This vacation home is located 3.1 mi (4.9 km) from Weekiwachee Preserve and within a 10-minute drive of Show Palace Dinner Theater. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a fireplace, and a balcony.
Nature Coast Botanical Gardens - 10 min drive - 5.0 miles
Hudson Beach - 13 min drive - 7.6 miles
Weeki Wachee Springs - 15 min drive - 10.1 miles
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park - 16 min drive - 9.5 miles
Weeki Wachee River - 30 min drive - 15.4 miles
Getting around
Tampa Intl. Airport (TPA) - 51 min drive
Restaurants
Panera Bread - 8 min drive
Taco Bell - 8 min drive
Cracker Barrel - 8 min drive
Frank's Restaurant - 6 min drive
Dairy Queen - 6 min drive
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Waterfront home great for family gatherings or weekend getaways! Pet-friendly
Welcome to Rock's Retreat. Located an hour North of Tampa and just minutes from the famous Weeki Wachee mermaids, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath waterfront home has just about everything you need to stay amused! Play arcade games in our downstairs game room or challenge your family to a friendly game of cornhole, darts, pool or ladder ball. Nature lover? You've come to the right place! It's very common to see manatee, dolphin & a variety of seabirds while you're enjoying yourself on our backyard beach or toasting marshmallows in our fire pit. Or maybe you're just chilling on one of our two balconies having coffee in the morning or playing a board game in the evening. Use our kayaks and pedal boat to explore the local waterways. Or get picked up at our dock for an airboat tour (additional fees apply). Close to shopping & dining, while perfectly hidden! We're pet friendly too! So, bring your well-behaved fur-babies and come stay for a couple days, or a week, or even a month! We know you're gonna LOVE IT here!! The elevator is currently non-operational. We're sorry for any inconvenience.
The vacation home is air-conditioned and features a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a balcony, and there's space to spread out with 3 bedrooms. Guests can enjoy a Smart TV and stay connected with free WiFi. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a fireplace, and a coffee maker.
Property manager
Sandi
Languages
English
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Mermaids Hideaway on the banks of beautiful waterways
Mermaids Hideaway on the banks of beautiful waterways
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Elevator
Wheelchair accessibility
Designated smoking areas
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Location highlights
Near a hospital
On the waterfront
Things to do
Arcade/game room
Billiards/pool table
Kayak
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
No carbon monoxide detector or gas appliances (host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Pets
This property welcomes pets
Dogs only
2 total pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Note from host: We welcome well-behaved dogs, large or small
Children and extra beds
Note from host: No amenities for very young children
Important information
You need to know
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 25
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
Onsite safety features include a smoke detector.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do within easy reach of this vacation home?
This vacation home is located in Hudson, close to Hudson Beach, Show Palace Dinner Theater, and Nature Coast Botanical Gardens. You'll also find Weekiwachee Preserve and Colorama Music within a short drive.
Is there parking available at this vacation home?
No, there isn't parking available at the vacation home.
Is this vacation home associated with a casino?
No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.
Is there an indoor pool at this vacation home?
No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.
Is Waterfront home great for family gatherings or weekend getaways! Pet-friendly a good place to stay for couples?
Amenities that appeal to couples at this waterfront vacation home include a fireplace, a kitchen, and a smart TV.
Does Waterfront home great for family gatherings or weekend getaways! Pet-friendly have a hot tub?
No, this vacation home doesn't have a spa tub.
Does this vacation home provide breakfast?
No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.
Will this vacation home allow pets to stay for free?
Although dogs can't stay for free, they are welcome at this vacation home.
Are there connecting rooms at this vacation home?
No, there aren't connecting rooms at this vacation home.
Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at Waterfront home great for family gatherings or weekend getaways! Pet-friendly?
Yes, every accommodation at Waterfront home great for family gatherings or weekend getaways! Pet-friendly comes with a balcony with some featuring water views.
Waterfront home great for family gatherings or weekend getaways! Pet-friendly Reviews
Reviews
10
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 38 out of 38 reviews
10 - Excellent
38
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 38 reviews
8 - Good
0
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 38 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 38 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
10/10
Cleanliness
10/10
Amenities
10/10
Property conditions & facilities
10/10
Eco-friendliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Amy H.
Jul 6, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing stay
We truly enjoyed our time at Rocks Retreat. The home was clean and spacious. The two balconies were great. We got to fish , make smores and visit with masters on the backyard beach. The game room was a hit for all of us. The host was phenomenal as well as maintenance, after it rained he came quickly and cleaned the water out of the boats for us! We really enjoyed kayaking and going out in the boat. We will definitely return.
Amy H.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Christina L.
Jun 24, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Natural Florida
We had a great stay and loved using the kayaks and paddle boat. It was so peaceful and enjoyed the fire pit and beach area as well. We saw birds, manatees and an alligator with beautiful views from the balcony. We would definitely stay there again!
Christina L.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
10/10 Excellent
JOHN G., Saint Paul
Mar 29, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect, quiet, out of the way place.
If you’re looking for quiet look at old Florida this is it! Sandi, the host is amazing! Anything you need she’s on it! The house is situated on some back water coming off the gulf. We were able to watch manitees and dolphins while having morning coffee on the upstairs patio! Aripeka is off the main road, but close enough to some fine dining, fun bars and shopping.We enjoyed the outside bar and were even able to fish, never know what you’ll catch!. This was our third year renting this house and enjoyed everything this house has to offer!
JOHN G.
Stayed 28 nights in Feb 2025
10/10 Excellent
Tracy S.
Feb 3, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent hosts
Beautiful home. Well stocked and the host was amazing with anything needed. We stayed for a month visiting family. Had everything we needed to host dinner for a large group. Watch out for stray dogs in the neighborhood if you’re traveling with a pet.
Tracy S.
Stayed 29 nights in Jan 2025
10/10 Excellent
Kelly K.
Jan 5, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
New Year's at Rock's Retreat.
Rocks retreat was a great stay, Sandi is a terrific host, easy communication throughout our booking and thoughtful,She even left a welcome basket for us and our pup which was very sweet.We had a blast, Rocks retreqt was fun for everyone.
Kelly K.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
fran m.
Dec 28, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Christmas stay
Very nice place. Great stay. Lots of things to keep everyone occupied. Thank you!
fran m.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
jerry s.
Sep 2, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
relax time
Just relaxed a little and did a inshore charter also ate out and just take in the scenery
jerry s.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
10/10 Excellent
Kimberly J., Oakland City, USA
May 29, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful home
House was very clean and welcoming! Host was very nice! The welcome basket was a hit with the kids after 14 hrs in the car. Everything was perfect. The kids loved the gar room, paddle boat and I even squeezed in a trip on the kayaks at sunset(highly recommended!) Only bad thing was having to head back home!
Kimberly J.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveler
May 28, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing stay!
We had an amazing time here! Made for a great weekend of being on the water, playing games and sitting around the fire with the family would definitely recommend this stay!
Verified traveler
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
10/10 Excellent
Jennifer D.
May 10, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Best Place Ever
What a beautiful place!!! Great views really spacious and super clean!!! We actually can’t wait to be here again!!! Thank you sooooo much Sandi!!! 💜
Jennifer D.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
10/10 Excellent
Marty P., SHELBY TOWNSHIP
Apr 16, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great Getaway!
Plenty of things to do. Great location on the water but away from the touristy areas. House is very clean and well maintained. Owner is very responsive and respectful. Owner thought of everything. Felt right at home!
Marty P.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
10/10 Excellent
Kristen C.
Apr 8, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
A nice getaway spot on the salt water...
We loved it .Clean .. Relaxing definitely will be back ...House had everything we needed plus more ...
Kristen C.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
10/10 Excellent
Kevin M.
Apr 5, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing, wonderful, relaxing, Perfect!
We enjoyed every minute, from watching the sun rise from the back porch to kayaking with manatees, watching a dolphin and turtle swim by, enjoying the fabulous game room, grilling on the charcoal grill, paddle boating, and relaxing in the clean spacious home. On our last night, we took a sunset dinner cruise on the Island Rose just above 10 minutes away in Hernando Beach. Highly recommend this awesome place. Excellent communication with host and the home was very well stocked. Just get groceries, unpack, settle in and enjoy!
Kevin M.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024
10/10 Excellent
Brandy S.
Mar 7, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
The games on the first floor entertained us while it rained for 2 days. Caught some fish off the dock when the rain stopped. Very spacious, clean and well kept house!
Brandy S.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
10/10 Excellent
L C., Wolcott, CT
Feb 21, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend on the River
Rock's Retreat is such an awesome place! It was more than enough space for our party of 4 adults and one small dog. The entire home was very clean and easy to access, and Sandi provided some great personal touches like a welcome basket with snacks. The game room on the ground level was such a great hang-out space, and we all loved the expansive deck including our 16yo dog. It was by far his favorite spot to hang out. And if all that isn't enough, there are also kayaks, a paddleboat, grill and firepit on the premises. We could have easily spent the entire weekend at Rock's and had plenty to do! Thank you, Sandi, for a wonderful stay. We hope to be back soon!
