| squo;s a reason Maine’s license plate says | | | | garage or backyard, take the kayak off the roof so |
| “Vacationland.” | | | | you don’t have to drive around town with it on |
| If you want to get away from it all for a little while, this | | | | your car. And if the owner of the home allows pets, |
| is the state for you. Maine has mountains, lakes, | | | | you’re dog will be as happy as you are with all |
| forests, rivers, and beaches. The diversity of that | | | | the room to stretch out. |
| environment means you can ski, fish, swim, hike, bike, | | | | Renting a house for your Maine vacation will require |
| sail, and snowmobile. There is a reason to visit in every | | | | some planning, though. Yes, there are sometimes |
| season. But you don’t need a reason, you can | | | | last-minute rentals available on the many vacation |
| just kick back and take it easy, drinking in the natural | | | | rentals Web sites, but by waiting until the last minute |
| beauty of this great state. | | | | you may not find exactly what you are looking for. |
| Unless you fly into Portland, you’ll probably be | | | | Plan ahead a few weeks or a few months and you |
| driving to Vacationland through New Hampshire. | | | | may snag that old Victorian on a bluff over the sea |
| Crossing the state line on the bridge above the | | | | that has a sublime ocean view from the porch and |
| Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, you’ll get a glimpse | | | | every window of the house. |
| of the ocean that will make you hunger for greater, | | | | The other major benefits of renting a home or cottage |
| wider ocean views. They are not far away. | | | | on the southern coast of Maine are that with a kitchen |
| The southern Maine coast alternates between wide, | | | | you don’t have to eat every meal at a |
| sandy beaches and rocky points where lighthouses | | | | restaurant, and there are often multiple bathrooms and |
| oversee the waves endlessly crashing ashore. Not far | | | | bedrooms, depending on the size of the house. If |
| from the beaches, the landscape is forested with | | | | someone in the family is an early riser, he can make |
| lakes and ponds offering more watery respite. What | | | | coffee and head to another part of the house so that |
| this means for you is that there are many recreational | | | | everyone else can sleep in. Common amenities include |
| opportunities in southern Maine. If you can fit it all in and | | | | barbecue grills, TVs, DVD players, Internet access, |
| on your vehicle, you may want to bring bikes, kayaks | | | | books, and washer and dryer sets. |
| or a canoe, or even your dog. Of course, if you | | | | There are many options when it comes to vacation |
| can’t fit everything, you can probably rent a | | | | rental homes. If you want a waterfront in Wells, Maine, |
| canoe, kayak or bike in the larger communities on the | | | | you can rent it. Or if your budget’s a little tighter, |
| coast. Pet rentals aren’t likely. | | | | you can rent a cottage in Biddeford that’s a little |
| So the car is packed and you’re on the road to | | | | farther away from the water, but maybe still close |
| Maine, but did you plan your lodging? Darn, you knew | | | | enough to walk or ride your bike. If it’s just a |
| you forgot something! Don’t worry, there are | | | | romantic weekend getaway, you can rent a cozy |
| plenty of lodging options on Maine’s south coast. | | | | condo in Old Orchard Beach. |
| There are seaside campgrounds, motels and resort | | | | The bottom line is that when you rent a Maine |
| hotels. What you choose depends on how much you | | | | vacation rental home, you shape the course of your |
| want to rough it, whether pets are allowed and your | | | | vacation. You have more control over what you can |
| budget. | | | | do and how much you can enjoy yourself. |
| There is an option if you want to have it all and keep | | | | Don’t pay too much for a lobster at a |
| your costs manageable, however, and that is to rent a | | | | restaurant, buy one at a fresh fish market, bring it |
| vacation home. It is very common for vacation homes | | | | home and prepare it yourself. While you’re at it, |
| on the Maine coast to have parking, a yard, and many | | | | throw a steak on the grill and make it a real Maine |
| rooms for you to spread out and feel at home. In fact, | | | | summer vacation. Enjoy your independence as the sun |
| the home will be yours for the week or two that you | | | | sets to the soundtrack of a tide rolling in and your |
| rent it. You can unload the bikes and put them in the | | | | real-life tension rolling away. |