Emerald Isle Realty Blog

Summer Savings at Emerald Isle Realty

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:31:07 GMT

Summer is right around the corner and now's the time to start planning your family vacation on Emerald Isle!

Right now you can save 25% on one of our vacation rentals including our cozy cottages, relaxing resort condos and breathtaking beach homes.

Call our vacation planners now at 866-615-6877 or check out our Beach Bargains and featured properties below.

2 B 2Gether
$3,370 reduced from $4,495

Double Dolphin West
$1,795 reduced from $2,150

Sail Away
$3,995 reduced $4,900

A Peaceful Sound
$1,575 reduced from $1,975

A Beach Buddy
$1,695 reduced from $2,595

Pier Pointe 2-B-1 West
$935 reduced from $1,100

All Tide Up
$2,380 reduced from $2,800

A-1derful Life
$5,605 reduced from $6,595

Make your dream vacation come true with Emerald Isle Realty.

Featured Property of the Week: Footloose and Fancy Free

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:23:33 GMT

Why is this vacation rental called Footloose & Fancy Free? You’ll find out once you walk through the door and you’re instantly relaxed and rejuvenated by the tropical décor and views of the water. Located at 7805 Ocean Drive, the Footloose & Fancy Free Duplex offers breathtaking ocean views that can’t be rivaled.

This duplex offers four bedrooms – three of which are oceanfront – and three bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms include queen-size beds and one includes two double-size beds. Not only can you enjoy views of the blue-green water from the bedrooms, but you als o have ocean views from the living room and kitchen area.

You’ll also have instant access to the beach via your own boardwalk. Soak up the sun on the beach or lounge on one of the large sundecks facing the water. If you’d like to get out and explore the area, then you’re in luck. Footloose & Fancy Free East is nearby the Bogue Pier where you’ll find cafes, restaurants, shops and more. (Check out more Emerald Isle attractions near this rental h ere)

Once you’ve explored, take some time out and t ake advantage of the rental’s other amenities, including a fully-equipped kitchen with eat-in area, five TVs with digital cable, DVD players, wireless high speed Internet access, picnic tables, sundecks, covered porches, rocking chairs and more!

Book Footloose & Fancy Free East now for an unforgettable Emerald Isle vacation .

View more photos here and check our our customer reviews for Footloose & Fancy Free East.

Customer Reviews for Footloose & Fancy Free:

“Our stay was so peaceful with the most beautiful view ever. Our 'home' was clean and very comfortable. We saw the most amazing moon rise over the ocean, it was breathtaking. We are already making our plans for next year. Than k You Emerald Isle Realty for always being there to answer our questions and h elping us find our dream vacation beach home.” – Carol

“We have a group of me n from our church that take an annual fishing trip to Emerald Isle. We have rented from EI Realty for several years and have always been pleased with the accommodations! Great Place to stay!” – Brad

“I rent this place every year. It's a great little place to visit. Every year I come here in October to fish with family and friends. It's a convenient location and a short walk from the deck to the ocean.” – Mike

Featured Property of the Week: Dreamsicle

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:01:49 GMT

Our Dreamsicle rental truly is a dream come true when it comes to beachfront rentals. This beach cottage offers four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and oceanfront views – perfect for family vacations to Emerald Isle.

Bright colors and professional décor adorn the walls of this three-story beach cottage, making it feel even more like a tropical paradise. Step inside the living room and you’ll find plenty of space for the family including recliners, a loveseat and couch. You’ll also find an entertainment center and large windows facing the ocean, as well as doors to the patio where you have access to a boardwalk to the beach.

You’ll find everything you need to prepare meals in the galley-style kitchen and a dining room table that can seat up to seven to eight people. Even when you’re sitting down to breakfast, lunch or dinner you’ll have breathtaking ocean views!

Dreamsicle features a large master suite with a king-size bed and spacious master bathroom complete with a whirlpool tub. Two bedrooms have a queen-size bed and one bedroom has two sets of bunk beds that are ideal for the kiddoes.

With instant access to the beach you can lounge on the beach all day while enjoying the cool, emerald waters. (Go here to view a list of Emerald Isle outdoor activities. When you’re not at the beach you can enjoy Dreamsicle’s three cable TVs, DVD player, high speed Internet access, gas fireplace, Jacuzzi and more! You also can enjoy covered and open decks with furniture.

Dreamsicle is located in the exclusive Emerald Isle NC Land’s End community where you and your family will have access to an oceanfront clubhouse, swimming pool and lighted tennis courts. You’ll never run out of fun-filled activities when staying at Dreamsicle.

This cottage is available year round and requires a two-week minimum. View more photos of Dreamsicle

Book the Dreamsicle beachfront rental today!

Featured Property of the Week: Blue Heaven

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:11:01 GMT

True to its name, Blue Heaven is a little piece of heaven right here in Emerald Isle, NC. If you’re looking for a cozy cottage right on the beach, you’ve found one – an affordable one, at that.

Blue Heaven is perfect for family vacations or a getaway with friends, offering guests three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Right on the dunes, you’re perfectly situated on the beach so you can enjoy panoramic views of the blue-green waters. Enjoy the view from the dune deck or extra-large covered porch with rocking chairs, picnic tables and a hammock. You might want to call dibs on the hammock now.

Inside of Blue Heaven you’ll find a large kitchen, complete with granite countertops, wood flooring and a dishwasher. There’s plenty of space in the living room where you’ll find beautiful décor and a large TV with cable. Other amenities include wireless internet access, a two-car garage, boardwalk to the beach and more!

If you’re not already sold, read some of our customer reviews for Blue Heaven:

“We had a wonderful vacation. The house has a very well-equipped kitchen and a wide covered porch for outdoor dining & relaxation. The dunes offered privacy. The owners have provided many beach chairs, umbrellas, & boogie boards for renters' use. We enjoyed renting this very welcoming and comfortable home for the week.“ – Murphy

“We had been coming to Emerald Isle for years and this year the home was exceptionally good. Clean, great kitchen, and great shady deck. Only suggestion is that you mention the large number of steps to and from the beach.” – BJ

Start making memories with your family and friends today and book Blue Heaven. View more photos here. You’ll also find reviews, rates and availability here.

Family Traditions: The Gills Family Falls in Love with Emerald Isle

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:15:52 GMT

I have to admit to feelings of trepidation in 1992 while planning our first vacation at Emerald Isle. My brother and I had grown up on beaches on the eastern shores in the north and were not sure what to expect of this island in North Carolina. Our children were all under ten years old that year and we stayed in a less expensive cottage on the third row, just in case things didn’t work out as we had hoped. That July, my brother packed his family up in Maryland and my family packed up in Virginia and we came south. My only hopes were that the rental cottage would be nice with at least enough room for both our families to share and that the beach would not be too crowded.

Our trip was long, highways back then not being what they are now, but the check-in agents at Emerald Isle Realty eased our nerves. We easily found our cottage and, after briefly checking it out, we all went straight to the beach. When I stepped on the white sand for the first time and walked into the surf, my worries were immediately washed away with the waves of blue water. There were only a few families nearby enjoying the ocean breezes and picking up shells - a welcome change from what we were used to up north. We had plenty of room to set up without walking on someone else’s beach blanket or kicking sand on sunbathers.

Each day we lounged on the beach and every night we laughed in bumper boats or at put-put golf. We spent early mornings surf fishing, a rainy afternoon at the aquarium, walked around the town of Swansboro and ate our dinner overlooking the yachts at Beaufort as the sun set. Each night my brother and my husband took the children and flashlights out to the dark beach and searched for fiddler crabs until bedtime.

It sounds like we tried to do too much on that first visit to Emerald Isle and maybe we did but we didn’t know when we would ever come back. We saw that first Emerald Isle vacation as a once in a lifetime opportunity for some memory making with the children while they were young. Each year, however, we found a way to return.

Sometimes we came with more families and rented several houses near each other. Emerald Isle Realty always worked with us to find the right accommodations no matter how large our group became. We learned where to buy fresh shrimp and crabs and we made a tradition of stopping at the produce stand near the bridge to buy boiled peanuts. Each year our cottage was a little bigger, with a few more amenities than the last and my husband would always walk the beach and dream of, one day, renting one of those big homes right on the beach.

Life doesn’t always work out like we plan and for several years, when our children were in college or had jobs, we sat on the beach alone. In spring of 2011, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and he decided it was time for one day to be today. Most of us had students graduating from college that spring so the time was right for a reunion.

First we called our relatives and then we called Emerald Isle Realty. The agent set us up in the most beautiful sandcastle home. It was right on the beach with an oceanfront pool, a game room with pool table and big screen TV and other amenities for everyone to share. We had huge living area and kitchen where all nineteen guests enjoyed family dinners every night. On this July vacation, did all the things we like to do at Emerald Isle. We rode bikes, steamed crabs and shrimp, made sand castles, jumped the waves and walked the beach. We even chased fiddler crabs in the dark.

A full moon rose over the ocean each evening while we were there and we sat in the hot tub and pool and watched the fireworks along the beach. Our children, who were three and ten in 1992, returned with their families and enjoyed the island we have grown to love.

Castle in the Sand in Emerald Isle, NC

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:09:38 GMT

There are countless things to say about Castle in the Sand, this week’s Featured Property of the Week, but only one bad thing: you won’t ever want to go home.

Castle in the Sand is a popular rental with Emerald Isle Realty, offering seven bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms, which is perfect for family reunions or family vacations. Because it’s so large, you’ll have enough room to hang with the family but also have plenty of privacy.

When you’re ready to relax, you’ll have plenty of options. First, you’re not far from the beautiful Emerald Isle beaches. Castle in the Sand offers a lighted boardwalk with a dune deck to the beach, so there’s no problem getting to the sandy beach and sparkling emerald waters.

You’ll find just as many activities indoors as you will outdoors. Castle in the Sand offers a heated swimming pool, hot tub, large flat screen TVs, game room and media room. We told you that you wouldn’t want to go home.

Other amenities include high speed internet access, DVD players, fireplace, gourmet kitchen, hardwood floors and and three oceanfront master suites. The third floor (which you can access via elevator) offers panoramic views of the ocean as well as a deck where you can sit back in a rocking chair and rock to the lull of the waves.

For some R&R there’s no better place than Castle in the Sand!

Check out more photos of this rental and view a list of our other rentals.

Customer Reviews for Castle in the Sand:
“Castle in the Sand was perfect for our family reunion of 18 people, ranging in age from 2 to 77! The rooms and beds were comfortable, the amenities were terrific and the open floor plan on the upper level was just what we needed! We were especially excited that we could all cook and eat together in the spacious kitchen and dining area. It is rare to find this much dining seating in beach rentals. The porch views were fabulous! The pool was an added bonus that we used far more than we had anticipated. And, the elevator was a benefit for grocery runs and for the older members of our family.” – Anne

Save Up to 25% on Your Next Vacation Rental

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:20:06 GMT

Start a new summer tradition and join us in Emerald Isle! We have Specials posted daily that will save you 10%-25% off* your next weekly vacation rental! Our beach homes can suit every family's needs. There are classic cottages, condos and elegant beach homes to choose from.

Vacation Bonus!
When you book a NEW, weekly reservation arriving on June 2nd/3rd or June 9th/10th, you'll receive either a "Lounging in the Sun Package" from Island Essentials which includes 2 beach chaise lounges and 1 beach umbrella ($85 value), or a $50 Visa gift card.
*Some restrictions apply. Offer expires May 18, 2012.

Featured Property of the Week: Grand Villas 3K

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:26:34 GMT

This week’s featured property is unit 3K at the Grand Villas in Indian Beach, and you can be assured that you’ve never vacationed like this before.

This unit offers four bedrooms and four bathrooms, making it ideal for family reunions or retreats. You’ll be able to bond with the “fam” and enjoy plenty of privacy at the end of the day in either two master suites or two guest rooms.

When you’re not soaking up the sun on the beach, you can enjoy 3K’s amenities, such as a fully-equipped kitchen, large entertainment center, breakfast bar, dining area and terrace. The private terrace is 60 feet of pure bliss, overlooking the beach and sparkling emerald water – you can even have a meal on the balcony; the unit provides a table with chairs.

If you haven’t already stopped reading this blog and booked, you should know that the Grand Villas also offers an arcade for the kiddos, a fitness center, pools and a fire pit. There’s a little something for everyone. > View more unit photos or check out Unit 3K - Grand Villas on YouTube. >

Interested in booking? Call Emerald Isle Realty at (866) 615-6877.

Availability:
This unit is available during the following weeks: 4/29/12
5/6/12
5/27/12
6/3/12
6/10/12
6/17/12
6/24/12
7/1/12
Check for more dates here.

A Lifetime of Emerald Isle Memories

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:02:04 GMT

To our family Emerald Isle is a place for relaxation, rejuvenation and celebration. As newlyweds my parents made their first visit in the late '60s. They began making yearly visits with some friends of theirs who had moved to North Carolina from Ohio. It turns out a beach reunion is much more enjoyable than one in a cornfield.

