Doctor's Orders/Nostalgic Family Cottage with Views of Pamlico Sound and Sunsets
Where nostalgia meets modern comfort, with outstanding water views, in a peaceful location.
Comfortable, cozy cottage curated with local art, with tidbits of vintage and new, using colors reflecting the sun, sand and sea. With three bedrooms, two baths, living room and dining area in the kitchen, this home is perfect for a small family, or two couples. Nestled in the live oaks, in a quiet part of the island, our cottage provides privacy, relaxation and serenity.
But the real attraction is the spacious 480’ square foot screened porch, and upper viewing deck, with the most spectacular, unparalleled view of Pamlico Sound. And, as of 6/20/2025, there is now a small dock/landing that allows access to the sound!!
For eons, doctors have prescribed going to the sea for its healing, curative properties. In the late 60’s/early 70’s, my Grandfather – a physician- felt the call of the ocean, and decided that Ocracoke was the place for him, and our family. He and my Grandmother wanted a small place near the water, where they could immediately drop their things and get outside: on the porch, to the beach, or in the boat. They didn’t want to waste time with anything fussy. For our family, this island retreat was the best medicine from the busy, hectic-ness of the city. Our family legacy is woven into every corner of the cottage, each meal in the kitchen, game night at the coffee table, coffee or wine on this porch – each memory echoes through time. It is now my turn to share it with you. Lovingly and meticulously renovated and refreshed, it is ready for you and your family to enjoy and begin a new chapter for the cottage. When you stay at “Doctors Orders”, you are not just booking a cottage- you are becoming part of a story that started long ago.
Here’s to your family creating new memories in the home that our family has cherished for generations.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
There is a max of 5 persons allowed including children. Failure to follow this rule can result in termination of the rental with no refund.
Reservations for the next calendar year cannot be made more than 11 months prior to requested check in..
Maximum parking for 3 cars.
Strictly enforced.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 3935591vb
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Ocracoke
Ocracoke is home to this cottage. Ocracoke Lighthouse and British Cemetery are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Outer Banks Beaches and Springer's Point Preserve. Ocracoke Pony Pens and Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum are also worth visiting.
Ocracoke Island Visitor Center - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
British Cemetery - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
Restaurants
Howard's Pub & Raw Bar - 4 min drive
Ocracoke Oyster Company - 16 min walk
SMacNally's Bar & Grill - 13 min walk
1718 Brewing - Ocracoke - 3 min drive
Jason's Restaurant - 20 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Doctor's Orders/Nostalgic Family Cottage with Views of Pamlico Sound and Sunsets pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Doctor's Orders/Nostalgic Family Cottage with Views of Pamlico Sound and Sunsets?
As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Doctor's Orders/Nostalgic Family Cottage with Views of Pamlico Sound and Sunsets on 2 Aug 2026 start from £260, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
What time is check-in at Doctor's Orders/Nostalgic Family Cottage with Views of Pamlico Sound and Sunsets?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Doctor's Orders/Nostalgic Family Cottage with Views of Pamlico Sound and Sunsets?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Doctor's Orders/Nostalgic Family Cottage with Views of Pamlico Sound and Sunsets located?
Situated in Ocracoke, this cottage is 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from Ocracoke Lighthouse and 1.8 mi (3 km) from Outer Banks Beaches. Springer's Point Preserve and Deepwater Theater are also within 15 minutes.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Wonderful place for our family of three, with gorgeous views of the water (Teach’s Hole!) and a good overall location. Beautifully quiet at night with sounds of the ocean. Can’t recommend this place enough and would definitely stay here again!
Michael A.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 7 May 2026
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for the wonderful review, and for highlighting the location and all it has to offer. It is a quiet, understated home with outstanding views of Pamlico Sound...that's all you see from the ginormous porch. Just you and the ocean. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed your stay, and your visit to Ocracoke. We look forward to having you visit again.
Perfect location, plenty of room for three sisters trip, had everything you might need. Definitely will do this again. Everyone was so nice.
Janet R.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 7 May 2026
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm tickled that you enjoyed the house, and had a wonderful, memorable sisters trip! It is a family home, meant to be filled with laughter, fun, meaningful moments and making memories! Thank you for choosing "Doctor's Orders" and for the fabulous review! Hope to have you visit us again!
Super clean, comfortable, and a FANTASTIC location!
Robert C.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Oct 2025
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Incredibly thrilled to learn that you loved the house and the location. Thank you for the outstanding review, and for sharing it with the VRBO travel community.
