Entire home

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Beach AND Maritime Forest

Photo gallery for BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Beach AND Maritime Forest

View of 2/3 of south side of home from gazebo.  MBR wing & crofter not in view.
South side of house with MBR wing & screen porch in background.
We furnish some bikes:-).  Bring your helmets. You can rent more bikes on island
Fenced yard makes it easy to keep an eye on kids and dogs.
2 large screen porches+deck. Specialized gas grill great for grilling & roasting

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8232.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Bald Head Island, NC
  • Bald Head Island Conservancy
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Bald Head Island Lighthouse
    ‪57 min walk‬
  • Bald Head Island Country Club
    ‪56 min walk‬
  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪48 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Crofter Upstairs Bedroom Suite

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom Suite (first floor)

1 King Bed

Upstairs Front BR (private bath)

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Rear Bedroom Suite

1 King Bed

4 bathrooms

Crofter Bedroom Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Master Bath first floor

Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs Front Bedroom Bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upstairs Rear Bedroom Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Beach AND Maritime Forest

IMPORTANT BOOKING NOTE: From Memorial Day weekend through the second week in August our home ONLY rents BY THE WEEK from SUNDAY to SUNDAY. All booking requests for reservations during the last week of May, JUNE, JULY, and the first 2 weeks of AUGUST must be for a SUNDAY TO SUNDAY booking or the reservation request will not be considered for approval.

During NON-summer months AFTER the second week of August UNTIL Memorial Day weekend our home MAY be available for minimum 3 day rentals depending on the month and week and how close to your reservation date you are booking (we normally only approve requests for reservations that are less than one week in duration if they are made less than 30 days prior to arrival since we like to leave our calendar open for and give preference to families who want to book a weekly rental instead of just a 3 night weekend rental. Off season HOLIDAY WEEKEND rentals normally require a minimum 4 night rental unless booked one month or less prior to the reservation start date). Please send an inquiry if you want to book for less than a week during the non-summer non-peak season and we will let you know if the particular time period you want to book is available since we give priority to weekly rentals but do accept a request for a “long weekend” rental of just 3 nights during non-summer months for non holiday weekends if the request is made less than 30 days in advance of arrival date on a non holiday weekend or less than 7 days in advance of arrival date if it is a holiday weekend.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, the beauty & serenity of being tucked into the edge of the maritime forest right before the forest transitions into beach topography AND a quick 3 to 4 minute walk to arguably the best beach access on Bald Head Island. This is the last non-private beach access before the developed portion of Bald Head Island transitions from a dozen or so homes north of the beach access into miles and miles of undeveloped beach. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS is also near the Shoals Club. A 4 and a 6 seat golf cart to explore the island are included in the rental.

I'm Tom and my background is Design-Build and interior design and my "better half" is Lindy and her background is interior design and international furniture sales. We are SuperHosts on the "other site" and Premier Hosts on this site for the 6 bedroom vacation rental we do on our farm near Chapel Hill NC and have enjoyed hosting VRBO guests on our farm so much that we bought this home on Bald Head Island to do our "design and construction magic" and open it up to other families to enjoy.

Here is what differentiates our Bald Head home from the typical Bald Head home:

1. A quiet and shaded maritime forest setting where the maritime forest is beginning its transition into beach topography yet only a quick 3 to 4 minute walk to arguably the best beach access on Bald Head
2. The contemporary and comfortable design flair of the interior
3. Large "retreat style" bedrooms that are well-separated (no two bedrooms or bathrooms share a common wall) and give folks a chance to get away from the group and have privacy when they want some autonomy.
4. Two over-sized screen porches as well as an open deck , pergola and patio, all on the sunny south side of the home providing a myriad of options for outdoor living .

Best of Both Worlds is located on a quiet street in the edge of the maritime forest yet so close to the ocean the sounds of the breaking waves can lull you to sleep at night.

Enter the beach access that is only a quick 3 to 4 minute walk from our home and turn to your left and walk past the handful of remaining houses on the island and then you could literally walk for hours and see nothing but nature and the undisturbed beauty of miles and miles of untouched undeveloped Atlantic ocean front. No homes. No roads. No artificial dunes. Just literally miles and miles of nature and the Atlantic Ocean taking its course and sculpting the topography without man's interference.

