Destination Guides
Oceanfront Cottage Near Acadia That Sleeps 8
Renting a whole home near Acadia for a group of eight — what "sleeps 8" should really mean, why oceanfront is rarer than it sounds, and the mainland-gateway advantage.
August 26, 2026
The Stilla Journal
Stories, guides, and itineraries
Premium travel writing designed to help you plan — and to make the case for slowing down in remarkable places.
National Parks
Cadillac Mountain: The History, the Trails, and How to Actually Get Up There
The highest point on the eastern seaboard had a cog railway before it had a road, and a different name before it had either. What happened up there, which trail to take, and the one booking you can't leave to chance.
August 10, 2026
Acadia & Maine
How to Get a Cadillac Summit Reservation in Acadia (2026)
The one Acadia booking you can't wing: the Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation. The two-wave ticket drop, the 10 a.m. play that works, and the workarounds when it's sold out.
July 20, 2026
Acadia & Maine
Where the Owners Eat Near Acadia: Restaurants Ranked by Price
The owners' honest dining list for Acadia, Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, and Trenton — lobster in the rough, the best-value breakfast, date-night rooms, and the legendary Hibernator Challenge — ranked by price.
July 20, 2026
Acadia & Maine
Schoodic Peninsula: Acadia Without the Crowds
The only piece of Acadia on the mainland — the same granite drama as the main island with a fraction of the people. The Schoodic Loop, biking, the Anvil Trail, and Winter Harbor.
July 19, 2026
Acadia & Maine
A Perfect Week Near Acadia: A Day-by-Day Itinerary
Seven days on the coast, built from a private home in Trenton outward — classic Park Loop Road, the Quiet Side, Schoodic, a day on the water, the carriage roads, and the slow tide day guests remember most.
July 19, 2026
Acadia & Maine
The Story of Smiths Ledge
The tides, the granite, and the rocky shore that gives this stretch of the Trenton coast its character — and the hyper-local anchor beneath Eagles Nest.
July 18, 2026
Acadia & Maine
The Culture of This Coast — and a Book About It
The working-coast culture around Eagles Nest — lobstering, the tides, the seasons of Frenchman Bay — and Ernest Stanley Dodge's memoir of a Maine boyhood on this exact shore.
July 18, 2026
North Shore Minnesota
The Wild Neighbors of Nordhus
Deer at dawn, a fox across the driveway, and now and then a black bear on the deck — the wild company that comes with a stay at Nordhus, on Minnesota's North Shore.
July 11, 2026
Area Notes
North Shore Area Notes
Our seasonal orientation to Minnesota's North Shore — the rhythm of the year and what's worth checking before you come. We refresh this a few times a season.
March 12, 2026
Area Notes
Coastal Maine & Acadia Area Notes
Our seasonal orientation to the Maine coast and Acadia — the rhythm of the year and what's worth checking before you come. We refresh this a few times a season.
March 12, 2026
North Shore Minnesota
Seasons at Nordhus Lodge
A look around Nordhus Lodge and the eight wooded acres it sits on — the fire pit at dusk, the great room, and the quiet that made us choose this stretch of the North Shore.
March 11, 2026
Direct Booking Guides
What Makes a Vacation Home Feel Truly Luxury?
Luxury isn't marble countertops and a high nightly rate. It's how a home makes a stay feel. Our take on what actually sets a luxury vacation home apart.
March 10, 2026
Family Travel
Best Vacation Rentals for Remote Work and Family Travel
Working remotely while the family explores is its own kind of trip. Here's what to look for in a rental that supports both — and how to make it work.
March 7, 2026
Family Travel
How to Plan a Multi-Generational Family Vacation
Getting three generations under one roof takes a little planning. A practical guide to choosing the home, the destination, and the rhythm that keeps everyone happy.
March 4, 2026
Direct Booking Guides
What to Look for in a Luxury Vacation Rental
A luxury rental is more than nice photos. Here's what actually matters when you book a home for a family or group — and the questions worth asking first.
March 1, 2026
Seasonal Guides
Coastal Maine Packing List
The Maine coast runs cool, changeable, and rocky. A practical packing list for Acadia and the Mount Desert Island region, whatever the season.
February 26, 2026
Acadia & Maine
Things to Do Near Mount Desert Island
Mount Desert Island holds most of Acadia and the region's harbor towns. Here's what to do on and around the island — and where to base a quieter trip.
February 23, 2026
Acadia & Maine
Coastal Maine Vacation Rental Guide
Renting on the coast of Maine comes down to location, season, and the right home. A practical guide for the Mount Desert Island and Acadia region.
February 20, 2026
Acadia & Maine
Family Guide to Visiting Acadia National Park
Acadia is one of the most family-friendly national parks in the country. A simple plan for visiting with kids — carriage roads, easy summits, and a calm home base.
February 17, 2026
Acadia & Maine
Trenton, Maine vs Bar Harbor: Where Should You Stay?
Both put you minutes from Acadia — but they make very different trips. The verdict up front, then the honest trade-offs on space, crowds, dining and drive times.
February 14, 2026
North Shore Minnesota
Best Luxury Vacation Rentals on Minnesota's North Shore
What separates a luxury North Shore rental from an ordinary cabin — and how to choose one that fits a family or group heading to Lutsen and Grand Marais.
February 11, 2026
North Shore Minnesota
Lake Superior Vacation Rental Guide
Renting near Lake Superior means choosing your stretch of shore, your season, and the right home for your group. A practical guide to getting it right.
February 8, 2026
North Shore Minnesota
Family Weekend Guide to Lutsen, Minnesota
A weekend in Lutsen works in every season. Here's a simple family plan — slopes and trails by day, a big warm house by night — plus how to make it easy with a group.
February 5, 2026
North Shore Minnesota
Best Things to Do Near Grand Marais, MN
Grand Marais is the cultural anchor of Minnesota's North Shore — a harbor town of galleries, bakeries, and trailheads. Here's how to spend a day, and where to base the trip.
February 2, 2026
Direct Booking Guides
Why Book Direct Instead of Airbnb or VRBO?
Booking direct usually means better value, a direct line to the people who care for the home, and none of the platform confusion. Here's what changes when you skip the middleman.
January 15, 2026
Direct Booking Guides
Stilla Private Homes: Our Approach to Curated Stays
A curated collection is not the same as a big catalog. Here's how we choose homes, what 'professionally managed' actually means, and why place comes first.
January 10, 2026
Acadia & Maine
Best Places to Stay Near Acadia National Park
Can you stay inside Acadia? Only if you camp. A survey of every real option — in-park campgrounds, the island towns, and the mainland gateway — and who each one actually suits.
January 5, 2026