• As low as $249/Night
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 4
rental image 1

General Features

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Air conditioning
  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Dishwasher
  • Garden
  • Heating
  • Living room
  • No pets allowed
  • Onsite parking
  • Porch or lanai
  • Property does not allow children
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Smoke-free property
  • Towels provided
  • TV
  • Unit size: 900 sq ft (84 sq m)
  • WiFi available

About this Property

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 4 Bathrooms
  • Private vacation home
  • Approximately 900 square feet

3-nighttime minimum stay - Step inside the Mad River bungalow and you will want to stay forever. Constructed over a century ago and surrounded by centuries-old live oaks, the two-bedroom bungalow is the ideal getaway for a week or a weekend away from home. Inside you’ll be delighted by the cheerful color pallet and comfortable furnishings. Outside you’ll have the opportunity to sip your morning coffee on the modest screened porch or dine al fresco beneath a lumbering live oak. You’ll be walking distance from everything the village of Southport offers—from boating to shopping to dining to fresh local seafood and of course all the famed spots featured in the Safe Haven movie—- all are just steps away from the bungalow. Plus, if it’s beach time you crave, you’ll be a short 15-min. drive to all the white sand and ocean waves you can imagine! Come savor one of the happiest oceanside towns in America and stay in the Mad River Cottage...it may be your first time but we’re sure it won’t be your last! Oh, and if you're wondering why it’s the Mad River Cottage check out this website: madriverdesigns.com, and be sure to stop by the Mad River Studio & Store for the best shopping in Southport. 

Please note this is not a pet-friendly property. 

Intelligent TV available (no cable).

About the Area

This vacation home is located in Southport. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Kure Beach and Carolina Beach, while North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and Carolina Beach Boardwalk are popular area attractions. North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport and Bald Head Island Information Center are also worth visiting.

Special Instructions

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Pet Policy

Pets not allowed

Tips to get the best Wilmington, NC rental home experience:

When to reserve a Wilmington, NC rental & When to go:

  • In the Wilmington, NC area, The sooner you can book a vacation rental, the better your selection will be. The best vacation rentals are reserved very early. Reserving your vacation rental up to twelve months before your vacation dates is recommended. Holiday gatherings are excellent times to search for and reserve your rental home.
  • Summer time is high season in Southport. Book your rental in Spring or Fall to get the benefit of warm weather while saving money and avoiding crowds. Speaking of the off-season, don't overlook Winter holidays for a Wilmington, NC vacation! Who wouldn't love a holiday on the coast? Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Years Eve are great times to gather with friends and family at your favorite beach.
  • Active Duty and veterans of the US Armed forces may qualify for special discounts. Be sure to ask your prospective property manager if your family qualifies for a discount.
  • Management companies and individual rental owners typically offer their guests an option to obtain vacation insurance. Trip insurance, which normally costs between 1% - 5% of the booking price, offers visitors reimbursement of costs for missed days as a result of personal medical-related catastrophes or weather disasters, as well as evacuation charges, such as an unexpected hotel stay or additional gasoline expenses. Trip insurance might be a a welcome relief if the unforeseen happens. Ask your property manager for more information.
  • Often, rental management companies and vacation rental houses supply Wilmington, NC area travel guides that include money-saving deals, either offered independently by local businesses, or through a relationship with the management company and the business itself. You can also find visitors guide and coupon books at local gas stations and shopping centers.

Selecting and booking your prefect Wilmington, NC vacation home:

  • Select your dates and max budget.
  • Note the number beds and the bed configuration your group needs. The Mad River Cottage has 2 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.
  • Specific details about bedrooms and bed counts is often accessible online. Otherwise, call the host before you book the rental. Note that most property listings specify the maximum guest capacity, which typically includes sofa beds. You'll need to work out what is optimal for your vacation.
  • Some properties allow pets, and others don't. Acceptable types of family pet, size and breeds may be restricted, and additional charges may apply. Ask the property manager about allowable pet guidelines before booking.
  • Are you looking for specific amenities? Most websites include amenity lists and search filters. Filtering by amenity will allow you to quickly find the best rental.
  • Appropriate accessibility can make or break a vacation for those with limited mobility. Confirm all required amenities are available before booking.