Property manager

Tom and Lindy
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 28
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Home is not "childproofed" & no equipt furnished.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
No cats. Ask me about dog policy before booking.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
By booking this property Renter agrees to: (1) Google & read and accept all the terms and conditions of the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act
(2) Pay to repair any damages caused by the Renter or Renter's guests to Owner's home or golf carts.
(3)TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS OWNER FOR ANY LIABILITY CLAIMS BY RENTER OR GUESTS AGAINST THE OWNER TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH CLAIMS EXCEED $5,000.

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 indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Bald Head Island

Located near the beach, this holiday home is in Cape Fear Station, a neighbourhood in Bald Head Island. Bald Head Island Lighthouse and Oak Island Lighthouse are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport and North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Bald Head Island, NC

What's nearby

  • Bay Beach - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Bald Head Island Conservancy - 6 min walk - 0.5 km

Getting around

  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • Fishy Fishy Cafe
  • Frying Pan
  • Silver Coast Winery Tasting Room
  • Provision Company
  • Edgewater 122

Frequently asked questions

Is BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Beach AND Maritime Forest pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Beach AND Maritime Forest?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Beach AND Maritime Forest?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Beach AND Maritime Forest located?

Located in Cape Fear Station, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Bay Beach and Bald Head Island Conservancy. Kent Mitchell Nature Trail and Bald Head Island Lighthouse are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 42 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Emily C.

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

Wonderful Off Season Stay

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday! This house had a ton of room for our extended family and a great kitchen for large meals. Bald Head is a great place to visit any time of year!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian M.

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

Wonderful stay!

We had an amazing visit to Tom’s beautiful home on Bald Head Island! The home was tastefully decorated, had a well equipped kitchen and was very comfortable! The fenced in yard was terrific for our black lab and the golf carts were new, easy charge and got us around the island effortlessly. Bald Head Island was a great place to ring in 2025 and we’re looking forward to a return to Tom’s place. He was great with communication, and responded quickly to any questions we had. 5 stars!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ami L.

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

Amazing Stay!

This property was exactly as described, even more beautiful in person. Communication with host was quick, courteous, and incredibly helpful. We were a party of 4 couples and it accommodated us perfectly, every conceivable amenity. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Howard K.

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

What a week!

Wonderful house with all the amenities! Short walk to an uncrowded beach. Hosts were very helpful and provided excellent assistance. We had a terrific time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jaime W., Southport NC

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

Wonderful

Loved the house and area! The owner was the best ever! Can’t wait to stay again!!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sonya S.

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

Loved it!

The house was absolutely perfect for our family! It was perfectly situated in a quiet location close to the Shoal's Club and the beach. The yard was adorable and the house was also very cozy and clean. Tom was accommodating and helpful with anything we needed. We will definitely come back and stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chip B.

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

Chip & Cindy

Everything was absolutely amazing!! The bonus was getting to know Tom in the process. I feel like I've known him forever. The house is huge and has anything that you could imagine. Beautiful property!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin D.

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

Just as excellent as the first time!

This was our second time staying here, and it was just wonderful. It's in the perfect location, and in excellent condition.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary Jane K.

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

Beautiful home and wonderful location

Our entire family absolutely loved staying here a few weeks ago. Easy walk or bike ride to East Beach and I wish my own kitchen was as well stocked! The house was immaculate, comfortable and roomy and we will definitely be coming back again. The fenced yard was a huge plus with our dogs, as was the outdoor shower, the bikes and the beach chairs. Our host was beyond helpful and responsive both prior to the visit and during the week. I can't recommend the whole experience high enough.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew A., Chapel Hill

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

Family and dog friendly home near east beach

A perfect stay one minute away from beach access 42, with a fenced in yard for dogs and separate crofter. Lots of room, artistically designed home, with all of the needed amenities!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

John M.

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

Family Beach Trip

Property was 5 minute walk from East Beach. House itself was wonderful and well appointed with amenities. Kitchen was well-stocked with everything you need. Owner provided new beach chairs (6+), umbrellas, bikes, and outdoor grill was fantastic (spare propane tank was also provided). Golf carts were new and a pleasure to use. We've been coming to BHI for 9 years and this house checked all of the boxes that we look for in a house on BHI. Thanks Tom and Lindy
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patricia R.

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

Simply FABULOUS!!

Such great hosts!! We’ve been to BHI many times and this is the nicest, cleanest, most well appointed home we’ve rented. Tom and Lindy are so gracious and very communicative! We will definitely rent this home again on our next trip to BHI!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amanda K.

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

Amazing property and amazing owners

Do yourself a favor and rent this house. The house was absolutely amazing. Tom and Lindy know what they are doing. And they are amazing hosts. We had the best time. Best house on the island. We will be back for sure!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sarah W.

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

The best house

This property is amazing. Super clean, has everything you need and decorated perfectly. We rented 8 properties over the week for other family and this house was everyone’s favorite. Tom is a wonderful host. 10 out of 10!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ali W., Williamsburg

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

Perfection

We stayed for a "week after labor day" vacation with family and our toddler. This house is perfect in every way. Fully stocked, comfortable beds, decorated wonderfully, and very clean. Hosts were incredibly responsive and went out of their way to make our stay easy. Great location on the island. I have no complaints. Our best VRBO experience ever.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

shula b.

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

Bald Head Island vacation

This was our second time staying at Best of Both Worlds and it was as terrific as the first. We love the location, the house and especially the incredibly equipped kitchen. If I could change just one thing I would make one of the bedrooms with twin beds. That would be easier for siblings sharing a room. The hosts are responsive and any concerns quickly addressed. Hoping to return next summer.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

shula b.

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

Fabulous house, wonderful week

The house was perfect for us - 4 generous bedrooms, each with it’s own bathroom. The kitchen was a dream - so well equipped that we easily made meals. Everything about the house is lovely from the comfortable way it’s decorated, the layout and especially the location so close to the beach. Tom and Lindy are terrific hosts - attentive, responsive and full of useful information. We would highly recommend this house and if we come back to Bald Head with the family, I know exactly where we’ll be staying.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Wendy L.

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

Amazing Week in Best of Both Worlds.

We highly recommend this property. Best of both worlds has everything you could want for a wonderful vacation on Bald Head Island. The location is ideal with quick access to east beach and Shoals club. The house is beautiful and has everything you will need for relaxing and feeling at home, including a well stocked kitchen, games, and plenty of space to spread out as well as entertain. The bedrooms are all comfortable and private. Tom and Lindy have thought of everything and they are very responsive and attentive to your needs.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica F.

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

Amazing

First of all, the location is PERFECT. Short golf cart ride to the beach, could easily walk. Great location on the island. House was immaculate and communication with Tom was 5 stars. Unfortunately for us, hurricane Ian cut our trip by a few days but we will definitely be coming back to this house in the future. Gorgeous home and an amazing stay. Thank you, Tom and Lindy, for opening our home to us! We loved it so much.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matthew G., Charlotte

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

Amazing Family Getaway

Best of Both Worlds is an accurate name for this great property. We (2 adults, 1 infant, 2 dogs) were looking for a getaway to relax and play. We were a short walk from the beach which we felt like we had to ourselves and the dogs played every morning. We would slip back for a quick nap while the birds chirped followed by lunch in the beautiful kitchen. The fully fenced-in yard is rare on BHI and was great for us with two dogs and a young kid. The home is laid out very thoughtfully (no bedrooms share a wall so everyone has privacy) with two screened-in porches and a stunning interior. We will be renting here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tamara B., Boone, NC

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

Favorite rental on BHI!

We absolutely loved the house! It was even better than the pictures. Every bedroom was private and beautifully decorated. The kitchen was super stocked and there was a coffee/tea station that was also stocked. We were nicely surprised with a delicious bottle of wine waiting for us. Tom is a super host! His communication is great and he checked on us several times through texts. There were great instructions for checking in and out. You can tell he and Lindy(who was out of the country) are into the details. The location is the best and close to the Shoals Club and East Beach. The large fenced in yard gave privacy and would be great for dogs. We definitely took advantage of the bikes! They were in great condition. We hated to leave and look forward to “Best of Both Worlds” in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kendall O., Asheville, NC

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

Really lovely home

We were a little uncertain about the Maritime Forest location as we typically stay near the beach. In the end everyone agreed this location was better! It is an easy walk to the beach access and a bit farther (but definitely walkable!) to the Shoals Club. We loved having a yard, as did Katy (our miniature golden doodle). The yard is lovely with beautiful live oak trees and a nice gazebo. The two screened and two open porches allowed us to eat and just hangout and enjoy the space. The home is well-designed with great space and privacy - beautiful/tasteful furnishings and a great kitchen with everything we needed. Tom, the homeowner, was very helpful/responsive with a couple of questions we had and our 15-year old loved having his own space in the crofter. It was a wonderful week and we appreciate Tom & Lindy for allowing us to visit. PS - there is an outdoor shower!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alice I.

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

Dream Vacation!!!

