Seguin Tree Dwellings
On an island, in the trees, this is the place to be.
As things started to open for Mainers to move around the state, we jumped at the opportunity to leave our Portland apartment for a few nights at the Seguin Tree Dwellings. We were the first visitors of the year, but their commitment to proper sanitization and following all COVID-19 protocols made us feel safe to stay.
The iridescent new leaf color glowing green against the blue sky the whole drive up—my favorite color scheme in the world. I’m reminded each spring how deeply I love the brightness new leaves bring. How special it is, especially now after months at home, to spend a few nights tucked up in the trees, closer to these leaves.
A winding gravel driveway spits us out at the Madawaska Dwelling. Pulling in, on the far side of the treehouse, I can see the snaking salt marsh of the Back River, which separates Georgetown Island from Arrowsic. On an island, in the trees, this is the place to be.
A spiral staircase brings us up to the deck with the bedroom to our left and the kitchen/bath/living space to our right. The accommodations are intentionally simple, aimed to encourage you to enjoy your surroundings. With blue jays soaring back and forth and a gently blowing canopy overhead, it’s hard not to. We settle in, dropping our bags by the bed, and filling up the fridge. The kitchen is aptly equipped with an induction stove, fridge, and basic appliances. Since we’re trying to avoid unnecessary grocery shops and aren’t dining out these days, we prepared food to about 80% ready and finished up the rest of the meals here.
Rather than our typical getaway, jam packed with adventures, we took this staycation as an opportunity to unwind and recharge, and simply enjoy somewhere other than our living room. We pulled out the ingredients for a cheese board, fired up the wood-heated hot tub, and pulled out some reading while we grazed and waited for the water to warm.
The cedar hot tub, fueled by a wood stove submerged in the tank, sits on a platform up high in the trees with the rest of the dwelling. When the water was ready, and the evening air grew chilly, we slipped in for a soak until our fingers were prunes and the warmth began to lull us to sleep under watchful gaze of the milky way.
The following day started with a pot of coffee, strawberry muffins, and a view. The forecast for our stay couldn’t have been better—while the nighttime temps dropped to around 50º F (the ideal sleeping weather!), the days were warm and sunny. While unfortunately unable to escape the grasp of work entirely, we were able to put in a half day on the screened in porch, and then turn off the computers and fully enjoy our new locale. Cam hopped on his bike and jetted over to Five Islands, a beautiful harbor with a lobster pound—among our favorites during the summer months. I used the opportunity to put my feet up and make more headway through my book, a simple activity that can be all too hard to accomplish at home sometimes.
That afternoon as the temperature dropped the wind picked up, carrying the sweet salty air wafting through the trees. A warm dinner of pasta with tomato confit hit the spot, as we bundled up and ate on the deck, the wood fired hot-tub puffing smoke gently as it reheated next to us. For the second night in a row we wrapped up our evening enveloped in the scent of the steamy cedar hot-tub. Slowly, the wind died down and the reflections crystalized on the Back River in front of us, while we chatted with the light of the moon and its dancing shadows through the tree canopy of our little getaway.
When we got back to Portland, one of my friends texted, “Looks like you had a great trip, what did you do?” My response, “We didn’t do too much, which is exactly what we needed.” With that said, there are lots of amazing things to do and see on Georgetown, here is a quick list of some of our favorites from other trips:
Berry Woods Preserve
A beautiful hike to the Kennebec River, which, you time the tides right, would make the perfect destination swimming perfect.
Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary
This network of trails yields great views along the Sasanoa River. With loops of varying lengths, it makes for a family friendly outing!
Five Islands Lobster Co.
A classic Maine lobster pound with an unbeatable view. Between the picnic tables sprawled around the pier and BYOB policy, this place is a hit for kids of all ages.
Georgetown Pottery
The beautiful assortment of ceramics are the perfect souvenir from a visit to Georgetown Island. They are known for painting Maine scenes on mugs, bowls, plates and more. You’ll regret it if you don’t leave with something.
Doubling Point Lighthouse
Established in 1898, this lighthouse was an essential marker for the ships going up and down the Kennebec River.
Christine Reighley
Managing Editor at Maine the Way
mtwquarterly.com
instagram.com/mainetheway
