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Carpe Diem, Beachfront, Fun Game Room, Outdoor Hot Shower, Linens Included

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Welcome to Carpe Diem.
Lots of seating with built in benches on the deck.
Street side with large paved drive way.  Patio with gas grill on the right.
Captain Quarters.  South King Bedroom.  Ceiling Fan,  Sliding door to deck.
South King Bedroom.  Wicker dressers.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 14223.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Surf City, NC
  • Surf City Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Surf City Pier
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪45 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Downstairs Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Downstairs Bedroom 2

3 Single Beds

King North

1 King Bed

King South

1 King Bed

Queen South

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Twin

2 Single Beds

3 bathrooms

Downstairs Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

North Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Outside Shower

Outdoor shower

South Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Outdoor shower
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Carpe Diem, Beachfront, Fun Game Room, Outdoor Hot Shower, Linens Included

Unwind and leave the world behind as you step into Carpe Diem. Relax in the ambiance of a true Carolina beach cottage with wood walls, charming beach-themed furnishings and expansive ocean views. The beds in your spacious bedrooms will be made, and bathrooms will have towels. Step out on the deck on the way to the ocean, passing the full hot/cold enclosed outdoor shower with dry changing area. The gate at the top of the stairs keeps your furry family members enclosed in the deck area. Conveniently situated in Surf City, south of the bridge, Carpe Diem allows easy access to fun and shopping, both on and off the island.

Family and friends will lounge comfortably on the spacious deck furniture overlooking the surf. Enjoy meals prepared in the modern, open plan kitchen which is fully equipped with everything needed to create beach side feasts. Grill your catch of the day downstairs or put a cake in the oven for your oceanfront celebration, while you watch the dolphins play in the surf!

In the evening as light fades through the great room skylights, gather to play your favorite movies, TV or music in the surround sound equipment. Little ones can enjoy their own DVD entertainment, relaxing in their rooms. High speed Internet keeps everyone in touch with the folks back home. Access the hall closet for a variety of “fun and games”. Work on jigsaw puzzles, or take a trip through Candy Land, Park Place or Board Walk. If the little ones get too ‘board’ with the games, head downstairs to start your own Foosball, or Ping Pong tournament! The future young NBA stars can practice their moves with the Pop-A-Shot! Browse the downstairs closet of beach toys. Build the sandcastle of your dreams. Boogie board or try your luck with horseshoes or cornhole games on the beach. Whatever you imagine for your beach side vacation, Carpe Diem will help you make it come true.

With most living areas on one level stair climbing is reduced. The main level is a split plan with four bedrooms ( 2 king beds, 1 queen, and a pair of twins), two baths, the center of the house is a great room. Seating for eating includes a kitchen island with 3 bar stools, a 8 place dining table and a 4 place game table in the family room. We regularly host dinners with friends and neighbors. Feeding large groups is easy at Carpe Diem. Send your Barbecue heroes to the large gas grill to do some of the cooking in the patio at the front of the house.

The lower level will be happily taken over by the younger generation. There you will find two bedrooms, one with 3 twin beds and one with a queen size bed and a twin bed, as well as a full bath. The bedrooms open onto the garage which is converted into the fully equipped game room. In the game room you’ll find ping pong, foosball, pop-a-shot, a large TV, loud stereo, card table, mini fridge, built in counter and stools, game closet with beach toys, balls, bingo, etc. Please note that the lower level is connected to the main level only by the outside steps on the front entry to the house. Use the intercom on the cordless phone to call them for dinner. Maybe the kids will invite you down to challenge you to a game.

* Bed sizes: King, King, Queen, 2 Singles, Queen and 1 Single, 3 Singles.
* On 2 levels with exterior stairs only - no interior stairs between levels.
* Most living areas on 1 level.
* Central heat & air, ceiling fans, dishwasher, washer/dryer.
* 6 cable (digital service with HD programming and movie channels) flat panel TVs; home theater sound system, Blu-Ray player, 2 DVD players.
* Wired/wireless high speed internet access
* Oceanfront open deck with built-in seating, safety gate, lounge chairs, and other furniture.
* Garage provides ping pong table, foosball table for your enjoyment as well as storage space for your beach items. This area has A/C.
* Enclosed outside shower with hot water.
* Grilling allowed. Gas grill (gas provided).
* No smoking allowed in house.
* Partial weeks not allowed.
* Storage room and workshop off garage not available




Property manager

Kevin Rahl
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: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Downstairs Bedrooms have exterior stairs only.
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Events

No events allowed
No guests on property beyond max occupancy of 15.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
$150 pet fee per dog. See house rules for more.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Outside only. Use smoker poles/No butts on ground.
Please read the rental rules for details including requirements for Pets, No smoking, refunds for hurricanes, packing lists, beach safety.
A copy/photo of your driver's license is required. See rental rules for submission
Please report damage so we can get it repaired promptly. Accidental damage is covered up to $1500.

