We have a new standard in vacation rentals. We don't use numbers or stars. Our top ranking will now be called "Marty's Place" after our weeklong stay in August 2009. This home on the quiet side of Mt. Desert Island came as advertised. It was the perfect spot for early morning wanderings through the woods and along the shore of Bass Harbor and environs. We spent successive evenings in efforts to create the perfect s'mores at the fireplace out on the deck. There we were serenaded by bullfrogs in the pond that lies between the house and the beach. We watched the full moon rose through the trees. "Marty's Place" is also a great base from which to visit Acadia National Park for hiking, bicycling, kayaking, and swimming; Southwest Harbor, Southeast Harbor, Bar Harbor and the other communities of the island. "Marty's Place" is part of the village of Bernard with the village of Bass Harbor close at hand. A great little library is a 5-minute walk from the house with antiques, local crafts, art galleries, lobster fishing docks also a short walk away. There are many, many eateries on the Quiet Side but we often neglected them in favor of building family meals in the kitchen and on the grill and eating on the deck or, if there was a little rain, in the comfortable dining room. Our recommendation? Next time it just might be two weeks at "Marty's Place."