Know before you go:

  • Get the property manager's contact number and check in/check out procedures for your rental. Store the manager's information in your smartphone.
  • Ask questions. You may want instructions for a garage door opener, A/V setup or thermostat. Contact your property manager. They are there to help! A brief phone call prevents many concerns.
  • Lock your rental while you are out. Protect the owner's property and your stuff!
  • Upon arrival, note any damages to the property and immediately contact the host. Keep records of all correspondence just in case a dispute arises.
  • Don't forget to respect your neighbors. Frequently, adjacent homes are filled by local residents. Respecting late-night quiet hours and parking policies is the right thing to do.
  • Speaking of neighbors... Ask a local resident! Neighbors can frequently help. Who better to ask where to get the best seafood, have a great night on the town, or the best spots for shopping?
  • When it's time to leave, complete a walk-through to confirm you did not forget anything. Re-check dressers, closets, and bathrooms for hidden belongings. Clean the refrigerator and take any leftovers home.
  • Document the condition of the property at check-out. We recommend taking a video during your final walk-through.
  • Leave a review! Property managers rely on great feedback to stimulate future reservations. They'll be thankful for your review. Alternatively, if something went awry, other vacationing families will will be grateful for your review find their best vacation home. Be fair with your review. If something fell short of expectations, consider whether the owner had any control over the issue, and if so, whether they responded quickly to fix it.

Nearby Restaurants

Nearby Activities

Nearby Shopping

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Victory Beach Vacations

Visitors who are on the hunt for the postcard-perfect vacation rental in the heart of the Carolina Beach or Kure Beach area will find an enticing selection and plenty of friendly customer service when they rent through Victory Beach Vacations. Based in Carolina Beach in the coastal Cape Fear region, Victory Beach Vacations has more than 100 vacation rentals in all shapes and sizes to ensure that every vacationing family can find their dream home away from home on the beach.   When you book your Cape Fear getaway with Victory Beach Vacations, the fun doesn’t end when you leave the beach, it continues with an array of privately-owned properties outfitted with all of the amenities needed for a fabulous beach vacation.   Jenna Lanier, General Manager, explains that her family first opened the rental and property management business in 2002. At the forefront of Victory Beach operations is Lanier’s mother, Caroline Meeks. Meeks is both the Broker in Charge and co-owner with husband, Buck Meeks, who manages the Field Services team with Lanier’s husband, Scott.   For nearly 20 years, the Victory Beach team has worked tirelessly to establish a network of top-of-the-line rental properties for Cape Fear visitors to enjoy. “As far as our properties go,” explains Lanier, “they are all updated, well-furnished and appointed. “We have always performed post-cleaning inspections and since the pandemic, have put freshly laundered duvets over all of the comforters between rentals.”   Lanier emphasizes how important the guests experience is “we strive to give our guests a relaxing, stress free, memorable vacation.” This emphasis on customer service has led to Victory Beach Vacations having a 4.8 Google rating with over 300 reviews by happy owners and guests.In addition to Victory Beach’s superior sanitation practices, the company offers properties for every type of visitor. Choose from luxury oceanfront houses and condos to more reasonbly priced 2nd row properties with oceanviews. Many properties include pools and hot tubs as well, perfect for outdoor entertaining, and many are dog friendly.   Lanier also notes that all properties are within walking or driving distance to Pleasure Island’s main attractions – Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The former, as described by Lanier, is the more commercialized of the two destinations and features a boardwalk, outdoor dining options and a plethora of weekly activities including fireworks, live music, amusement park pop-ups, and movies under the stars. Kure Beach offers a more residential feel with its fishing pier, intimate restaurants and family favorite, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.More water fun awaits, too. “There is a harbor and a canal that feed into the intercoastal. We have several properties on the harbor so guests can bring their boat, kayak, [or jet ski] and travel between islands,” says Lanier.   A stay with Victory Beach Vacations is an annual pilgrimage for most. “A large percentage of guests are previous guests. Some even reserve the same property for the next year as they’re checking out,” Lanier says. “It’s almost like it’s their personal vacation home.”   Even before guests arrive at their vacation destination, the Victory Beach Vacations’ website greets them with a live beach cam and exquisite aerial footage of both Carolina and Kure Beaches. See for yourself by scanning the QR code and call Victory Beach Vacations at 910.458.0868 to book your Cape Fear getaway. Start making your memories today! —Grace Silipigni