Sandpiper is a cozy oceanfront cottage on Cliff Island, one of the Calendar Islands in Casco Bay (Gulf of Maine, Atlantic Ocean), off the coast of Portland, Maine, USA. Accessible by ferry (Casco Bay Lines in Portland, Maine), water taxi, or boat. You’ll love our place because of the location, views, beaches, and lobster fresh off the boat. Our cottage is great for couples, solo adventurers, and small families. Explore sandy beaches and trails, or relax on the hammock with a book. The space Sandpiper Cottage is a small 1903 Maine island cottage directly on the Atlantic Ocean in a working fisherman's village in Casco Bay, approximately 8 miles off the coast of Portland, Maine. Sandpiper Cottage is our wonderfully rustic century-old Maine island family vacation home that we recently made available when we are not using it so others can enjoy Cliff Island. Please be aware that this is a laid-back, rustic, historic, oceanfront island cottage for laid-back folks. It is not a luxe resort for high-maintenance tourists who fancy themselves travel critics and love to complain and make a nuisance of themselves with the local residents (whose families have lived and worked on Cliff Island for many generations). Time moves slowly on the island, and you may feel like you stepped back in time 100 years when you step off the ferry. Our modest rental rates reflect that this is a rustic cottage with iron in the well water, and have been kept as low as possible despite substantial increases in taxes, insurance, and many other expenses. We are pleased to host many repeat guests who are easygoing and thankful to visit our rustic cottage and island year after year. For travelers who prefer more upscale accommodations, amenities, and convenience, there are wonderful hotels at higher rates on the mainland that we encourage you to visit. We are grateful that island residents who work hard for a living graciously assist us in cleaning, maintaining, repairing, and managing the cottage. We request that all guests treat them and all other island residents with dignity, patience, and respect. If you will not "play nice in the sandbox," we respectfully request that you seek other accommodations elsewhere. Relax on our Adirondack chairs, lounge chairs, or cushioned mats directly on our shorefront ledge while enjoying views of the Atlantic Ocean, Jewell Island, Fisherman's Cove, and the house on The Bluffs where the 1987 movie "The Whales Of August" was filmed (starring Bette Davis, Lillian Gish, Ann Southern, and Vincent Price--we have the film in our cottage DVD library). Paddle around the cove on our standup paddleboard or Walker Bay 8-foot dinghy. (You can launch from the Fisherman's Cove boat launch beach, which is a hundred feet or so from the cottage. Please use life preservers.) Kitchen includes refrigerator, stove, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, and electric griddle. Sleeping accommodations include a small first floor bedroom with full bed and twin bunk bed, a futon sofa bed in the living room area, and a second floor queen bed in the small Crow's Nest loft accessible by ladder. (The cozy loft and ladder are for use by nimble adults only, please.) We opted not to get cable television in our vacation cottage, to encourage our children (and ourselves) to enjoy the outdoors, explore the island, nap, fish, read a book, play board games and card games, and otherwise unplug and unwind. However, we do love movies, and have a flat panel TV (with antenna for limited local channels), DVD player, sound bar, subwoofer, and decent collection of DVDs for kids and adults (including the movie "The Whales of August," which was filmed in the house on The Bluffs, which you can see from the cottage). We also have WiFi internet access (added in 2018). The island library also offers free WiFi and internet access on the covered, screened-in front porch. We have a telephone for local calls. Guest access Guests bring their own groceries, which can be purchased nearby in Portland at grocery stores such as Trader Joe's (which also sells beer and wine), Whole Foods, Hannaford, Micucci, or Rosemont Grocer. Some of these grocers offer concierge services to assist with grocery orders, and delivery to Casco Bay Lines or shipment by ferry to Cliff Island. Cliff Island has extensive property in conservation land, permanently protecting its rural atmosphere. There are sandy beaches, a tidal swim cove (Griffon's Cove), rocky shoreline, and trails for walking, running, and biking. The island is the only year-round island in Casco Bay that has all unpaved roads and, while cars are allowed, most people walk, bicycle, or use golf carts for transportation. There is also a local taxi run by an island resident, or you can walk to the cottage on the dirt road from the ferry terminal (a 10 or 15-minute walk). We do not offer use of a golf cart as a part of the rental, nor does the rental fee cover the expense of a golf cart. (Golf carts are expensive to purchase, ship to the island, maintain, and repair. When repairs are necessary, it takes time to buy and ship parts to the island, and there is only one seasonal island mechanic, whose availability is limited.) Residents lobster, work on local island-related businesses, or commute to the mainland for work. You can buy the freshest lobster straight off the boat from our wonderful neighbor or other fishermen who live year-round on the island. As its name suggests, Cliff Island has rocky ledges and cliffs (in addition to sandy beaches), including oceanfront ledge in front of the cottage. Our cottage and shorefront ledge are not "child-proof," and there is a ladder to the loft bedroom (for use by agile adults only), so please be responsible and carefully supervise any children at all times in and around the cottage and keep them away from the edge of cliffs or the ledge. Other things to note Please be advised that our cottage is available for sale (serious inquiries only, please), so our real estate agent may need to access the cottage from time to time, but we blocked out extra days between renters for showings. Our agent will reach out to coordinate a convenient time if needed. Recent updates include septic system. Cliff Island has a high level of iron in the well water in many locations. Guests bring their own groceries. The small store and cafe on the island has a very limited selection and variable hours, and accepts cash only. There is an ATM in the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal in Portland, but no ATM on the island, so bring cash if you wish to buy lobster. There are a number of options for buying groceries for your stay on Cliff Island. Contact the service desk at the store of your choice for specific shopping times and fees. Whole Foods The Whole Foods store in Portland calls itself Maine’s only Certified Organic Grocer, with the largest selection of natural and organic products in the state. Whole Foods offers personal shopping services and island deliveries Monday through Friday. You can call the store to place your order. Ask to speak to a member of the provisions team for details and schedules. Trader Joe’s Portland also has a Trader Joe’s, the original Californian based importer, who took the 1950’s and 60’s cultural fad of Tiki chic to new heights. TJ’s now prides itself on providing fresh and imported foods of value and quality from coast to coast in the U.S. You can call the local store. Hannaford Supermarket When you’re in Portland, you’re also in the home of one of New England’s largest supermarket chains, Hannaford. The company was founded in 1883 by Arthur Hannaford, who sold fruits and vegetables from a produce cart on the docks of Portland. The company now has stores through New England and New York State and is one of the largest supermarket chains in the country. When you finish your shopping, the store will box your groceries and deliver them to Casco Bay Lines, who will deliver them to the island. They offer island delivery on Tuesday. Rosemont Market Rosemont is a neighborhood market that offers gourmet products, local meats and cheeses, fine wine and beer, freshly baked breads and produce. Rosemont offers island delivery year-round to the islands. Check out the Rosemont website for locations to their area stores, one of which is directly across the street from Casco Bay Lines. Micucci Grocery For over 60 years, the Micucci family has been offering the finest imported Italian foods. At Micucci Grocery, you will find a quality wine selection, a full deli, pasta, cheeses and premium imported foods. Micucci’s is in walking distance from Casco Bay Lines. For more information, check out the Micucci website. Portland Farmer’s Market The origins of the Portland Farmers’ Market reach back to 1768, and it continues the tradition of providing local grown and produced fruits, vegetables, grains, meats and poultry. The market is open year round on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Check the website for the location and hours. Shaw's Supermarket Westgate Shaw’s Westgate offers grocery delivery service on Tuesdays. When you finish your shopping, the store will box your groceries and deliver them to Casco Bay Lines, who will deliver them to the island. Maine Grocery Delivery Maine Grocery Delivery is an online grocery store that can shop at multiple locations and deliver groceries to Casco Bay Lines for delivery to the island. Contact them by email or telephone before placing an order online to arrange for island delivery. Standard Baking Co. Directly across the street from the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal in Portland is Standard Baking Co., a family owned and operated business that has been part of downtown Portland since 1995. Handcrafted and baked throughout the day in their 12-ton, stone deck oven, you’ll find traditional French baguettes, hearty German Vollkornbrot, fragrant Focaccia, and all-organic Miche, made from 100% Maine grown and milled whole grains. Hand-rolled croissants, pain au chocolat, brioche, and scones are prepared in plain view in their open production bakery and often served still warm from our ovens. Everything they make embodies their commitment to artisanal methods, natural ingredients, and delicious food. We always stock up on delicious baked goods for the ferry ride and breakfasts on the island (we highly recommend the chocolate corks, croissants, morning buns, berry buckles, and other pastries). Old Port Spirits & Cigars Also conveniently located across the street from the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal in Portland is Old Port Spirits & Cigars, where you can buy local craft beers, wine, and spirits for the ferry ride and the island. Cliff Island Store and Cafe There is a small grocery store and cafe on Cliff Island that serves pizza, soups, sandwiches, ice cream, and a very limited selection of beer, wine, and grocery items. Hours vary. Registration number STHR-001140-2019