A rare find — sleep on the water in this unique houseboat stay.
Discover nearby landmarks
Near Downtown Books & Purl
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 4
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Air conditioning
Barbecue grill
Deck or patio
Free WiFi
Explore the area
Apalachicola, FL
Riverfront Therapy & Spirit of the River Spa
Place, Riverfront Therapy & Spirit of the River Spa
1 min walk
Orman House Historic State Park
Place, Orman House Historic State Park
5 min walk
Downtown Books & Purl
Place, Downtown Books & Purl
6 min walk
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Double Bed
1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom
Bathroom 1
Bathroom 2
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area
About this property
Spectacular Views from your 2 story porch New Water Filtration Installed
Experience the Charm of "Old Florida" Aboard the General Lee Houseboat
Escape to a unique floating retreat in the heart of Apalachicola, where the serene Apalachicola River meets the timeless allure of a laid-back fishing village. The General Lee is a spacious 950 sq. ft. houseboat that feels just like home, complete with modern comforts and breathtaking waterfront views.
Step inside to a fully equipped kitchen featuring brand-new full-size appliances, elegant Corian countertops, a wet bar, and a dedicated coffee station with Keurig. Enjoy meals at the indoor dining area for four or relax in the inviting living room with plush seating, a large flat-screen TV (complete with DISH satellite channels) and free Wi-Fi throughout.
The houseboat comfortably sleeps up to 4 guests across two bedrooms: a master suite with a queen bed, private en-suite bathroom, and its own TV, plus a second bedroom with a double bed and adjacent bathroom (1 full + 1 half). All linens, towels, and essentials are provided for your convenience.
Outdoor living is the highlight here, lounge on the waterfront screened porch with dining for four or ascend to the second-story observation deck for panoramic views of shrimp boats, dolphins, pelicans, osprey, and occasional alligators gliding by. A gas grill is just steps away for easy barbecues, and the gentle tidal sway rocks you to sleep each night.
Perfectly located on the riverfront, you're walking distance to charming downtown Apalachicola's shops, fresh seafood restaurants, and historic sites. Nearby beaches on St. George Island are a quick 30-minute drive away.
Key Amenities:
+ Central heating & air conditioning + Full kitchen with oven, stove, microwave, refrigerator, toaster, dishes, and pantry items + Hair dryer, iron/ironing board + Ample free parking + Ideal for couples, small families, or a peaceful getaway
This one-of-a-kind floating home offers tranquility, wildlife watching, and authentic "Old Florida" vibes, perfect for unwinding in rhythm with nature.
Book your riverfront adventure on the General Lee today!
RATES ARE BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
+ $25/guest per night for additional guests MAXIMUM OF 4 GUESTS. + 10% Military Discounts available with ID. Please bring your Military ID and we will credit you. + Minimum stay: 2 nights (varies by season). + No monthly rates available. + Rates are subject to change prior to reservation. + Cancelled bookings will not receive a refund but may be rescheduled based upon availability. Rescheduling fee is $200.00.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
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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
Cashless transactions are available
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the neighborhood
Apalachicola
Located on the waterfront, this houseboat is in Historic Downtown Apalachicola, a neighborhood in Apalachicola. Orman House Historic State Park and Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Apalachicola Chocalate Company and Downtown Books & Purl. Looking to get your feet wet? Kayaking, motor boating and fishing adventures can be found near the property.
Riverfront Therapy & Spirit of the River Spa - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
Orman House Historic State Park - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
Dixie Theatre - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
Apalachicola Chocalate Company - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
Downtown Books & Purl - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
Getting around
Northwest Florida Beaches Intl. Airport (ECP) - 112 min drive
Restaurants
Red Pirate - 9 min drive
High Five Dive Bar - 3 min walk
El Jalisco Mexican Restaurant - 9 min drive
The Station - 8 min walk
The Gibson Inn - 9 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Spectacular Views from your 2 story porch New Water Filtration Installed pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Waterfront views, 2-story porch?
As of Jul 7, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Waterfront views, 2-story porch on Jul 9, 2026 start from $431, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Spectacular Views from your 2 story porch New Water Filtration Installed?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Spectacular Views from your 2 story porch New Water Filtration Installed?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Spectacular Views from your 2 story porch New Water Filtration Installed located?
Located in Historic Downtown Apalachicola, this houseboat is within a 5-minute walk of Riverfront Therapy & Spirit of the River Spa and Orman House Historic State Park. Dixie Theatre and Apalachicola Chocalate Company are also within 10 minutes.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
It was exactly as described and sitting on the water made for the best views from inside!
Karen was great!
A guest from Avon, IN
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Nov 11, 2022
Thank you for choosing to stay aboard the General Lee. I hope to see you both again soon. Karen
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Joan P.