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
Note from host: No guests on property beyond max occupancy of 15.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Surf City

Located in Holly Ridge, this holiday home is on the beach. Holly Shelter Game Land and Surf City Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Thomas Tackle and Seafood and Ohana Paddle Sports. Travelling with kids? Consider Mia's Marketplace, or check out an event or a game at Topsail Skating Rink Topsail Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Surf City, NC

What's nearby

  • Surf City Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Ohana Paddle Sports - 3 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Surf City Pier - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Southside Park - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
  • The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center - 7 min drive - 6.1 km

Getting around

  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Buddy's Crab House & Oyster Bar - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Salty Turtle Beer Company - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Sears Landing Grill & Boat Docks - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Carpe Diem, Beachfront, Fun Game Room, Outdoor Hot Shower, Linens Included pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Carpe Diem, Beachfront, Fun Game Room, Outdoor Hot Shower, Linens Included?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Carpe Diem, Beachfront, Fun Game Room, Outdoor Hot Shower, Linens Included?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Carpe Diem, Beachfront, Fun Game Room, Outdoor Hot Shower, Linens Included located?

Nestled on the beach, this Holly Ridge holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Surf City Beach and Thomas Tackle and Seafood. Ohana Paddle Sports and Surf City Pier are also within 2 miles (3 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. 91 out of 92 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 92 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 92 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 92 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 92 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

christina m.

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

Christmas at the Carpe Diem!

We spent Christmas at the Carpe Diem. My family, my brother's family and our parents stayed here. The house was beautifully appointed, comfortable, and everyone had room to gather in the living room or spread out as needed. We are big foodies and the kitchen had literally every pot, pan, dish, cooking tool and utensil you could possibly need. We absolutely loved the playroom (adults and kids alike!). The house was clean and the beach views were astounding. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Denise B.

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

Wonderful experience!

We had a truly wonderful stay at Carpe Diem, coming from someone with lots of VRBO experiences. This home was so warm and inviting & so well stocked! We wanted for nothing, from ages 20 to 82!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

George P.

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

5 Stars in Topsail!

After 10 consecutive years in our favorite house on Topsail, our family needed to look for a different location this season. Carpe Diem was the perfect fit! In the midst of a tropical depression the house and game room were great assets. Kevin is a great host with speedy replies. Once the weather cleared, we savored the location and mere footsteps to the beach. Hope to return!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

cheryl l.

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

Very Impressed

The house was very nice.we had a great time.but was I was most impressed with was the owner. Thank you Kevin
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kellie S.

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

Beach Bliss

Carpe Diem was a perfect fit for our family vacation! The cousins loved having their own space to retreat to, and called it their cousin clubhouse. With all of the game choices they never even thought to watch TV or go on iPads. The kitchen was well stocked, and beds and furniture were comfortable. House while looking small from the outside was very spacious for the number of people we had. View was amazing. We will definitely book at Carpe Diem again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dan G.

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

Great location and all the amenities you could want!

Had a wonderful family stay at Carpe Diem! Right on the beach and the house had all of the amenities you could possibly think of. Well stocked, clean and a great game room to boot.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christian J.

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

Toes in the sand

My family and I had a wonderful week vacation at Carpe Diem. Awesome location that is right on the beach. We loved how convenient it was to the beach and pretty much everything else on the island. Outside of the location, the top 2 amenities were the game room for the kids on the 1st floor: axe throwing, ping pong, foosball, and arcade basketball-my grandsons broke all of the high scores on the basketball game. The other great part of the house is the kitchen. We have stayed on Topsail for over 15 years is this house was by far, the most equipped kitchen we have ever had. You name it, it was included. This house was a lucky find and a great time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Whitney D.

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

Great stay

Vacation home was perfect for a family looking to stay right on shore. We had zero complaints or issues. Little steep trek to the beach which could be difficult to some people. But if you have no accessibility concerns, you'll love your stay! Contact with the host was simple, probably one of the best I've had staying in vrbo properties.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Theresa C.

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

Wonderful!

Kevin and Rebecca are great at communicating. My friends and I have been renting in Surf City for about 15 years. First time at Carpe Diem, won’t be the last. Highlights: All linen supplied except for beach towels. Best kitchen utensils, pots and pans that we have ever had at a rental A welcome bag with toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags etc so you don’t have to run out to the store. Brilliant idea! A gas grill, with extra tank if needed, on a patio area out front (many rentals will not let you use a grill) The game room in the basement. Really comfortable beds and pillows Clean, clean, clean! Great location Fantastic for a multigenerational family Plenty of loungers on the deck TV in every room Lots of kids buckets and spades Our week was the beginning of May. One of the times you hope the weather is good, it was. Again I have to repeat, best supplied kitchen EVER! Thanks guys! We’ll be back.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great Location and easy beach access

I have rented several vacation houses from NC to Florida and this house is now at the top of my list and we will definitely be staying here again. The house was clean, looked even better in person than in the pictures and is close enough to the bridge that you don’t have to drive 30 minutes to get somewhere. If you have a cart it’s easy to get on the beach with just a few steps to go down to get on the beach. Plenty of entertainment downstairs for kids and adults if it happens to rain as well.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mickey S.

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

Awesome Family Vacation!

