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

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Welcome to The Tale of a Mermaid
We are happy to have you as our guests!
Relax on the deck & fire up the grill...burgers anyone?
The outdoor shower is waiting!
Welcome...Come In, Relax & Stay Awhile...

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedroomsSleeps 455.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Nags Head, NC
  • Nags Head Fishing Pier
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Jockey's Ridge State Park
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Jennette's Pier
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Manteo, NC (MEO-Dare County Regional)
    ‪18 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

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

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

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 Monument to a Century of Flight 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/biking trails nearby.
Map
Nags Head, NC

What's nearby

  • Nags Head Fishing Pier - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Jockey's Ridge State Park - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Outer Banks Hospital - 4 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Nags Head Golf Links - 6 min drive - 6.0 km
  • Jennette's Pier - 8 min drive - 8.1 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Plaza Azteca Restaurante Mexicano - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Blue Moon Beach Grill - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Surfin' Spoon - ‬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 Dowdy Park are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 244 out of 255 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 255 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 255 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 255 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 255 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

sharon f.

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

Great house

Had fun
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Glenn T.

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

Great little cottage

This was the perfect little cottage for me and my wife. Had everything we needed and easy access to the beach. The screened in porch was great for morning coffee.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Greg W.

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

Perfect Beach Cottage

My wife and I absolutely loved this cottage!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracy K.

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

Girls weekend

The Mermaids tail cottage was perfect for our girls weekend/Jeep trip. Cottage had a great location across from the beach and had everything we needed. Host was great to communicate with and would definitely recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kerianne P.

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

Best mother daughter trip

We absolutely loved our stay. The house was perfect. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany P.

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

Great destination!

This house was very thing we needed! Loved everything about it. Great location, decor, and simple amenities. We will stay there again
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martha B.

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

Cute little cottage, good location to activities and beach.

Well kept, clean, comfortable for two people.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Scott H.

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

Great location

Very quaint cabin close to beach access.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brittany M.

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

Great experience for our honeymoon!

We loved this cottage! It was perfect for the two of us and the location was amazing. Right next to the fishing pier and easy access to the beach. The cottage decor was adorable and it was so clean! We also loved the screened in porch. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan P.

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

Great stay

Lovely and homey. Close to beach and shopping.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristi R., Virginia

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

Katie M.

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

July Vacation

The property was very cute, great location, and would stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Great Cottage!

Once again, a great stay. We love the decor and feel!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2016

10/10 Excellent

Matthew T.

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

Great Long Weekend

Easy to get to beach and nearby restaurants/bars. Showered in the outdoor shower and grilled after the beach every day. Wonderful, relaxing stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

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

Great week

We have stayed at this property before, and it did not disappoint. The location is perfect and the cottage is great for a small family. Hope to stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

lynn s.

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

Gregory Y.

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

Great Place!

Host was communicative and accommodating. The place was clean, had a great beach feel, and was in a nice central location. We loved the screened in porch for having a cocktails, coffee, hanging out, and even a quick nap in the chair! (Also, no mosquitos!) Located next to an ice cream shop was an added bonus. The place also had a nice back yard for our kid to play and had a turnaround so entering and leaving the property was easy/convenient. We would 100% stay there again
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cathleen B.

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

Anniversary weekend

Our hostess was totally awesome. We arrived a few hous early and she let us check in right away. The house was impeccable. Everything we expected and more. The location was great, right in the middle of fun beach activity.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mandi G.

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

10/10 Excellent

Larry A.

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

Terrific property

The cottage was absolutely spotless and location was very close to the beach access. Very safe and quiet area with great off street parking.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jill P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Mermaid Cottage fun

I loved this small cottage. So perfectly decorated with comfy beds. The outside porch was a nice place to relax, too. For older adults, we needed to know about the step up to the bedrooms. Also, directions to using the TV control would have helped. Overall a convenient place to stay in Nags Head. We loved our short walks to the pier.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

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

Favorite place on the Outer Banks

This is a great rental that never disappoints. This is our second year in a row and envision more to come!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael S.

Great stay! Great location! We will be back!

We thoroughly enjoyed our week long stay over the 4th of July holiday. Perfect location for fireworks! Such a cute quaint place. Loved the outdoor shower. Cindy was very helpful and accommodating. We will be back!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sarah K.

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

Lovely old-school beach home!

We hade a wonderful stay in this adorable property! It’s literally a 2 minute walk from the beach. The house was clean and comfortable, with enough space for our family of four. Looking forward to another visit next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Robin M.

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

The Mermaid

Cute remodeled beach bungalow! Perfect for our small family of 3. We enjoyed hanging out on the side porch after a day at the beach and walking next door for fro yo.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Cindy Thornsvard

Host profile image
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**

Languages:

English