Entire home

Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs!

Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs!

Photo gallery for Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs!

Living Room, Electric Fireplace heats room. Real leather recliner, Amish wood
Cable TV and Internet Available
Propane fire pit under kitchen window
Had new deck built for renters, lots of space to enjoy the outdoors
5 acres, view of back yard, area for your fire

Overview of Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs!

Reviews
9.6 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms0+ bathroomsSleeps 488 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher

Explore the area

Map
Branford, FL
  • Popular LocationGinnie Spring25 min drive
  • Popular LocationIchetucknee Springs State Park25 min drive
  • Popular LocationIchetucknee River29 min drive
  • AirportGainesville, FL (GNV-Gainesville Regional)64 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Master Room

1 Queen Bed

1 half bathroom

Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining Area

About this property

Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs!

5 Acres of wilderness surround this simple block house, clean, only 10 years old, large deck set up for your vacation. Very clean house. (mention of smoke smell in one of the reviews was a battle, but it has been eliminated). 3 blocks from the Santa Fe River, public boat launch, 2 single kayaks included with this house. Bring your own boat if you wish, great fishing, most of the land along the river is Wildlife Refuge. The property is owned by Bird's Underwater Dive Center in Crystal River, home of swim with manatees tours, this is our 3rd listing in one of our favorite playgrounds. Ginnie Springs Resort is only 13 miles away a 200 plus acre park along the Sante Fe River. Ichnetucknee Springs Park, Manatee Springs State Park, Little River Springs and many other public access sites within 20 miles. This is cave diving country, but awesome for snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, an absolute nature get-away but only 40 minutes from Gainesville and 30 min. to Lake City. This large concentration of Florida Spring sites is unique to central Florida. Water Temperature is 72 degrees all year around, there are many public access sites that make this get-a-way a nature experience. House is located off of County Road 138th, 2.3 miles down a county maintained dirt road which ends at a small public park. Fish and Wildlife manages thousands of acres to the west, and down river you will see untamed State Forests. We have two light weight single kayaks at the rental unit for your use, but you will have to carry or transport them on your car a distance of 3 blocks. In the evening you will hear the owls, coyotes, and deer. There is no limit to the stars. Highly recommend that you check out Ginnie Springs Outdoors for a day of kayaking, picnics, bike riding, snorkeling, tubing, and/or volleyball.

Property manager

Diana L Oestreich
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Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 12:00 PM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Branford

Located in Branford, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Ginnie Spring and Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Branford, FL

What's nearby

  • Santa Fe River - 3 min walk
  • Ginnie Spring - 25 min drive
  • Ichetucknee Springs State Park - 25 min drive
  • Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park - 28 min drive
  • Ichetucknee River - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • Subway - 20 min drive
  • Nanny's Diner and Deli - 20 min drive
  • Reds Tavern Ft White - 22 min drive
  • Champs Chicken - 18 min drive
  • Amy's Country Buffet and Grill - 22 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs! ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs! ?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Cottage on five-acres surrounded by parks with Crystal Clear Springs! located?

This family-friendly Branford holiday home is located on the riverfront, within a 10-minute walk of Santa Fe River, Fort White Wildlife and Environmental Area and Ichetucknee Conservation Area. Sampson Lake is 3 mi (4.8 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 36 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 45 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 45 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joshua M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing weekend
My wife and I wanted a quiet weekend getaway, and everything was perfect. It was very relaxing.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Birthday Weekend
Nice and relaxing. Celebrated my wife’s 50th birthday. Definitely off the beaten path(which we wanted/needed). We went to Ginnie Springs, which was awesome.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H., Forsyth ga

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quick trip to the lake
We really enjoyed the house. Saw lots of deer and even a few extra large turtles. Very clean and had anything we might have needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything you need ...
Well supplied with cooking and personal sundries, made for an easy and relaxed experience. Lovely surrounding country-side.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful Manatee Retreat
This was a beautiful 5-acre property with a comfortable house and porch. We were able to paddleboard in Ichetucknee Springs and saw manatees, deer, turkeys, and so many birds and fish. It was serene drifting along the crystal clear water with cypress trees and limestone bluffs around so many turns. The best part was the house was centrally located to so many springs. We went to Ginnie Springs Outdoors, too. We did not paddle but hiked. It was 52 and cloudy one day then 72 and sunny the next. The house was fully equipped with everything we needed. It was comfortable to return after a fun day exploring and start a fire, gathering sticks from the property and listening to the cardinals as the sun sets each evening. The star show was amazing because there is so little light pollution. It is an ideal location for people who just want to relax. The furniture was comfortable. Everything worked and we will definitely come back. Thank you so much, Diana, for sharing this beautiful manatee retreat with us!.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

About the host

Hosted by Diana L Oestreich

Host profile image
Bill "Bird" and Diane Oestreich own Bird's Underwater Dive Center in Crystal River where we conduct manatee snorkel tours, rent kayaks, teach scuba diving and own two other waterfront vacation rentals. We decided to buy near Ginnie Springs because we teach there frequently and just love the area. We have a large community of fellow cave divers and nature lovers who are friends, students, and acquaintances. Hopefully our cottage will be enjoyed by all.

Why they chose this property

We love this quiet, old-fashioned area of old Florida. It's all about nature and the clear springs. Very low crime, people in the surrounding towns of Branford and High Springs remind you of the folks in the Andy Griffith Show, everyone is so nice. Lots of antique stores, good food, must go to Akins BBQ in Bell, Hobo's in Trenton, (very unique remodeled house from the early 1900's) and the many selections in High Springs, Great Outdoor Cafe is one of a kind.

What makes this property unique

5 acres surround the house. There are coyotes, deer, owls, water, and it's very quiet.
The fire pit on the large deck is the perfect way to end a day.
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