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Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight!

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Terrace/patio
Living area
Living Rm. sitting area with Bay Views
Living & Dining areas. (With gas fireplace = Cozy in winter!)
Kitchen (from dining area).

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10241.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Garage parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Bethany Beach, DE
  • Place, Fenwick Island Beach
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Bethany Beach Beaches
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Bethany Beach Boardwalk
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Salisbury, MD (SBY-Salisbury - Ocean City Wicomico Regional)
    ‪57 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

1 ~ Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

2 ~ "Tulip" Room/Guest Room

1 Queen Bed

3 ~ "Twin" rooom

2 Single Beds

4 "Kid Bunk Room"

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

5 ~ "Queen" Bedroom/2nd Master

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Lower Level Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Mather Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight!

Best Views in the Bethany Area! Wonderful place for kayaking on the inland bays and canals.

October is a great time to visit the beach and bay. The weather and water still warm, the bird migration on, the crowds gone.

PLEASE NOTE -- We do not open our SUMMER calendar until after the 1st of the year. We give our long-time renters 1st dibs. (Sorry you early birds!)

In peak season (June 1 through Labor Day week) we only rent by the week--Sunday to Sunday (it makes traveling and getting a cleaning team easier)..

Note: Limit of 4 cars for overnight parking.

DESCRIPTION:
On the WATER with FABULOUS VIEWS, fantastic sunsets, direct access to beautiful nature preserve/wetlands and Assowoman Bay and quick access to beach/ocean.

This is a remodeled & solar powered older 5 bedroom, 3 baths "beach house" -- not a new MacMansion. It's the perfect place for a relaxed family vacation, quiet retreat, or romantic getaway. Two 'master' bedrooms (king & queen) with dramatic bay views. A 'guest room' (queen bed) also with views. Twin Bed room and kids 'bunk' room with double/futon lower and single upper. Strict limit of 10 people, including children; limit of 4 cars parking overnight. We do not rent to student beach-week groups. We do not supply linens or towels -- your can bring your own or rent from a very good local service
-- Gale Force Rentals. Call: 302-539-6244 or 1-800-321-1592 or on the web: www.galeforcerentals.com

Large open living, dining, kitchen area with great views. Well stocked kitchen. Big screened in porch and 2 large decks (upper and lower levels) and 2 outdoor showers. Gas grill & charcoal grill. "Smart TV" in downstairs family room/rec room with big table for game & puzzles.

PLEASE NOTE : 3 night minimum stay off season (late Sept./Oct. through early May). Holiday weekends slightly higher. Again, limit of 4 cars for overnight parking. (Our community association does does not allow street parking overnight.)

Great Bird & Butterfly migrations in Spring & Fall which are lovely at the beach -- no crowds & lower prices. In Spring & Fall minimum is 3-nights. Holiday Weekends -- Easter, Memorial Day, Columbus Day are also 3-night minimum and rates slightly higher).

Pets: We allow ONE dog with a signed "Doggy Addendum" to our Rental Agreement covering the rules on our beach and in our neighborhood. (No other pets.) $100 pet fee.

We are in the small community of Bay View Park at the north end of the undeveloped Fenwick Island Delaware State Park Beach. We are on the Bay side of Rt. 1. Bay View Park is 1/4 mile south of York Beach/South Bethany. Very close to the charming 'quiet resorts' of Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island and 15-20 minute drive to more "action" in Rehoboth or Ocean City.

On the edge of a vast Nature Preserve this home has 180 degree views ~ a very special Nature Lover's retreat.

Short walk (1/2 mile) to the beach or quick drive with permit parking along Route 1 access road -- only for Bay View Park visitors.

Three Kayaks and a Canoe available for your use (at your own risk). Plus 2 "beach" bikes -- they only have 1 gear-- and an assortment of beach chairs, sand toys, etc.

Many puzzles and games and other kid toys on hand. One large screen "Smart" TV so you can tune in to your favorite program accounts.

If you have a boat, we have a dock. There is a public boat launch into Little Assowoman Bay about 1/2 mile south of our Bay View Park Community.

SPRING and FALL are lovely at the beach -- bird migration on, quiet walks on the beach. Quiet and lovely but not lonely -- Bethany and Rehoboth's restaurants and area attractions are open and uncrowded. FALL especially has continuing warm water, warm weather and the best sunsets of the year.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Nice selection of games and puzzles for all ages.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
1 well behaved dog on flea control program No cats
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
However, smoking okay OUTSIDE the house.

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 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

About the area

Bethany Beach

Located in Bethany Beach, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Jolly Roger Amusement Park is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Ocean City Beach and Maryland Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Nick's Mini Golf - Nick's Pirate Golf, or check out an event or a game at The Freeman Stage at Bayside. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and ecotours.
View more Holiday homes in Bethany BeachOpens in a new window
Map
Bethany Beach, DE

What's nearby

  • Fenwick Island Beach - 2 min drive - 1.4 km
  • Bethany Beach Beaches - 3 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Bethany Beach Boardwalk - 5 min drive - 5.1 km
  • Ocean City Beach - 8 min drive - 8.1 km
  • Ocean City Boardwalk - 26 min drive - 20.9 km

Getting around

  • Ocean City Station - 24 min drive
  • Ocean City, MD (OCE-Ocean City Municipal) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wawa - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Ocean 99 - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Bethany Diner - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Birds Beer Garden - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight! ?

As of 1 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight! on 3 May 2026 start from AU$631, 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 Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight! ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight! ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight! ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Bethany~Bay View Retreat ~ Waterfront , Bird Watchers / Nature Lovers Delight! located?

This family-friendly Bethany Beach holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 2 mi (3 km) of Fenwick Island Beach and Bethany Beach Beaches. Bethany Beach Boardwalk and Chief Little Owl Totem Pole 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.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 57 out of 58 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 58 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nikita B.

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

Wonderful stay!

This was a gem - the huge windows overlooking the marshland are incredible. The place is cozy, not fancy, but very comfortable. Would recommend.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Holly L.

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

Peaceful paradise

This home and location is a slice of heaven. The views are beautiful and the location is quiet and peaceful. It was one of the best vacations we had in a long time. We'll be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathy G.

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

Amazing Location

I thought there were only two views in Ocean City -- the ocean and the bay. This house has a panoramic view of a bird sanctuary with the bay off in the distance. It was mesmerizing, and even visible from the master bath shower! The house is a good size for a group. I hope to visit again someday.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jay M.

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

Great VRBO and wonderful location

This VRBO has an amazing view of the estuary and ocean where we did some incredible birding, kayaking, and lovely sunsets. The place is well maintained and the owners were very attentive to our needs at all times, and very accessible. Our family, including several children, had a wonderful stay, enjoying the facility, the beach, and the surrounding area. Highly recommend this place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

melissa f.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Staying here is more like staying at a friend’s home than a vacation rental. Pretty much anything you can think of is supplied, including excellent knives, books, binoculars, paper goods. The list goes on and the views are tremendous, the property is private, and June is very responsive and friendly. if you are someone who expects every inch of your lodging to be sanitized like a high-end hotel, this isn’t the place for you. If you want to feel at home and spend some quality time with your family in some really comfortable living spaces, this is for you— there was even a specific table for doing a puzzle, which was greatly appreciated by my family.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

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

Best View Ever!

June was terrific to work with. The house itself is comfortable and has everything you need from a rental property. The view is worth it's weight in gold. You won't be disappointed if you decide to book a stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

mary h.

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

Year two

This was our second year in a row. The view and location are stunning!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

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

Lovely Bayside Weekend Getaway

My friends and I had a blast staying here our girls weekend getaway this year. The house is tucked away in a quiet neighborhood but minutes from Dewey by car. The home is beautiful, spacious, and has great views of the bay. June was the most accommodating host, was easily accessible and checked in regularly to make sure we had what we needed. Definitely recommend staying here!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey H.

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

Stunning Escape!

