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Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets

Vacation home in Surf City with kitchen and balcony

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Exterior - Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets (Surf City)
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Marina - Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets (Surf City)
Surf City's 5-Star Home is a beach haven in the heart of Topsail Island, where you can unwind on the large covered front deck or enjoy quality time with family and pets in the fenced backyard. This beautiful modern home features a spacious living/dining room, coastal-style furniture, and high-speed wireless internet. With three bedrooms sleeping six and two full baths, it's perfect for families or friends.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61302 sq ft

Popular amenities

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

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

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

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 (scheduled) : Tub conversion to walk-in shower for master bathroom.

  • 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.

  • NEW FOR 2022: Chest of drawers for 2nd Bedroom, pillows for all bedrooms, 2-seat Adirondack bench for front porch, replacement rocker for front porch.

  • NEW FOR 2021: Luxury king bed for master, 2 twin beds, back-deck breakfast table and benches, gas grill, cordless door blinds, 12-cup coffeemaker (companion to existing Keurig single-cup maker), pots/pans, all smoke alarms, hot water heater.



Keywords: Beach House, Island Home, Fenced Yard, Pets, Dogs, Wi-Fi, Camp Lejeune






VRBO DETAILS:

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

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

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Single level property
  • Smoking not allowed

Location highlights

  • In a village

Things to do

  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • No carbon monoxide detector or gas appliances (host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Recycling
  • Unit size: 1,302 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

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

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: Up to 2 well-behaved pets ($33 EACH PER NIGHT).

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated 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

About the neighborhood

Map
Surf City, NC

What's nearby

  • Surf City Beach - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Surf City Pier - 4 min drive - 2.7 miles
  • Camp Lejeune Main Gate and Visitor Center - 46 min drive - 40.1 miles
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington - 53 min drive - 35.5 miles
  • Wrightsville Beach - 55 min drive - 37.2 miles

Getting around

  • Wilmington Intl. Airport (ILM) - 46 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Buddy's Crab House And Oyster Bar - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Tortuga’s Nest - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Shaka Taco - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Crab Pot - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Sear's Landing - ‬7 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 is parking?

Onsite 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?

Check-out 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 vacation home is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Surf City Beach and within 3 mi (5 km) of Permuda Island and Back in Touch Massage, Yoga, & Lomilomi. Inis Spa and Escape Spa are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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Reviews

Beautiful, clean "Topsail" Author Home, 1½ Blocks to Beach, Fenced Yard for Pets Reviews

10

Exceptional

9.8

Cleanliness

9.8

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 146 out of 161 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 161 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 161 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 161 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 161 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Chandler W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

ryan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome stay!! Ray McAllister was a huge help and answered every question that I had !!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan J.

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

Wonderful beach house!

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!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan E.

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

Great house!

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.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cecilia C.

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

Grammy camp

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.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christine O.

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

Perfect home

Our 3rd time staying here and looking forward going back next year!!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alyssa B.

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

Wonderful stay

House is beautiful. Property owner very responsive and wonderful! Book this house. !!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

James D.

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

3 generation family vacay

Great location and dog friendly home. Huge/beautiful front porch with afternoon shade was one of the highlights of the vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca L.

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

Mayberry by the sea

House was perfect for what we needed. Close to the beach, clean, in great neighborhood
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Yvonne S.

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

Awesome location - great house

Loved the location. Quiet neighborhood. Back deck has views of the canal. House is well appointed, clean and beds really comfy.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laurie M.

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

June 2024

The property was very nice and the fenced in yard was great for the dogs. Very close access to the beach and great location.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Holly B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 10 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steve S.

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

Totally Enjoyed Vacation

This home we stayed at was great, the only complaint I have is with Mother Nature, Mon - Wed the waves were to strong for boogie boarding!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Great fall break

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!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laura T.

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

Great pet friendly Place!

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Valerie C.

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

Nice and relaxing

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!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas L.

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

Cousins at Mayberry by the Sea

Way a perfect week for me and 2 cousins. Ray was the perfect host. We’ll be back.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Mike S.

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

Sully’s

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
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Thomas K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Location

Clean Inside

Needs a little updating and exterior cleaning but overall good for our needs
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kristen H.

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

Wonderful location

We had a fantastic time staying at Mayberry by the Sea. The location was perfect! The public beach access was right across the street. We were able to walk on the beach every morning and play in the ocean every afternoon. Ray is a wonderful host. He was very responsive and available by phone and email. If we weren't moving to Surf City next month, we would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elihau G.

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

A pleasant and airy beach cottage.

This house is spacious, full of light and convenient to the beach. It has a large living room, and kitchen. Dining area with a large table. Comfortable beds. Front porch with chairs and back porch with a table and chairs. The enclosed back yard is ideal for your dog and the enclosed outdoor shower with hot water is great for the (mandatory) rinse off when returning from the beach. We had a very enjoyable stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katherine M.

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

Perfect home layout

We loved our stay here - one level living was so nice and unique compared to most rentals in the area. Kitchen had almost everything we needed and we made most of our meals. We couldn't find a grill brush so we picked one up and left it under the kitchen sink. Hopefully the next guests enjoy as much as we did! My only hesitation in giving a glowing review is that we'll have trouble booking again! Truly enjoyed.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian P.

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

Medium Rare

Like a perfectly cooked steak it was medium rare. As a family who likes to travel with their dogs it is rare you can find a house in this particular location with a nice shaded fenced in yard for the pups. House had all the necessities to host and entertain family, and friends. Ray was a pleasure to deal with during the check in process.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

John P.

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

Topsail is best in September

This property had everything we needed. The space was very comfortable for five adults, three of them worked a couple days remote. The outdoor shower was perfect to rinse off the sand. We had room in the kitchen to cook together and we spent a lot of time on the two open air porches. The sliding gate on the front porch gave our older lab a chance to be outside by herself, along with the fenced in backyard. A beautiful added touch were the roses and Cana Lillies that surround the front stairs. Thank you Ray for sharing this home with us.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024