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Classic Beach Cottage - Short Walk to Kennebunk Beach

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The Bait Can
Front Porch - "Bait Can Beach"
Front Porch
Living Room
Living Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 122200 sq ft

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Kennebunk Beach, ME
  • Kennebunk Beach
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Gooch's Beach
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Dock Square
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Sanford, ME (SFM-Sanford Seacoast Regional)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Single Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Single Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Classic Beach Cottage - Short Walk to Kennebunk Beach

The Bait Can is a wonderful summer refuge for families and groups of friends. Enjoy the southern Maine seacoast, beautiful crescent beaches with the softest sand you'll ever feel, delicious lobsters and seafood, a great getaway for those who want to escape the hot summer. Bring a sweater or sweatshirt for the cool evening temps!

The home was built by the owners' great (and great-great) grandfather who built several beach cottages in Kennebunk Beach during the early 20th century. It has been lovingly maintained and enjoyed by five generations of family.

Built in 1922, the house is in original condition throughout, but with upgraded kitchen and bathrooms. You'll love the enclosed outdoor shower and claw foot tub! The Bait Can is a charming, informal home, loved by all - a great place to hang out and relax.

Within a short walk, bike or drive the Kennebunk Beach area offers all of the amenities that make for a great vacation. Bring your children and grandchildren, bring your pets, bring your friends and enjoy a great vacation in 'Vacationland.'

Property manager

Margy Hall

Languages

English, Spanish
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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Exterior

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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
10.0 out of 10, (74 reviews)
Ocean/Beach With Magnificent Views: A Unique New England Experience !

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 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 2 total)
Pets are welcome! Limit of 2.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please keep quiet hours between 10 pm and 8 am
Pets are not allowed on furniture or beds
Please roll trash and recycling bins from the street to the garage on Monday after pick up.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Kennebunk

Located in Kennebunk, this holiday home is near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Moody Beach and Ogunquit Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Bette-Jean's and Gardens at Historic Wallingford Hall. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Kennebunk Beach, ME

What's nearby

  • Mother's Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Kennebunk Beach - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Gooch's Beach - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Kennebunkport Harbor - 4 min drive - 2.8 km
  • Dock Square - 5 min drive - 2.9 km

Getting around

  • Wells Regional Transportation Center - 15 min drive
  • Sanford, ME (SFM-Sanford Seacoast Regional) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Maine Diner - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Alisson's Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Federal Jack's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Litchfields - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pilot House Restaurant - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Classic Beach Cottage - Short Walk to Kennebunk Beach 8/30- 9/6 OPEN! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Classic Beach Cottage - Short Walk to Kennebunk Beach 8/30- 9/6 OPEN!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Classic Beach Cottage - Short Walk to Kennebunk Beach 8/30- 9/6 OPEN!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Classic Beach Cottage - Short Walk to Kennebunk Beach 8/30- 9/6 OPEN! located?

This family-friendly Kennebunk holiday home is located by the sea, within a 10-minute walk of Mother's Beach, Kennebunk Beach and Webhannet Golf Club. Gooch's Beach and Dock Square are also within 2 miles (3 km).

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. 47 out of 49 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 49 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 49 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 49 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 49 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Gale S.

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

House - walking distance from a great beach.

We all loved our stay at the Baitcan. We especially enjoyed the front porch, outdoor shower, and sun porch. Great for multi-generational family and a dog!!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dawn C.

Wonderful location and owner is great!

The Bait Can is in the perfect location and the owner is great!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

K S.

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

A perfect stay.

The bait can is a gem and the hosts are friendly and accommodating. A+
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kendra C.

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

The best Maine beach vacation!

This house is truly amazing - so much history! We felt immediately at home, and the location couldn't better. It was easy to walk to and from the beach, and the neighborhood is great - quiet and friendly. Margy & Burt made sure we were all set each step of the way, and made the rental process seamless. We can't wait to go back!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

David H.

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

Fastastic week with family and friends

House was a great vacation week for our extended family and small dog. Enjoyed the walks to the beach, and close access to everything. Front porch was a perfect afternoon reading spot.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Ellen B.

Perfect Beach Cottage

Love this house with all its charm and cottage ambience. Well equipped and maintained. A fantastic location, one block from the beach but on a super quiet road. Spacious front porch is a perfect place for cocktails and later on star gazing!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Meredith H.

Perfect beach house

This was our 7th year going to the Bait Can. It is perfect for 2 families. Very close walk to the beach, everything provided, awesome outdoor shower. Just can't say enough.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dawn C.

