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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

I was visiting the Delaware beaches even before I was born, and took my first steps in Bethany Beach. Every summer my family would rent a house for a month until our extracurriculars took precedence and we could only manage one or two weeks every August, which we spent all year anticipating. After I got married, I started the tradition of bringing my own three children to the beach during as many summers as we could afford from a time and money perspective. Throughout those years I wrote a number of books, and I found that I had to write significant chunks of those books while I was alone at the beach in isolation, and I used to tell people that I could write the Bible if I could see AND hear the ocean during a writing sojourn because of the joy and productivity I felt while there. Fast forward to being an empty nester, and although my husband didn't fancy himself a beach person, he pulled up the house listing during the covid pandemic on Zillow and I gasped out loud when I saw the listing. The main picture advertising 36 Delaware Avenue was the front porch I'd always seen in my dreams; a covered front porch with fans that had enough room and seating that I could write, watch passersby and hear the ocean. The biggest plus was finding out that the house is on the same street as FUNLAND, which is where I spent countless happy hours with my best friend throughout childhood, and where I won lots of stuffed animals and ate taffy. I also had an obsession with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon as a child, so when I saw the amazing wall of flowers that the previous owner had created from scratch, I knew I had to have this peaceful oasis for ourselves and for other people who would come and love the house, too. The cherry on top of the sundae was that my license plate had read "WEHVFUN" for 15 years, so after completing the purchase of the property, we happily dubbed the house the WEHVFUN resort!

This house has been lovingly maintained by generations of people who have honored and taken care of the happy energies that come with it. We knew the moment we set foot through the door that this house was waiting for us. In fact, the realtor who represented the owner, Melissa Clink, called her after we left and told her that her buyers - us! - had just left. The house is incredibly unique in that it is close to the beach, boardwalk and FUNLAND, but it's also walking distance to every single attraction and restaurant in town. You can walk off the porch and go to the left or right and then head into town and have dozens of cuisines, homemade ice cream and fudge, and funky stores waiting for you. And for people who love to shop, the outlets are under five minutes away by car, and a little further will take you to the historic town of Lewes where you can catch a ferry to go to Cape May. If you want the verve and energy of Dewey Beach - and their liberal dog policy - that's also a very short walk in the direction of stunning Silver Lake. Did I mention the healing properties of "uitwaaien," which is Dutch for being in windy, salty air? Generations of people around the world have known the health benefits of walking the beaches, particularly at dawn and dusk, so time spent at the beach isn't just fun, it's liable to make you healthier and happier.

We didn't want a new house, so we have worked closely with Melissa - who is overseeing the rentals - to build on the sturdy bones of the house to update and refresh its 113 year old beauty. After adding a new roof, siding, windows, doors, mini-splits, overstuffed living room furniture, a massive television, a pine-washed dining room farmhouse table seating 14, a newly renovated kitchen. Multi colored rocking chairs, grill, fire pit and whimsical landscaping front and back, we are delighted to share our happy home with visitors who will respect and take care of it as lovingly as others have for over 110 years!