Eventually the “couples” vacations became family vacations in the '70s, when I was born. As a child, I remember packing for our beach vacation weeks ahead of time. I always packed a suitcase full of games and books. Most of the time this suitcase remained in the closet the entire week we were at the beach. We have always been an outdoorsy bunch, so the majority of our vacations were spent on the beach. When I wasn’t getting bounced around by the waves, I was digging a moat for my sandcastle.

In fact we sometimes enjoyed the sand and surf a bit much…my younger brother almost always ended up with a sore stomach from rafting on the waves. And no matter what, every year someone ended up with a sunburn either on the tops of feet or a little strip on the back that was missed by the sunscreen.

As I became a teenager, family vacations were not quite as enticing as they once were. Yes, I still loved the feel of the sand under my feet, the smell of the sea and the taste of salt on my lips, but there was a boy left behind in Ohio I longed to see. Well, I either had very smart parents or great negotiating skills and my parents invited “the boyfriend” and his family to join us for vacation.

It was on one of these joint family vacations that my husband proposed to me. Early one morning, as the sun was coming up we walked down to the beach and there in the sand was written, “Will you marry me?” This was truly a special proposal and gave me yet another reason to love this place. So, for the last ten plus years we have continued this yearly family vacation. Both my parents and my husband’s parents make the fourteen-hour drive to the beautiful Crystal Coast year after year. We visit the same restaurants and discover new ones each year. We experience funny events that we get to joke about all year long.

We now have two girls of our own, who also are excited about beach vacations. They squeal with delight as we cross “the big bridge”. My stomach is usually swirling with excitement as well, but I manage to contain myself. At the beach grandpa has taught them how to fly a kite, grandma taught our oldest how to tie her shoes and my husband thinks he has taught the girls how to make pretty cool sand sculptures. They have also learned many valuable life lessons…ice cream everyday is okay on vacation, let the sunblock dry before rolling in the sand and best of all, as long as we are all happy naps are optional on vacation.

In addition to the many, many years of family memories we have at Emerald Isle, it has also become a place for us to celebrate. We have celebrated birthdays, engagements and retirements. But most importantly, just two weeks after my father had a cancerous kidney removed he made the trip to Emerald Isle. No, he was not feeling one hundred percent, but the warm sunshine and warm smiles that surrounded him, were the best medicine a doctor could order. It was not until the following summer when he returned, fully recuperated, that we realized just how sick he had been just months before. That vacation was a celebration of life!

Someday I look forward to bringing my grandchildren here. I want to teach them about the shells, the sea life and how to fly a kite. I want to watch them step into the ocean for the first time. I want to take them out for ice cream every night. But most of all I want to continue to make more beach memories.

Do You Have Spring Fever?

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:59:21 GMT

Spring Packages
Take advantage of this beautiful springtime weather! Make new reservations for arriving on April 14th/15th and receive a $100 gift card. *New reservations only. Offer expires April 11, 2012.

Plan a new vacation for the arrival dates of June 2nd/3rd or June 9th/10th and get your choice of either a "Lounging in the Sun Package" from Island Essentials, which includes 2 beach chaise lounges and 1 beach umbrella ($85 value), or a $50 Visa gift card.
*Some restrictions apply. Offer expires April 30, 2012.

Call us today at 866-615-6877!

Beaufort Wine & Food Festival
Join us for the 8th Annual Beaufort Wine & Food Festival taking place April 25th – 29th. Experience award-winning wine makers as they pair their wines with delectable foods prepared by guest chefs. New reservations arriving April 25th – 29th will receive a complimentary bottle of wine to start off the weekend. Call 866-615-6877 and book your getaway today!

Don't Wait...
Make sure you’re getting the best selection and location for your 2012 vacation! We have beach homes to suit everyone’s needs. Pick from an array of classic beach cottages, condos and stylish homes. For more information search our accommodations and don't forget to check out our Weekly Specials!

All you have to say is...I Do!
The Emerald Isle Realty Event Planning Department wants to make your special day everything you envisioned and more. Whether you're planning a destination wedding, vow renewal ceremony, or an anniversary, we're here to guide you from start to finish. Learn more about our unique services, by contacting or Event Planners at Events@EIRealty.com!

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