Wonderful New England house with all the amenities!

Great location and the owners supply beach and bath towels, beach chairs and have all of the beds made up prior to our arrival. Would definitely love to return here! The owner was very helpful with my questions and responded very quickly to my emails. The location of this house is awesome- only a 3 minute walk to the beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Brian P.

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

FANTASTIC!!!!!

My family and I had an incredible week staying at the Bait Can. From the moment we booked, the host was very responsive and sent a welcome packet. The house was great and can’t beat the location. They had toys, beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers and everything needed for a beach vacation. Will definitely be back and highly recommend
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

MJ M.

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

Great place for a family getaway

The Bait Can is reminiscent of places my kids stayed when they were kids. It has all the amenities a family could need. Everything we needed was there - so we were able to stay in the home and enjoy the Mother's Beach. My only recommendation is for a few A/C units upstairs as it was difficult for kids to nap when the temp is over 80.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Joanne C., Dedham MA USA

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

Our vacation at The Bait Can

The Bait Can was perfect to vacation with our whole family. There were 8 adults and 4 grandchildren. The house was plenty big enough for all of us. It was only a short walk to the beach and we had great weather. Everything you need is supplied by the owners. Thank you to the Halls.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Exceeded our Expectations

The Baitcan was perfect! It exceeded our expectations. We had 6 adults and 6 kids from 2.5-14 yrs. The house had plenty of room to fit all of us comfortabley. Nice deck and yard to hang out on after a long day at Mother's beach. Outdoor shower was great.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

caroline s.

Another good year

This was our second year at the Baitcan and we enjoyed it more than the first year. It is truly a wonderful, comfortable place. The weather was fantastic so those short walks to the beach made it easy. Sandcastles, dogs running (ours included during those special hours) hunting crabs, swimming in some wonderful waves, fishing on the Librte Rose were some of the highlights. We have done VRBO for 15 years. This house is the best!! And room for our whole family around the dining room table. Thank you, Margy, for a wonderful stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Meredith H.

BEST FAMILY VACATION EVER

My family(my husband and 3 boys) and our best friends(have 4 children) have been renting the Bait Can for the past 4 years. It is by far my favorite place. The house is so cozy and I love to hear the ocean as we sleep. The yard is big enough for the kids to play and the walk to the beach takes a minute. The outdoor shower is a big hit as well. Everything you need is right there. Margy is beyond a pleasure to rent from and she is very accommodating. You will LOVE it!!!!!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

I love this place!

This is the second time we've installed ourselves in the Bait Can, and we come with a variety of kids and adults and one dog. It's clearly a family-friendly place, within a short walk of Mother's Beach--as the name would indicate, a great place for younger kids to wade and check out the life in the tidal pools. The KBIA playground is also close to hand, which was great for the younger grandkids. It's a nicely-equipped cottage for my husband's short-order-cook breakfasts and my seafood dinners; the gas grille works beautifully, and there were enough beds, towels, dishes and toys to keep our four families happy and even serve a guest for two nights during our stay. Great place, excellent location, and games and puzzles for rainy days as well.

10/10 Excellent

caroline s.

Third wonderful stay

Our three generations and dog love the Bait Can. It is so comfortable inside and out. How many places furnish a coffee grinder and herbs growing in pots? The beach is steps away and there are many other adventures to explore. Peak's Island was our newest place to visit and went fishing again on the Liberte Rose with Captain Bruce. Kids are a little older now so each slept in a bed instead of huddling on the couch like the first year and every day they made a bigger and better sand castle. The front porch seemed to be the meeting place and the dining table (which is fantastic) is big enough for a full fledged monopoly game on a rainy day. Margy is wonderful. So much is furnished, the generosity is appreciated, and we always leave something for the next lucky folks. It was the best time ever.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

caroline s.

The best vacation ever!!

