Arrival Information

Front Door Access

• Your loft door code is 8438.

• To enter through the garage, you’ll need the key that’s located in left nightstand (Sitting-area side)

WiFi

• Network: THERIVERLOFT

• Password: THERIVERLOFT700

Address
700 East Main Street, Unit #204
Elizabeth City, NC 27909

Reserved Parking
You’re welcome to park in Spot #202 inside the garage (just beside the grey Ford Bronco).

Snack Basket
Please help yourself to bottled water and snacks, and make yourself at home. The best guests leave no snacks behind!

During Your Stay

Make yourself at home. If you need anything, just holler.

Nightstand Orientation

• Right nightstand (window side)

• Left nightstand (sitting-area side)

Power & Charging

• Outlets with USB on the Left nightstand (sitting-area side)

• Additional outlet inside the oyster basket beside the sofa

In Your Room

• Armoire cabinet: robes, luggage rack, iron/ironing board, garment steamer.

• Armoire drawer: extra blanket

• Sound machine: on the Right nightstand (window side)

• Taper candle remote: in the Left nightstand (sitting-area side)

• Records & music: enjoy the record collection; the record-player speakers are Bluetooth-compatible (SineAudio DS6701NP+V1.22). The remote for these is beside the player. BT on the remote is for Bluetooth and Aux is for the record player.

TV & Art Mode (Samsung Frame)

• TV at the foot of the bed doubles as wall art

• Remote: on the black floating shelf under the TV

• To watch TV: press Home → Netflix, Amazon Prime (Guest), Samsung TV Plus

• To return to art: scroll left → select Art

In the Bathroom

• Blow dryer: hanging behind the bathroom door

• Molton Brown bath products: body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion

• In-shower: bottles ready to use

• Shower steamers (top, left-hand vanity drawer): eucalyptus + mint; place on the floor out of the direct stream

• Extra towels: left-hand vanity cabinet

• First aid kit: under the sink

Around the Loft

Kitchen (upstairs)

• Use anything you need; glasses & dishes in the gray cabinet by the dining table

• Filtered water: fridge door dispenser or pitcher inside

• Laundry: washer/dryer behind the double kitchen doors (supplies provided)

• Piano 🎹: play if the mood strikes

In Your Guest Suite

• Lighting:

  • The lamp by the record player turns on in the evening and off at 12:30 a.m.; switch manually anytime.

  • The Christmas Tree turns off manually at 12:00 am daily.

Downstairs Hallway (outside the suite)

• Bike 🚲: great for a riverfront ride

• Fire safety 🔥: extinguisher in the downstairs hallway

Departure

• Please leave keys and the garage opener on the nightstand

Guest Book 📖

• If you’d like, leave a note about what you noticed, wandered into, or ordered twice — I love reading them

Downtown Favorites
(All within easy walking distance)

☕ Coffee & Breakfast

• The Kraken — Excellent espresso, right across the street. 615 E Main St

• Muddy Waters Coffeehouse — Cozy spot with house-roasted coffee. 100 W Main St

• Colonial Café — Classic diner breakfast done right. 418 E Colonial Ave

• The Sweet Easy — Pastries and café breakfast in a bright, charming setup. 112 N Poindexter St

• Electric Garden — Juices, smoothies, and plant-based bowls. 608 E Fearing St

🍴 Lunch & Dinner

• Hoppin’ Johnz — Southern-Caribbean favorites. 606 E Colonial Ave

• The Bistro Burger — Gourmet burgers and sides. 200 N Poindexter St

• Elizabeth City Pizza Co. — Local go-to for pizza. 507 E Main St

• Cypress Creek Grill — Casual seafood and American eats. 113 S Water St

🍷 Drinks

• Pine & Porch — Beer, wine, and home goods in one. 105 E Colonial Ave

• River City Biergarten — Patio-style beer garden. 106 E Fearing St

• 2 Souls Wine Bar — Ambient wine bar with bites. 512 E Main St

• Juniper — Hidden cocktail bar tucked into Pailin’s Alley.

• Seven Sounds Brewing — Lively waterfront brewery. 112 N Water St

• Ghost Harbor Brewing — Local favorite with a fun vibe. 602 E Colonial Ave

🛍️ Shops & Local Gems

• Roots Plant Company — Curated plant shop. 105 E Colonial Ave

• The Recycled Reader — Family-run used bookstore. 606 E Main St (right across the street)

• Kitchen Kuriosities — Cooking gadgets and finds. 613 E Main St

• Arts of the Albemarle — Gallery + local art shop. 516 E Main St

• The Lilly Pad — Paint-your-own pottery studio.

