Best trip ever!!!!

Guest: Kristin (glendora, NJ)
Date of Stay: 08/28/10 Review Submitted: 09/08/10

Our family of 21 stayed at your home the last week of August and it was the most amazing time. We have vacationed together before, but have never had enough room. This home was HUGE and beautiful! We felt comfortable from the minute we arrived. You had everything we could ever need. We really enjoyed the fact that we could all sit down and eat dinner at the same time. Your pool was beautiful and perfect for our 11 kids. The beach was super close and beautiful. And the adults loved the tiki bar and hot tub after the kids went to bed! We all had our own bathrooms which was a dream! We were never bored and almost didn't want to leave the schooner ridge area. This development was family friendly, safe and provided us with more than enough to do. We loved your home so much, we decided to stay during hurricane Earle! You told us we would be safe and it would blow over, so we stayed. We never lost power, the house was fine, and were only stuck inside for a few hours. Duck is a beautiful town, Schooner ridge was a beautiful devlopment, and "fun in the sun" was the most amazing place I have ever been. We were so sad to leave and we are hoping to come back next year! The 21 who braved Earl (Mike and Kristin)

Owner response:Thank you Kristin & Mike for your terrific review of our beach home "Fun in the Sun" in Schooner Ridge, Duck, NC! We loved having you and your family as our guest’s.... All the excitement created by the storm “Earl” late in the week sure made for an exciting and memorable "Wizard of Oz" like event! I believe your family gets the "Most Courageous Group Award" to date. We’re glad that after speaking with us, regarding how consistently and successfully our home has weathered previous storms, you decided to brave the storm together as a family ... That should give you guys bragging rights for quite some time with your extended family and friends. Thank you again for taking such terrific care of our home and treating it as your own. We're looking forward to seeing you again next year for more "Fun in the Sun", we’ll be sure to keep the icemakers on! Until next year, have a terrific fall and winter family holiday season, Our best regards... Mark & Kathy

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Hollen Rental

Guest: Tammy and Tim (Waynesboro PA)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

I was amazed with everything your home had to offer. We ranged from age 82 to 5 years old and their w as always something to do without even leaving the house. Staying home for dinner was actually better then going out to eat. The pool and tiki bar were the highlights of the week for sure. The distance to the beach and shops were great for walking and especially duck donuts. I hope our entire family can return next year to enjoy your home. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Owner response:Thank you Tammy and Tim, It’s wonderful hearing back from you. Kathy & I are very happy to know that your vacationing with us as our "Fun in the Sun" guests helped make your summer vacation and family reunion turn out so terrifically. We very much appreciate your choosing our "Fun in the Sun" - Schooner Ridge home in Duck, NC, with its many amenities and accommodations as the best place to best create those wonderful family memories which we hope you will treasure for a life time! Warmest regards, Mark & Kathy

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Family Reunion and 80 birthday celebraton

Guest: Pat (Sarasota, Fl)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/23/10

Where do I start? The walking distance to the ocean, community center and to town made it easy for young and older. We loved having breakfast on the screened deck off the kitchen.The 3 refrigerators and ice makers held everything. It was a very "safe" home for our 19 month old great-grandson. We were all able to sit down for dinner at one time--which is very special to me. Family came from Ca., Ct., Va.,and Fl.--need I say more!!! Every day held special memories.Thank you both for making your home available.

Owner response:Thank you Pat, An 80th birthday celebration is a very special event indeed! We're very happy that our beach home helped to make your event so special and we love hearing from our guests and "friends” . We appreciate your sharing with us your wonderful experiences and memories you created while vacationing in our home while discovering new ways to make your "Fun in the Sun" Duck, NC vacations so special! It’s wonderful hearing back from you and we're very happy to know that your being guests in our home helped make your summer vacation and family reunion turn out so terrifically. We very much appreciate your deciding that our Schooner Ridge home in the OBX, with all its amenities and accommodations, was the best place to best create those wonderful family memories which we hope you will treasure for a life time! Kathy and Mark Schmidt

Recommended for:Families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Dad's 80th birthday reunion

Guest: Alex (Richmond, VA)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/18/10

Our very large family loved everything about this large clean well maintained home. The 8 bedrooms were very spacious and each had it's own bathroom. There were nice extras like 2 ice machines, 3 refridgerators, fully carpeted, TV's in the rooms with DVD players, plenty of deck space with lots of chairs...I could go on and on. This was perfect. The location couldn't be any better. Walking distance to the beach, community center and to town with lots of stores, etc. We would definitely stay there again! The price is very fair! The rental place right down the street was great for bikes and kayaks. Bike paths are everywhere, definitely plenty to do even on rainy days.

Owner response:Thank you for your terrific review of our beach home "Fun in the Sun" in Schooner Ridge, Duck, NC! Alex, we loved having you and your family as our "Fun in the Sun" guest’s.... Thank you for taking such terrific care of our home. We are very much looking forward to seeing you again for more "Fun in the Sun" on your summer vacation next year. Until next year, our best regards... Mark & Kathy

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Guest: Otis37 (Witicha Falls, TX)
Date of Stay: 03/17/09 Review Submitted: 03/17/09

Hi Mark & Kathy, We were vacationing in your lovely home from 7/5 to 7/12/08. “Fun in the Sun” was perfect for us. Your home has it all… It has so much space both inside and out and we love the “super decks” most of all...Their enormous! Your home is terrific, it’s quiet, clean, and just a very short distance to the beach; and still only four homes away from the Community Rec Center. The walk down Schooner Ridge drive left us right in the heart of the town of Duck right across the street from the new Duck Park and its soundside Boardwalk. You thought of nearly everything. Your pool, hot tub, “super” decks and Tiki bar were terrific. The screened-in porch on the third floor provided us our late-night refuge while the kids swim in the pool below. The sea breeze and the night stars were so incredibly relaxing. We have always booked our family vacation Corolla.... Never again!!! We are now Duck (and Schooner Ridge) converts and love vacationing in your beach home Fun in the Sun" best of all! Perhaps we'll be lucky enough to be back together again next year for some more “Fun in the Sun”. Thank you so much for everything this was the best vacation ever!. We love your place it has everything imaginable! Our best regards, Jon & Audrey

Owner response:Thank you for your terrific review of our beach home "Fun in the Sun" in Schooner Ridge, Duck, NC! Jon & Audrey, we loved having you and your family as our guest’s.... Thank you for taking such terrific care of our home. We are very much looking forward to seeing you again for more "Fun in the Sun" on your summer vacation next year. Until next year, our best regards... Mark & Kathy

Recommended for:

Guest: Ryan Smith1 (Midlothian, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/02/07 Review Submitted: 09/02/07

Hi Mark & Kathy,Unfortunately my wife and I had to cut our terrific vacation one day short and leave on Friday night, 8/24 one day early. After the craziness of packing our things up I'm not certain anyone in our family remembered to sign your guest book during the week while we were vacationing in your lovely home from 8/18 to 8/25/07. “Fun in the Sun” was perfect for us. Your homes has it all… it was quiet, clean, only a very short walk to the beach; it’s so close to the community center and the walk down Schooner Ridge drive leaves you right in the heart of Duck proper. You have most accommodating accommodations, it seems like you thought of nearly everything. Your pool, hot tub, “super” decks and Tiki bar were wonderful, and that screened-in porch on the third floor was our late-night refuge. The sea breeze and the night stars were so incredibly relaxing that I thought about just sleeping there (the wife wouldn't have it, though). I have always booked our family vacation homes in Whalehead Beach, Corolla or Ocean Sands. Never again!!! We are now tried and true Duck converts. With a little luck we hope to get the family back together again next year for some more “Fun in the Sun”. Thank you so much for everything. Best Regards, Ryan and Candice Smith

Owner response:Thank you for your terrific review of our beach home "Fun in the Sun" in Schooner Ridge, Duck, NC! We loved having you and your family as our guest’s.... Thank you for taking such terrific care of our home. We're looking forward to seeing you again next year for more "Fun in the Sun". Until then, our best regards... Mark & Kathy

Recommended for:

Guest: Pots (Richmond, VA)
Date of Stay: 08/28/07 Review Submitted: 08/28/07

Hey Mark and Kathy,Its 1:30 AM... We’ve been home for couple hours, and we’re already missing your place! How incredibly lucky we were to stumble on you! My father-in-law just kept walking around with a huge grin on his face, shaking his head and saying to anyone that would listen; including waitresses, cashiers, etc… I just never thought I would ever be in a place as wonderful as this!Didn't know if I had mentioned, but we also brought my parents down with us both, 73 yrs old I jotted you a quick note in your quest book, but couldn't nearly begin to touch on the magnitude of what this trip meant to him, them... and all of us! It was a hundred times more wonderful than we ever expected!!!Spent lots of time at the beach - swimming, playing, fishing in the surf in the evenings we even caught a couple stingrays and saw a couple pods of dolphin! Tons of time in your pool/hot tub. Kids loved the REC center and the game room at your house and again Grandpa just adored watching us all have so much fun!Every night was a gathering on your upper Super deck with lots of talks, guitar playing, Scrabble, and always plenty of reminiscing of growing up and past vacations... Most mornings, the Dads would grab their towels and walk over for their exercise, and then relax with their drinks by your pool for the rest of the morning. The old guys loved taking advantage of working out in your Schooner Ridge REC center. It will be a lifelong memory for all of us! Our kids even hooked up with a couple kids staying next door and spent lots of time with them. My 17 yr. old son was especially glad to entertain the pretty little blond they met. Lots of walks, time on the beach, didn't see him much after he met her, but that's what it's all about. We each had our own special memories and we can't wait to get back to share this with some other friends!Our last day there, though, was by far our favorite. We piled all the kids, 7 in bed of the truck and SUV and went off roading on the beach, and crabbing... HOW COOL!! Saw a small herd of 3 horses down by water, then a lone small foal came bounding over dunes, ran right up to our truck, and then scooted away, the kids were blown away! Again, saw lots of dolphin!We are definitely interested in booking again for next year; we'll get back with you! I am so sorry for going on so long, I just wanted you to know how incredibly grateful we are for being able to have had this time!OH MY GOODNES

Owner response:We love hearing from our guests and "friends” who share with us their wonderful experiences and memories they enjoyed vacationing in our home while discovering new ways to make their "Fun in the Sun" Duck, NC vacations so special! It’s wonderful hearing back from you and we’re very happy to know that your being guests in our home helped make your summer vacation and family reunion turn out so terrifically. We very much appreciate your deciding that our Schooner Ridge home in the OBX, with all its amenities and accommodations, was the best place to best create those wonderful family memories which we hope you will treasure for a life time! Kathy and Mark Schmidt

Recommended for: