You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit
Welcome to The Blue Heron House! A beautiful 4 Bedroom home with private heated pool, fire pit, kayaks, & private dock on the Little Manatee River that leads to Tampa Bay. Relax on the dock or by the pool and enjoy the picture perfect sunset while watching the dolphins and manatees swim by. Enjoy local waterfront restaurants or stay in and cook in the well equipped kitchen. We have both charcoal and propane outdoor grills available to you as well. Bring your boat, or charter a local captain to take you down river and into Tampa bay!
During your stay at this holiday home, you'll be close to Ruskin Family Drive-In. Features include an outdoor pool and laundry facilities. Free WiFi and a private pool are available in the holiday home.
Air-conditioned home with private pool, kitchen and washing machine
Free WiFi
Take a swim in the outdoor pool
Amenities include laundry facilities
On-site recreation includes a playground
Just a 4-minute drive from Ruskin Family Drive-In and a few minutes from Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park
Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit offers its guests an outdoor pool, barbecue grills, and a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach loungers
Beach towels
Pool/Spa
Heated pool
Outdoor pool
Private pool
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car required
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Kitchenette
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
4 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Bathtub
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Separate dining area
Entertainment
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Stereo
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Note from host: Smoking allowed on pool deck, just use ashtray.
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
Near the marina
Near the sea
On a river
On the waterfront
Things to do
Heated pool
Kayak
Water sports equipment
Basketball nearby
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Sailing nearby
Snorkelling nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Swimming nearby
Theme park nearby
Water skiing nearby
Water tubing nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Windsurfing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock
General
Garden
Unit size: 2,123 square feet
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Rules
Return lawn furniture and fishing gear/Kayaks to their original place and lock up the shed before you leave.
The pool heater is set to 85 degrees year round. Do not attempt to adjust the valves or a $100 fee will be added for pool service tech.
We do not permit the use of fireworks on our property or dock.
Pets
No pets allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Note from host: We have baby gear!
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Smoking allowed on pool deck, just use ashtray.
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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
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
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
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.
Property is also known as
Home away from home!
Tampa Bay area stunner! 4 Bedroom waterfront oasis!
Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit Reviews
Reviews
10
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers 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.More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 59 reviews
10 - Excellent
56
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 59 reviews
8 - Good
2
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 59 reviews
6 - Okay
1
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 59 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 59 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
10/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Alexa D.
9 Jul 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Blue heron home
Very clean, beautiful home
Alexa D.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
10/10 Excellent
Brian M., Alexandria
15 May 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Water front retreat
House had everything we needed for a wonderful stay.
Brian M.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2025
6/10 Okay
JOAN B.
12 May 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Didn’t like the neighborhood
Rooster next door woke us at 4 each morning, location was far from downtown Tampa Listing shows up as being in Tampa,We did think the house was very nice
JOAN B.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Susan F.
30 Apr 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Manatee river
Very satisfied
Susan F.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
Diana A.
29 Apr 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Exceeded expectations
Everything was immaculate, perfectly decorated and extremely well stocked. The icing on the cake was the beautiful view from the dock where you can catch both the sunrise AND sunset. Oh, and watching manatees swim by was also a huge plus! Sadly part of our group wasn’t able to make it, but we will definitely be back so they can have a chance to experience it as well.
Diana A.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
8/10 Good
Kimberly L.
11 Apr 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great time had by all
We had a short stay for Spring Break. Bigger beaches were busy and traffic was heavy getting to and from. If we had more time we would have liked to explore the area closer to the property as there was a nice park nearby with a small beach area. Property was clean and worked well for our group of 8.
Kimberly L.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
lori g., NOBLESVILLE, IN
31 Mar 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
family getaway
Great visit!
lori g.
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Hannah D.
20 Aug 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
great place
loved it
Hannah D.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
10/10 Excellent
Troy S.
2 Aug 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect!
This house is right next to family we have in Tampa, so we will be using this location many times in the future!
Troy S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
10/10 Excellent
Michael T.
13 Jul 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome place
The house was great had everything you could possibly need. The pool was wonderful
Michael T.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
10/10 Excellent
Jessica W.
7 Jul 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Family Getaway
This was the perfect place for our family to come together. The house was clean and fully stocked with everything we needed. It’s a great location, close by to Apollo Beach with great restaurants and some shopping. The owners were communicative, friendly, and quick to respond anytime we had a question.
Jessica W.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
10/10 Excellent
patricia t.
28 Apr 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Pool and kayaking
The house is large and very comfortable.
We spent most of our time on the lanai, in the pool or on the canal.
Very relaxing holiday in a quiet neighborhood. The house is very well stocked. No need to buy spices condiments or cleaning products
patricia t.
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2024
10/10 Excellent
Stefanie F.
7 Apr 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Lives up to the description
Eight of us stayed at the Blue Heron House over spring break. There were 4 adults and 4 kids under 12.
1. The house is spacious, updated, and extremely clean. I found it to be the cleanest VRBO I've ever stayed in. When you first arrive, the place looks small from the street, but it certainly is not.
2. The kitchen is updated and has most everything one would need. We noticed we could use a little more small sized tupperware for leftovers. Other than that, it was perfect.
3. The bedrooms are very comfortable, and each room has a TV with Netflix loaded on it. The kids stayed in the queens, and the adults stayed in the King beds. I found our bedroom to have good soundproofing.
4. Living Room- We brought our own firestick from home for the living room TV... because we were staying during march madness. There was more seating than we all needed, and the couches were very comfy. There was also plenty of games, toys, and art supplies for the kids. They were very happy.
5. The bathrooms were clean and updated too. Great water pressure. The 4 year old struggled to get on the toilets, so a step stool would be our suggestion.
6. The laundry room has a brand new washer and dryer. We did a lot of pool towel drying, and we were able to wash our clothes before heading home.
7. The backyard lives up to everything you see in pictures. I think the pool is bigger than some hotel pools. The heated water was perfect.
We highly recommend this place!
Stefanie F.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024
10/10 Excellent
Clarice F.
18 Dec 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Go Big Red
Everything was great from the booking, to the checking in, to the checking out. The house had everything we needed. We would stay here again.
Clarice F.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
10/10 Excellent
Cory G.
27 Nov 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome place, worth the stay!
The listing shows everything almost exactly how it was when we arrived. The pool is just as big as the listing shows (it's also about 6' deep at the lowest part) and the indoor living area is nice and big. Decorations are really nice and gave me some inspiration for my place even. We visited over Thanksgiving and got lucky enough to see manatees in the inlet in the backyard. So cool! Would definitely recommend. The only real thing to note is that there's no garage or carport, just a driveway. Didn't bother us but figured it should be noted.
Cory G.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023
10/10 Excellent
Earl B.
20 Aug 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Yearly Fraternity Brothers Weekend
Every year a few of my fraternity brothers and I get together for a weekend of fellowship. This year we chose Tampa as our destination. I researched several properties and we decided upon Blue Heron based upon the reviews and photos. When we arrived we weren’t disappointed. The property looked much better then the photos depicted. The property is beautiful, rooms are spacious, clean and had everything you could want for a vacation. It sits on the inland with a screened in pool overlooking the water. If you’re looking for a nice place for a family vacation I would highly recommend Blue Heron.
Earl B.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Garret B.
17 Aug 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Guys trip
We came from San Antonio, Tx. for a guys trip, house was clean and very nice! Quiet neighborhood as well:
Garret B.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Kelly K.
12 Jul 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Phenomenal!
The Blue Heron house was perfect for my family. The attention to detail was not overlooked. The host provided toilet paper, paper towels, towels (bath and beach), shampoo/conditioner, soap, kitchen and dishwasher items to name a few! My children LOVED the toy box. They played for hours. My favorite had to be the door alarm to the pool area. It gave me an extra sense of security with the children. The deck on the canal was very beautiful and peaceful. We all enjoyed the mango tree in the front yard…bonus! The neighborhood is very quiet and friendly. The location could not be beat. We were near grocery stores, and between some of the best beaches. We drove to Indian Rocks beach one day (beautiful water!) and Siesta Key the next (the best sand!). I had an issue with the grill and the electricity going off briefly. The host was very quick to respond and transparent with the issue. Excellent communication and very friendly. I would 100% recommend this house and would definitely stay again.
Kelly K.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Lotta C.
6 Jul 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Loved loved loved it!
The entryway floor mat said it all- Welcome Home. This house felt like home. It is spacious and welcoming and the river and pool bring a peacefulness that made us want to stay! I enjoyed sitting on the dock in the early morning having coffee and watching the birds and the water. I hope to come back to this little piece of heaven!
Lotta C.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Cierra T.
14 Jun 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Cool waterfront home
The house was very clean. We really enjoyed the pool, amenities, and kayaking. Some rooms were cooler than others but other than that everything was good. There were fans in the closet that my friends used who had the warmer rooms.
Cierra T.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Demetrius S.
22 May 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing
Loved the open space and cleanliness of the property. Very gracious host even allowed us to check in early due to flight and travel. Will definitely rent again if I'm ever in that area
Demetrius S.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
10/10 Excellent
Julie B., Kuwait
14 May 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Unforgettable
This property is exactly as pictured but what you don’t see are all the little details that made the stay exceptional. The beds are very comfortable (even our Goldilocks found a bed that was just right). The kayaks and paddle boat where great fun and there were plenty of pool toys. Labels on the light switches made it easy to find the correct switch and so many more details made our visit unforgettable.
Julie B.
Stayed 10 nights in May 2023
10/10 Excellent
Roberta B., Katy, tx
2 May 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Blue Heron House - Perfect Setting !
Very nice house, perfect size and close to all the activities we wanted to pursue. The pool and pool area were fantastic. Sons in law had a blast fishing off the dock.
Roberta B.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2023
10/10 Excellent
Eileen G.
6 Apr 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Florida vacation home!
Our family of 6 adults had a great time at this home! We loved the screened in heated pool (84 degrees +) and fishing off of the dock and in the included kayaks. We saw many dolphins and manatees. The interior of the home is beautiful, looks newly remodeled and was very clean. The hosts went out of their way to provide way more than just the bare minimum of supplies (all kitchen soaps, laundry soap, hand soap, shampoo and conditioner were available). Not many rental properties provide these. Several good restaurants nearby, including the Lazy Gator which is within walking distance and our favorite Sunset Bar and Grill for a nice lunch or dinner on the beach. Publix and Winn Dixie are both just a short drive away. Hosts are super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this vacation rental!
Eileen G.
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2023
10/10 Excellent
Susan E.
19 Mar 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Look no further
This place was exactly as shown in the website and the attention to detail with all the extras was exceptional. Joe was an excellent host. We would highly recommend this place .
Susan E.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
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