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Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock

Photo gallery for Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock

Property grounds
Food and drink
Outdoor dining
Outdoor dining
Outdoor dining

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor barbecue

Explore the area

View map
North East, MD
  • Place, Upper Bay Museum
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, University of Delaware
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Place, Christiana Mall
    ‪27 min drive‬
  • Airport, Wilmington, DE (ILG-New Castle)
    ‪34 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Primary Bedroom

1 King Bed

Secondary Bedroom

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock

Welcome to The Dabbling Duck! Located on the beautiful North East River, this waterfront cottage is a little slice of Chesapeake paradise. Guests have access to a private dock for boating, fishing, paddle sports, or relaxing to picturesque surroundings. Hiking, biking, and wildlife enthusiasts love the close proximity to over 5,000 acres of pristine nature. For the traveler in search of antiques, delicious eastern shore fare, or live music, Main Street and Nauti Goose are only a short walk away.

The Dabbling Duck is a private two bedroom cottage, tastefully decorated with a mix of island and coastal design elements as well as mid century modern furnishings. The open living and dining room area is sun-filled and overlooks the back patio and water. The space is AC-cooled and inviting, perfect for relaxing both before and after a day of adventure. Lighting is ample, for reading and playing games, as well as dimmable, for creating a romantic setting.

For the guest who enjoys cooking and entertaining, the kitchen is fully equipped with everything needed to prepare a nice meal “at home.” There is a gas stove and oven, full-sized refrigerator, complete set of pots and pans, cooking utensils, and serve ware for both indoor and outdoor dining. If additional kitchen items or place settings are needed, please let the host know and she will make every effort to accommodate the request.

The cozy cottage bedrooms have everything necessary for a good night’s sleep. Both bedrooms are outfitted with comfortable sheets, extra pillows and blankets, and AC. The primary bedroom has a king size bed, tv, closet with hangers, and a small dresser. The second bedroom has two twin beds and a nightstand with drawers. If the twin beds need to be moved together, please let the host know prior to arrival, and she will accommodate the request.

Guests have access to the entire cottage, which includes a front porch, a back patio with tables and a grill, and a backyard with a pergola and fire pit area. There are two parking spaces directly in front of the cottage for guests. If you need additional parking, please let the host know. Guests also have access to a private dock. The dock spans the length of the cottage waterfront and the main house waterfront. Guest access will be marked. Guests are permitted to dock one boat up to 30 feet in front of the cottage at no additional cost. Additional boats must be approved by the host to ensure they can be accommodated. There will be a fee for each additional boat.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Pls discuss baby/child-proofing needs with host.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Approval required. Please see house rules.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking inside the home is strictly prohibited. No cigarettes, vapes, pipes, and/or bowls. If smoking outside, please keep doors and windows closed.
Dogs permitted w/approval. Will consider other pets w/approval. No animals permitted on the beds, couch, and/or other furniture.
For Instant booking guest must have a 4.8 star rating or higher. Any other rating please message for pre-approval

Important information

You need to know

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
Long-term renters welcome
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

North East

Located in North East, this cottage is on the waterfront. Chestnut Point Estates and Marina and Craft Haven Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit Rising Sun Plaza and Castle Mall. Plumpton Park Zoo and Havre de Grace Maritime Museum are also worth visiting. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hunting and cycling nearby.
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Map
North East, MD

What's nearby

  • Upper Bay Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • University of Delaware - 22 min drive - 28.5 km
  • Ripken Stadium - 26 min drive - 31.5 km
  • Christiana Mall - 27 min drive - 39.1 km
  • Wilmington Riverwalk - 37 min drive - 53.0 km

Getting around

  • Perryville Station - 17 min drive
  • Wilmington, DE (ILG-New Castle) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wawa - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Wawa - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Royal Farms - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

How much does it cost to stay at Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock?

As of 30 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock on 27 October 2026 start from NZ$602, 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.

How much is parking at Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Charming Waterfront Cottage with Private Boat Dock located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is steps from Upper Bay Museum and within 6 mi (10 km) of Milburn Stone Theater and Charlestown Town Hall. Fair Green Park and Long Point Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Iisa K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Was an adorable little cottage with amazing views amazing property grounds everything you needed was there highly recommend it
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is definitely a home away from home for us. The hosts were great to work with and the house was stocked with all the things we needed. Thus a definite home to revisit
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joel W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great place

we will stay here again
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Richard G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent, I’ll be back a few times a yeat
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a delightful stay, clean, safe and so comfortable. The kitchen was equipped to use, and included little extras you appreciate. The comfort this home offered was prefect:Comfortable beds, cleanliness and views for relaxing. I will stay here again on my next visit.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robyn H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The host was very responsive and friendly. The cottage was adorable and clean. There were lots of “little things” that made us feel special. It was probably the best VRBO experience I have ever had!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kristi H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Owners were very responsive and accommodating. Check out was REALLY easy.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tina H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute & Comfy!

Very comfortable cottage with adorable decor! Thank you Chris and Tara for a wonderful stay. Really enjoyed hanging out on the dock and fishing.North East Family restaurant for breakfast was great. Super friendly staff and great food!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

sara h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Perfect Place

Was looking for a cute place to spend the weekend with my college roommates - we've gotten together annually for 25 years - and this place was perfect! Great location, great hosts, super cute decor, comfy beds, awesome outdoor seating areas, and to be able to walk everywhere was a bonus! Definitely hope to stay here again soon!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Declan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic stay. Extremely clean and in a great location. We loved the ability to walk to the water and into town to experience the coffee shops and antique stores. Definitely try the candy shop! Tara and Chris were very responsive throughout our stay. Super accommodating and made our parents weekend at the University of Delaware extremely enjoyable. Would definitely recommend to our friends and family.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

carrie h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Visit!

Tara and Chris were incredibly helpful and responsive - we had a great time at their lovely cottage. So much to do in the area! Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely experience. Sat along shores of tidal stream and watched birds fly up and down river and fish jumping. Park across the street hosted a community picnic and wonderful restaurants nearby. Beautifully appointed quiet with comfy beds!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Get Away

The property far exceeded our expectations. We had a wonderful weekend at this location thanks to a fantastic host. Outstanding accommodations, well designed, organized and clean. Looking forward to a return trip.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Becky G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful, quiet, and scenic

We had a lovely two night stay in this cottage. The area is quiet. Easy walk down town to shops and restaurants. The property is clean, well decorated, and comfortable. The highlight is the back yard. Right on the river with a great patio. Wonderful for birdwatchers! Highly recommend and if we are back in the area we would book again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leann F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay was great. It was a nice ending to our vacation. We started our week out in Ocean City with 2 other families and stopped in North East on our way home. The house was clean, cozy, and very welcoming. It is the perfect location and right on the water. The host were absolutely amazing, there was a very bad thunderstorm the first night and we lost power and Chris was in contact the whole time with us making sure we were ok and accommodating to any of our needs. I highly recommend this property and these host. We will definitely be staying there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

ROBERT W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great four-day vacation at the cottage very comfortable very clean! Plenty of room to cook, bedrooms are very comfortable and clean. Sitting area is nice also.I brought my 18.5” boat down. It was great having the dock plenty of room to tie off on. Marina is very close by. I made a little fire every night very comfortable back patio! I would definitely stay there again!! Communication was excellent! everybody in that area was very nice!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

1220

Very enjoyable. Chris was a a terrific host.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rick C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very well represented with pictures, small hiccup but it was taken care of totally! Very quickly by the owner and representative! 100# This place is EXCELLENT! PERIOD! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! WE WILL BE BACK!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy Cottage with a Beautiful View

We loved our stay in North East. Location is fantastic - walking distance to town and close to Blue Elk Vineyard. The outdoor space is perfect to enjoy to calm and peace of the water view. The house is best used with close family as there is only one bathroom. Chris is so easy to work with and check-in/check-out procedure is effortless. We have already booked a return trip.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy and perfect

I loved everything about this place! The waterfront property and proximity to the boat ramp and the most charming little town was more than we could have asked for. Chris and Tara were so accommodating and even add so many thoughtful little touches throughout the house for us. Their communication and hospitality was amazing. The place was decorated beautifully and was so comfortable. It was perfect for our long weekend getaway with our dogs and boat. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

D S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
"Charming" is an understatement! Everything about The Dabbling Duck and the town of North East is charming!! We stayed for a month during our son's college baseball season, and never wanted to leave. The house has been lovingly restored and furnished like a home rather than a beige and gray rental. Thoughtful touches were abundant, including a snack basket, cold drinks in the fridge, and even a supply of dog food. Everything was top-notch, from the cookware to the glassware to the bed and bath linens. We had everything we needed to enjoy a long stay, including a fully stocked laundry room, outdoor BBQ, and even firewood for the outdoor fireplace. We have stayed in many VRBOs and. have never found one with a bar cart and so many lovely serving platters and bowls for entertaining. Best of all, the house is perfectly situated with the North East Community Park steps from the front door, a peaceful dock out back, and enough ducks and geese to add an extra layer of charm. We walked 3 minutes to The Nauti Goose when we were in the mood for a sunset cocktail, and the charming downtown was an easy stroll away when we wanted to head to town for brunch or an ice cream. The owners were easy to communicate with and were very responsive to any request. They live on site but we never felt like our privacy was compromised -- we probably saw them for a quick chat 2 or 3 times the entire month. We will without hesitation look forward to many more stays at this charming cottage.
Stayed 30 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pamela P.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

About the host

Hosted by Chris

Host profile image
Hosting is something I have loved ever since I held my first tea party as a child. I would spend hours brainstorming ideas that would make my guests happy. As I grew older, my love of hosting grew stronger and I jumped at every opportunity to plan and throw a party. I hosted dinner parties, fundraisers, trivia nights, and themed holiday gatherings, to name a few. It was no surprise that I found my way into event design as an adult (after some time in public health). I loved taking a concept and dreaming up a festive, memorable experience for the guests. It was hosting on a grander scale. I loved every minute, and a decade of design flew by in beautiful brushstrokes of color. When I decided it was time for a new adventure and a little shift in my definition of hosting, the property in North East popped up and it was perfect for another form of hosting. These days I focus my time and energy on hosting guests at our cottage and apartment (as well as interior styling and design), which I absolutely love. Vacation time is precious, so I feel honored when a family or group of friends chooses one of our properties for a little getaway. My goal, much like with events, is to ensure that our guests enjoy every minute of their stay. I am thrilled by the preparation that goes into hosting, and I experience a tremendous amount of joy when I know that preparation resulted in happy guests.

Why they chose this property

I absolutely adore North East! The town is a true Chesapeake Bay gem. It is the perfect mix of charming and laid-back, and our neighborhood is the heart of it all. We love walking into town for a morning latte and popping into one of the local antique shops for books or a gift. In cooler weather, my Bassett will join us, getting lots of attention (and the occasional treat) from passersby. People are friendly here! At some point during the day the water will beckon, and we will venture out with kayaks for a relaxing paddle. The boating on our part of the Chesapeake is excellent, too, with beautiful views and multiple towns to explore only a short distance away. If we are not heading to a restaurant by boat, we love taking an evening walk into town for dinner. The local restaurants never disappoint! We are also across the street from the community park, which is a great place to walk, have a picnic, host a game of flag football, and watch the sun set or the boats venture in to the marina and Nauti Goose.

What makes this property unique

Definitely the location. The back door opens to a waterfront patio and dock. The front door is minutes away from restaurants and shops. The cottage really is the best of both worlds, and the location makes it easy to seek out fun activities or stay in and relax.

Languages:

English

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