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

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Beach nearby
Exterior
TV
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedroomsSleeps 4600 sq ft

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Nags Head, NC
  • Jockey's Ridge State Park
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Nags Head Fishing Pier
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Jennette's Pier
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Manteo, NC (MEO-Dare County Regional)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Nags Head

Seaside stay .Your stay at this cottage will put you steps from Nags Head Fishing Pier and a 5-minute walk from Outer Banks Beaches. Jockey's Ridge State Park and Dowdy Park are also within half a mile (1 km).
View more Cottages in Nags HeadOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Jockey's Ridge State Park - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Nags Head Fishing Pier - 1 min drive - 0.3 miles
  • OBX Laser Tag - 3 min drive - 1.7 miles
  • Nags Head Woods Preserve - 7 min drive - 3.6 miles
  • Jennette's Pier - 9 min drive - 6.2 miles

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

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

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

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Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Shower

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washer/dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping mall
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Optional golf privileges
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 600 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

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
Onsite 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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.

Property is also known as

Circa 1953 Beach Cottage...this is 'old School' Beach It's Best
Circa 1953 Beach Cottage...this is 'old School' Beach It's Best

Frequently asked questions

How close is Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! to the airport?

This cottage is 11.6 mi (18-min drive) away from the Manteo, NC (MEO-Dare County Regional) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this cottage.

How close is Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! to the beach?

This cottage is a short 2-minute walk from Outer Banks Beaches and 6.8 mi (10-min drive) from Kitty Hawk Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! offer free breakfast?

This cottage does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best!?

No, there is no casino at this cottage.

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.

Is there free parking at Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best!?

Free parking is not available at this cottage.

Does Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! have a pool?

This cottage does not have a pool.

Does Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this cottage.

How close is Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best! to downtown Nags Head?

This cottage is 0.4 mi away from Nags Head.

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

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 250 out of 261 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 261 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 261 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 261 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 261 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

MICHAEL O.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nags Head Trip

The home was very clean, and close to the beach. We enjoyed the central location to grocery stores and to decent restaurants. It was a short walk to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, a popular place to take pictures on the sand dunes. Cindy did a nice job decorating the house and it was very comfortable for my wife and I. If we return to the Nags Head we would be interested in staying here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gabriel H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Yearly MN pals trip

We loved our stay. Spent lots of time on the beach and meeting the surrounding outer banks enjoyers. Lovely cottage with great AC.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing

Another great trip to the mermaids tale. Loved all of it…house, location, decor, cleanliness, and Cindy.Thanks again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tom M., Delaware

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect stay

Everything about this property was perfect. Location, layout, communication. We loved the porch and the outdoor shower. We also loved the beds, and I know a few reviewers didn’t. But we thought they were great. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chrissy K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very cute and clean its also close to the beach!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

Liked: Cleanliness

3rd Time Staying

We love this place as our annual get-away!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

sharon f.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great house

Had fun
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Glenn T.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Tracy K.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Gregory Y.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Brittany M.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Tiffany P.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Kerianne P.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Greg W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect Beach Cottage

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

10/10 Excellent

Jill P., United States

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Cathleen B.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Martha B.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Kristi R., Virginia

Liked: Cleanliness

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.

Liked: Cleanliness

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.

Liked: Cleanliness

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.

Liked: Cleanliness

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.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Ann S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Sweet and perfect

This little gem of a cottage was perfect for the two of us. Had my daughter and her husband come, I think we might have felt it cramped. What everyone says about this cottage is true. The photos represent the cute and adorable nature of it. Although you have to cross the beach road to get to the ocean, for the two weeks we stayed there, that was NEVER difficult or dangerous. Cars generally are going slowly and seem to be used to looking out for pedestrians and STOP for them. Also, the Surfin’ Spoon next door is delightful. Just a family crowd. Never noisy or rowdy. Happy people, getting frozen yogurt on the front porch or in the front yard, and then they leave. We brought a sheet to hang on the clothesline for privacy, as someone had suggested, but we took it down. It cut down on the breeze, and we realized we LIKED seeing the Surfin’ Spoon crowd and they didn’t seem to notice us at all. Didn’t hear them after bedtime, either. The cottage lacks nothing. I’m pretty critical and all I missed was a vegetable peeler and a tea kettle. HA!! I would go back if just the two of us go again. I loved taking care of it. Very homey and comfortable.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Cozy, clean beach cottage with great location

This was our second time staying at the Mermaid's Tail with our two girls, and both times we have had a wonderful time. The cottage is cozy and clean, the owner is great with communication, and the location is great. There are two public beach entrances a short walk away and our girls love being able to walk to Surfin Spoon right next door. We also love the outdoor shower! And there are so many activities nearby. We look forward to coming again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie M.

Liked: Cleanliness

July Vacation

The property was very cute, great location, and would stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023