We had an amazing stay, the view is stunning. You can sit and look at the bay for hours, beautiful sunset. House is ideally located, close to everything but feels a world away. You can hear the ocean at night. The hosts are lovely and welcoming. Plenty of space. Thank you for having us, can't wait to return!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lori T.

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

Beach to Bay in one Vacay

Rent this property in the off-season for a wonderful space to rest and recharge. Plenty of room in the house for the family to spread out and appreciate the quiet neighborhood and amazing views of the wildlife in the Preserve. 10-min walk to the beach. Good variety of nearby restaurants--grab dinner to go and enjoy the sunset from the screened-in porch.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan G.

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

Peaceful home with an amazing view

Thank you June for having us to your home for the week. My family and I had an incredible time in Bethany. June was a wonderful host, very attentive. She responded and addressed my one concern and very quickly resolved it. Her home is so welcoming and relaxing, and the view is amazing!! I would definitely come back again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn K.

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

Peaceful getaway for Christmas

We loved this place. The view of the wetlands from the living room and the master bedroom was stunning. It was such a relaxing week. June was very accommodating and easy to get in touch. with. We hope to return again soon.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristin M.

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

Family trip

The property was beautiful. Amazing views, we loved the kayaks and canoe! Even got the 3 yr old and grandma out in them! The beach was great, almost completely to ourselves. Super close to Beyhany downtown but out enough to not feel cramped or it to be loud. June and her husband were winderful, even letting us stay an extra day!! My in-laws would love to stay here again. That's a win!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

mary h.

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

Thanksgiving

The view was stunning, the furniture was comfortable and the location was perfect. We packed the house with food and love. No complaints. Enjoyed the morning egret. Watched the sunset every night with delight! June was just a text away.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl G.

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

Birthday Getaway

Had such a lovely few days at this gem of a home. Perfect for a covid birthday celebration! The neighborhood was quiet and dark enough to see the stars and a comet, and the view was peaceful and beautiful. Spent many hours gazing at the sunsets and watching the heron. Even saw a couple of fox out in the wetland. I hope to be back when it's a bit warmer, but it's a really great off season spot.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeff O.

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

A Spectacular View!

We just returned from a truly wonderful week at this property. The house is very comfortable. The water view is outstanding with spectacular sunsets. The house has perfectly positioned decks and a lovely screened in porch. It was an easy walk to a very quiet beach where we found sand dollars! The provided kayaks were very fun allowing for exploring the area. We had the company of an eagle and a blue heron every day. The owner is very accessible and easy to work with. We are restored!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael P.

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

The House of Serenity

Once again we are so thankful and grateful to Rob & June! Their home is one of our favorite places to getaway and relax. South Bethany and the Assawoman Bay are on the top of our go to list in the Spring and Summer to visit and enjoy our family time. This year we returned to this beautiful home for almost 2 weeks and so many more memories we’re made once again. We took many bike rides, enjoyed walking to the beach to get some rays and the sunsets from the back porch and deck every night will take your breath away. We truly are forever grateful and we will be back sooner than later toTHE HOUSE OF SERENITY!
Stayed 9 nights in May 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dana S.

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

Fantastic Spring Break

This house was great. The views don't disappoint. We rented this house for spring break to give the kids a change of scenery And they had a blast. The played ping pong downstairs and kayaked every day. The house setup was perfect, we last the kids stay downstairs and it was like they had there own house. The porch was screened in and was very nice to sit on at night. There's a huge gas grill and the neighborhood was very quiet. Fantastic experience with the owners and over all great experience. You will not be disappointed with this home
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia C.

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

Beautiful home

This home’s location is great if you like peace and nature. beautiful views with Lots of birds. The canoe and kayak use was really nice to have as option for the older teens/young adults. Beach a little too far to walk when hot outside but you can park your car closer with one of the passes the owner has so that worked fine. Owner had beach chairs avail for use which helps so we didn’t have to bring our own-appreciate that! Wi-Fi worked well. One tv on lower level but we barely used the TV since all had their own devices. Some of the bedding and Appliances such as dishwasher and washer/dryer are older could use an upgrade at some point. And a personal pref would be for more curtains or blinds in master bedroom. But overall the place was terrific for our needs and June was really nice and and easy to coordinate with. We enjoyed our stay very much. :-)
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Liz G.

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

Christmas getaway

The property has 2 levels, each with fabulous views of the marshes and bay. My family of four adults and 2 kids were staying there, my husband and I stayed in our nearby condo. They were only there for 3 nights, and the first 24 hours there the lower level, where the only tv in the entire house was located, was unusable due to the poor heating system. The only thing the owner suggested, the one time they replied, was basically turn the heat on. The system was inefficient and should have been turned on in advance. Surely they know how cold it can be, and our stay was so short that it meant that level was unusable for a good portion of our stay. And there were 2 children and no other tv. Another issue was the amount of food in the fridge, which the owner had previously mentioned were a few things we could use if we wanted. There was a lot of stuff in there when we arrived, it became hard to tell what was ours. A minor point perhaps, but I know we left food behind in the mess. Lastly, alas, the furniture. The upstairs couch is old and lacking any cushioning in its cushions, the dining room chairs were hard to describe in their discomfort but were covered in thin pads in an attempt to minimize the pain. But the view… It was lovely, soothing, maybe not so much at 6 am when the gunshots of the duck hunters rang out, lol. But the aim was being together and we achieved that, everyone was ultimately happy and we had a happy Christmas. Would we return? That was a unanimous no.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

nadir t.

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

Golfer’s den

This is our second straight year for our group of four golfers. The kitchen is fully equipped so if you plan to cook, like we did for 12, you’ll find everything there. Views on the deck outstanding. You feel like you’re really at home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer T.

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

Amazing!!! June and Rob are super nice and helpful. We highly recommend this property.

Amazing!!! June and Rob are super nice and helpful. We highly recommend this property if you’re looking for the best family vacation.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen C.

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

Spectacular views

This property is quiet and peaceful with spectacular vies of the marsh lands and birds. This is our second year here and we throughly enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicol R.

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

Wonderful!

Truly the best location in Bethany!! Can not beat the view from the back deck. Beach is easy to get to and kids can ride bikes back if they want to leave before the parents!! The hosts could not have been more accommodating before and during our stay (thank you!!). We feel very fortunate to have found this spot!! If you are looking for a more quieter location away from the crowds - this is perfect. Definitely want to return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Excellent Property!

My wife and I enjoyed this property immensely. The quiet location, with a nice measure of privacy was perfect for us. We were there for just under a week, and found the beach about deserted, even on Sunday. Never even turned on the TV. Between the sunrises, the sunsets, reading and watching the blue herons, the great egrets and the ospreys, watching TV seemed pretty unnecessary. The owners were most helpful in making this a great stay!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

About the host

Hosted by June Taylor Wolcott

Host profile image
Rob, originally from Toledo, OH, is an economist by background and spent a career at the US EPA working on numerous health and environmental issues -- such as getting lead out of gasoline and reducing water pollution runoff from agricultural lands. June, a Californian who grew up at Lake Tahoe, is an environmental reporter/consultant who most recently has focused on climate change. They live at Bethany part-year and other times in Silver Spring, MD.

Why they chose this property

We'd rented this house for many years when the owners (Rob's mentor, Allen Ferguson and his wife Audrey) decided to sell it. The Ferguson's were early purchasers in the little bayside waterfront community of Bay View Park and got the lot with the BEST VIEW. The serenity of watching sunset from the deck is something we wanted to keep -- and share with others.

What makes this property unique

Being able to have 2 vacations in one -- the bay side with bird watching and kayaking and the beach with body surfing and fun in the sand -- make this a unique vacation spot.
The community of Bay View Park offers a quiet retreat even in the busy summer season.
Many people like our varied collection of artworks from around the world. (And many by the original owner/home builder Audrey Ferguson.)

Languages:

French, Spanish
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