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Brightholme: Beautifully Renovated Historic Village Home near The Shore Path

Photo gallery for Brightholme: Beautifully Renovated Historic Village Home near The Shore Path

Exterior
Exterior
Interior
Interior
Dining

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
7 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Map
Bar Harbor, ME
  • Village Green
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • West Street Historic District
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Double Bed

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

First Floor Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Half Bath

Toilet

Master Bath Upstairs

Toilet · Shower only

Second Bath Upstairs

Toilet · Shower only

Third Bath Upstairs

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Brightholme: Beautifully Renovated Historic Village Home near The Shore Path

Bookings for this home are facilitated by The Knowles Company, a reputable agency located right on Mt. Desert Island for more than 120 years. PLEASE REVIEW the cancellation policy specific to Brightholme: Once the online Reservation Request becomes fully executed and payment has been made, should the Tenant be unable to occupy the rental property for any reason except the fault of the Lessor, the Tenant is responsible for the full rent. If the Knowles Company and/or the Lessor can sublet the premises for the same period covered by the lease agreement to another Tenant, monies received from the second rental will be paid first to the Lessor to fulfill the balance of the original lease. The remainder, if any, will be paid to the original Tenant as partial or full reimbursement, less The Knowles Company commission.


This wonderful and spacious home, once part of the Kenarden estate built by J. S. Kennedy in the late 1800s was purchased decades later in 1929 by the founder of The Jackson Laboratory. Today, summer visitors to this historic home will enjoy beautiful renovations that made it the first-ever designer showhouse for Maine Home and Design magazine. With its classic white picket fence, front covered porch, and brick pavers at the street and entryway, you'll feel the welcoming effects of this lovely home. With nice amenities and spacious interiors, Brightholme invites you to come inside and settle in for a lovely vacation with family and friends. Enjoy your morning coffee on the front covered porch or venture out early to stroll Bar Harbor's famous Shore Path with gorgeous views of Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands. Walk the entire Path or take a shortcut through the neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor's shops, restaurants, attractions, and nearby parks and playgrounds. Acadia National Park entrances are also just minutes away. Venture a short distance to the "Village Green" in the center of town to catch the free Island Explorer shuttle or down to the Harbor where you'll find various excursions to choose from. Easy access to National Park attractions and Village amenities makes Brightholme the perfect cottage from which to enjoy all that Mt. Desert Island has to offer! *Note: Advertised rates are for 10 or fewer people. Add $175/week for each extra person up to 14 max.

FIRST FLOOR: To the right of the front entry is a Bedroom with a Queen bed and a pretty bay window. To the left of the open hallway with a formal staircase is a spacious Living Room with hardwood floors, comfy furnishings, and a door leading to a light-filled Dining Room with hardwood floors and seating for 10 to 12. Between the Dining Room and Kitchen is a Full Bath with a walk-in shower, newly added in 2022, that serves the first-floor Bedroom. The updated Kitchen features quality appliances as well as an Island with stools. Off the Kitchen are a half Bath, a rear stairway to the second floor, and a very spacious Family Room with a kitchenette and bar area. This is a wonderful space with a game table and a separate sitting area offering a large TV and comfy sofa beds for extra guests. Exit past the laundry area to a side porch and a long driveway with plenty of off-street parking.

SECOND FLOOR: Master Bedroom with King bed, dressing room, and private Bath with large, glass, walk-in shower. Three additional Bedrooms, each fitted with a Queen bed, share a Full Bath with a large, glass, walk-in shower. A hallway to the rear wing leads to two smaller Bedrooms, each with a Double bed and a shared full Bath with a combined tub and shower.

Outdoor Spaces: Lovely covered front Porch with wicker furnishings, side entry, and porch, patio area on the opposite side with furnishings, grill, and privacy fencing. Additionally, this home offers nice front and back lawn areas and a recently constructed pavilion for relaxed outdoor dining.

Extras: AC window units (not pictured) in all bedrooms and in the downstairs TV room.

Property manager

The Knowles Company
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

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

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 1 total)
$175/wk ($25/nt) ea. Disclose type, size & number.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please submit an "inquiry" before booking request, if you have questions. Refer to the property description to review the cancellation policy.
Please submit: A total number of guests w/ ages of children and USPS mailing address with booking request. (Your address will not be shared)
Disclose ALL adults, children, infants, toddlers. No excess people, unapproved pets, smoking, vaping, early arrival, late departure without approval.

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
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
Property Registration Number VR2R23-274

About the area

Bar Harbor

Located by the sea, this holiday home is in Downtown Bar Harbor, a neighbourhood in Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor Whale Watching is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Acadia National Park and Acadia National Park's Visitors Center. George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History and College of the Atlantic Natural History Museum are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Bar Harbor, ME

What's nearby

  • Village Green - 7 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Bar Harbor Whale Watching - 12 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Shore Path - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • West Street Historic District - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Acadia National Park's Visitors Center - 6 min drive - 5.7 km

Getting around

  • Bar Harbor, ME (BHB-Hancock County - Bar Harbor) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Thirsty Whale - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Side Street Cafe - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Blaze Craft Beer and Wood Fired Flavors - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Finback Alehouse - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Choco-Latte - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Brightholme: Beautifully Renovated Historic Village Home near The Shore Path pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at Brightholme: Beautifully Renovated Historic Village Home near The Shore Path?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Brightholme: Beautifully Renovated Historic Village Home near The Shore Path?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Brightholme: Beautifully Renovated Historic Village Home near The Shore Path located?

Located in Downtown Bar Harbor, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Village Green and Bar Harbor Whale Watching. Acadia National Park is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Melissa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Acadia Family Vaca

Overall good stay. Had a small issue of no hot water but it was quickly resolved. Close to town and park.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house, within walking distance of downtown Bar Harbor with easy access to Acadia.

This is the second time I have stayed here and both times have been wonderful. The house is big enough for extended family. With room for both adults and children. My most recent visit was with friends, we loved the front porch and the beautiful area. The walk to the shops and restaurants was easy and fun. Acadia is absolutely beautiful and an easy drive from the house. The house was well stocked with everything we needed. Already booked again for next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dana B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location

So close to the shops and restaurants without feeling like we were in the hectic downtown scene. We loved hanging out on the front porch. The shore path was closed next to the house for reparations, but once repaired, that will be great being that close to the path. We were able to walk to the end of the street and catch the sunrise over the water. Beautiful. Had a group of 8 friends (3 couples and 2 single people.) Everyone had their own space and having 4 1/2 bathrooms meant everyone had their own bathroom. The king bed in the upstairs master did have a bit of a hump in the middle of it; all the queens were comfortable. Would definitely recommend because of the location.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peggy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home on a quiet street

The house is very large with several different spaces for people to gather. We particularly enjoyed sitting on the front porch & eating outside under the gazebo. It's right off Main St. - an easy walk to Village Green, shops & restaurants. Only a mile from Agamont Park down by the water. The kitchen was well supplied with everything we needed for cooking.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jodi D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely home in great location

Our family included 7 adults. There was plenty of space for everyone in the common areas. Sometimes the kitchen got a bit crowded since that really was the smallest common area and you know how everyone likes to gather in the kitchen. But, it was a great kitchen to prepare meals in with plenty of pots, pans, bowls, etc. We loved the Wolf stove and some other higher end items in the kitchen. We also all loved the backyard with the covered table and pretty lights and had a few meals outside. Awesome grill too! The management company (Knowles) was fantastic when we had an issue with ants in the master bathroom. We also contacted them about two of the beds that probably need replacement--too hard and saggy. Knowles was extremely responsive and within a few hours took care of the ant issue and provided a couple of bed toppers that helped the bed issue quite a bit. The house is on a very quiet street and there was no noise from the adjacent hospital. The garden around the house was lovely and made it such a pleasure to come back after a long day of hiking. A great house with a very interesting history...a wonderful place for making wonderful memories.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ally B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another Amazing Week

Our second time renting this home for our extended family vacation in Bar Harbor. It was just perfect as we all had remembered. Plenty of comfortable beds and space for everyone - teens to grandparents. Kitchen is well outfitted and there is always more than enough bedding and towels. Enjoyed daily games on the front lawn and happy hour on the front porch. Excellent location. Sweet memories in this house!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Blanche L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Location

We stayed a week here for family vacation. Mom, Dad , 3 kids, 2 in laws and a grandchild. The house set up was perfect for us. It is an old home so we did have a couple of problems. The back living area had some big black ants. Also, the sewage backed up and there was an unpleasant smell. The care taker implied we flushed objectionable items but we feel 100% certain we did not. That being said we would stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Looking forward to coming back!

This property is great with plenty of room for a large group including a large lawn we took advantage of for family games. The location was great (and would have been even better if the shore path was open) with easy access to the park and walkable to restaurants, etc. The only thing our adult children said they’d change is the length of time we were there so on our return, we’d plan to stay longer:)
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael B., Floyds Knobs, IN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Large House in Bar Harbor

Just a perfect house for our family of 10 adults and 4 kids. Extremely well equipped kitchen, towels, you name it. Location couldn’t have been better - walk anywhere in downtown Bar Harbor and close to the shore path. We had a great stay - great front porch for sitting around and rehashing the day’s events. Highly recommend and we would stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Edwin L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacation

Perfect location
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bill R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Florida-Texas-Washington Vacation

Our family (10 people from three states) spent a week here and found this property wonderful. There were plenty of bedrooms, great living space (including a large family room which the children took over), a large yard and parking for three cars. The location is nice, a few blocks from downtown Bar Harbor. After a rainy summer in Bar Harbor, the weather turned dry so we made use of the big porch and yard. Great week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ally B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bar Harbor Gem

Can’t say enough good things about this amazing house. Our family had such a wonderful week here, with plenty of room for everyone. Location is fantastic. The house is so comfortable and welcoming and we especially enjoyed the outdoor spaces. Cannot wait to return! Many special memories were made during our week in Maine and this home was a perfect backdrop.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location perfect house

We stayed for five days in May as our baby moon. The house was perfect! We could walk everywhere and not have to worry about parking, and the location right on the shore. Path was perfect for morning, walks with a cup of coffee and a dog. I will definitely rent this place again with more family and friends, as there is ample space for everyone to be comfortable. I’ve never seen so many beautiful white towels in one bathroom lol! Highly recommend this property.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Courtney C., Highland, IN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house, perfect location.