Amazing property! Super clean house. Loved the gorgeous balcony & the game room. We’d gladly stay here again.
Melanie
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2024
10/10 Excellent
Sara C., Summerfield, Florida
Nov 27, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Feels Like Home
Rock's Retreat in Aripeka just feels like home. The home has a relaxing, unpretentious, let's stay home vibe that can't be beat. It was exactly what we were hoping for and what we needed. It has beautiful water views from just about every window! There is plenty of room to spread out and the home is very clean. Our two dogs had a time as lovely as ours. The elevator allowed both of them to avoid the stairs. This was a huge plus as they are both seniors. It was chilly and rainy during our Thanksgiving stay and we did not mind one bit. Relaxing out in the balcony, watching dolphins in the canal, playing games in the enclosed garage, fishing off the dock, enjoying a fire, and watching movies made for the getaway we wanted. The Stone Crab Company is within walking distance and has fresh seafood and a smoked kingfish dip that is heavenly. Ceparanos Pizza is just over 5 miles away and is really good! The little post office is a nice history stop (also within walking distance).
Sara C.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
10/10 Excellent
Kari S.
Oct 10, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous Get Away!
WOW! This place is PERFECT!! The house was extremely clean and well maintained. The game room downstairs was so much fun, arcade games, darts, pool table and more. The elevator was awesome for bringing all your belongings upstairs (wish we had one at our second floor condo LOL). Our favorite part was sitting on the balcony and listening to the birds and watching the water. We even saw a dolphin swimming in the canal!
Sandi was VERY quick at responding to any correspondence and requests. She is very sweet and accommodating!
I would highly recommend staying at Rock's Retreat, I know we will be back again soon!
Kari S.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
10/10 Excellent
David B.
Aug 13, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
A Slice of Heaven
Unforgettable Waterfront Getaway! Oh man, Rock's Retreat gave me the most amazing long weekend ever! Seriously, this place is like a hidden treasure. From the moment I stepped inside, I knew it was going to be a great vacation. Let's talk about those views from the top level – simply awesome. Waking up to the sun dancing on the canal and the sounds of nature was like a daily dose of zen. I basically lived on the balcony, with my morning coffee and a front-row seat to boats and lots of wildlife. Inside Rock's Retreat is just as awesome as the outside. The place is super clean and well-taken-care-of. The game room is the real star of the show but the outdoor stuff is just as cool. We roasted marshmallows and had plenty of stories flowing around the firepit. Plus, they've got this sandy beach thing going on – you can dip your toes in the sand right by the canal. The host was fantastic too. She really went above and beyond. She had all the essentials covered and made sure we felt at home. The welcome basket was a really nice touch!
In my opinion, Rock's Retreat isn't just a place to stay, it's a full-on slice of paradise. I'm telling you, every second there turned into a memory I won't forget. I'm already counting down the days till I can chill out and have a blast there again!
David B.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Jerald H.
Jul 31, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Clean and thoughtful setup
We had a nice short stay. Everything was as advertised which I admit I only half expect when booking one of these. Especially when they advertise things like a game room or kayaks that you can use. Everything was in working order and cleaned and ready for use. Also, almost everything we might need was there in the house for us. For example, there was firewood in the firepit, charcoal and lighter fluid and even a working lighter on the grill which also was clean and working. There was good attention to detail and even a nice note for us when we checked in.
Jerald H.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Keith R.
Jul 31, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful home!
We had a great stay! The kids had a blast in the garage with the games. We loved the kayaks and the view!
Keith R.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Matt B., Douglasville, USA
Jul 17, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
A+
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Great host, location, and home. Highly recommended for anyone with ADA needs. The elevator worked flawlessly, shower was easy to enter, master bedroom double-doors made entry/exit easy. The back deck with binoculars made it easy to observe all the wildlife. Sand Hill Cranes visited every day. We will surely come back again. Thanks, Sandi
Matt B.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
matt a.
Jul 13, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
great time
we had a great time. It was a great house nice quiet street and easy-to-find views were great from the upper deck.
matt a.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Dennis T.
Jun 12, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice relaxing
We all enjoyed our time here and a couple of the kids were petting the manatee and the elevator made the kids happy they didn’t have to carry stuff up the stairs lol
Dennis T.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
matt m.
May 29, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome experience
We stayed memorial day weekend, 6 people total including kids ages 7-14. We brought our 23' boat, launched it a very short distance from the house and left it tied up to the floating dock in the back yard it was all very convenient no hassle at all. The house is awesome, it has a big game room that the kids loved and spent most of their time in. The house was also very clean and comfortable and Sandi the property owner is very accommodating and easy to work with.