Entire home

Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included

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Terrace/patio
Terrace/patio
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Terrace/patio

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4900 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Homosassa, FL
  • Place, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Three Sisters Springs
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Weeki Wachee Springs
    ‪29 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Homosassa

With a stay at this vacation home in Homosassa, you'll be on the waterfront, within a 15-minute drive of Three Sisters Springs and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. .This vacation home is 15.6 mi (25.1 km) from Fort Island Gulf Beach and 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from Old Mill House Gallery and Printing Museum.

What's nearby

  • Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - 1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Three Sisters Springs - 10 min drive - 8.7 miles
  • Fort Island Gulf Beach - 25 min drive - 19.4 miles
  • Weeki Wachee Springs - 29 min drive - 27.7 miles
  • Rainbow Springs State Park - 45 min drive - 30.5 miles

Getting around

  • Tampa Intl. Airport (TPA) - 69 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪RaceTrac - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Crumps Landing - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Grumpy Gator's - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included

One of a kind rental, because it is on a canal off the headsprings of the Homosassa River. Swim with the manatees very near the house in the winter months. They gather in the clear waters just 300 yards away, a short kayak paddle, and kayaks included. The water is always 72 degrees so don't let the cold air scare you off, it is quite pleasant. You are also allowed a 10% discount at Bird's Underwater Dive Center who manages the house. You can take a tour with them on the Crystal River with your discount or they will loan you masks and snorkels if you would rather go it alone from the house. This clean, popular house has been a rental unit for 11 years and many people return very good reviews. The Homosassa Springs State Park is across the street and over a short footbridge. There are two docks, you can fish, or sit and enjoy a fire on the LP gas burning fire pit. This is the Only vacation rental unit in Homosassa within 300 yards of the clear freshwater springs. Two-night minimum stay. Screened-in back porch overlooking the canal. Spacious backyard with banana, grapefruit, and fig trees. Canal has direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of unique waterfront restaurants that specialize in fresh seafood in this little old Florida town.

Paddle to the clear freshwaters of Homosassa River outside of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, see their website. Manatees gather 300 yards from the house to winter in 72-degree water. You may swim with manatees. House owned by Bird's Underwater Dive Center, see the website, who will rent you necessary snorkel gear and explain rules of engagement with manatees.

Great swimming in summer. Great fishing. Walk to state park two blocks away to view manatees and other indigenous animals.

Keywords: Waterfront House
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private patio. Conveniences include a phone, as well as a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near the marina
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Boat
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 900 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 12:00 PM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

Please see the attached PDF for house rules, sign and return to ----@--------.---

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Onsite 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 there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Snorkel Manatees Your Back Yard Kayaks Included House
Snorkel Manatees Your Back Yard Kayaks Included
Snorkel Manatees Your Back Ya
Snorkel With the Manatees in Your Back Yard Kayaks Included

Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 156 out of 176 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 176 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 176 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 176 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 176 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rich K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very comfortable and convenient. Easy acess to Homosassa River and lots to do in surrounding area.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elisha S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great to have the kayaks to use!
Stayed 9 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything at the cottage was fine, as usual. We always enjoy our stay there.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was excellent place to stay. Location, Kayaks, saw lots of Manatees. We didnt want go home. Thank you so much.
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Teri N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
As always a wonderful place to stay. We used to stay here every year many years ago .Haven't been back in awhile but has bigger tv and new sofa recliners. Love it. Hopefully will be back every year again. Highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

kathy s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Host was very responsive and welcoming. House was warm and inviting. We loved our stay here. Thank You For everything, especially the extra touches like cookies and popcorn!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

RM R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a fantastic time at their home. We especially loved sitting on our dock watching the fish and the sunrise and sunset. The absolute best part was being able to kayak right out of our backyard down the canal to see all the manatees! Snorkeling with birds underwater is something everyone must experience! We had a great time and would love to return sometime!
Stayed 14 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House waa perfect, kayaks available for our use. Host responded quickly.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our stay even through we did not get to swim (31 degrees). However we went to the local state park which was outstanding. Just a nice getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Drew B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved having the kayaks and being right on the canal by the Sate Park! Both days we paddled, there were 40-50 manatee for our lovely viewing pleasure! Also, two frisky dolphin swam right up in our area, playing with and batting fish around like play toys! The wildlife and the house were both wonderful!
Manatee! ❤️
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tania D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
They have kayaks available to use and 2 docka on the property. Older kids will love it
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ariana B.

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

Great time with manatees!

This place rocked! It was clean, comfy, and the backyard space is great for relaxing by the water.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David R.

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

Lovely Place!

Second time staying, and we really enjoy the house and garden.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robin B.

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

Great place!

The house was perfect for a short stay. Clean, great location, perfect size, great outdoor space.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marion W.

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

Great Stay

Great Location, enjoyed it very much. Will come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angela

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The kayaks, the manatees the area was so wonder!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Deanna P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property

Wonderful location for boating and kayaking
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

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

Another excellent stay

We stay there every Thanksgiving and have not been disappointed! See you next year!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Antoinette H.

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

Loved this place

Loved this place. It was so cute and the water was in the back yard. We will stay here again
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

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

Visiting the Manatee

My daughter and I had a fabulous stay. The property was very well located for kayaking and touring.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John T.

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

Great Place

Clean, Neat and Manatees!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jay B.

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

Great place

The house is great, has all the amenities, very clean. The owner is responsive and very nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christine C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great time. Was in a good location and the home and surrounding area was very nice. Had a nice elderly neighbor guy to talk to. Kayaking was fun and wven saw a manatee. Will hopefully be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Becky R.

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

Great Location

Super fun stay! Having the kayaks available was key. We brought our snorkles and wetsuits and used the kayaks to paddle down to the park and happily observed the manatees. Small cottage but had evertrhing we needes.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Caleb B.

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

Great location

Perfect location! Close to the spring, minutes from local stores and restaurants, and right on the water. The place is well kept and has everything you need. We will definitely stay here again when we need a little stay-cation.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023