Deer Isle Hostel

This hostel is heaven on earth. The owners have created a homestead here that feels like an eden. It totally made my trip and I can’t wait to return.

The Deer Isle hostel is a perfect home away from home for the solo female vacationer — even one without a car. The off the beaten path location attracts creative explorers from all walks of life and the conversations can be as satiating as the communal dinners of farm fresh veggies, local cheeses and pot luck surprises. The talented homesteader hosts, Dennis and Annelie, have turned this land into their dream of the way life should be — and it is inspiring, kind, grateful and forever evolving.
Biking, hiking, kayaking, swimming and lobster fishing are all at your fingertips. For the curious type, learning about the art of homesteading is an added bonus to the beautiful surroundings.
The outdoor shower sealed the deal. I’ll be back Deer Isle Hostel!

I stayed two nights at Deer Isle Hostel, but could easily have stayed a month or more. The hostel is suitable for solo travelers, families, couples – really anyone who is open minded, easy going, and interested in supporting real people who embrace an off-​the-​grid, eco-​friendly lifestyle.
While it can be classified as a «hostel» because it provides low-​cost, dorm-​style housing for travelers, it is so much more than the typical hostel experience. It’s really an eco-​community in a beautiful woodland setting, run by interesting, down-​to-​earth people, and near all kinds of fun, outdoorsy things to do. When I wasn’t hanging out at the hostel and flipping through the many guest books and photo albums, I spent my time bicycling around Deer Isle, swimming in the lilly pond, picknicking at the Sand Beach in Stonington, visiting the Haystack art exhibitions, and wandering around the Tennis Preserve (just a few minutes walk from the hostel). Kayaking and canoeing is a popular activity on Deer Isle as well.
If you’re the type of traveler who needs a luxury bed and bath, air conditioning, and a refrigerator… this place isn’t for you. But if you’re interested in homesteading/​organic gardening/​sustainable living, this place is a gem. It was entirely built by hand with so much care going into every building material and method, all the electricity is solar powered, there’s a hand pump for water, composting toilet, an outdoor shower, and they pickle and preserve everything they can. Everyone I met there was friendly and they host communal dinners every evening (with the majority of the food coming straight from their veggie gardens). If you’re not sure what to expect and you want to make sure it’s a place you’d be comfortable, I’d definitely recommend reading this page on their Web site before you book a room:
I’d really recommend going though — even if you’re unsure what to think about it all. You’ll probably learn a lot, and might even be inspired to implement some of these things back home. Dennis, one of the owners, is super nice and I really enjoyed talking to him and learning about the place. He even helped me fix my bike while I was there, which was great! I didn’t get to meet Anneli because she was out of town during my stay, but I’m sure she’s equally awesome. It’s so inspiring to see how they live their life and how they happily and humbly share their home and lifestyle with others.
So much time and love went into their place that it’s amazing to see. And the owners are constantly working and improving it as well. Just really great vibes! I’ll be excited to come back in a year or two and see how it’s evolved.

Deer Isle Hostel provides all that is needed to get away from it all, without a lofty price tag, and *with* a personal touch and a very relaxed atmosphere.
You’ll be put up in a 17^th-​century-​inspired, hand-​built three-​floor house with plenty of room. There are two common sleeping rooms with three beds apiece, a communal dining area (a communal meal usually happens every day in some form, and is VERY vegetarian/​vegan friendly), organic gardens, chickens laying eggs daily, nearby launches for canoes/​kayaks, hiking trails, and good bicycling (communal bicycles are available for short rides).
You will find flora and fauna EVERYWHERE around you. Amazing and beautiful flower gardens dot the farm. At dusk, look for whitetail deer coming out of the woods.
The hostel and its proprietor is «off the grid» meaning you won’t find luxury baths and air conditioning — you won’t need those here. Electricity comes from solar panels, water comes from a hand pump. You will find washing facilities in the kitchen, but graywater must be recycled. Composting toilets and showering facilities are outside — don’t worry, you still have privacy if you want it!
If you live in the city like myself, the hostel is a great alternative to Acadia National Park — it’s 90 fewer minutes of driving, no crowds, no lines, and probably less costly! There is plenty to do on Deer Island — farmers markets, produce/​seafood stands, artisan shops, and art galleries line the roads. Many small towns are nearby. I highly recommend this if «getting away from it all» is what you need. You won’t have to worry about checking e-​mail or listen to ringing phones here. And it’s only $ 25 a night — it’s the best of everything you need and everything kept simple and quiet.