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Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard!

Photo gallery for Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard!

Stay with us and swim with manatees in our back yard!
Cool off and relax in our screened in private use pool
Walk into our light and airy open floor plan home
Views of the freshwater canal from all rooms. Queen sofa bed
Sleep sound in our main bedroom overlooking the freshwater canal with king bed

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6102.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Map
Crystal River, FL
  • Plantation Inn and Golf Resort
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Three Sisters Springs
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Ocala, FL (OCF-Ocala Intl.)
    ‪55 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Sleeper sofa

2 Queen Sofa Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard!



Manatee swimming, fishing, scalloping, relaxing....no better place to come and enjoy all Citrus County has to offer! Palm Springs is a family owned home and it is our only home we rent out. Communication with us is easy and personalized. Just check out our many reviews! Our guests have been returning again and again for over 24 years. We have been hosting guests and providing a wonderful way to explore all Crystal River has to offer since 2001.

Dock your boat on our seawall with your own personal mooring whips. Swim in the backyard canal with manatees! Almost every guest experiences a manatee, or several, swimming right behind our home. Paddle just 10 minutes to Kings Spring or 30 minutes to Three Sisters Spring with your own private kayaks and paddle board we offer at no additional charge. We are situated nearly right on Kings Bay, just 1 house in on a freshwater canal.

Experience Florida's Nature Coast in our brand new remodeled interior from floor to ceiling. Our relaxing vacation home is featured on an over-sized corner lot that is approximately 3/4 acre. The lot is full of shade trees. Our home is a spacious two bedroom with two bathrooms. It comfortably accommodates 6 people. Aside from the open tiled kitchen/living/dining area, we have a sunroom offering sweeping views of the freshwater canal, a screened in patio, and a screened lanai with your own private use pool. We offer streaming smart tvs available to accommodate all of your favorite streaming apps, wireless internet, and dvd players for your use.

Our visitors enjoy the tranquility that our home offers. It is very common to see manatees slowly making their way through our canal along with an occasional dolphin or otter sighting!! There are several species of birds that come to feed in our yard that can be viewed through our sunroom and back screened patio. This home is located near the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in a residential neighborhood.

We have plenty of room to park your vehicles and boat trailers in the long driveway or in the yard. There is also a covered carport for your vehicle.

We do offer 3 single seater kayaks and a paddleboard here at the home at no additional cost to you, along with paddles and life jackets.
The home comes completely stocked with kitchen utensils, cookware, bed linens, towels and washcloths, and cleaning materials. There is a full washer/dryer here for your use and we keep you stocked with laundry detergent. All you need to bring are your personal toiletries and food!!

There is a county boat ramp with rest rooms and picnic area about 4 miles down Fort Island Trail n.Fort Island Gulf Beach is 6 miles away on Ft. Island trail.

The area is perfect for swimming with the manatees and swimming in nearby springs. 3 Sisters and King Spring are within paddling distance all in a no wake or slow speed zone, so no need to worry about high speed boats on the way.

Please feel free to ask us any additional questions you may have regarding our home or the area. We do offer a 10% military, police, EMS, and firefighter discount. Our home is open all year long for rental. Thank you and we hope to hear from you!

Keywords: Stand alone Home, private, pool, manatee, swim, snorkel, spring, springs, fresh water, water, fish, fishing, dolphin, otter, turtle, tarpon, scallop, boat, boating, tubing, scalloping, gulf, river, quiet, relax, relaxing, serene, private, fence, dock, boat, seawall, kayak, kayaking, paddle board, new, king, queen, remodeled, 3 sisters, 3, three, sisters, three sisters
******I do require an ID from the primary guest before check in code is given.********

Property manager

Rebecca Morton
Premier Host

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Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
6 people max, including children
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
No cats. $150 nonrefundable additional per pet fee
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Not allowed indoors/Florida room. Outside only.
Please respect our neighbors - this is a quiet and serene neighborhood to enjoy a relaxing vacation.
Failure to comply with any rules may result in withholding of security deposit. All garbage must be within trash bag. Pool pump must not be turned off
Must report any broken utility or item, or any utility or item malfunction.

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
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 that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Crystal River

Located in Crystal River, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Crystal River Archaeological State Park and Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Three Sisters Springs and Crystal River Preserve State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Crystal River, FL

What's nearby

  • Plantation Inn and Golf Resort - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge - 5 min drive - 3.5 km
  • Hunter Spring Park - 7 min drive - 5.1 km
  • Three Sisters Springs - 8 min drive - 5.0 km

Getting around

  • Gainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional) - 91 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cody's Original Roadhouse - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Sara's Diner - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Cracker's Bar & Grill - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Arby's - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Waterfront freshwater paradise! Swim with manatees in our backyard! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Plantation Inn and Golf Resort and within 3 miles (5 km) of Crystal River Preserve State Park and A Crystal River Kayak Company. Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge are also within 3 miles (5 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. 154 out of 167 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 167 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 167 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 167 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 167 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H.

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

10/10 isn’t enough

Such a peaceful getaway. Definitely one of the best stays I’ve ever experienced. Thanks so much Rebecca!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cyndy H.

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

Very nice house!

This is a very nice property. The whole process was easy and seamless. The kitchen is well stocked for cooking. It was spotless! The property manager was wonderful to work with to make our stay very pleasant!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alyssa K.

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

Natures wonderland!

We were amazed at the cleanliness of the house as well as it having everything we needed. We were blessed with multiple manatee sightings right outside the property, porpoises and so many fish! 10/10 recommend
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kendra K.

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

Amazing home on the canal

From the moment we arrived wildlife was everywhere. The kayaks that came with the home were absolutely amazing to use and highly suggest if you stay you kayak to the cover to see the manatee. The beds were comfortable and split hvac units throughout the home to keep things cool. The kitchen had everything we needed minus the food. Only downside is the pool is not heated which I am sure in the summer wouldn’t matter. The communication was great! The guest book was a great place to find suggestions on local restaurants and places to visit. If you are looking to explore nature this is the place!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joyce W.

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

On the bay

Clean and well kept, and as described in listing. The hostess is lovely and responsive. Staying on the waterway was very interesting and access to the boats made the stay even better. We all enjoyed paddling around with the manatee and other wildlife which is plentiful. Wade fishing at the end of the main road was excellent. Great value for those who value nature.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jacinda S.

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

Perfect Spot for a Manatee Adventure!

My son and I had a wonderful short trip to Crystal River to see the manatees. Though the weather was colder than usual, it turned out to be perfect for walking the trails and visiting Three Sisters Springs.The property was very clean and in great condition, especially considering the area was impacted by recent hurricanes. You’d never know! Rebecca was fantastic—she made everything easy and was quick to assist when we had trouble with the heating on those chilly nights.A couple of minor things could improve the experience: I wish there had been a hairdryer provided, and the process for using the kayaks could have been easier. The instructions in the information book suggested walking the kayaks to a floating dock, but we couldn’t find one. The narrow concrete steps down to the water felt a bit too tricky for us, so we ended up skipping the kayaks altogether, which was a bit disappointing.That said, the location was excellent, and the private backyard was a great bonus. Overall, it was a lovely stay, and we’d definitely consider coming back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Garilee B.

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

Wonderful stay

We had a wonderful stay at this house for Labor Day weekend. It was perfectly located near everything (on land and water) and the pool was perfect for our children (8 and 5). The house was spacious and immaculate. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any manatees in the canal in front of the house but luckily we saw them in the bay! We will definitely return!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen M.

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

Great Riverside home

The home is a smaller, older home that has been very well redesigned and updated to make it comfortable for VRBO renters. Two screened-in outdoor areas, esp the pool much appreciated! We fished, kayakedand enjoyed the River so much. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Keith K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Candace G.

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

Peaceful Getaway

Lovely property and amazingly helpful host. This home was perfectly accommodated for our family. We enjoyed quite early evenings fishing off the dock and launching kayaks and paddle boards from the property. The home has everything you need to enjoy yourself and is close to everything in town and a short distance from the springs we came to visit. We will definitely be back again. Thanks again Rebecca for all your assistance and communication!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

tina s.

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

crystal river vacation

loved this property. would definitely stay again
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christopher S.

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

Exceptional place

It was a great location. Quiet neighborhood and nice neighbors. The house was very clean. The pool is a nice thing to have on hot days. We kayaked out into the bay, and even did the long trip across the bay to three sisters springs. I would definitely reccommend staying at this property for a family of four or less. We caught a wide range of fish in the canal behind the house. We loved it. Will definitely be back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen M.

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

Scalloping Trip

👍👍👍
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca T.

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

Great location and property!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The property is right on a canal that leads to the bay. Nice area for the kids to play outside. Close to town and shops. 30 min kayak ride from Three Sister Springs. Will stay again in the future!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kerri T.

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

Relaxing on the river

Comfortable house in a peaceful and beautiful setting. We enjoyed spending time in the pool and sitting by the river - plus the easy access for kayaking in beautiful kings bay! Host was very helpful and accommodating. House was clean and had everything we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lauren R.

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

Great location

Great location,very clean and spacious.great for family and pets
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

kalina a.

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

Beautiful, cozy, clean and convenient location

We had very relaxing 3 days at this home. We've rented hundreds of vacation homes through the last 25 years. This one was probably the cleanest! Enjoyed the pool, the beauty of the canal. My husband caught several cat fish and a couple red fish. Did a little canoeing. Went to Homosassa for an airboat ride and to Crystal river for swimming with the manatees. Lots of memories to keep us warm for a while! Would LOVE to come back for more! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Rebecca!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alan P.

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

100 Stars

I honestly don't know where to start. There was not even a slightly negative thing to say. The house was exceptionally clean. The check in process was smooth and amazing. Rebecca was just an all around amazing host. She stayed in contact with me, even when it was a dumb question I had. She was so accommodating. The house itself is in a perfect location. It was quiet, so relaxing and spacious. But do bring bug spray, lol. Although I didnt see any wildlife. It was amazing that I could just fish right off the back yard, swim in the pool after a hard day and light the grill and listen to music. If I have my choice I would definitely come back to the house and have her as my host.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley W.

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

Great Relaxing Location

My husband and I brought our 16 year son and his two friends to enjoy Crystal River for the weekend. This house was perfect for all of us! It was great for the boys to fish in the canal and with all the windows we could see them without being with them. It’s located in a cute little quiet neighborhood. All around this was a great place with a very nice and responsive host.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Virginia K.

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

Quiet and peaceful

I was looking for a quiet and relaxing long weekend close to the water, away from the busy life and close to lots of wildlife and I found it. This house is clean, spacious, and had all the basics we needed. Hope to come back soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle K.

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

Perfect family getaway

This was one of our favorite places to stay! We were absolutely delighted to see a mama manatee and her baby swimming in the canal even though it was early April. We kayaked and fished every day - it was a joy. The house was perfect for our family of four and grandparents. The house had a beautiful view of the channel that we soaked up each morning! The home was clean and well stocked. Very close to 3 sisters springs too! Would recommend!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tricia B.

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

Loved it here

As soon as I walked in. A manatee floated by. The kayaks are easy to load and unload. The birds and wild life are a delight! The neighbor hood is quiet. I loved it there
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

cheryl m.

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

Nice stay

Had a couple of hiccups at the beginning and end of our stay (modem went bad, no wifi first day of our stay and blackout in neighborhood last day) but otherwise it was a quiet pleasant stay. Nice neighborhood. Dead end street. We utilized the available kayaks almost every day of our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rayna K.

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

Perfect Canal House!

This was definitely one of our favorite vacations! Crystal River is still very much the “old Florida” that I remember from my childhood. The house was perfect! Very clean and had everything we needed. The open great room and kitchen were very spacious, and the Florida room provides gorgeous views of the canal. There is actually a fair amount of privacy on the canal. Most of the other houses we saw had no privacy at all. We saw a manatee swimming through within just a couple of hours after arriving. The kayaks were great for exploring through the canal. At night, the water really comes alive with jumping fish! The dark night skies were perfect for stargazing. Really just a magical place!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen H., Alachua, FL

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

Short River Getaway

Good location and we enjoyed our stay with great friends!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

About the host

Hosted by Rebecca Morton

Host profile image
Bob and Ramona Kennedy first came to Crystal River in 1969 and knew King's Bay was the slice of heaven they were looking for to live and love and raise their 3 boys. In 2001, their offspring, the 3 Kennedy brothers decided to go in on a joint venture to share the beauty, fun, and adventure they experienced growing up on Kings Bay. There have now been 3 generations of Kennedy's raised here!

Why they chose this property

This home and property is truly a gem - from the spreading arms of our giant oak, to the gentle tides flowing in and out in the canal in the back yard, this space provides instant peace and tranquility.

What makes this property unique

Manatees are often seen in the canal behind the house. Otter, Dolphins, and many types of fish can also be viewed swimming by. Fish from the seawall as well as crab. Birdwatching can also be enjoyed here.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests