River Rat's Rest

We had a great stay! The house was a perfect fit for our family and a great location for all the manatee fun! Thank you.

Very clean and nice great atmosphere will be back

Hi Jennifer & David Rogers,We checked out today, and I just wanted to offer some honest feedback. I’m not reaching out to ask for anything, and I don’t mean to sound arrogant or ungrateful—I just believe it’s fair to share what we experienced.You titled the property well—it definitely has charm. The inside of the house is nicely done and has a comfortable, welcoming feel. However, several issues left us disappointed and made the overall experience fall short of what we hoped for.⸻Cons:1.Boat Access MisrepresentedThe listing should clearly state that this is not a bay boat-friendly property. Our two 22–24 ft boats couldn’t make it through. This is really only suitable for a small jon boat. The low-clearance bridge that blocks boats with T-tops should absolutely be disclosed.2.Exterior ConditionThe outside is very dirty. A simple pressure wash would make a world of difference.3.Siding IssuesSome of the siding is melted or hanging off in places. This gives the impression that the home isn’t being maintained.4.Carport AreaThere was standing dirty water and mud under the carport, which made unloading messy and frustrating.5.Grill ConditionThe grill was completely rusted out and unusable. The baffles were gone, and we couldn’t get it to work at all.6.I work hard and value my time off, so I do come with high expectations. When my kids walked in and said, “Dad, this place is bad,” just 30 minutes after arriving. It’s was disheartening

As advertised! We enjoyed everything about our stay. Manatee visited us daily on the floating dock. The house was on a quiet road with 4 houses. The nature that surrounded us was amazing!

We had plenty of room for our family. We were celebrating my 16 year olds birthday. We also hosted two of my sisters and their husbands. The kayak and dock access was a great treat. My 16 year old caught 8 bass and several brim right off the dock. The water was so clear you could see turtles, crabs, sheep head, mullet and of course the star of the show manatee right off the dock. The manatee visited every morning and afternoon. With a short kayak trip to the end of the canal you could see many more. We also paddled to the Emu farm just past the canal. We visited the local state parks and rented a pontoon boat for a morning to go up into Hunter Springs and Three sisters spring. There were manatee and dolphins everywhere in the river all the way out to the Gulf of America….lol. Would definitely recommend as house is great for large family getaways and being able to bring our dogs was a plus.

We had an all-girls nature retreat at this amazing home and I can’t imagine having spent such a magical weekend anywhere else. The house comes with some kayaks and a canoe, which was so helpful. We had additional yaks dropped off by a local company called Sassa Style Rentals. We saw so many manatees on the water, enjoyed emu island, fishing, campfires, yoga by the river, and we experienced some incredible sunsets while exploring the marshes. The best surprise of all was the bioluminescence off the dock on our last night - it was truly a once in a lifetime experience watching glowing turtles and fish swimming through the dark waters. As for the space itself, there was enough indoor space for everyone to be comfortable and the outdoor space was plentiful and private. I can say without a doubt everyone will always cherish this special slice of paradise and the memories we shared here. Needless to say, I can’t recommend this place enough :)

Our stay at this river house was absolutely amazing. The beds were comfy, and the air was nice and cold. The home had such a peaceful setting. We made many memories as a family kayaking and canoeing. We loved visiting the state parks and local springs. Grocery shopping and restaurants were all close by. The host was amazing. They were helpful and always available. We are blessed to travel often and experience many different properties, and this property is at the top of our list. We look forward to return!  

We loved the openness of this property. It let us enjoy visiting and talking while giving privacy to those who needed it. The covered parking was very helpful especially during summer storms. We enjoyed our stay very much!

This was a great place to stay, central to a ton of things. We were a large group (12 people) with young kids and had plenty of space in the house. The dock was a hit for fishing and kayaking/canoeing. Restaurants are close by, up to 15 min drive for some of them which provided nice views of the salt marshes. There are springs for swimming just up the road in Crystal River and beach access about 10 min away in the gulf. The kitchen was well stocked, plenty of towels and blankets for when we needed them, and a nice firepit outside for s'mores nights with the kids. Definitely hit up the Ellie Schiller park just a few miles down the road to see manatees and other local wildlife! This was an ideal HQ for our vacation and we would definitely stay again!

Beautiful house on the river. Very spacious and clean. Nice dock with a canoe and kayaks. Quiet neighborhood yet close to everything.