We’ve been to Ocracoke many times, this would have to be one of the best places we stayed at. Super easy check-in, thorough instructions, friendly staff, and super location
Klaudia S.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Apr 2025
Thank you so much! The house is my family home and I am honored to share it with others, and create new family memories. I am thrilled that you loved the house and your visit with us, and to the island. Hope to have you visit us again!
We've stayed in numerous different homes at Ocracoke, and this is was definitely one of our favorites! You can't beat the location and the fact that it's walkable to Silver Lake Harbor and all the best places in Ocracoke Village. And the sunsets from the very large screened porch were to die for!
Mark S.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Oct 2025
WOW!!! Thank you for this incredible review! I'm thrilled that you loved the house, the location, and the island. Thank you so much for this outstanding review. I hope you will visit us again!
We really enjoyed this property. Great location and loved the dock. Only issue we had was the dishes in the cabinet were covered with ants and we had to kill 2 brown recluse spiders inside the house. Other than that the house was excellent, the location was very convenient, and the realty company were very friendly.
Dakotah S.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Sept 2025
Well, this is very unexpected and unpleasant. We were completely unaware of any issues, of any sort. Had you let us know, we could have handled the dishes, ants, and spiders VERY easily. The house is on a monthly pest service, and it would have been a simple matter to take care of all issues rather than letting us know, after the fact, in the review~ and giving an 8 out of 10 because of it. I'm thankful that you liked the house, location, and the dock.
Next time, no matter where you are staying, please let the lodging establishment know ASAP so that they can handle all issues at the time of discovery, rather than learn about them in a review.
Everything was in proper order, condition etc, Definitely very suitable in all aspects for us. Would consider a return trip in the future! Weather was Chamber of Commerce perfect! Thank you for the opportunity to have us as guests! Leslie Boone
The perfect Ocracoke vacation get away house! Thoughtfully decorated and cozy! Can’t wait to visit again to see the updates!
Danielle S.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 21 May 2025
Danielle-
Thank you for your fabulous review! I am so happy that you enjoyed the house, and your visit to the island. And I cannot wait to show off the updates that I have planned...an outdoor shower, and a small dock on the water. Fingers crossed it'll happen soon! Thank you again for this lovely review. I appreciate you choosing "Doctor's Orders" for your spring getaway.
Hope to have you visit again.
~Lisa
The most thoughtfully appointed VRBO we've stayed in. We felt right at home. There were many little details that made our stay special - comfy beds, fluffy towels, immaculately clean, well-stocked kitchen, lots of local art... the views from the dock are wonderful and there is a swimming area off of the dock we enjoyed. Very peaceful neighborhood. The large screened-in porch was nice. Check in and out was super easy. Highly recommend. We will be back.
Doctor’s Orders is the cutest house with a wonderful view of the water. Check in is a breeze. The host worked with us with our rotating arrival times, We were delayed because of closed roads and ferry. The screened in back porch is so very welcoming. And the beds! It is so very unusual for a rental to have large and comfortable beds. This one has both … and great pillows. I will stay here again. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Doctor’s Orders. Loved it!!
Terri D.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Nov 2025
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I am thrilled that you loved the house! Glad you took full advantage of the porch and the water view.
I am allllll about creature comforts: linens, pillows, comfy furniture, artwork, books, blankets etc...
trying to provide a luxurious environment, even in the quaint, rustic, remote setting of Ocracoke. ;)
Thank you for noticing the details.
And thank you so much for your patience with the challenging weather and ferry situation. Part of being a remote island means that you are at the mercy of the weather, tides and winds. I sincerely appreciate your ability to go with the flow.
Thank you again for this incredible review, and I look forward to you visiting us again.
Such a comfortable house with a beautiful view! Quiet lane for kids to ride bikes and play, lots of yard space, gorgeous waterfront and dock. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal on the big screened porch- perfect. Beds comfy. Kitchen well suited for cooking (wish there was a dishwasher) and we appreciated the starter set of dish soap, paper towels, laundry detergent etc. Loved having towels and sheets provided and beds made for us! Would love to stay again in the summer (outdoor shower looked amazing!) but the off season trip to Ocracoke for Thanksgiving was super special in this house! Thank you!!!!
Mary Clayton S.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Dec 2025
Thank you for this outstanding review; and for highlighting so many of the things that make for a "luxurious" visit ~ by Ocracoke standards. ;) ! We're overjoyed that you loved the house, and made new family memories there! Thanksgiving is always a special time on the island...we're tickled pink that you had a blast! We'd love to have you visit in the summer...it's a whole different, but still wonderful vibe. Hope to see you then! Thank you again for the fabulous review!
p.s. We wish we could have a dishwasher too! Size and building restrictions don't allow for it...but we did try during the renovation. Our apologies.
beautiful property that overlooks the sound. A family home with beautiful appointments. The owner left a very nice welcome gift tied to the Kentucky Derby which we thoroughly enjoyed! Great kitchen with everything you would ever need. The big screened in porch, with tiki bar, was the hit of the stay!
Jeffrey B.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 21 May 2025
Thank you so much for the lovely review! I am thrilled that you enjoyed your stay in my "old Kentucky home" on Ocracoke. Being from Louisville, southern hospitality is ingrained, and Derby is to be shared with all. Thank you for this lovely review, and for choosing "Doctor's Orders" for your vacation. Look forward to having you visit us again.
~Lisa
Such a sweet and immaculate cottage!! Appreciated the thoughtful touches including linens, beach towels and starter supplies. I didn’t realize a dishwasher was not available when booking, but that was no problem for us. A dock was being installed while we were there and our 3 young boys thought this was amazing to see how the pilings were installed. The neighbor Ocracats were a hit with them as well! We would love to return again.
We loved staying at Doctor’s Orders. The house is small but well-laid out and nicely decorated. It fit our family of four well. The whole house was well-stocked with everything we needed. My only suggestion is to upgrade the sheets to thicker, 100% cotton sheets. Not a big deal and we can easily bring our own sheets next time. We especially loved the screened porch and spent most of our time out there. The portable fans we found in the house made the porch usable even on the hottest days. The views were amazing from the deck and the dock. We enjoyed watching the ferries come in and even saw dolphins one day. We used the dock a lot to explore the sound and look for sea creatures. We plan to rent kayaks next year. The house is tucked away on a private road but still centrally located to everything in the village.
Erin T.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug 2025
Thank you for your lovely review! And I'm so sorry about the sheets! There are actually lovely 100% cotton sheets there; I caved to all the recommendations about the "cooling" bamboo sheets, so I was trying those out. I saw that you've rebooked (thank you!)...and I've made a note to have different sheets for you! :) Thrilled that you explored the whole property....kayaks can be rented at Ride the Wind, just down the street, and they deliver! Thank you again for the fabulous review, for the 2026 booking, and for loving the house and the island. We look forward to seeing you next year! Please feel free to call the office, and let me know if you have any questions. Thank you! ~ Lisa
Recently updated older home that is immaculate and well stocked. NIcely decorated too. The real star of this home are the porches, particularly the long one down the entire length of the cottage. It is huge — deep enough that even when it rained we were able to get out of it and stay outside. The view of the sound from the porch (and the sunset from the roof porch is excellent! We really enjoyed our stay in this cottage.
There is an open lot in between the house and the sound that belongs with the property. We walked out and saton the sea wall to watch the sunset from there (and fish a little) as well. Very peaceful.
If I had to suggest anything to add, It would be curtains to go over the blinds in the smaller bedrooms - the blinds are partially see through which is great for light the day but not at night.
Amy C.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jul 2024
I am doing a happy dance after reading this review! Thank you so much for loving my house, and enjoying every square inch of it! Thank you for highlighting all of it's wonderfulness. I hope to add a path, and small dock onto the bulkhead next year for sitting, kayaking, clamming...all of the fun things. And thank you for the feedback on the blinds...I wondered about that as I was putting the rooms together. There was noone around in the neighborhood at the time - and therefore all dark- as I was putting the rooms together so I couldn't get a sense of what it would be like. I will look into some blinds. Thank you again for the review, and for loving the house. I hope you made tons and tons of lifetime family memories during your stay.
~Lisa
This house was amazing! Super clean and beautifully decorated. We felt right at home. The view to Silver lake was breathtaking! The screened in porch is amazing and very relaxing in the evenings after a long hot day. Great place to drink your morning coffee as well! Communication with the host was very prompt and they were quick to answer any questions I had. We thought the outside plug for our golf cart was not working. Called the host and they were out there within 15 minutes to fix it. It ended up not being the outdoor plug at all. It was our golf cart plug. Very impressed with this place and we will definitely come back here again! Do not hesitate to stay here!! You will NOT regret it!
Jennifer M.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun 2024
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I am thrilled that you loved my house...it is filled with almost 50 years of love, joy, rest and relaxation. I poured my heart and soul into renovating and refreshing my family home, and I'm humbled and grateful that new folks are enjoying it, and creating new memories on the island. Thank you so much for taking such great care of it, and for the outstanding review. I truly appreciate it. Hope to have you visit us again.