The other major benefits of renting a home or cottage on the southern coast of Maine are that with a kitchen you don’t have to eat every meal at a restaurant, and there are often multiple bathrooms and bedrooms, depending on the size of the house. If someone in the family is an early riser, he can make coffee and head to another part of the house so that everyone else can sleep in. Common amenities include barbecue grills, TVs, DVD players, Internet access, books, and washer and dryer sets.

There are many options when it comes to vacation rental homes. If you want a waterfront in Wells, Maine, you can rent it. Or if your budget’s a little tighter, you can rent a cottage in Biddeford that’s a little farther away from the water, but maybe still close enough to walk or ride your bike. If it’s just a romantic weekend getaway, you can rent a cozy condo in Old Orchard Beach.

The bottom line is that when you rent a Maine vacation rental home, you shape the course of your vacation. You have more control over what you can do and how much you can enjoy yourself. Don’t pay too much for a lobster at a restaurant, buy one at a fresh fish market, bring it home and prepare it yourself. While you’re at it, throw a steak on the grill and make it a real Maine summer vacation. Enjoy your independence as the sun sets to the soundtrack of a tide rolling in and your real-life tension rolling away.