Welcome to 'The Burrow'!
Our family has rented beach houses for decades going back to when we were small children. When we found ourselves in the very fortunate position to build our own beach house, we wanted to make sure that we took all of our experience (And our parents’ experience!) to provide the kind of vacation rental that we would want. What makes a perfect beach house rental?
beds & more beds
We started with bedrooms. The Burrow has 6 bedrooms and we filled them with beds. We set up the house to support two or three families so we included two master bedrooms each with a full bathroom. Both have large walk-in showers and double sinks in the vanity. One room has a king-sized bed and the upstairs suite has a queen-sized bed. We didn’t cut corners on the mattresses, either. We purchased high-end mattresses for each bed knowing that a bad mattress can ruin a vacation. One master suite is on the first floor and the other one is on the second floor. It should be noted that this Bethany Beach rental includes a handicapped bathroom in the master suite that is on the same floor as the main living area (And kitchen).
After the master suites, we included another suite that consists of a bedroom with a king-sized bed (including a premium mattress) and a “Jack and Jill” bathroom that connects to a room for kids. Our thinking is that another family could make this suite their home for their beach vacation. The other bedroom connected to this bathroom has a bunk bed (twin beds) and a day bed with a trundle below it. This suite could support a large family or a smaller family along with some of their children’s friends. Nothing is better than bringing your friends to the beach!
That leaves two remaining bedrooms. One of them is on the main floor down the hall from the master suite. It has two twin beds in it along with a full bathroom connected to it. This bathroom also opens up to the hallway and serves as the bathroom for the main living area. This room could be used by children belonging to the adults in the master suite. Or grandparents. Or a couple without children.
The last bedroom is upstairs and contains a bunk bed with a double bed on the bottom and a twin bed on the top. There is an additional twin bed, too. It has a private bathroom. Another family could certainly use this room. Perhaps a family with very small children. Or you could just fill it with kids!
In summary, there are 6 total bedrooms and 5 full baths. All bedrooms have private access to a full bathroom.
outdoor entertainment
We wanted to make this a great house for everyone, especially kids! When renting a beach house in Bethany Beach, DE, you want a house that is equipped for fun! So what does this house offer? Plenty!
Private Pool - Nothing feels better after a day at the beach than a dip in a pool! All of that salt and sand and sweat gets washed right off! The pool is 30 feet long and contains built-in benches inside it for sitting and relaxing. There are plenty of lounge chairs, a table with an umbrella, and even a comfy glider.
Gas Grill - Nothing says summer vacation like grilling out! A large stainless steel grill awaits your yummy creations. No matter how you get to Bethany Beach, you undoubtedly passed several fresh fruit and produce stands. Hopefully you picked up some sweet corn, strawberries, and other yummy fresh food! A cookout with dinner by the pool is a great way to end any beach day.
Corn Hole - Everyone loves corn hole! What better way to wait for the food to cook than tossing back some cold adult beverages while you toss some bean bags? Or, what better way to occupy the kids while you enjoy some peace and quiet at the pool?
Basketball Hoop - We put in a very nice basketball hoop in the driveway. This is another great activity for the kids or any adults reliving their youth. Run some 3 v 3 and then go jump in the pool to cool off!
Hammock - There is a large hammock outside below the house where I have taken countless naps. The house backs up to the marsh and there is nothing more relaxing than the sound of the wind blowing through the tall reeds in the marsh. It will hold two people, but I recommend going solo!
indoor entertainment
Beach vacations are about spending time outdoors, but I think everyone will admit that a break from the sun with the air conditioning blasting is always a great thing. And unfortunately, sometimes it rains. The Burrow offers plenty of options!
Screened Porch - Just off of the main living area, two large double sliding doors can be opened up to the porch. As my Mom tells me, the best part of the house is the porch. It backs up to beautiful marshlands. You can see beautiful herons and other birds flying about. If you get lucky, you might see a turtle cruising by (Keep your ears open for rustling sounds as they walk through the marsh). There is plenty of seating, a ceiling fan, and a picnic-style table. You can easily access the pool area from here too via a set of stairs. This is a great place for the kids to share their meals throughout the week even when they are wet from the pool. When I wake up at the house, I will always find my Mom on the porch each morning reading her book. You will love this space.
Games & Puzzles - We are a family of gamers! Board games, that is. There are tons and tons of board games. There are a lot of puzzles, too. We always have a puzzle going on our beach trips. There is a massive table on the main floor and you can put a puzzle on one end and still have room to seat a large number of people for meals.
Books - Is there anything better than a good book at the beach? We loaded the house with books. We have three kids and we included a ton of books for children of all ages. I love Carl Hiasson and you’ll find a number of his books along with mysteries and some intellectual stuff, if that is your thing.
Televisions - There is more content than ever to stream, and this beach house in Delaware gives you plenty of options. There is a large, 65” television in the main living area. It has a receiver, a sub-woofer, and surround sound speakers in the ceiling. It is a great place to watch those summer blockbusters you might have missed. The house literally rumbles! The master bedrooms each have their own television. And believe it or not, all are hooked up to cable. Channel flipping is still a thing at this house!
The Loft - This is where the kids hang out! Upstairs there is a loft area with a TV, a couch, and a stunning view of the marshlands. This is where the kids like to gather. If they bring their gaming system, this is where you’ll want to hook it up. After a busy day minding the kids, this is where you can send them to wind down before bed with a movie and some popcorn.
cooking & eating
The single most important thing for my wife when putting this house together was to have a “fully stocked kitchen” as she describes it. Is there anything more annoying than not having a working can opener at the beach? Or a pair of tongs? Or a pizza slicer? We have gone out of our way to make sure there is everything you will need. And we mean everything. There are dishes for 25 people. There are all sorts of glasses from basic to wine glasses. There is plastic ware to take out to the pool. There are dishes for very small children and the necessary silverware for them. There are pots and pans of all shapes and sizes. There is an electric frying pan. There is a Kuerig machine for coffee and a regular drip coffee maker. If something is missing, it means a guest took it. Seriously, we replenish that kitchen every off-season.
One of the highlights of any beach vacation is the meals. Everyone can share what they did that day. Conversations about your lives, the news, family stories told a hundred times, and more are all the centerpieces of a great beach vacation. These conversations can be a challenge to have during the business of normal life. Sharing a meal with family and friends while at the beach is where memories of a lifetime are created.
the beach
Well, of course we need to talk about the beach! That is the whole point for any summer trip to Bethany Beach! To access the beach, you must drive a car or ride a bike. While our house is physically close to the beach, there is NOT beach access across the street from our neighborhood. Believe me, we have tried to gain that!
You have two main options.
Delaware Seashore State Park - This is a great place to spend the day. It will cost you $10.00 per car to get in, so take your biggest car and fill it up! There are restrooms. There is food. And the beach is beautiful.
Town of Bethany Beach - There is plenty of parking (The Parkmobile app is the way to go!) in town. It will cost you around $10.00 per day. We like to park near the corner of 5th St and Atlantic Avenue. This is the last beach access path before the private beach area. You can sit right up against the private beach (Which is frustratingly empty!!!) and not have any crowds on one side of your spot.
summary
We hope you have a fantastic time at our beach house in Bethany Beach, DE. To learn about rates and availability, please visit Vacasa. They manage our property. But if you are looking for a large beach house with a private pool in Bethany Beach, DE, you have come to the right place.