We have been doing family vacations for at least 10 years and this year at the Bait Can ranks number one! We include three generations of six adults, five children, and one golden retriever. On the practical side I appreciated the nice, heavy beach towels that were provided as well as so many items like the coffee grinder, dish soap, and condiments left from guest to guest; one son said he loved having the beach chairs and toys, and the yard games; the other son said the appliances, sharp knives, the beautiful house and wonderful space were super. (We came from Indiana, Texas, and Louisiana so it was good not to have to worry about all of the above.) Beds were so comfortable, even though the kids spread out every night in the living room--cousins forever. The house is totally charming, a living history with wonderful artwork and a real authenticity. The front porch is perfect for sitting to read or visit and cocktail hour. The side yard was perfect for our family wiffle ball tournament (you will find some balls in the bushes when the leaves fall off, Margy--we didn't want to ruin the flowers.) The outdoor shower was perfect for rinsing off sand, tho I wouldn't have wanted to be in it when someone dumped some ice water from the dining room window. The walk to the beach was easy. The morning walk (before 9:00) with our dog was like a doggie day care, so much fun for owners and pets. We spent days at the beach, a day at a state park, and two groups of the family went on trips with Captain Bruce of the Libreti Rose, a real highlight of our trip. We caught two stripers, a totally delicious fish you cannot find in the store. We got lobster at a fish market in Arundel, Margy's recommendation, and it was wonderful. Being a family who loves to cook, the only eating out we did was for a lobster roll/taco lunch. If there is a downside, it was that we were not used to such concentrations of traffic on the freeways, but as one one son put it, Damn Great Trip!

10/10 Excellent

Ernest R., Vermont

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

Everything you need for an ocean vacation.

A very cool property that has everything you need. Fully stocked kitchen and all the beach toys and chairs you need. Room to spread out, fun yard to play in. Would book again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Hardy M.

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

Relaxing Enjoyable stay at the Bait Can

The Bait Can is a hidden gem. It's located in a quiet neighborhood just a minutes walk to the beach. The house itself has historic charm - beautiful old hardwood floors, nicely decorated - you can tell that generations of family and friends have enjoyed it. The enclosed side porch is bright and warm with the afternoon sun, and the front deck is nice anytime. When we arrived it was hot and humid and the recently added living room ceiling fan made it comfortable, and a few days later it got much cooler especially in the morning and the recently added gas fireplace made it warm. Very nice place with historic charm. Highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mike P., Washington, DC

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

Cute house right across from the beach

The Bait Can really was a wonderful place for us to spend the better part of week with our dog. The location can’t be beat in Kennebunk! The house was exactly as described and what we expected, and we ran into no problems during our stay. Highly recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christy P.

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

Great stay

We had a great time in Kennebunk! The house was lovely and a great location. Plenty of linens and towels and kitchen was fully stocked. Can’t wait to stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Peter L., Scituate, MA, USA

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

Quintessential Maine summer cottage experience

This classic cottage has all the spaces that are important for a family group to enjoy themselves. Great porch, dining areas, big kitchen, lawn for outdoor games and lots of bedrooms. Doesn’t hurt to be 4 minutes walk from a perfect little beach. We loved it
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

tamera a.

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

Perfect summer week @ the Bait Can!

The moment our 3 generations walked in we felt at home & relaxed! Comfortable, cozy yet roomy, the interior is full of beachy charm. The owners have thought of everything! We've ready requested our week for next summer!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Leslie G.

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

Perfect family reunion

House is quintessential beach house. So many thoughtful touches-games, flowers on deck, beach chairs, toys, cart. All was clean. Location perfect for multi generation get together. Outdoor space and gentle, short walk to perfect Maine beach. We hope to return!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sue and Chris H.

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

The Bait Can

My family and I had an amazing week at the Bait Can. It had all the comforts of home along with plenty of space for all 12 of us. We absolutely loved evenings spent out on the porch with sounds and smells of the ocean. I would highly recommend this beautiful property to anyone looking for a special spot to stay in Maine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

About the host

Hosted by Margy Hall

Host profile image
The Bait Can is co-owned by the Hall and Ryder families. Margy Hall is the great-granddaughter of Charles W. Arnold, who built the Bait Can for his 4th daughter (Margy's grandmother) in 1922, as a wedding gift. She now shares ownership with her husband Burt, and her children, Katie and Tim, and their spouses, Jon and Amanda. Our summers growing up were spent in this wonderful house.

Why they chose this property

What makes this property unique

KBIA (www.kbia.org) offers a wide variety of children's activities and programs, and is located just a 5-minute walk from the house - next to the beach.

Check out local favorites - Nunan's Lobster Hut, in Cape Porpoise, All-Day Breakfast in Lower Village, Merrifield's for berry picking, the Lobster Company on Rt. 1 in Arundel for fresh (live) lobsters and seafood, Cape Arundel Golf Club (where the Bush's play), Rachel Carson Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, great outlet shopping in nearby Kittery and Freeport (home of L.L. Bean).

Languages:

English, Spanish
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