About Our Maine Getaway
About Us
Who we are, why we want to share our family vacation home with you
When we vacation with family, we go to a place we love. We love Maine.
We’re two siblings that grew up in Maine and New Hampshire, but later moved away, married, had kids of our own… and missed home. Living in California and Colorado, our children barely knew each other. We booked a summer vacation rental for both families, close enough to where we grew up that Grandma and Grandpa could hang out with us, and we had a blast.
We treasure the memories made during that two week getaway, when all generations bonded over meals, spending time together on the lake, and chatting late into the night with a bottle (or two) of wine. We started to hatch a plan to find a place of our own, where our many far flung family members could come to visit, and to reconnect. It took a while to find, but…
We want a house with a view - AND we care how it looks inside
Does that make us shallow, or just style conscious? We didn’t want an ornate, luxe palace to bring the family to, but something that felt cozy and inviting, large enough to accommodate a bunch of us with the younger set having a place to escape to, the older members having a quiet reading nook, with beds (and privacy) for all. We’re not fans of teensy rooms with plaid covered bunk beds and “vintage” linoleum kitchens. You find a lot of that in Maine, and while it has a certain charm, that wasn’t our dream.
And then we found it. Close to everything, but private, surrounded by woods, sunset views of Mount Washington, only minutes from local lakes, skiing, and big enough for a crowd. Together we worked to totally remodel the house (help provided by our Dad, and fueled by Dunkin’ coffee), imprinting our own style with antique furniture pieces we found and refinished, paintings by Kerry, and photography from both Kevin and Kerry.
It's perfect for us, but the ability to share it with other families is a gift
We can’t be here all the time, and it’s our pleasure to open our family getaway to you. For those who’ve not experienced Maine throughout the seasons, you’re in for a treat, and we share our favorite places to go, spots not to be missed, and secret finds for all times of year. From first time guests and visitors to Maine, to one of our treasured repeat guests, our goal is to make every trip to Our Maine Getaway one of great memories and time shared together in one of the loveliest spots in western Maine.
Your hosts:
– Kerry Szympruch Welton
– Kevin Szympruch
Our family DIY project: Creating Our Maine Getaway
We have history helping each other on home renovation projects, flying in to lend a helping hand and bring our skills (and tools) to get ‘er done. For our family vacation retreat, we found a home with great bones and potential, then went about making it work for our large, extended family. From top to bottom, walls, floors, and decor, we put a lot of love, care, and labor in to make sure that each time we (and you) stay, it feels welcoming, comfortable, and relaxing.