• Museum of the Albemarle — Regional history museum. 501 S Water St

• Shut Up & Listen Records — Vinyl, CDs, turntables. 610 E Fearing St

🌟 Other

• Fitness Warehouse — 24-hour gym. 216 N McMorrine St

• Glimmer Hair Salon — Hair, makeup & styling. 601 E Main St

• 🚗 Worth the Short Drive

  • Mi Cancun — Tex-Mex with all the classics + margaritas. 512 W Ehringhaus St

  • Montero’s — Southern comfort with upscale flair. 414 N McArthur St

  • Paradiso Roma Ristorante — Pasta, garlic knots, and warm service. 406 Halstead Blvd

  • Totally Thai — Cozy spot with bold Thai flavors. 146 E Rich Blvd, Suite B

• Downtown Waterfront Market — Saturdays in season at Mariner’s Wharf

• First Fridays — Monthly downtown walk with shops, galleries, and live music

Check the Visit Elizabeth City Events Calendar for what's happening while you're here.

• Riverside Bike Path — Ride or walk along the Pasquotank River

• Charles Creek Park — Shady, peaceful, bird-friendly

• Dismal Swamp State Park — Trails, kayaks, wildlife (20 min drive)

• Edenton — Colonial charm, boutique shopping, and waterfront views. (~40 minutes)

• Hertford — Antique shops and a scenic stroll along the Perquimans River.

• Outer Banks — About an hour to Kitty Hawk for beaches, seafood, and the Wright Brothers Memorial.

A little jazz, a little Carolina soul, and a few tracks that just feel right here. Whether you’re settling in, lounging, or watching the river go by—this playlist brings the mood.

🎧 Listen on Spotify:
The River Loft Soundtrack

Featured artists include:

• Max Roach — Local legend, pure rhythm, no words needed

• Hiss Golden Messenger — Modern folk gospel from just up the road

• Watchhouse — Appalachian roots with a hush

• The Avett Brothers — Gentle storytelling with a gut punch

• Sylvan Esso — Airy, odd, and totally North Carolina

• Nina Simone — Defiant and timeless, like she always is

• Rhiannon Giddens — Banjo meets protest meets choir

• Iron & Wine — Home, memory, and everything in between

• Lucinda Williams — Southern ache and longing, slow as molasses and twice as deep

• John Coltrane — Nighttime in a song

• Nick Drake — Dreamlike, fragile, quietly hopeful

• Aretha Franklin — A gospel moment from her 1972 live album—equal parts invitation and benediction

Feel free to add a track that fits. Music is better when it travels.

A little River Loft ritual: start any card, any day. Each one pairs a musician’s words with a tiny prompt and a micro-ritual you can do in minutes. No order, no rules—just a nudge toward noticing and enjoying your stay.

🎙️ Nina Simone

“It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times.”
Try this: Notice one small detail today you’d sketch, photograph, or write about.
Micro-ritual: Sit on the bed or sofa and take three slow breaths before you head out.

🎺 Louis Armstrong

“What we play is life.”
Try this: Pick a house sound (floorboards, footsteps, street traffic) and really listen for 30 seconds.
Micro-ritual: Tap a simple rhythm on the table—left, right, pause.

🎸 Dolly Parton

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
Try this: Set one tiny intention (walk, read, call someone).
Micro-ritual: Write it on the nightstand writing pad and leave it by the bed.

🎷 Miles Davis

“Do not fear mistakes—there are none.”
Try this: Play a few notes on the piano or ukulele or hum a tune—no rules.
Micro-ritual: When you catch a “should,” swap it for “could.”

⭐ David Bowie

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”
Try this: Take a new route—a meander along the river or a wander downtown.
Micro-ritual: Snap one photo of something ordinary that feels special here.

🌿 Bob Marley

“Love the life you live. Live the life you love.”
Try this: List three things you liked about today—tiny is fine.
Micro-ritual: Put the sound machine on for a two-minute reset.

🎹 Duke Ellington

“I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.”
Try this: If something bugs you, write a two-line blues about it and laugh it off.
Micro-ritual: Make a cup of tea/coffee (or grab one at The Kraken or Muddy Waters), and enjoy the first three sips phone-free.

👑 Beyoncé

“Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.”
Try this: Choose one small thing to own today (the first step, the reservation, the map).
Micro-ritual: Stand tall for ten seconds before you head out the door.

🎤 Prince

“A strong spirit transcends rules.”
Try this: Loosen one routine—eat at an odd hour, read before breakfast, bike at dusk.
Micro-ritual: Write a one-line tip in the guest book for the next traveler.description

Tucker and the Secret of Wanchese

Once upon a time, there was a seven-year-old (almost eight-year-old) girl named Tucker who was about to go on one of her favorite adventures.

It didn't involve a castle.

Or dragons.

Or a spaceship.

It was something even better.

She was going to Wanchese.

The night before the trip, Tucker stayed with Uncle Miles.

As she snuggled into bed, Uncle Miles smiled and whispered, "Did you know Wanchese has a secret?"

Tucker's eyes grew wide.

"A secret?"

"The biggest secret of all," he said.

"What is it?" she whispered.

Uncle Miles smiled.

"You have to discover it yourself."

The next morning, Tucker climbed into the car with Mommy and Daddy and drove toward the Outer Banks.

As soon as they crossed the bridge, she rolled down her window.

The salty air rushed in.

"Mmm," she said.

"Wanchese smells like vacation."

When they arrived, Nanny gave Tucker the biggest hug.

Pop was already gone.

"He left before the sun came up," Nanny said. "The crabs don't like to sleep late."

Tucker giggled.

She imagined hundreds of sleepy blue crabs stretching their claws and yawning under the water.

Later that morning, Pop came home on his crab boat.

His boots were muddy.

His hands were rough.

His smile was huge.

"Want to see what I caught?" he asked.

Tucker hurried to the boat.

Inside the baskets were dozens of bright blue crabs.

"They're beautiful!" she said.

"They've been here a long time," Pop said.

"So have our family."

That afternoon they went to the beach.

Tucker jumped over waves.

Built sandcastles.

Collected shells that looked like tiny treasures.

And searched for dolphins.

After swimming, they stopped at Surfin' Spoon.

Tucker picked her favorite frozen yogurt and piled on just enough toppings to make it perfect.

Maybe a few extra gummy bears.

Maybe.

That evening, the whole family sat outside while the sun slowly disappeared behind the trees.

The air smelled like saltwater.

Boats rocked gently in the harbor.

Seagulls called to one another.

Tucker looked around.

"This is my favorite place," she said.

Pop smiled.

"Do you know why?"

"Because of the beach?"

"No."

"The frozen yogurt?"

Pop laughed.

"That's a pretty good reason."

"The crabs?"

"Not quite."

Tucker thought and thought.

Then she looked at Nanny.

At Mommy.

At Daddy.

At Pop.

She remembered Uncle Miles telling her there was a secret.

Suddenly she knew.

"It's because everyone I love is here."

Pop smiled.

"You found the secret."

"You mean..."

"Wanchese isn't special because it's on a map."

"It's special because it's full of family."

Pop pointed toward the water.

"For hundreds of years, Daniels have lived here."

"They've fished these waters."

"They've raised families."

"They've laughed."

"They've prayed."

"They've loved this little village."

"And now..."

He gently tapped Tucker on the nose.

"...it's your turn."

That night, Tucker fell asleep listening to the sounds of the fishing village.

She dreamed about boats.

Blue crabs.

Ocean waves.

Nanny's cakes.

And one little fishing village that would always be part of her story.

Because some places become part of your heart forever.

And Wanchese was one of them.

The End.

The Legend of Sir Thistlewhiskers 🐇

Baron of the Pasquotank 🌊

Long ago, along the winding bends of the Pasquotank River, there lived a most unusual gentleman. His name was Sir Thistlewhiskers, and though he was indeed a rabbit 🐇 — tall-eared, gold-furred ✨, and mustached with dignity — he was no ordinary creature of the field.

Sir Thistlewhiskers was a baron, known throughout the land for his refinement and taste. By day he strolled the riverbanks 🌿 with a leather-bound notebook 📖, composing poetry ✍️ about the way the sunlight danced on the water. His favorite subjects were children at play 👧👦, the songs of meadowlarks 🕊️, and the brave steamships 🚢 that once carried stories up and down the Pasquotank.

By evening 🌙, guests from near and far would find their way to his candlelit parlor 🕯️, where Sir Thistlewhiskers hosted recitals on his polished piano 🎹. The baron’s paws could coax lullabies so gentle they calmed even the most restless of sleepers 😴, and rhapsodies so lively that even the fireflies ✨🪲 tapped their feet.

In those moments, some swore they saw his whiskers catch the candlelight 🕯️ and curl like the thorny vines of a thistle 🌿, a mark of his noble station. On grand occasions, he even donned a monocle 👓, claiming it helped him read the finer notes of Chopin and Schumann 🎶. Whether or not this was true, his guests delighted in the flourish, for it seemed to suit his eccentric, gentlemanly charm.

An avid art collector 🖼️, he adorned his warren with river paintings 🌊, seashell mosaics 🐚, and portraits of his many curious friends 🦊🦉🐢. Yet his greatest treasure, he always said, was the laughter of children 😂, which echoed through his halls like the purest symphony 🎵.

And so the years went by, the baron sharing his love of music 🎼, art 🎨, and kindness 💛 with all who visited the Pasquotank. Some say that on quiet nights 🌌, if you listen closely at the River Loft 🏡, you may still hear the soft strains of his piano 🎹 rising with the evening breeze 🌬️.

That is why his bust now hangs proudly in the River Loft 🏡✨ as a guardian of whimsy and good dreams 🌙💤. For every traveler who passes beneath his golden ears 🐇👑 is said to rest more soundly, their dreams filled with poetry, music, and starlight on the water 🌟🌊.

So tonight 🌜, if you should find yourself drifting to sleep 😴, let Sir Thistlewhiskers keep watch 👀. He has been doing so for centuries, and it is his greatest pleasure to do so for you.

Goodnight 🌌, and sweet dreams 💫 from the banks of the Pasquotank.

Urgent Care
NextCare Urgent Care — 615 S Hughes Blvd A
📞 (252) 338-3111

Pharmacies
CVS — 101 W Ehringhaus St | 📞 (252) 338-3933
Harbor Pharmacy — Downtown, locally owned

If I’m not home, feel free to text me anytime: 917-913-1617.

So glad to have you here — and I truly hope you enjoy Elizabeth City as much as I do.

— Miles