This was the best place we have stayed on vacation yet.You get everything advertised in the listing and more. We enjoyed every minute of the time we had here even though our stay was cut short by tropical storm Ophelia by one day. We probably could have stayed, but we were cautious as no one knew exactly what might be coming. Any way, we highly recommend this place and the owners couldn't have been more gracious and accomodating.I keep thinking that one of my adult children will want to do their own thing with their children someday,but If we are fortunate enough to vacation as a family again next year, I hope this place is available when it's time to make the reservation.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

lisa c.

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

Fun at the BEACH

Property Great! Well stocked kitchen, great lay out. We enjoyed the game room, and loved location of house. Cant wait to come back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Roger H.

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

Perfect House on the Beach

We just returned from a wonderful week at a beautiful ocean front property at Surf City, NC. We have been coming to Topsail Island for over 40 years watching our three girls grow up and now have their own families. This year we stayed at Carpe Diem for the first time and could not be any more pleased. From the very beginning, Kevin & Rebecca were very responsive to any questions and extremely welcoming to our family. The house suited our needs perfectly and was immaculately furnished and supplied with anything we could need. We would highly recommend Carpe Diem for anyone who appreciates attention to detail and being able to take a few steps out the back sliding doors and put their toes in the sand.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Becky S.

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

Family vacay

Kevin & Rebecca, Thank you for allowing us to stay at your rental! It was a beautiful experience. Your property was EXACTLY what we needed!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tammy R.

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

Family Beach Week

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Carpe Diem! The view is great, the house is very well equipped for a relaxing and fun family week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Logan S.

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

Smith family

Great place! We enjoyed our stay! Perfect for our group. Great access to beach. We had 7 boys in our group so the game room was perfect! We definitely stay again! Host very responsive and helpful with any questions
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charlotte T.

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

Great location, excellent layout, well stocked oceanfront

We really enjoyed this rental. Easy to keep clean. Great spaces for all ages. My only suggestion would be to provide better pillows. Note: the walk from the steps to the beach is through very thick sand and the incline is very steep. It was difficult for my parents and me (following recent foot surgery) to make it up and down. This is due to the beach renourishment and outside of the owners control. Someone tied a thick rope with knots to a neighboring public walkway.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert W.

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

Mom's 90th Birthday celebration

House was fabulous. It had everything you could think of in the kitchen, plenty of beds and right on the beach. We watched the sun rise every day. Plenty of seating in the dinning room for a large group. We had a a wonderful time and would recommend this house to anyone. Owners were great, friendly, and helpful throughout the entire rental proses
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda A.

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

Awesome 2022 Family Vacation!!

We had a fabulous and peaceful. Carpe Diem is a wonderful place to stay!! The house, nautical decor, fully stocked kitchen, outside hot shower. The view from the kitchen and living room is phenomenal—the BEACH is the BACKYARD!! Just a few steps and your toes are in the sand!! This area is quite and not very populated. We had our private area everyday and anytime we decided to go on the beach. We’ve stayed on Topsail for the week and had to pay for linens to be provided. Carpe Diem provides linens. Only another thing we love about it!! The kids & young adults enjoyed staying downstairs playing games. It’s an absolutely perfect location. We had 13 people of our extended family on vacation, ages 1 year old granddaughter to 80 year old great-grandma. EVERYONE enjoyed our family vacation! Hope to stay here again next year!!! Thanks Kevin & Rebecca for sharing your home!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ann B.

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

We had a great time visiting, relaxing and enjoying the great view of the beach.

This property was perfect for our family. Adults had the upper floor and the children had the lower floor. The children (all cousins) enjoyed their time together playing Foosball, Ping Pong and Basketball as well as games.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Paula P., North Canton, Ohio

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

Great place with so many extras.

This was a great rental experience. The owners answered questions promptly and we had the best time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca S.

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

Carpe Diem

Carpe diem did not disappoint, what a beautiful home with outstanding views. Spent the week with the whole family enjoying and relaxing. Home was clean and had any amenity you could think of or need. Host was super responsive and helpful anytime we were in touch. Thanks for the great week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark F.

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

Family Reunion

This is a nice space with a big, open main area. The bedrooms are large compared to other places we've stayed. We had fun coming together for family and beach time. Super nice outdoor shower, lots of dishes, and other small things that most rentals do not provide. The owner is great to work with, and the beach is very, very close. Enjoy it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ann G.

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

Amazing and Perfect!!

Location- Perfect Cleanliness -Perfect Host - Perfect Wow what can I say our family of 14 fit perfectly in this house. The kitchen has every utensil one could possibly need and more. The view was spectacular. We felt like we were floating on the ocean which was just steps from the house. The house was extremely well maintained and beautifully decorated. Our family enjoyed game time in the lower floor game room with ping pong to name just one. The hosts were just a text message away however we did not need to contact them as the accommodations were flawless. The beds were super comfortable. All appliances + (two coffee makers) great working order. We never felt crowded for space. And I just have to say the house has such a warm wonderful feeling it just made us all calm and happy!! Great job I wish I could give this house and its host more than five stars..
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Vicki A.

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

Magical!

Wonderful house, beyond gorgeous setting… an unforgettable week.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022

About the host

Hosted by Kevin Rahl

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests