Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Explore the area
Surf City, NC
Surf City Beach
Place, Surf City Beach
7 min walk
Surf City Pier
Place, Surf City Pier
4 min drive
Wrightsville Beach
Place, Wrightsville Beach
56 min drive
Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
Airport, Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
56 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 3
2 Single Beds
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 2
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Dining area
About this property
Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets
Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets
We hope you enjoy your stay in SURF CITY'S 5-STAR HOME! . . . and new for 2025: LINENS AND TOWELS: Bed linens and towels are provided at no extra charge!
'5 STARS: We found perfection. ... a perfect place for a family with a dog.'
'5 STARS: Very nice and clean. The front porch is wonderful and the dog loved the fenced-in backyard.'
'5 STARS: Like home only better with the beach so close by and the sound of the waves as we slept!'
'5 STARS: Absolutely Wonderful!!!! ... I cannot say enough about the house and location.'
'5 STARS: This rental was everything it said it was.... It was perfect.'
'5 STARS: It doesn't get any better. ... Don't miss this great rental!! 6 Stars'
'5 STARS: Highly recommend. Perfect for anyone with a pet....Very clean, well kept, well appointed.'
'5 STARS: Fantastic Vacation Home!!!... You will not be disappointed!'
'5 STARS: Living area is huge.... The beds were VERY comfortable.'
'5 STARS: Great home in a great location. ... Recommend highly!'
'5 STARS: My Wife and I are planning to make this one of our annual vacation spots.'
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RENTAL NOTES:
CLEANING: Professional cleaning service provides extra cleaning and disinfecting before your arrival, as well as linens and towels.
CANCELLATION: 14 days' notice for full payment return (7 days for 50%), lowest requirement in the industry.
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THE HOME:
TOPSAIL ISLAND is wonderfully slow-paced and family-friendly. This beautiful modern beach home, recently updated, is owned by the author and photographer of 'Topsail Island: Mayberry by the Sea.' It is in a residential neighborhood in northern Surf City, near North Topsail Beach. The home is one-and-one-half (1½) blocks from the beach and just one-half (½) block from one of Surf City's scenic canals, lined with boats and large homes and visible from the decks. It is 2 miles from the shopping/restaurant center of the island.
THE ONE-LEVEL HOME has a large, spacious living/dining room with vaulted ceiling. A big kitchen opens to it. There are three bedrooms sleeping a total of six, including large master suite with king bed, all with ceiling fans, and two full baths. Bed linens and towels provided at no extra charge. Coastal-style furniture, seascape paintings/prints and other island art decorate the home. (No smoking, please.) Pergo Boathouse flooring is in the living areas.
THE BACKYARD IS FENCED, a Topsail rarity. This is perfect for anyone with young children or pets (up to two well-behaved dogs are allowed). Other amenities: keyless electronic door lock; large covered front deck with rockers and ocean breezes, perfect for waiting out any occasional showers; two long driveways, partially covered; outdoor shower; gas grill on back patio; ceiling fans inside throughout; high-speed wireless internet; 72-channel cable.
YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE with both Topsail and this home!
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Home, built in 2000, is continually updated:
NEW FOR 2026 : Master bathroom remodel with walk-in shower.
NEW FOR 2025 : Refrigerator-freezer with icemaker, Luxury mattress toppers for king and queen beds, front storm door. New service: Bed linens and bath towels provided at no extra charge.
NEW FOR 2024: Rear storm door, paint in two bedrooms and bathroom, air fryer, replacement kitchen faucet.
NEW FOR 2023: Luxury queen bed for 2nd Bedroom, toilet for master bath, pillows for all bedrooms, larger TVs in all locations, replacement rocker for front porch, replacement back door.
Pet fees:
Up to 2 well-behaved pets allowed w/ fee
FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION POLICY. Beginning 2020 with
SUPER-CLEAN: Now EXTRA cleaning and DISINFECTING b
Important information
You need to know
Property # 301278vb
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
Surf City
Located in Surf City, this holiday home is near the beach. Seacoast Art Gallery and Missiles and More Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Ohana Paddle Sports and Thomas Tackle and Seafood. Mia's Marketplace and The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing, kayaking and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
Camp Lejeune Main Gate and Visitor Center - 46 min drive - 64.6 km
University of North Carolina at Wilmington - 54 min drive - 57.5 km
Wrightsville Beach - 56 min drive - 60.2 km
Getting around
Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.) - 46 min drive
Restaurants
Shaka Taco - 5 min drive
Daddy Mac's Beach Grille - 5 min drive
Surf City Line - 4 min walk
Sear's Landing - 7 min drive
Buddy's Crab House And Oyster Bar - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets?
As of 9 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets on 11 Jan 2027 start from AU$471, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets located?
Situated near the beach, this holiday home is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Surf City Beach and within 3 miles (5 km) of Permuda Island and Back in Touch Massage, Yoga, & Lomilomi. Inis Spa and Escape Spa 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.
We really enjoyed our stay at the “Mayberry by the Sea.” The beach was easily accessible and the fenced in back yard was great for the dog.Hopefully we will return again next summer.
Very pet friendly, fenced in backyard is ideal. Ideal to stay in Topsail because of location. Very clean, beautiful home. Could not have had better accommodations. Highly recommend and I’m going to buy the book on Amazon about the history. Hope to return soon!
We were very pleased with our stay. It was clean, check in was easy, the walk to the beach was short, the owner was friendly, easy to reach and responded quickly, and the house had several extra things our kiddos enjoyed (books, games, toys). The fenced in yard was nice for our little dog and the outdoor shower was nice after a day at the beach. We will definitely be booking this house again for our next trip.
It was nice to have a fenced back yard for our dog. The location was great, but it was unfortunate that it rained the whole time we were there. We will definitely try to come back, though!Ray was a very kind and gracious host!
This is a great find! Super close to the beach. The home was clean and comfortable.Ray was amazing with responding to communication. I was surprising my sister for her birthday and he was so helpful in making it happen. We had a great time here.
The home was lovely, well appointed, and close to beach access #2. The front porch was great, and the neighborhood was friendly and easy to access. Ray was a fantastic host, very responsive and helpful! The kitchen was well stocked for cooking. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and highly recommend this home!
Very well-equipped and comfortable home. We really enjoyed our stay and the proximity to the beach. The fenced-in backyard was perfect for our dogs. The homeowner was very responsive when we texted him. We would recommend this home and would stay again.
Every year at the end of the school year we take our grand kids for a week. We call it Grammy camp. This year they picked Topsail. We had a great week at the beach.
We enjoyed our stay. It was fun to read Ray's book and then check out some of the spots that were mentioned. The beach is close by, very nice, and was not crowded. Ray's communication was excellent. Thanks for a great fall break!
Although our stay was short, it was very relaxing. The place is absolutely beautiful and dog friendly. There are very detailed instructions about how things work in the house, such as hot/cold knob to the shower, you just have to read :). Overall a great place and we highly recommend!
Home was clean and it was pet friendly. Needs a lot of updating, but that did not bother us. Would stay again! Make sure you bring your own linens as they are not provided! I personally forgot, but that was my fault.
We had a wonderful time at Mayberry By the Sea. We spent 10 days taking in this beautiful beach! The house had everything we needed, beautiful landscaping, beds were comfortable and communication with Ray was super easy. The house is overall very clean and well taken care of. I think a deep cleaning of the walls/baseboards would take it over the top! This house was SO comfortable for the 5 of us and our 2 dogs, they loved the back yard! We will absolutely be booking this house again next summer.
Nice home. Clean, bright, convenient to beach. Our family of 6, plus dog, very much enjoyed our stay. When not at the beach, hung out on the front porch a lot and read some of the books-plentiful, provided by Ray owner.
Mike
Needs a little updating and exterior cleaning but overall good for our needs
Thomas K.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2019
About the host
Hosted by Ray McAllister
Ray McAllister is the author of four award-winning North Carolina coastal books among the six books he has written, including "Topsail Island: Mayberry by the Sea," which has published in an entirely new edition for 2021, plus books on Wrightsville Beach, Hatteras Island and Ocracoke. Vicki, his wife, is the photographer for the books, as well as for framed prints and note cards. A former long-time newspaper columnist, who then edited a popular magazine, Ray now also publishes the works of other authors through Beach Glass Books.
Why they chose this property
FROM AUTHOR: 'Topsail Island is wonderful, and we all know that. But when we were looking for a beach home on Topsail, we had to go up and down the island with a Realtor, visiting dozens that might be within our price range, to find even a few that were both clean and modern. But the clincher was this: Only this home -- and I do mean only -- also had the perfect layout. When we first walked in, we were struck, as everyone is, by how large and open the main room is and by how large and open the connected kitchen is. Finally, we had found a house that was designed for the way families on vacation actually use a beach house. It is a joy to be in.'
What makes this property unique
--Very large, open main room for family use. --Large, open kitchen adjacent. --Fenced-in backyard ideal for dogs and/or young children. --Large covered front porch with 4 rockers, bench, lounge. --Short walk (1-1/2 blocks) to the ocean. --Shorter walk (1/2 block) to scenic canals. --Residential area, but only 2 miles from shopping/restaurants. --Inviting beach-house feel.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests