Guest Reviews
"Ideal Location"
This is a real home, beautifully appointed, clean and welcoming. An ideal location to truly feel a part of this historic town. Daniel was responsive and checked-in to assure our stay was going well. Would highly recommend.
Ellie C.
August 2022
"Charming Small Town"
We really enjoyed staying at the Lowder house. House was built in the 1780’s. The kitchen and bathrooms are beautifully remodeled while keeping the charm of a historic house. Castine is a charming small town with plenty of history. You can walk to most anything in town from the house. Owner and property manager are great to work with and awesome communicators! Check in was easy. The whole experience was fantastic!
Ron P.
July 2022
"Super Special Stay"
5-star communication & location and such a BEAUTIFUL home! I am so happy I booked early for MMA graduation - the stay made the weekend super special. Thank you.
Karen P.
May 2022
"Great Location"
We loved being on main street watching people walk up and down the street from the living room. All three couples was comfortable in their rooms. The house is very old which brings a charm with it.
Louise S.
October 2021
"A Wonderful House in a Friendly Town"
We had an excellent time in Castine, and at the Jonathan Lowder House in particular. The house is spacious & interesting to browse through, and the town around it has many nice seaside views & places to eat. The communication about check-in etc. couldn’t have been better either — we were well informed of everything beforehand. Highly recommended and thank you, Daniel!
Jeremiah L.
August 2021
"Wonderful Experience"
This home has so much character and the town is lovely! It offered something for everyone.
The location in town made things very accessible. We walked daily and found something new to see each day. It is also within an hour of many other attractions for fun day trips.
The hosts and property manager were easy to reach at all times for any questions or needs.
Tonya M.
June 2021
"Beautiful vintage 18th Century house in perfect condition"
The kitchen is newly redone and has everything a cook might need. Bedrooms, living, dining and eat-in kitchen areas are large, airy and well appointed. A cool place to stay in a charming Maine town.
Douglas S.
September 2020
"Excellent stay"
Amazing historic home in the best town in Maine. Highest recommendation!
Corbett S.
August 2020
"Relaxing historic small town with great sailing"
The house was great. Excellent combination of old house quirks and modern conveniences. Our 5 and 8 yr old girls loved swimming at the swimming hole by the beach, and walking to breakfast and icecream. We were mainly sailing, which was perfect. Especially mid to late afternoon.
Roddi S.
August 2020
"Beautiful, restored house"
Modern kitchen and bathroom facilities in a classic house. The location is also great. If you’re there on a weekend, I recommend that you do the bioluminescent kayak tour, which is a 5-minute walk away. So cool! The owners were responsive, hospitable, and accommodating. Would definitely stay here again.
Jess P.
July 2020
"Castine homecoming"
Perfect location for Homecoming. We didnt need to drive all weekend. We arrived late, the house was unlocked and ready for us. The Castine Inn, next door had "All you can eat" breakfast, daily, for a great price. Overall, a pleasant stay in beautiful Castine.
John S.
Sept 2019
"Beautiful old house with great artwork"
We visited this August with two young boys and had a great time. The home had great charm with nice rooms, great furniture and decor, and most modern conveniences. It felt relaxing as soon as we walked in.
We cooked a lot and did laundry as well. All in all, we had some room to breathe and a great base to explore the whole region.
Steve R.
August 2018
"Lovely older Main Street house"
This house is comfortable and pleasant with room for a family of four to spread out. My wife and I and two adult children got together there this week with each of the kids having a room to themselves and a shared bath, while my wife and I had the other bath. The house is old, from the 18th century, which is fitting in the town of Castine, but the kitchen is recently updated so you get the aesthetic values of an old house with the conveniences of a new one. It is right in the heart of town and convenient to everything.
Jonathan O.
August 2017
"Another enjoyable stay in Castine"
We returned for second year in a row, with our two teens. The town is quiet and peaceful and the Lowder House has nice amenities. A good location for day trips to Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Acadia and Schoodic Point. Everything in the Homeaway description, met or exceeded expectations. The closest grocery store, Hannafords, is about 20 minutes away in Bucksport or there is an organic/natural foods store right by the golf course as you come into town or the T&C convenience store within walking distance of the house. Our last evening there we went to Wadsworth Cove and watched the sunset, a few other families were there too, with campfires cooking out. Just a great vibe! Thank you for another great time and good memories!
Lisa H.
August 2017
"Beautiful and Peaceful"
Filled with lovely antiques, this old home has been beautifully restored, remaining true to the period, but with modern appliances and comfortable beds. In addition, it is two blocks from Castine's harbor, and within walking distance of eateries, shops, churches, the town common, a fine museum, and the lighthouse. Castine, itself, is a gem, with interesting architecture and huge old elm and maple trees. It is a great place for down time, but also a fine base from which to explore the many wonders of the Penobscot Bay area.
July 2017
"A Great Vacation"
We had a lovely and relaxing stay at this beautiful home. It was the perfect staging point for day trips to Acadia, Deer Island and Schoodic. We enjoyed sightseeing in Castine, particularly the historic landmarks pertaining to the Penobscot Expedition. The Castine Visitor Center was a wealth of information and the person I spoke with was very knowledgeable about the area. The Plein Air Festival was in progress while we were there, an opportunity for invited artists to paint local scenery for 3 days, culminating in a juried art exhibit, A fundraiser for the local arts organization. We also visited and swam Wadsworth Cove , a local swim beach and were delighted to watch someone parasailing. You can walk, bike or kayak to most everything in Castine. There is a Windmill Hill gardens and grocery by the golf course, where you can get tasty ingredients for an impromptu meal or the local market a 2 minute walk from the house. The house is cozy and welcoming, kitchen is well appointed to cook in, a great library of literary fiction, history , classic and contemporary fiction. We had ongoing games of Cribbage and Monopoly. We felt really special and lucky to stay in a beautiful place as Castine in such a cool house.
Lisa H.
July 2016
"Charming old house"
The house is a work in progress and the interior has been charmingly and lovingly restored. If staying in an old house is your thing you've come to the right place. If staying in a sterile Disney style resort is your preference this may not be your choice. The house is centrally located in the heart of Maine's coastal vacation area with easy access to Camden, Belfast and Acadia National Park. Overall we had a great week in Maine.
Ronald C.
May 2016
"One of the best vacations we've had in a long time!"
We could not be more pleased with our stay in Castine. If we could have changed anything, it would have been to stay longer! The house was well appointed, extremely comfortable and accommodated our group of adults and children well. It was fascinating to walk through the home and explore the it's history which we discovered in its nooks and crannies. I don't want to ruin the surprise but the homeowners have retained 'the writing on the walls' that reveals parts of the home's long history. The location of the home is exceptional. We were in walking distance of everything that Castine has to offer... shops, eateries, bookstores, golf, the waterfront, historic architecture, the town common, and art galleries... we even managed a 5 mile loop to the Dyce lighthouse and Witherle Woods. Castine did not disappoint. We took day trips to Acadia, Bar Harbor and Bangor. The nearby market has pretty much everything you need but if you want a larger grocery store, plan to stop in Ellsworth or Bucksport, depending on which direction you are coming from (its a 30-45 minute trip to the either location). The homeowners were so easy to communicate with and always responded promptly to our inquiries. They even helped us plan for our trip with activity ideas and notable places to eat. The in-town property manager was a gem too! We were a little behind schedule in our arrival but she waited for us to make sure we got settled in accordingly. One concern I have about staying in old homes is modern conveniences but we didn't have to worry because we were pleasantly surprised to have plenty of updated bathrooms and an updated kitchen along with a very nice laundry unit. We have already decided to head back and stay at this home again within the year. I highly recommend this home for those wishing to stay in or near Castine!
Jennifer D.
June 2015
"Comfortable and historic home"
We had a wonderful stay at this home in the heart of Castine. The home is beautifully maintained and spotless. It is exactly as it is described. It is also well equipped with everything you will need. Our family of 6 were very comfortable. The owners could not have been more responsive and helpful. It is located right on Main Street providing easy access to everything this quaint town has to offer - shops and restaurants, tennis and golf at the Castine Golf Club, and a hike in the Witherle Woods. We would happily stay in this house again.
Dan P.
August 2014
"Castine at its best!"
Just returned from Maine Maritime Academy graduation. The house was perfect. It is charming and comfortable. The owners are wonderful and so helpful. The house is a perfect Castine location and a wonderful vacation spot.
Patricia R.
May 2014
"Maine at Its Finest! The Jewel of Castine!"
I cannot say enough good things about this property and the lovely town of Castine. The Jonathan Lowder House was my first experience vacationing in a historic home as opposed to a hotel. This property may be historic, but it is clear the owners have spared no expense in making it welcoming to a traveler accustomed to the modern conveniences of a high-priced hotel. The furnishings were beautiful and the layout of the kitchen made it the perfect place to gather in the evenings and enjoy a glass of wine and copious amounts of lobster. I truly felt like it was my own home. Also, I had heard the house was steps from the water and the heart of Castine. This is absolutely true. It is a two minute walk at most! I had spent time in Maine throughout the years, but never in Castine. It is now my favorite place to visit in Maine! You will not regret staying at the Jonathan Lowder House is Castine. The owners could not have been more helpful and my only complaint was that I couldn't stay forever!
Kimberly E.
August 2013