We'd never been to BHI, but already have plans to return next Summer! And The Best of Both was that indeed and had absolutely everything we needed to "set it and forget it." A few of my favorite quotes from our stay at the Best of Both: The Mr.: The pictures really don't do it justice The 7YO: WE GOT A MANSION! The 11YO: I call dibs on the guest house, it has a full size fridge! Me: Where did they find those cool iron fish, we need one! All: We never wanna leave. It was the full gambit of emotions by the end and a full week of memory making. This retreat was more than a roof over our heads in between times at the pool and beach, it was an experience that we questioned leaving before going to spend time at the pool or the beach. Tom, what you and Lindy share with others is nothing short of spectacular. From the charming phone call prior to our arrival, to the insider tips upon request, to the end where we realized we didn't need to reach out for a darn thing, but knew you'd be at the ready if we'd needed to: THANK YOU.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristen H.

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

Spectacular Bald Head Island Oasis

There are not enough positive words to describe our experience at the Best Of Both Worlds. We had the most magical two weeks at this beautiful home located in the most ideal and private location in the forest but yet practically a stone’s throw from wonderful East Beach. We found both the main house and crofter to be absolutely immaculate from their cleanliness, to their sleek and gorgeous interiors and decor, comfortable beds, beautiful high ceilings with ceiling fans in the bedrooms, well designed layout, which gave every family member plenty of space and privacy. The gorgeous kitchen and dining room was roomy and ideal for meals and family time. The fully fenced in yard is lush and beautiful with plantings and flower pots and was perfect for both our human and pet family members. We cooked out on the amazing grill regularly and loved our time eating on the outside table with umbrella and relaxing on the two screened in porches. Tom and Lindy were the most attentive and gracious of hosts, contacting us before, during and after our trip to make sure we were fully informed, had everything we needed, and experienced the beauty of their home and the island to the fullest. They could not have been more warm, welcoming and helpful. Their two golf carts (6 seater and 4 seater) were new and pristine and suited us perfectly. We loved every minute of our Bald Head Island getaway at this amazing home and hope to return to vacation next year! Thank you, Tom and Lindy, for sharing your gem of a property with our family!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alex P.

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

amazing stay in a new property

We stayed (6 adults, one 2 year old and one small dog) for a week at this wonderful house and thoroughly enjoyed our experience! Everything about the setup, location and amenities was fantastic. The owners are clearly experienced hosts and their attention to detail and care with which they have created this exceptional property was clear to our entire extended family. I understand they did a major remodel/renovation on the property and it shows - both in the quality of the work as well as the finishes and interior design/decor. The layout is great for larger groups with the two upstairs beds located in one section of the house, the master in the adjacent ground floor wing and the crofter close by but physically separate. The house was also very well equipped - everything we needed in the kitchen and laundry, and great beach chairs/umbrellas/bikes etc. in addition to the two carts. If you have rented on Bald Head before you know that having some access to either BHI or Shoal clubs is helpful and this house had the option to add both. Shoals is literally 3 minutes away and BHI (along with everything else on the island) is about a 10 minute ride. We normally rent houses on the beach or with an ocean view, but the maritime forest location was really great - you can hear the ocean and catch the breezes, as well as having real privacy - the only adjacent houses are far away without site-lines really so it really feels like you have things to yourself. We hope to rent this same house again in the future...
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

About the host

Hosted by Tom and Lindy

Host profile image
I am a retired Design-Build guy and Lindy is a retired interior design gal. Even though we are both retired from doing projects for other clients we still like to dabble with our own personal projects and do about one project each year. Last year we transformed our farm in the Chapel Hill area into a park-like oasis that stays rented on VRBO and the other major online booking site virtually non-stop. We lived at BHI last Spring and worked on this project 7 days a week for 3 months. The photos shown online do not include approx 30% of the furniture nor do the photos include the smart flat screen TV’s in every living area and bedroom. We encourage our guests to unplug from TV’s and computers and smart phones when they visit BHI but do acknowledge that sometimes we all need to plug back in and catch up on new or biz or friends so we do provide very fast and reliable internet with a mesh network that pushes the signal out into the yard and to to crofter.

Why they chose this property

Location. Location. Location.....tucked into the edge of the maritime forest where the forest begins its transition to beach topography and only a quick 3 to 4 minute walk to the best non-private beach access on BHI since that beach access is the last non-private beach access and is the gateway to explore literally miles and miles of undeveloped unspoiled beach.

What makes this property unique

Add to this location our design and construction expertise and you have a beautiful home in an ideal location.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests