Harbor: The Inn has a deck that is right on the working harbor, and just yard in front of where many schooner moor during the summer. They have an Expresso Bar that serves an array of homemade desserts and great hot or iced drinks from 11:30am until 4:30pm daily in season.
  • Kayaking and canoeing: you can launch at the public landing in Stonington just yards from the house. There are also other great places on Deer Isle to explore by kayak or canoe, but Stonington is one of the best places in all of Maine with many small islands to visit! Rentals can be made at Eggemoggin Landing Kayak Rentals (348-6115), Finist Kind Canoe and Kayak Rentals (348-7714), or Old Quarry Kayak, Canoe and Sailboat Rentals (367-8977). For guided tours, we strongly recommend Dana and Anne Douglass of Granite Island Guide Service (348-2668)
  • Biking: Deer Isle has miles of roads that are along the rocky coast. Please bring your own helmets and bikes. We will try to find some bikes at garage sells this summer, but right now we do not have any bicycles available at the Stonington house. A partial list of places that rent bicycles include Eggemoggin Landing Bicyle Rentals (348-6115), Old Quarry Ocean Adventures (367-8977), and Finist Kind Bike Rentals (348-7714).
  • Watching the sunset: The view from the front lawn is great. Sit on the Adirondack chairs, drink a glass of wine, and watch the sun in the distance as it lingers in the sky. (note: there is a great wine shop only a half block from the house!)
  • Watching the Tide: There are lounge chairs down by the water on the property for enjoying a drink or a book while watching the tide go in or out.
  • Ice Cream Shop: The Island Cow is just a block from the house. They make their own ice cream!
  • Spa Services: Charlotte's Deep Muscle and Watsu™ Therapy (348-6684) is located in Stonington. Other options in Deer Isle and Little Deer Isle include "Dain & Sarah Frank - Massage Therapy, Reflexology & Yoga" (348-2911) and Murphy's Therapeutic Massage (348-2690).
  • Library: The Stonington Library is right on the harbor and less than 5 minutes away by foot (about 2 blocks from the house). Call ahead as the hours are irregular.
  • Post Office: the Stonington Post Office is about a 5 minute walk from the house.
  • Books and Games: There are some of books in the house and there are also a few games for children and adults. We will try to add more from yard sales and other purchases, but right now the collection is small.
  • Videos: There is a large color TV and VCR and DVD player in the living room and several grocery stores on the Island rent videos and DVDs. We do not have cable. We do have a large collection of recent DVDs and VCR cassettes. Right now we have about 45+ DVDs of recent movies, and we'll be adding more soon (link for list of titles).
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    Activities and amenities within a ten-minute drive:
  • Golf and Tennis: The Island Country Club is less than a 10 minute drive from our house. It features several tennis courts and a nine hole golf course. The rates are extremely reasonable for both golf and tennis. Try the cheese burger and fries while you're there. Open late May thru September. (348-2379)
  • Shops and Museums in Deer Isle Village: This is a very quaint, New England village with many artists, shops, museums, and antiques.
  • Union Trust Bank: Located just down the street with an ATM machine.
  • Clamming: You will need a clamming license, available at the Town Hall in Stonington or Deer Isle (entrance across from the congregational church on Route 15). Rate for non-residents was $2 in 2004. Wear rubber boots and walk out into the mud at low tide. Look for spots in the mud with tiny air bubbles coming up. Use a clam rake to gently dig a shallow hole. Sift through the mud for clams. Make sure they are at least 2 inches in diameter. When you have as many as you want, rinse them off in the water and cover with seaweed. To avoid gritty clams, soak the clams in water with about a cup of cornmeal for several hours before cooking. Steam clams in a little (1/2 inch or less in bottom of pan) white wine or water until they are open. Discard any unopened or cracked clams. Serve with the broth and melted butter for dipping. You can also buy clams at several places on the island!
  • Mussels: Much easier than clamming. At dead low tide, walk out into a tidal cove where there is still standing water. Pick up mussels that are still under water by the handful (they stick together) and put in a clam crate or bucket. These will need to be scrubbed. See recipe in Summertime Food for steaming. Again, mussels can be purchased many places on the island.
  • Ice Cream shop and restaurants: There is a great ice cream shop (The Island Cow) just down the hill (less than 1 block away). If you are in Deer Isle, Deer Isle village has an old-fashioned ice cream shop and several good resteraunts. See the list of our favorite resteraunts below.
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    Activities and amenities on the Island of Deer Isle (including Stonington)
  • Barred Island Preserve: Take 15 A to Goose Cove Road. Near the end is the parking area for Barred Island Nature Preserve. You can walk to the Island at low tide.
  • Tennis Nature Preserve: Out Sunshine Road (see map in on refrigerator). Easy hiking.
  • Picnic: There is a picnic basket in the kitchen. Try a picnic at the Tennis Nature Preserve or at many other sites on the island! The view from the harbor in Stonington is amazing, so try just walking down the street with your picnic. You can stop in at the Clown (a wine store located less than a block from the house) and pick up a great bottle of wine and other snacks.
  • Bicycle Rentals: At present we do not have bikes at the Stonington house, but we will try to pick some up at garage sales this summer. If you need bikes try Finist Kind Bike Rentals (348-7714). There are also rentals available in Stonington
  • Boating: There are many opportunities to charter boats or go on cruises in the area. See brochures in the basket in the living room. Several charter companys (among many) with a web site are Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, Eggemogging Landing Boat Excursions, and the Isle au Haut Company. Many other places rent kayaks, canoes, and sail boats. The dock for the mail boat to Isle au Haut is less than a five-minute walk from the house. This would make an excellent and reasonably priced day trip!
  • Fishing: See the charter companies listed above. There is also lots of fishing from various docks and the shore. Stop in at the Island Fishing Gear and Auto Parts (367-5959; yes, it's also a NAPA store!) and check out what's available.
  • Shops in Stonington by the harbor: There are many boats to watch in the town of Stonington and lots of shops and galleries for browsing. The Island Cow ice cream stand is open most sunny afternoons.
  • Galleries: There are many galleries on the island to find quality paintings and ceramic art. See the chamber of commerce web page listed below and the galleries listed above within walking distance of the house. The island has many more galleries in Deer Isle and Little Deer Isle.
  • Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House: live theater and music performances.
  • Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: premier school for artists. This is a great day trip even if you are not enrolled in one of their sessions. There are also evening lectures and shows.
  • Transportation Matters: shuttles and taxi service from airport and other transportation services.
  • Events Calendar for Deer Isle / Stonington.
  • Check out the website for Maine Department of Tourism (A really great website for any vacation information in Maine)
  • Check out the Deer Isle / Stonington Chamber of Commerce web site
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    Activities in the surrounding area (including Mt. Desert Island)
  • Acadia National Park: It is a little more than an hour drive from the house to the summit of Cadillac mountain. Acadia is beautiful and not to be missed, but make sure and leave early in the morning during the peak summer months to avoid the traffic. Cadillac Mountain, the loop road, and Sand beach are particular highlights. Try the Jordan Pond restaurant for great popovers and a fun locale. There are several easy day hikes as well and good biking trails.
  • Bar Harbor: resort town with many shops, museums, and tourist attractions. Try the whale watching trips or the "express" ferry to Nova Scotia.
  • Blue Hill: (about 30 minute drive) plethora of shops, restaurants, and galleries. There is a large grocery store (Trade Winds), a pharmacy (Rite-Aid), a food co-op, a good wine store. Try the Fish Net for great take-out lobster rolls.
  • Steel Drum Band in Buck's Harbor: A wonderful steel drum band, "Flash in the Pans" plays a street dance in quaint Buck's Harbor every other Monday night in the summer from 7:30 9:30 p.m. The last one is Labor Day. Drive off the Island then take Herrick Road to 176 to Buck's Harbor (see a map) about a 20 minute drive. Buck's Harbor looks exactly the same today as in Robert McCloskey's books, complete with Condon's Garage.
  • Castine: picture perfect Maine coastal town with an excellent golf course, cute shops, beautiful yachts, and good food. It's a great day trip (about an 1 hour + away).
  • Public Libraries: There are public libraries in Stonington and Deer Isle. The library in Stonington is just two blocks from the house. Check the brochure in the basket for hours (irregular). For a longer outing, try the Brooklin library - (about a 40 minute scenic drive) for a wonderful, newly renovated library with a great children's section, internet access, etc. Brooklin was the home of E. B. White, and the library has manuscripts and original illustrations from his books. While you are in Brooklin, eat at the Morning Moon cafè (try the crab and cheese omelet for a late breakfast) and visit the Wooden Boat School. Ask someone to point out E.B. White's house. 
    • Food and Wine
  • Grocery Stores: The closest grocery store is Burnt Cove Market (367-2681) on 15A. It is better than you might expect for a small island and from the exterior. There is decent to excellent produce, local berries, good fish. Look for Cedar Cottage bakery breads and scones in the bread section. The Galley (348-6988; on 15 across from the high school) is good alternative. There are gourmet options at all the local groceries during the summer months. If you want to drive to Blue Hill, Tradewinds is a larger grocery store with more selection. However, Burnt Cove is really great, and we rarely leave the island for food.
  • Lobster: For the freshest, most convenient lobster, you can drive down the street to the Fisherman's Co-op. If you want lobster from a local fisherman, you can ask down on the dock (just a short walk from the house) or call our neighbor from our house in Sunset, Pearl Hardie (348-6117). Pearl could drop some lobsters off on his way to the co-op or give you the name of someone else. Prices vary with market. To cook lobsters, put 1 inch salted water in bottom of lobster pot and bring to a rolling boil. Put in lobsters head first (so the tail doesn't splash you), cover, and check to see when it returns to a boil. Time the lobsters for 17 minutes after the water returns to a full boil. To double check if they are done, pick one up by an antenna and if the antenna breaks off from the body they are done.
  • Local Farmers' Market: Friday mornings May thru September in parking lot of Deer Isle Congregational Church (just minutes from the house). Excellent vegetables, baked goods, goat cheese, and meats. The blueberries are especially good! Especially crowed in August, so get there early.
  • Crab: For delicious fresh picked crabmeat, call our neighbor from Sunset, Jane Huttar, at 348-6057 and place an order. She does not pick every day. During 2003 the price was $13 for a pound--enough for crabcakes for 4 adults or lots of crab rolls. We have heard that prices have gone up a little for 2004. Jane also sells crab directly to Burnt Cove Market as do other pickers. There are several pickers with signs in Stonington, but we have not had a chance to meet them yet.
  • Other Seafood: You can either catch your own or purchase it from the many retailers in Deer Isle or Stonington. Stonington is a seafood lover's paradaise!
  • Wine: There is a good wine store in Stonington just 50 yards from the house! The Clown. Ask for some recommendations from their $10 and under wine tasting earlier in the summer. The wine options at the grocery stores are adequate, but The Clown's prices are not any more expensive, and you have much better service and selection. (367-6348 or info@the-clown.com)

    • Restaurants

  • Spacious Living Room with great view of harbor (picture window on right)

    Contact Information:

    Andy and Amy Vaughn
    375 Dunham Point Road
    Deer Isle, ME 04627

    Telephone: 207-348-6667
    email: andy@4-maine-vacation-rentals.com

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