Historic gem has been carefully remodeled while maintaining its charm. The structure was built in 1880 for two sisters. The upstairs was always a residence and the downstairs was the home of Bodiford Pharmacy. Today, you can stay here and walk to everything downtown. No car needed, Restaurants, shopping, art, co-ops, museum, City park, beach, welcome center and more are all located within a couple blocks. Now named The Carmen House.
Great rental in downtown Cedar Key that has such charm and character. The space has modern amenities with antique flow from the historic stairs, to the windows, to the tabby walls from the 1800's. This amazing space is suited for a girls weekend or a romantic getaway for two!
The access to the building is on B street with entry by the picket fence, up the steps to the "Black" door. Inside there will be a bright green door that will take you up stairs to the space. The entire 2 - story apartment is available for guests with a great veranda for relaxing off the kitchen. Please note: stairs are required to access the apartment and second floor bedrooms.
We will always be available for any questions or any assistance during your stay.
The Carmen House, Circa 1880, is located in the heart of downtown Cedar Key. All stores, restaurants are located within a short walking distance, as well as the beach, marina, Library and the Cedar Key Garden. Rent a golf cart from nearby or a bike.
As mentioned, renting a golf cart or bike is an option on the island. We can provide additional information after booking.
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Events
No events allowed
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Pets
Pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Non Smoking Only — This is a non-smoking building
A completed and signed rental agreement is required.
A security deposit hold of $300 is required 1 day prior to arrival and will be released 2 days after checkout, provided there are no deductions.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2127470vb
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Cedar Key
Located in Cedar Key, this apartment is in the city centre and by the sea. Cedar Key Museum State Park and Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Southern Cross Sea Farms and Cat Island. Kayaking and scuba diving offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and hunting nearby.
Cedar Key Historical Society Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Cedar Key Pier - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Southern Cross Sea Farms - 2 min drive - 1.8 km
Restaurants
2nd Street Cafe - 6 min walk
Tiki Bar @ Low Key Hideaway - 3 min drive
Liam & Madi’s - 8 min walk
Annie's Cafe - 7 min walk
Fishbonz on Third - 2 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities! pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?
As of 15 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities! on 18 Aug, 2026 start from S$259, 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 at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities! located?
Located in the heart of Cedar Key, this apartment building is within a 5-minute walk of Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce and Cedar Key Historical Society Museum. Cedar Key Pier and City Beach are also within 10 minutes.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Hi Scott, thank you so much for the five star review! We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Thank you for choosing to stay with Pelican Vacation Home and we would love to welcome you back in the future!
Superb location for the art festival. Nice space. Beautifully decorated. Stairs are a little steep so take your time going up to the bedrooms on top floor and hold on the handrail. The top floor also slants. So if you drank too much you might not even notice it . I would definitely recommend it
Louise D.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Arturo R.
2 Mar, 2026
The house was great. Very spacious, clean & a perfect location. This house may have issue for some. The second set of stairs is a bit steeper than typical stairs, but they have hand railing. I found no issue but my mother -in-law
Arturo R.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Richard
5 Mar, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We completely fell in love with this apartment. It is very spacious, well kept, updated, but has a an old charm to it. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend.
Pamela L.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug, 2023
So glad you enjoyed your stay! We look forward to hosting you again.
This was a perfect vacation. The apartment was amazing. Loved the veranda to catch a cool gulf breeze, people watch and relax after a fun day exploring cedar key. Perfect location to walk to everything or jump in a golf cart and zip around.
Our first trip to Cedar Key. What a cool little town. Perfect spot to get away from the day to day hustle bustle of life. The apartment was incredibly nice and comfortable with a location you just can't beat!
Gregg D.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug, 2023
So glad you had a wonderful stay! It is so nice to be able to park and not move your vehicle your whole trip, one of the perks at the Carmen House. Please do come again!
We had several days here and it was very relaxing. The unit is centrally located in this quiet town. The furniture in the living room was comfortable. The place was well stocked. Easy directions to enter. We were there in February so the weather was nice. Would recommend
Jackie R.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug, 2023
Thank you for the lovely review! We appreciate your comments and hope that you’ll return another time in the future!
Stayed here the weekend before the seafood festival with the family and enjoyed every minute of it. The home was very well decorated and is located central to everything. The photos don't do it justice. There is a large porch on the second floor overlooking portions of the key. Location was perfect as walked everywhere we needed to go. Saw some comments about how steep the staircase is, but it's what you would expect in an older historic home. Highly recommend, and would stay there again no problem.
Scott M.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Nov, 2023
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We were happy to host you all and appreciate you coming. The property is ideal for festival as well as enjoying all that the downtown has to offer. We do hope you’ll come again and thank you for choosing Pelican Vacation Home!
The Carmen House was just what we were looking for. Although unseasonably cold we drove up to Manatee Springs State Park and saw about 20 Ts off the boardwalk. We had seafood dinners, rode our bikes, hiked in the preserve. All very quiet, just what we wanted. For the unprepared the stairs to the bedrooms can be a challenge. We had one hiccup with the heat on the main level that caused us to leave one day early but Mendy was responsive and was kind enough to refund us for that last day.
Brian B.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Dec, 2022
Excellent guests, and very understanding to low drop in temperature. We look forward to hosting Brian Burke and family in the future.
The pelican vacation home Team!
Lovely property. Really only a one night stay, but property required two night. Property next door downright scary. Should be demolished unless historical. Front door had problems with self locking mechanism which bothers massage therapist below. Overall, ok but nothing to get too excited about.
The Carmen House was located a short walk from almost everywhere in town. The place had all the amenities we needed (kitchen is LOADED with whatever you need to cook), and it made our stay super comfortable. Yes - the stairs to the 2nd floor are STEEP, but they were totally fine to navigate. The murphy bed is in the living room, so someone who can’t do the steeper stairs could easily stay on the main floor. There is a set of stairs to get to the 1st floor of the house, as well, but they were not steep at all. My family of 3 really enjoyed our stay. The living room was super cozy, and the deck was great to relax on (and people watch), as well. Both bedrooms were a decent size. The master bed was really soft which is my only complaint. The bathroom upstairs is smaller than the one downstairs, but both were nice. The shower upstairs is smaller, but the shower pressure upstairs was better than downstairs. It was probably way too much room for my family of 3, but it was nice to be away from home but still have the comforts of home. So much better than a hotel or condo!
Crystal B.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug, 2023
So very glad you enjoyed your stay and appreciate all your input.
WE look forward to hosting you again!
Pelican Vacation Home Team!
Everything you will need for your stay. Immaculate property with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the historic downtown of Cedar Key. Yes, there are stairs. No, they are not a problem. Definitely will be back!
The property is a home, warm and inviting and fully equipped, just like being home. Open and inviting In a great location within walking distance to restaurant and the pier. The stairs were a bit of a challenge but add to the uniqueness of the property. Historic properties hold unique charms and this location is absolutely charming. We will be back.
Petra B.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified
4/10 Poor
Linda M.
9 May, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Mother’s Day annual getaway
My college roommates and I have a long standing tradition (35 years) of getting together and going someplace special for Mother’s Day. We enjoy our friendship, our destination, the activities, and usually have a great time. This is something we look forward to all year. Needless to say we have been many places but the Carmen House will go down in the major disappointment category. We are all in our 60’s and in fairly good shape but when my girlfriends took one look at the staircases, they wanted to leave immediately, of course they all looked at me because I booked it- I had no clue how treacherous “stairs “ could be. We didn’t leave because they knew we couldn’t get our money back. No one slept upstairs but me. The only salvation was that the living area and kitchen were spacious.. we managed to enjoy the trip in other ways even though all water activities were canceled due to the weather. ( no rain, just wind). So that’s my Mother’s Day 2022 story. Needless to say, we won’t be returning. I think Pelican Realty needs to be much more forthcoming about the stairs- I wish we would have known.
The house is beautiful. As stated in previous reviews, the stairs to the bedrooms are very steep and the skylight in the master bedroom is killer in the mornings but other than that, it was perfect! Would stay again:)
This townhouse is adorable and has character to spare. The downstairs is spacious and comfortable. The bedrooms upstairs are charming but the steps to get there are steep so if mobility is a concern then it's not your place. Really cool little place though and we will be back!
Katherine T.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
About the host
Hosted by Mendy Allen
Johnny & Stephanie
Cedar Key holds a very special place in our hearts. It isn't just where our business is located; it is the backdrop to our lives, our family, and our community for the past decade.
Our Roots on the Water Our journey here began as marine biologists. Stephanie started her work at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) building by the Channel 4 bridge in 2015, and Johnny joined her in 2016. For almost nine years, we pulled in thousands of nets and counted/measured hundreds of thousands of fish to help preserve these precious local resources for future generations.
While working full-time for the FWC, we simultaneously built a house in Bronson and earned our Master's degrees in Fisheries Science. We are no strangers to complex, dynamic workloads! After our time with the FWC, we both took positions with the University of Florida's Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS), deepening our connection to the area's incredible ecosystem.
Growing Our Family & Community This community holds so much history for us. We were married on Atsena Otie Key in 2022 with beautiful Cedar Key as our background. In 2023, we welcomed our amazing daughter, Eva. Along with our two rescue dogs—Goose (a GSP) and Honey Bee (a pointer mix)—Eva has already spent some very special years growing up in Cedar Key.
Over the last decade, we have forged lifelong friendships here. Together, we’ve weathered every horrendous hurricane since 2016, from Hermine to Helene, and have seen firsthand how the island has evolved. We’ve watched this community rally—every single time. It is truly inspiring to see everyone come together to lend a hand and help their neighbors in need. Because Cedar Key has given so much to our family, we are deeply committed to giving back, whether that means helping clean up after a storm or proudly sponsoring local events.
Come stay with us for that local service and personal touch that's rare in the vacation rental industry!
Why they chose this property
Step back in time with this historic gem. Relive the olde time days but in style with all the modern amenities. We hope you enjoy staying in this piece of Cedar Key history!
What makes this property unique
There is an amazing balcony located off the main floor of The Carmen House. It has comfortable seating and a table for eating outside in the downtown atmosphere. You can see the marina from the balcony. There is also a small terrace off the upstairs bedroom with seating for two. Ask us about boat and trailer parking!
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests