Hi, this is John, and my beautiful wife Ellen :)

We are your fun-loving hosts at Casa Artista!

I grew up on a farm south of Nashville TN. I am currently managing IT in a software company which also has an office in the Tampa Bay Area. When I am not pounding on the keyboard, I involve myself in renovating houses, gardening, cooking, and entertaining friends and family.

My wife Ellen was born in China, a true city girl, her interests are more into art & Electrical Engineering. She came to the states to research high-voltage transmission, but I really think she came here to find me and my secret BBQ recipes ☺

We love to travel together and everywhere we go we try to stay away from hotels, staying with locals is way more fun. We also share a common passion to renovate and revive older homes.

Ellen and I completely fell in love with Safety Harbor upon our very first visit. Known as the Hidden Gem of Tampa Bay, Safety Harbor is voted No. 1 of the Most Charming small cities in Florida. It offers amazing natural beauty as well as award winning restaurants, pubs, and shops as well as tons of unique festivities. Best of all, the locals are simply the friendliest people we have ever met.

We have since renovated 4 vacation homes in Safety Harbor. Casa Artista is our newest one! It is dearly loved by us and our guests because of its unique artistic inspiration and "Happy Energy".

If you are Interested in Knowing our Other Homes in Safety Harbor or Nashville Tennessee, they are not hard to find online:
Casa del Tren (4-6 Guests, Pet Friendly),
Casa la Cala (6-8 Guests, Pet Friendly),
Casa Blue (4 - 6 guests, Pet Friendly),
Heidtke House (Nashville Tennessee, 8 guests, Pet Free)

Casa Artista is next door to Casa la Cala, another of our four highly rated and slightly larger vacation homes. Our guests love the fact that they can invite friends and families to join their vacation right next door to each other.

Surrounded by a most beautiful nature setting including a peaceful creek and small lake, majestic live oak trees, all in your private yard. Just 5 minutes’ walk will take you to all the Safety Harbor downtown action!

All bedrooms in Casa Artista come with beautiful views, bamboo mattress toppers and luxury bed linens. Many guests ask us for the source of the beds after their best sleeping experience!

A huge HDTV in the living area, and another HDTV in the larger bedroom, each with over 200 real cable channels to Indulge. Super-fast internet Wi-Fi is available throughout!
Casa Artista is designed for family fun time. Fully equipped kitchen fit for any gourmet cooking. We also have a Weber charcoal kettle grill for outdoor cooking. There is a chimera (small fire pit) for those cooler evenings.

The house is named “Casa Artista” due to its Artist Inspiration: Our friend and well-known local artist Melissa was the former owner. We are blessed to keep many of her works as well as other local artists. Your stay at Casa Artista will be surrounded by colorful paintings, unique glassware and tropical plants.

Amazing local restaurants, pubs, and shops. Marina Park, which includes the Marina Pier, and the Tampa Bay waterfront are just a relaxing short stroll from your front door!

A walk/run/bike paradise - Marina Park also features a pedestrian and bike trail which provides an elevated path among the mangrove trees as you head north toward Philippe Park. Heading south on the path you will enjoy a beautiful view of Tampa Bay as it extends all the way to the Courtney Campbell Causeway beach and trail which goes across the bay to Tampa.
Did we mention Philippe Park? Don’t miss it! It is amazingly beautiful, also on the Tampa Bay waterfront.

Please Note: Be careful of floor level steps - These older Florida homes have additions and renovations that introduce a step or step down within the home. We have identified these with caution tape at each floor level change. Please be aware and watch your step!