Leaning Lorelei: Light & Airy Downtown Cottage - Vacation rental home in Wilmington, NC

About this Property

• Sleeps 4
• 2 Bedrooms
• 1 Bathrooms
• Private vacation home

Leaning Lorelei is a striking 120-year-old bungalow located in the heart of Downtown Wilmington, only a 15 min walk/5 min drive to the Riverfront. Located across the street from a park and just two blocks to local coffee stores, dining, and shopping. Freshly refreshed and full of handsome architectural details, such as tall ceilings, upsized windows, and original wood floors. 2BR/1BA, 2 work desks, 2 car private driveway, modern appliances and furnishings, entirely equipped kitchen.

Located in Wilmington's Castle Street Arts District, this turn of the century (the 1900 one) bungalow was originally constructed in 1903, the same year the Wright Brothers made their historic flight, and has been made new for 2024. The bungalow is an eclectic mix of new and old, blending broad renovations and upgrades with old world appeal and character.

Visiting Leaning Lorelei is like taking a trip back in time. As you enter into the sizable central hall you will immediately notice the tall ceilings, original wood floors, and an abundance of upsized windows which fill the space with natural light. That theme carries over into the two bedrooms, each equipped with a desk ideal for remote work. The front bedroom even has the original coal burning fireplace (although no longer functional) and ties into the fireplace in the living room (also inoperable). The full bathroom is packed with charm – you will appreciate the clawfoot tub/shower combo with a floor-to-ceiling tile surround, as well as the refinished antique sink vanity. Several stained glass windows carry the whimsical nature of the home all the way through the back door, leading you to an outdoor dining area and enormous fenced yard.

The bones of the home remain intact (including that old home lean!), otherwise everything is new as of 2022. Features include 2 car private driveway, fenced in yard and back patio, new furnishings, Fiber internet, Intelligent TV with all streaming services (use your own login), record player with constructed-in Bluetooth speaker, board games, washer and dryer, 100% cotton linens and towels, USB charging hubs and sound machines in both bedrooms, and a well supplied kitchen that comes with all the essentials (e.g., plates/bowls/cups/silverware, pots/pans/baking sheets, knife block, cutting boards, microwave, toaster oven, blender, drip coffee maker, coffee, filters, tea, etc.). Other amenities include hair dryer, iron and iron board, and shampoo/conditioner/body wash.

Appreciate coffee in the morning or wine in the evening as you relax on your rocking chair front porch overlooking Robert Strange Park. The park, located directly across the street from the bungalow, has well maintained tennis/pickleball courts (open to the public), a community pool ($4/day/adult, $1/day/kid), playground, Fit for Fun Center (kids play place), and an adult exercise center. You will find four pickleball paddles at the bungalow for your use.

Kids are welcome, but the home is not childproof (100+ year old uneven hardwoods, brick hearth fireplaces, raised transitions between rooms, etc.). Pack ‘n play and high chair supplied.

About the Area

Located in Wilmington, this vacation home is in the city center. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. Traveling with kids? Consider Cape Fear Museum and Carolina Heights.

Special Instructions

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

Pet Policy

Pets not allowed

Our top Rental property booking tips:

Get the best value:

• In the Southport area, The earlier you can book, the easier your search will be. The most desirable properties are booked very early. Booking your vacation property up to 12 months before your vacation is recommended. Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years Eve are excellent times to plan and book your rental.
• Reserve your rental home in Spring or Fall to get the benefit of warm weather while saving money and avoiding crowds. Many vacationers use this method to reserve larger homes, or to reserve an oceanfront vacation rental that would otherwise be unavailable during the Summer months. Speaking of the off-season, don't overlook the holidays for a Southport vacation! Who wouldn't love a holiday on the coast? Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are great times to gather with friends and family at the beach.
• Veterans and Active Duty Military members may qualify for special discounts. Be sure to ask your prospective vacation rental company or host whether your vacationing group qualifies for a price reduction.
• Booking websites usually offer guests an option to obtain vacation insurance protection. Trip insurance, which costs between 1% - 5% of the booking price, offers visitors reimbursement of costs for missed time as a result of personal medical-related emergencies or weather, as well as evacuation costs, such as an unexpected hotel overnight or additional gasoline expenses. Trip insurance can be a a bank account-saver if the unforeseen occurs. Ask the property owner for more information.
• Often, rental management companies and vacation rental houses supply Southport area visitor guides which often include money-saving offers, either offered independently by local companies, or through a partnership between the management company and the business itself. You can also find Southport area magazine and coupon books at local shops and grocery stores.

Use filters to search efficiently:

• Select a group leader, select your vacation dates, and select a spending budget.
• Decide how many beds and the bed configuration your group requires. Leaning Lorelei: Light & Airy Downtown Cottage has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathrooms. If you need a larger or smaller rental, use our Southport vacation rental search.
• Specific descriptions of bedrooms and bed sizes & counts is usually available online. If you don't see them listed, reach out to the property manager before you reserve your rental. Remember that most properties list the max. guest capacity, which usually includes sofa beds in living rooms. You will need to establish what configuration is best for your family.
• If your group is vacationing with pets, you will need a pet-friendly vacation rental. Get details on breed, size, and type restrictions. Note that some property owners charge additional pet fees.
• Are you looking for particular amenities? Most websites include amenity lists and search filters. Amenity filters help you quickly remove less-optimal properties.
• Appropriate accessibility can make or break a vacation for the less-mobile. Confirm all required amenities are included before booking.

Tips for your stay:

• Review check in & check out procedures before leaving home. Add a note with the directions to your smartphone, and take a printed backup.
• Ask questions. You may want instructions for a fireplace, A/V setup or appliance. Contact your owner. They are there to help! A brief text message prevents lots of problems.
• Keep the property locked while you're gone! Don't let burglars ruin your family vacation.
• During arrival, make note of any issues with the property and immediately alert the owner. Keep records of all coorespondence.
• Be a good neighbor. Often, surrounding homes are occupied by local residents. Respecting late-night noise limits and parking regulations reduces conflict and allows everyone to enjoy their day.
• Speaking of neighbors... Ask a local! Neighbors can usually help. Who better to ask where to grab the best tacos, have a great night out, or the best spots for bird watching?
• Re-check every room of the property to confirm that you've packed all of your belongings at departure. Remember to check closets, dressers, garages, and bathrooms for hidden belongings. Remove everything from the refrigerator and take or dispose of leftovers.
• Record a video to document the condition of the property.
• After your trip, leave a review! Property managers rely on excellent ratings to stimulate future bookings. They'll be thankful for your review. Alternatively, if something wasn't right, other families will appreciate that you share your review find their best vacation rental. Please be objective. If something fell short of expectations, consider whether the manager had any control over the issue, and if so, whether they responded expeditiously to fix it.