The Real Florida Vacation
About the property
- House1400 sqft
- Bedrooms3
- Sleeps8
- Bathrooms2
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay2 nights
3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sleeps 8
Peaceful living in the Ocala National Forest, a perfect place to relax from the craziness of everyday life. Plenty of room for the whole family. Three large bedrooms with queen sized beds, plus a blow up mattress for extra guests.
Newly remodeled home with attractive colors and furnishings. Geared toward family fun; a game table with puzzles, board games, and card games. Foosball table for the competitive ones and a DVD player and 45 inch TV with Dish network for those relaxing nights. Fully equipped kitchen with service for 8; with a three seat counter as well as two tables, there is plenty of room to seat the whole family. Roast marshmallows at the fire pit and tell your best scary story.
Central A/C and heat will keep you cool in the summer months and cozy in the winter months. Plenty of yard for outdoor sports (family game of two hand touch football is fun!)
Although you are in the forest, local attractions such as Disney World and other attractions are a short hour and a half ride away. Several natural springs are with in a thirty minute drive. Other activities such as horseback riding, zip lining, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, and hiking are located a reasonable distance away. Grocery shopping is 15 minutes away, as well as a well stocked public library. 20-30 minutes will get you into Ocala/Silver Springs where you will find ample dining and shopping for your pleasure.
Winter activities include hunting, fishing, Christmas tree cutting, ATV riding-all of which require permits, but are minutes away.
Owner
Luke
- Response rate:
- 100%
- Response time:
- within one hour
- Speaks:
- english
- Calendar last updated:
- Feb 28, 2018
About Luke
I moved to S. Florida from Up state NY way back in 1979. There was a shortage of work up there so I came down in pursuit of a new life in the tropics. I got involved buying and selling realestate with my neighbor Jim back in the early 80's and have been at it ever since. I always went camping with my wife and 4 children during breaks from school and got to know the entire state of Florida very well. The beauty of the fresh water springs was like a magnet to me. So when this home came on the market I couldn't ignore it. we never did a vacation rental before so we gave it a try and loved it. We met so many awesome guests that were as curious about the area as we were and enjoyed directing them to memorable vacations.
Luke purchased this House in 2012
Why Luke chose Ocklawaha
I along with my business partner Jim have been managing rental properties in S. Florida since 1985. We stumbled uponThis home in Ocklawaha and fell in love with the area. There is so much to do and it is so peaceful compared to where we live in South Florida. We wanted to share that tranquility with all the travelers out there who wanted some down time from the normal Disney type of vacation.
What makes this House unique
If you read some of the reviews from the guests that have visited us, you'll find some of the same things that interested them interested us. We love seeing all the stars in the sky that you don't see when you come from a big city. The peace of just sitting and listening to nothing or just frogs in the pond. The crackeling of fire wood burning in the fire pit. The laughter of children playing tag in the yard while Mom reads a book or Dad watches the game. Playing that board game with the kids that no one has time for at home. Or watching one of the 34 family friendly movies together as a family while eating popcorn and snacks. gazing out the back porch windows at the acres and acres of brush and wild black berry bushes with out a house in site.
Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Heater
- Satellite or Cable
- Kids Welcome
- Washer & Dryer
- Parking
- TV
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8
- Master Bedroom1 queen, Dresser, Large closet, bathroom
- Blue Room1 queen, Dresser and large closet
- Gray Room1 queen, Blow up Bed, dresser w/mirror, closet, door onto deck
- Inflatable Queen Mattress for extra guests
Bathrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1toilet, combination tub/shower
- Bathroom 2toilet, shower
- Please always use the fan while showering. This will remove the steam, so you can see in the mirror and also prevent mold and mildew to form.
Theme
- Away From It All
- Budget
- Family
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Air Conditioning
- Clothes Dryer
- Heating
- Linens Provided
- Living RoomCouch, love seat and chair with coffee table and end tables. TV, stereo, and DVD player With 34 PG or Pg13 Movies are in this room.
- Parking
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
Kitchen
- Coffee Maker
- Dishes & Utensils
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Toaster
Dining
- DiningThere are 3 bar stools off of kitchen counter and game table with 4 chairs and a dining room table with 6 chairs.
- Dining Area
- comfy seating for 12 people
Entertainment
- DVD Player
- Foosball
- Game RoomVarious card games, as well as various board games and puzzles.
- GamesVarious board games and card games are available for use any time.
- Satellite / Cable
- Stereo
- Television
- Video LibrarySelect from 34 DVDs all family friendly
Outside
- Deck / PatioThere is a deck off of the family room/game room
- Lawn / GardenLarge lawn that is perfect for watching the sunset or cozying up at the fire pit roasting s'mores or playing a friendly (and mildly competitive) game of two hand touch football.
- Outdoor GrillGas grill is available upon request. We do not keep it out due to the wild life in the area.
Suitability
- wheelchair inaccessible
Attractions
- churches
- library
- restaurants
- synagogues
Leisure Activities
- bird watching
- boating
- horseback riding
- scenic drives
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
- wildlife viewing
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- groceries
Sports & Adventure Activities
- kayaking
- cycling
- freshwater fishing
- golf
- hiking
- hunting
- jet skiing
- fishing
- mountain biking
- scuba diving or snorkeling
- snorkeling
- snorkeling/diving
- swimming
- water tubing
House Rules
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.
32 Reviews
Latest reviews
Clean, Peaceful and Comfortable
Amy,
I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay in the forest. We would love to have you back next year. There's lots to see in the area, maybe stay a few extra days next time, and I'll send you a list of places to go.
Best regards,
Luke
Quiet old Florida charm
Jacquelyn and Robert,
Thank you guys for staying with us. It sounds like you enjoyed the peace and quiet the forest has to offer. Please come back sometimes when you have more time to explore the area.
Best regards,
Luke
Clean and comfortable
Carol,
I’m glad you enjoyed your stay, I can’t do anything about the cell service, but we are installing WiFi shortly.
Come back and join us again.
Luke
Great Stay
Ashley, it was a pleasure having you stay at our home. I look forward to your next visit, and any pictures you can post to #therealfloridavacation.
Best regards,
Luke
Peaceful, Tranquil, clean, comfortable.
Ms. Cindy,
I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit, when you come back, don't forget the horse back riding and hiking. The canoeing is my favorite so I'm glad you got to do that.
Luke
Adorable
Brook, I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. I wish you luck on your house hunting. Please call on us if you need a place to stay during your transition.
Luke
Location
This property is not located on a lake! The old map that shows location is incorrect. There is no water on this property. There are However; several fresh water springs in the area that are great to visit. be it for kayaking, canoeing or just cooling off. Ocala offers Zip the Canyons which is great fun for the whole family. Local trail rides are a must if you enjoy horse back riding, and Santos Mountain bike trails are one of the states finest. Hundreds of miles of ATV trails can be found in the forest and don't forget the never ending hiking trails for every caliber hiker. Please make a note to print directions to your destinations before coming. Cell phone coverage is spotty at best and you might lose your GPS signal if relying on it for directions.
Rates & Availability
Additional information about rental rates
Rates are subject to change until reservation is confirmed. Travelers might consider printing directions to the house and functions prior to arrival. There is no internet access and cell phone coverage is limited.