Ok...before you look at these photos and start talking about how we must have so much money....or won the lottery....or something crazy like that.....let me just say that the price of gas has really made a difference in vacationing!
G negotiated with a realtor almost all day Saturday while I was at the wedding. They like to push the mansions first....since they'd really like to make several thousand off a rental. But when G was about to give up and book the Hilton again (that's what we did last year)....the realtor offered us our first pick at an unbelievable rate! We couldn't stay at the Hilton for 3 days this cheap....and we got the cottage for a week!! We weren't able to take advantage of the entire week since I had a wedding last weekend and G's brother graduated from high school today, but we did get to have a nice get-away and at an incredible price.
We arrived in Duck, NC Sunday afternoon. We scoped out the area, walked the beach, and Trent had to try out the pool. It thrills me to take him to the beach. I went to the beach almost every summer of my childhood and while I'm not big on swimming in the ocean, I LOVE the atmosphere, the sounds, the smells....the FOOD! :)
Here are some photos of the cottage. I actually took these while we were packing up to leave, but since I didn't take any pictures on Sunday I thought I would share these.
We stayed in an area called Gull's Flight. The town of Duck doesn't have public beach access, so you have to be a renter or an owner to access the beach. At the end of Flight Drive was a private entrance to the beach. We were only a few cottages from it! It was so nice to walk on the beach and only see a few people. We only saw 7 the first day!
This was our cottage. I think I actually gasped when I pulled up in the driveway.
The cottage had 4 bedrooms. Plenty of room for everyone! Later in the week you'll see where G's family came to visit. His parents went back home, but his brother stayed with us.
There were several porches on this cottage. This one was outside Trent's room. Trent and G would hang out here everyday while I took my shower and got ready.
This isn't the greatest view, but this was Trent's room. I can't tell you how excited he was to have bunk beds!!! He slept on the top bunk every night and we usually had to wake him in the morning because he would sleep so late! We were relieved to learn that there was a TV/DVD combo in the closet!!!
The kitchen. For those of you who wouldn't think I would cook on vacation will be surprised to learn that this kitchen did get used! :) After paying $70 for the three of us to eat dinner one night, we decided to stop at the little market on the way home. We ate every breakfast and several lunches at the cottage. When G's family came to visit we bought some steaks and cooked.
This was Trent's little play area. The cottage was a split level and had six levels. This was one of them....at the very top. It was right off the living/dining/kitchen area, so it was like he could be with us and separate at the same time.
This is the living area...looking down from Trent's play nook. Very cozy...very open....very comfy!
Dining area. We didn't eat here....ok...maybe once. This is where we set up the laptop. We ate on the porch off the living room. Who wants to eat inside at the beach??
And the main attraction: the pool and hot tub! We had it all to ourselves! It was so nice to be able to cool off here in the afternoons and not have some crazy youngin's splashing all around. Trent did his share of splashing, but it was nothing like the wild kids we dealt with last year at the hotel.
So those are the hot spots. There were 3 bathrooms, an outdoor shower, a washer/dryer, and tons of closet space. If you're looking for an affordable vacation spot, let me know and I'll hook you up with a realtor! :)
We went back to the cottage....exhausted. However, we were not too tired for some pool fun! Trent had this cool Spiderman suit. The top is like a life preserver. So he could be in the pool and we didn't have to constantly hold him. But don't worry...there was always someone within arms reach. ;)
Popsicles! Yum! Trent picked these out before we left home. He said they were "beach snacks". 
We had dinner at the Sunset Bar and Grille. It was voted the most scenic place to eat dinner on the water by the Travel Channel. The food was good....expensive....but good.
There's always time for ice cream at the beach. And there are ice cream shops on every corner in Duck.
We shopped here almost daily. A nice place to walk and shop and just be cool. :) I looked like the model tourist. I had my backpack on my back, camera around my neck...and I was always stopping to buy shirts and hats. However, we're close enough to the beach that they gave us the "local" discount. 
They had a toy store. Trent was thrilled. He went Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Lots of neat things to play with.
The hammock is great for people who like them. I always feel like I'm going to be dumped, so I just stayed out and took photos. :)
Last year we went looking for crabs every night after dark. Trent had so much fun that we decided to do it again this year.
