The poolside Happy Heron is in a gated community on the Florida Forgotten Coast.

Looking for a comfortable vacation cottage with all the amenities of home We found our “B33 Happy Heron” paradise in 2016 at Barefoot Cottages just north of the village of Port St. Joe and south of Mexico Beach in the Florida panhandle. With quick access to the white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast and the Intercoastal Waterway, Barefoot Cottages is a gated community with individual units, three pools, outdoor gathering, and grilling areas. Barefoot Cottages is a family-oriented community with designated quiet times. You must be 25 years old to book B33 Happy Heron. Guests under 25 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the reservation.

Our Happy Heron cottage accommodates 6 with 3 bedrooms and ensuites. The kitchen is equipped with the conveniences of home (check our website for a full list of accommodations – barefootcottageb33.com). Just step out of the screened porch directly to the large pool and a hot tub. One of our favorite evening locations is the privacy of the second-level screened porch looking over the pool and spa. The Happy Heron has high-speed internet and streaming services with modern TVs in the living area and every bedroom.

Situated on the shores of St. Joseph Bay, Port St. Joe is a popular annual destination, especially during the summer. This two-traffic-light community has everything you need at a laid-back pace that talks to your soul. Walk the white beaches with public access just outside the Barefoot Cottages community or a short drive to Cape San Blas. You have to experience the miles of beach at the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park while staying at the Happy Heron. Wait until you see the sunsets over the Bay.

Port St. Joe and the surrounding areas offer a host of fine restaurants. From fresh-off-the-boat seafood to quality steaks, to several different ethnic restaurants and pizzerias, the quality is special and the quality is high. And there are restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you would like to dine in using the Happy Heron's fully equipped kitchen, fresh daily seafood and groceries are readily available in and near Port. St. Joe.

Visitors from all over the country come to enjoy the white-sand dune beaches and water sports in the St. Joseph Bay and the Gulf. One of the most popular water sports is fishing, both fresh and salt water, nearshore or offshore bluewater in the Gulf. The Dead Lakes offer excellent freshwater fishing for largemouth bass. Nearshore in the salt, the fishing is outstanding for redfish, sea trout, flounder, Spanish mackerel and, in season, tarpon of trophy size. There is also outstanding offshore fishing for grouper, snapper, amberjack, dolphin, king mackerel, cobia, and shark.

Check out the fishing charts on the wall at the Happy Heron for fishing locations.

Off-site boat storage is available at Best American Storage. The secured storage area at America’s Best on County Road 382 is conveniently located between the White City boat ramp access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the marina in Port St. Joe access to St. Joseph Bay and the Gulf. Enjoy a cruise on the Intercoastal Waterway through Lake Wimico to Apalachicola for shopping and dining. The Intercoastal and St. Joseph Bay are well-known for excellent fishing, and the bay is well-known for scalloping.

You have found your comfortable vacation home, the Happy Heron at Barefoot Cottages, Port St. Joe, Florida. Book now to find out for yourself how happy you can be at the Happy Heron.