Sep 11, 2018
Beautiful views and very nice houseboat
My sisters and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay on the General Lee. The owner made sure we had everything we needed. The view was gorgeous. The location is within walking distance to both shopping and restaurants. If we are ever back in the area the General Lee will be our first choice of where to stay.
Joan P.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
I am so glad that you choose to stay aboard the General Lee while visiting Apalachicola. I hope to see again.
Thank you. Karen
We really enjoyed staying on the General Lee! The houseboat was clean and very well appointed. Karen met us on arrival, walked us through the houseboat and offered some great recommendations for breakfast (Chowders) and dinner (The Station). We are planning a return visit in May!
Judie P.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
I am so glad that you had a nice visit. I hope to see you again either here or at Lake Lanier! Thank you.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Carla B.
May 4, 2018
Wonderful vacation on Houseboats at River Watch
Our stay on the The General Lee was absolutely wonderful. The Houseboat was neat, clean, and perfect for a relaxing time. The sunset views front the top deck, simply amazing! Enjoyed watching all the wildlife from the screen porch and top deck. We had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. It's a plus that we were within walking distance to town. We plan to stay here again and certainly recommend the Houseboats at River Watch.
Carla B.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
Thank you for choosing to stay aboard the General Lee for your vacation in Apalachicola. I enjoyed having you as guests and hope that you return. Karen
My husband and two daughters took a midweek trip to the Forgotten Coast. We were thrilled with the houseboat. Karen was a great host. The water was mesmerizing in every direction. Our daughters had fun fishing and walking all over the quaint town. We enjoyed relaxing on the decks and porches. Karen’s boat was perfect for our little vacation.
Heather E.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
I am so glad that you and your family had a great time. Thank you for choosing to stay aboard the General Lee. I hope to see you all again. Karen
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Brenda J.
Mar 19, 2018
Excellent location, fabulous views and very peaceful!
Loved staying at General Lee in 2018. Coffee on the screened-in deck each morning is such a peaceful way to start your day. Watched bald eagles, ospreys, herons and gulls come awake and go about their business. Beds are comfy. Kitchen is well-equipped. The owner, Karen, is great to work with and responsive to questions on any topic. Internet service is good. While all the houseboats here are really nice, the General Lee has the best view of the marsh across and both upstream/downstream in Sipio Creek. Watched shrimp boats come and go, ate great food in Apalach and enjoyed our second stay (we stayed here in 2017 as well). Looking forward to coming back in 2019.
Brenda J.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
Thank you for returning to stay aboard the General Lee. I loved having you both visit for your second time. You were great guests. I hope that you had a safe trip home and look forward to your staying here next year. Karen
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Angela T.
Oct 4, 2017
Perfect Couples Retreat
We needed a relaxing break from our crazy lives and the General Lee was perfect. We arrived in town earlier than expected so I reached out to Karen to see if we could check in a couple of hours ahead of schedule. She graciously said yes, met us at the boat and showed us everything we needed to know about. She also lives on the property so shes very convenient if problems arise. It was so relaxing sitting out by the water, waving at boats as they go by. great for beautiful sunrises and we saw a pair of dolphins heading up river one morning. Its easy to walk into town to browse the shops or eat at some wonderful restaurants. Easy quick drive over the bridges to St George if beach combing is your thing. We were so pleased and hope to return again very soon.
Angela T.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
Thank you very much for choosing to stay aboard the General Lee. I appreciate it. I am so glad that you had a great time and hope to see you both again.
Karen
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Carmen P.
Apr 11, 2016
The most awesome place we've ever stayed!
We had not even spent the first night there before we decided that this was the very best place we have ever stayed! We had never heard of Apalachicola until 3 days before we came. I googled for best beaches to visit where there are not spring breakers, and that's how I found the destination. Then i looked for available places to stay and when we saw the General Lee, we were hooked! The boat was surprisingly spacious, two bathrooms a bonus. Everything essential for our stay was there, with a niicely appointed kitchen and bright airy feel. The very best part was the screened deck AND upper balcony, perfect for endless relaxation and viewing of fishing boats, osprey, pelicans, a myriad of other birds and even parading dolphins traveling up the creek.
We loved Apalachicola and the genuine friendliness we encountered everywhere. With a choice of river tours, or driving a short distance to the spectaculat white beaches of St. George Island and the excellent seafood dining available right there within walking distance of the boat, we lacked for nothing to make the perfect family vacation.
Carmen P.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2016
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
I am so glad that you enjoyed your stay. Thank you for choosing to stay aboard the General Lee. I hope to see you again next year. Karen
The Houseboat was amazing, relaxing , walking distance to historical town. There is shopping , restaurants , bookstores and boating. The St George Island beach is 30 minutes away . Nature right out your screen porch or open dock with birds , fish , alligators and huge turtles. Marshlands right across from Houseboat . There are great views sunsets with Shrimp-boats going past . Abundance of fresh seafood from the Gulf . We will be back !!!
Great location. Close to downtown shops and restaurants. The houseboat had everything needed for the weekend. Took stars of rating for cleanliness and not as private as I had thought. But there is such a Beautiful view from porch
We wanted somewhere quite and peaceful. We were not disappointed. Could walk anywhere we wanted to go . Food , beer , and people are all awesome. Watch Sunsets & Sunrises right off your own deck .
We had a relaxing, long weekend on the General Lee! The weather was beautiful which allowed us to maximize our use of the screened in area and observation deck. The sunrises were breathtaking! We enjoy craft beer, and Oyster City Brewing was a short walk away. This was a nice plus for us! Overall, our stay was enjoyable and different than the normal accommodations we would stay in. If we’re ever back in Apalachicola, we would look to stay here again.
Only reason there are 4 stars for cleanliness is there are sugar ants and the screens on the back porch are buggy. I’m not sure you could do anything about that situation since you are on a boat in the water. This did not bother us. We loved every evening and morning sitting on the porch watching the manatees play. The shrimp boats go by which was really cool. There is also that upper deck which lets you see farther. We only used the bed in the master. It was clean and comfortable. You have to be prepared with the bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallway for the small house/camper type living. The kitchen was furnished very well. The grounds were secure. We took a day trip to St George Island and we spent a day walking downtown. Lots of nice stores. Would stay here again.
We rented the General Lee for a sisters long weekend. Karen met us at the boat and showed us around - she was very nice and made some great recommendations for food. It was a fun experience and we look forward to renting the General Lee again!
We stayed in the cutest houseboat. It was clean and comfortable. Karen was great. Loved it.
Michelle G.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
Verified
8/10 Good
Audie M.
May 5, 2019
Review
We enjoyed the views and the town very much
Audie M.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Bobie E.
Apr 25, 2019
Peaceful Retreat
We enjoyed our week at the General Lee. It is so peaceful being on the water with beautiful views all around. The wild life is wonderful entertainment from the upper and lower screened deck. Our host was courteous and respectful and on hand to help if needed. We had everything we needed to enjoy our stay. The location is wonderful as you can walk to some of the best seafood you will ever eat. We would love to come back next year.
Bobie E.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
I am so glad that you had a relaxing and enjoyable vacation. I hope that I see you again. Thank you for choosing to stay aboard the General Lee. Karen
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Pat R.
Feb 21, 2019
Wonderful experience! Conveniently located and well maintained.
Very relaxing time! The accommodations provided everything we needed: Nice linens, toiletries, kitchen appliances, etc. Karen was a dream to work with. We had some friends drive over for dinner and they were charmed by the houseboat. Everything was within walking distance....shopping, entertainment, food. Will definitely return!
Pat R.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Allison P.
Nov 5, 2018
Lovely Host and View
Karen's houseboats are fabulous. They are the perfect spot for one or two couples to stay, watch the sunset, and then find a bite to eat in downtown Apalach. Karen is very pleasant and accommodating (so much so that I'm staying in her houseboats two more times). Thanks for a relaxed home away from home.
Allison P.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2018
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 22, 2020
I am so glad that you found me despite all of the confusion. I loved having you as a guest and hope that you will find time to have a real vacation in Apalachicola. Thank you. Karen
About the host
Hosted by Karen Hoff
Although a native of Michigan, I spent the last 30 years in New Jersey where I have restored an 1850s Victorian and raised 2 sons who currently reside in Atlanta and Austin, TX. After retiring from a 30 year banking career as a Commercial Lending Officer, I came to Apalachicola for a vacation and fell in love with the quaint unpretentious aura of the town. As a history buff, the area presents opportunities to explore museums and historic homes. My favorite is the Historic Homes Tour which is sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church during the first weekend in May. Although I have spent years enjoying the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey, the beaches on St. George Island are ranked #3 in the country and only a 15 minute drive away. On St George Island, I have experienced the white sandy beaches of the Florida panhandle and taken a tour of the St George lighthouse with spectacular views from the top. On the island, the State Park offers an opportunity to enjoy either the Apalachicola Bay or the Gulf of Mexico and has limited crowds, plenty of parking and very clean facilities.
Why they chose this property
The interior living/dining area is fully surrounded by windows to allow viewing the sights from the comfort of your home. Downtown Apalachicola with its shops, art galleries and restaurants are just a short walk away so there is no need to use your car to enjoy the town's charm.
What makes this property unique
Being directly on the water and moored at the end of the dock, the General Lee is in a prime location to enjoy panoramic views of both sunrises and sunsets, the full moon reflecting off the water and an unobstructed view of a wide variety of water activity.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests