Oceanfront Cottage on Cliff Island in Portland, Maine, New England, USA

Sandpiper Cottage is a cozy, oceanfront, New England-style cottage on Cliff Island in Casco Bay, just off the coast of Portland, Maine (USA). Cliff Island is accessible by ferry and water taxi from Portland, Maine or by boat (we have a mooring in front of our cottage).

The cottage is mere feet from the ocean, with large windows and gorgeous views looking out across Fisherman's Cove toward working lobster boats, the cottage where the movie "The Whales Of August" was filmed, and Jewell Island (a state-owned nature preserve with trails and WWII towers to explore). Relax in one of our Adirondack chairs or chaise lounge chairs looking out over the open ocean, read a book cover-to-cover, fish or collect mussels on the rocky ledge, or enjoy a nap in our hammock as the waves lull you to sleep.

Sandpiper Cottage was built around 1903, and features new appliances (refrigerator and freezer, stove, microwave, toaster, wine fridge, coffee maker, radio/CD player, iPod docking station, DVD player), telephone, a new electric Incinolet brand toilet (which is a little rustic but is very sanitary, see www.incinolet.com), and an enclosed outdoor shower on the side porch. My wife and I opted against a TV, and prefer to read, play games, or explore the island, although we do have a modest collection of DVDs and a DVD player. Accommodations include a queen size bed in the Crow's Nest loft (accessible by ladder), a small bedroom on the first floor with a full size bed and a twin size top bunk bed, and a futon couch in the living room area.

This oceanfront island cottage is our small slice of heaven.

Cliff Island is one of the Calendar Islands in Casco Bay, approximately 8 miles from downtown Portland, Maine (the island is actually part of the City of Portland).

Casco Bay Lines provides 4 or 5 ferries each day between Cliff Island and Portland (and also provides regular ferries between Portland and other nearby islands, including Chebeague Island, Great Diamond Island, Little Diamond Island, Long Island, and Peaks Island). 24-hour water taxi service is also available. Bring a camera, binoculars, and a bottle of wine to enjoy on the beautiful ferry ride through the Casco Bay Islands (an approximately 1.5 hour trip, or around 20 minutes by water taxi). The ferry ride is an excellent way to unwind, and you'll feel like you stepped back in time 100 years when you step onto Cliff Island. Keep your eyes open for seals, dolphins, and other marine life.

Sandpiper Cottage is located in the heart of a small, working fisherman's village. Our friendly neighbors include a lobsterman, who grew up on the island and can bring you lobster fresh off of the boat, and his artist wife, who makes beautiful jewelry and natural soaps and candles. The island is approximately 2.5 miles long and approximately 1 mile wide at the widest point, and everything is very walkable. Sandpiper Cottage is a short 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal, and island taxi service is also available. Explore sandy beaches, rocky ledges, and trails. Or take the ferry or a water taxi into Portland to explore the Old Port and enjoy numerous excellent restaurants, local Maine brew pubs and wine bars, art galleries, live music, and local shops. Cliff Island has a one-room schoolhouse with swing set and jungle gym for children, post office, church, clay tennis court, library, small public park with baseball diamond and field for pickup games or flying kites, and a small convenience store/cafe. More information about Cliff Island is available at www.cliffisland.com.

My wife and I enjoy many interests, including traveling, spending time with our three children, and of course spending time at our cottage on Cliff Island and boating in Casco Bay. I am an attorney and a Partner in the law firm of Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios, LLP, which is a regional New England firm and a member of TerraLex. My areas of practice include intellectual property, entertainment and sports law, and business law. Our primary home is conveniently located nearby on the mainland in Portland, in a small oceanfront community in the Windsor Heights/Portland Foreside neighborhood near the Maine Yacht Center Marina (we might consider an exchange for our primary home in the event that any folks prefer this location or need more room).