Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best!

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Relax on the deck & fire up the grill...burgers anyone?

Welcome...Come In, Relax & Stay Awhile...

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

2 bedroomsSleeps 456 sq m

Popular amenities

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Free WiFi

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Check out the area

Nags Head, NC

Nags Head Fishing Pier2 min walk
Jockey's Ridge State Park6 min walk
Jennette's Pier8 min drive
Norfolk, VA (ORF-Norfolk Intl.)100 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen

Dining Area

About this property

The Tale of A Mermaid is located on Beach Road in Nags Head across from the Nags Head Fishing Pier with great beach access. Amenities include: HVAC, YOu TubeTV, WiFi, fully equipped kitchen, front porch, screened porch, back deck, outdoor shower w/ hot & cold water, washer & dryer, charcoal grill, picnic table & outside seating. Bathroom has walk-in shower (no bath tub)

Please note: Linens are NOT provided. You will need to bring or rent your sheets, pillowcases & towels.

***You will need to provide your paper products: paper towels & toilet tissue***

Address: 3404 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC 27959

***Sorry, pets are NOT allowed***

Tale Of A Mermaid is centrally located. Steps from the ocean, walking distance to fishing pier, restaurants & bars, seafood market, souvenier shop, flower shop and more. A short walk to Jockey's Ridge State Park...watching the sunset from atop this amazing sand dune is a must!

Property manager

Cindy Thornsvard

Premier Host

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Nags Head

Located in Nags Head, this cottage is near the beach. Wright Brothers National Memorial and Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Destination Fun and Stop-N-Shop Beach Shop. Full Throttle Speedway and Mutiny Bay Adventure Golf are also worth visiting. Jet skiing and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hiking nearby.

Nags Head, NC

What's nearby

Nags Head Fishing Pier - 2 min walk
Jockey's Ridge State Park - 6 min walk
Outer Banks Hospital - 4 min drive
Nags Head Woods Preserve - 7 min drive
Jennette's Pier - 8 min drive

Getting around

Manteo, NC (MEO-Dare County Regional) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

McDonald's - 4 min drive
Wendy's - 4 min drive
Blue Moon Beach Grill - 3 min drive
Miller's Seafood & Steakhouse - 4 min drive
Mulligan's Grille in Historic Cottage Row - 2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is steps away from Outer Banks Beaches and Nags Head Fishing Pier. Jockey's Ridge State Park and Tracks in the Sand are also within 15 minutes.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Kristi R., Virginia

1 Jan 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Getaway

We had a wonderful stay at the cottage. The location and amenities were just what we were looking for.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristen N.

9 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved The Little Mermaid

Perfect getaway for my mom and I! Such a charmer ~ great decor and so clean!! We especially enjoyed the screened in porch for coffee in the am or wine in the evening. We never even used the living room! Our weather was perfect ~ caught a gorgeous sunrise and dinner on the sound at sunset. Beach access was across the street, but we chose to drive a couple of blocks for a zero step entry over the dunes. Thank you, Cindy!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

lynn s.

25 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun at the outter banks

Peaceful stay in the cottage you can be as busy as you want or take time to enjoy your surroundings. Very near good places to eat and across from the beach.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda S.

11 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Beach House

Cute bungalow house across the street from the ocean. Pier across the street along with Pier House Restaurant. Jockey Ridge within walking distance. Stayed with my sister and we had plenty of room. Full kitchen had everything we needed. Plenty of room for parking. Highly recommend!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mandi G.

4 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Always the best!

We love this beautiful property. We've stayed here 4 years in a row and plan to come back next year. Highly recommend!!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Cindy Thornsvard

In 1999, we purchased an RV in the RV park in Kitty Hawk. At the time we lived in Richmond, VA & enjoyed spending weekends at the Outer Banks. As our family grew with marriages & the birth of grandchildren we needed a larger place for everyone to visit. In 2006, we purchased a lot in Nags Head and built our second home. In the spring of 2007, we took occupancy of our new home. It became our families' favorite place to spend holidays & the summer! In 2011, we sold our home in Northern VA and moved to Nags Head and became permanent residents. Living near the ocean is such a blessing. We work from our home office with a spectacular view. Life is good!!

Why they chose this property

I was contacted by a friend/realtor when this property went on the market to be sold. She knew of my love of decorating. She thought this was a project "right up my alley". My husband & I went to take of look at the cottage. I must admit that we were intrigued with the lot as it is larger than most others. The cottage was built in 1953 as a "fair weather" cottage primarily for fishermen.

Most realtors that had viewed the property thought is was deplorable & in need to demolition. As one realtor put it..."it's nothing but a tear down"!

I, on the other hand, walked through the front door and had a vision. Even though it was in need of repair & renovation I saw great potential. It was in pretty bad shape & needed some tender loving care.

The trend in vacation homes on the Outer Banks was to build them bigger & bigger. I felt as though there was a "niche market" for those looking for smaller cottages. It's rare to find a 2 bedroom cottage near the ocean.

We began renovation & remolding in the fall. My 1st renters arrived in the spring of 2012. I am very fortunate to welcome wonderful guests to The Tale of a Mermaid season after season.

What makes this property unique

My cottage is truly a little gem. It's cozy & comfortable. I take great pride in providing my guests with clean & well-appointed accommodations. The cottage is conveniently located in the town of Nags Head near restaurants, shops, grocery stores, recreation & entertainment.

The cottage has comfortable outdoor spaces to include the front porch with built-in benches, back deck to enjoy the afternoon sunshine & a screened porch to enjoy coffee and/or cocktails.

**the cottage is pet free & smoke free**