The house was beautiful, big, clean, updated, and the location was perfect!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lucy H., Kensington, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay in Bar Harbor

Beautiful house and fantastic location. Sitting on the porch looking at the gorgeous flowers was very relaxing. Kitchen and bathrooms were excellent.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carol F., We are from Peterborough, NH

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

2nd Time Around

This was our second year of staying at Brightholme with our three generation family. Location is so perfect. With the living room and generous "family" room there was plenty of space to spread around and enjoy each other's company. We also enjoyed having morning coffee/tea on the front porch and waving "hi" or "good morning" to other morning walkers with its access to the Shore Path. With the multiple bedrooms and new addition of a full bath downstairs, space for everyone is never an issue. Highly recommend for large families.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lynn L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful House and Perfect Location

We had a wonderful time at Brightholme. We loved everything about this house. There were three generations of our family staying here (13 people) and there was plenty of room for all of us. The location is perfect. You can quickly walk to downtown Bar Harbor. The shore path starts at the end of the street that the house is located. Acadia National Park is a short drive away or a bike ride up a LONG hill. Even the next door neighbor was very friendly and shared some of the home's history with us. The rental agent was very helpful and responsive to all of my questions. She even recommended a fantastic bakery to make a birthday cake for the three birthdays that we were celebrating. Her recommendations turned out to be amazing.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emelie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property conveniently located to everything

We had a wonderful time at Brightholme. The house is lovely with plenty of space for the entire family, and is a very short walk to everything in Bar Harbor (which is great since the traffic and parking in town is challenging!)
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenny M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic house and location

The house has so much room to spread out! There’s a large family room, a formal living room and a dining room that seats 10! The house is conveniently located close to sops and restaurants so you don’t need a car. There’s also a path that leads along the shore into town. Our family loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristi N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolute perfect location

Super cool house that was very well stocked. Would have liked more blankets as we didn’t want to turn the heat up and burn a lot of electricity. Front porch is fab and lawn is wonderful for lots of games. You cannot beat this location - close to everything but a block off the main drag so still quiet. Very close to shore path so can walk there every morning for sunrise!!! We made many wonderful memories here!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lynne C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Vacation!

We thoroughly enjoyed our week at Brightholme. The location is fantastic- incredibly close to the Shore Path(perfect to catch the amazing sunrises) and an easy walk to Main Street. The house is spacious and provided plenty of room for 10 adults. The front porch was enjoyed by everyone. The yard is beautiful and worked very well for family games of croquet.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jeff B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location and Porch!

The location was great as it was so close to the shore path. Our extended family spent most of time in the best room of house - the front porch!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

jill l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location for Bar Harbor

This was a wonderful hone and location for our family vacation! The house was clean, spacious and perfectly located to walk, bike and enjoy all that Bar Harbor had to offer. Lovely home! The management communicated with all the info we needed to arrive at the house. WiFi is VERY spotty so their instructions were perfect. Thank you for allowing us to stay at this great Bar Harbor hone!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carol F., We are from Peterborough, NH

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spacious

We were three generations of family enjoying the location and spaciousness of this lovely home with its 7 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms. Had plenty of room to spread around. The family room was great for playing games, watching TV, or just relaxing. Enjoyed having a cup of coffee on the front porch. Easy walk to downtown and to the shore path.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kathy E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home in great location

We enjoyed a stay with extended family to celebrate my daughters completion of her college career at UMaine. The home is large and spacious and in a great spot to walk down town or to the ocean front trail, especially to catch sunrise with a cup of coffee. The bedrooms are well appointed and comfortable and the two updated baths upstairs are amazing. Plenty of space for 12 people inside and out and the kitchen was fantastic for cooking in and the gas grill was a good size for our large meals. Off season is the best as it is peaceful in Bar Harbor without the hustle and bustle. Visiting the sites in Acadia is also a must. Would love to return some time!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021

About the host

Hosted by The Knowles Company

Host profile image
Located on Mount Desert Island surrounded by Acadia National Park, The Knowles Company has been a successful rental and real estate business since 1898. As a representative for the property owner, our experienced and knowledgeable rental professionals work as a team to provide the tenant guest with a level of personalized assistance to ensure an excellent rental experience.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests