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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, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Laundry made easy
    One of the few properties with an in-unit washing machine and dryer.
  • Steps from the shore
    Top-rated for its nearby beach, ideal for sunbathing and swimming.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Jockey's Ridge State Park
2 bedroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washer/dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Balcony or patio

Explore the area

View map
Nags Head, NC
  • Place, Jockey's Ridge State Park
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, beach near Old Nags Head Cove
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, Tracks in the Sand
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Airport, Manteo, NC (MEO-Dare County Regional)
    ‪21 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!

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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

Property # 971134
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

About the area

Nags Head

Located in Nags Head, this cottage is near the beach. While the natural beauty of Jockey's Ridge State Park and Kitty Hawk Beach can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Pirate's Cove Marina. Destination Fun and Stop-N-Shop Beach Shop 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 hiking/biking trails and cycling nearby.
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Map
Nags Head, NC

What's nearby

  • Jockey's Ridge State Park - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Dowdy Park - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • beach near Old Nags Head Cove - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Tracks in the Sand - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • OBX Laser Tag - 3 min drive - 2.7 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Blue Moon Beach Grill - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Biscuits N’ P*rn - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Kill Devil Grill - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Morning View Coffee Company - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Front Porch Cafe - ‬3 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.

How much is parking at Circa 1953 beach cottage...this is 'old school' beach at it's best!?

On-site parking is available at the 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 within a 15-minute walk of Nags Head Fishing Pier and Jockey's Ridge State Park. Dowdy Park and Tracks in the Sand 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. 260 out of 272 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 272 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 272 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 272 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 272 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

James E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay! Easy communication with the host and very quick to respond. We cant wait to stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and cute house. It is in walking distance to the beach and in a great location. We had a great time!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Noah L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My girlfriend and I had an absolutely wonderful stay at this property and couldn’t be happier. The location is simply unbeatable — easy beach access made it so convenient to head out for morning walks, afternoon swims, and stunning OBX sunsets.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristi R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage is in a wonderful location to enjoy the area and the host is very responsive. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bill C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent cottage that is as good as advertised. Great location, very clean, and had everything we needed. We hope to stay again soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Location, location, location-the best! amenities more than sufficient, cleanliness outstanding, charming character, easy beach access. Definitely will be staying there again soon!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Glenn T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful courage and great location. Our second year staying here and we love it.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kurt H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Vibe! Happy House!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chrissy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Very cute and clean its also close to the beach!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

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

3rd Time Staying

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

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gabriel H.

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

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jean R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was very comfortable and cozy! We enjoyed the porch every morning and evening. The outdoor shower was amazing! The sunrises were beautiful each morning! We loved are stay in this adorable cottage!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay in this adorable, comfortable, and very clean cottage. It was everything we had hoped for, and then some. We appreciated the very short walk to the beach. Every communication with the host was exceptional. We would highly recommend this cottage to anyone looking for a lovely place to stay while at Outer Banks.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

sharon f.

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

Great house

Had fun
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristi R.

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany P.

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

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

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

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