Vacation rentals with a kayak in Manatee River

Stop what you are doing and BOOK THIS PLACE!! Clean and spacious home ✔️ Fully stocked kitchen (pots, pans, glasses, condiments, spices, etc) ✔️ Tons of amenities like hot tub, fire pit, egg chairs, hibachi grill, golfing area, etc ✔️ All the beach equipment that you need (chairs, tent, snorkel, masks) ✔️ PLUS the best Host who was always quick to respond to any questions and even installed a new thermostat while we were there because the old one was messing up the temp and we like a cool 70 degrees at home ✔️ And if that wasn’t amazing enough, the host also took us on TWO BOAT TRIPS!!! All we paid for was the gas and any drinks or snacks that we wanted to bring (plus a tip since the boat tours were the highlight of the trip). Vlad knew all the best spots for private island time, snorkeling, and dolphin watching!! In all honesty I spent a fair amount of time trying to decide if I wanted to write an accurate review or gatekeep this hidden gem… I decided not to gatekeep.

Excellent spot for fishing, going out into the bay, and enjoying the water. We brought our boat and jet skis. A close-by ramp. Place was very clean and updated. Soothing views at night from the dock. Wayne is a fantastic host and super friendly, responsive and great at offering local suggestions. He’s the one that gave us the recommendation for the closest ramp. Overall, a fantastic stay.

Enjoyed our stay at Chris's place. Pool was very clean and house was well stocked with towels, laundry supplies, etc. Kitchen had plenty pots and pans. Pool had some floats and some pool noodles. Ample seating outside for everyone. Neighborhood was very nice and we felt safe. Light switches were kind of tricky but we figured it out. Didn't stay long enough to grill but hoping to come back again and try the outside grill.

Family drove in from all over for our son’s graduation from USF and everyone was extremely pleased with the accommodations. We really enjoyed the lower level game room, the kayaks, the pool area, and the local restaurants - notably the ice cream shop across the street! The elevator was a big plus as well. Everything ran smoothly, the house was well stocked with essentials, and everything we used worked perfectly fine. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Lisa was very responsive with a couple of questions we had. Fabulous pool area with great covering using the umbrellas. Young kids were able to swim all day in the hot soon due to the shade provided. Would highly recommend.

My family and I stayed at Oren’s place and we enjoyed our stay. The area was nice and in a convenient location to the water. The only issue we had was some gnats and mosquitoes. I still give Oren’s place 5 stars because he was very responsive, my daughter enjoyed the play area, and there were plenty of essentials within the home which made our stay otherwise very pleasant.

We absolutely loved staying at James' place. The views from the house and balcony were gorgeous, and the house itself was quite comfortable and well stocked. James is also a kind, generous and thoughtful host. Thank you for the early check-in for my jet-lagged daughter, and for your flexibility and kindness. I also can't recommend enough taking the kayaks out and going bird watching, especially first thing in the morning. One of the best and most unexpected nature experiences in my life, in the middle of so much development. Watch out for the alligators! I was blown away every morning by the sounds and views.

We had an incredible stay at "Topside" in Cortez Village — the perfect cozy retreat for our first trip with our 5-month-old son. From fresh orange juice in the fridge to bathrobes, extra linens, and top-notch water pressure in the showers, the home was full of thoughtful touches. There’s even an outdoor hose for rinsing off sandy feet and a full set of beach gear — including everything we needed for an infant at the beach. Elaine was a dream host — warm, welcoming, and super accommodating. She made check-in/check-out flexible for us and generously offered extra freezer space for breast milk, which made a big difference in our comfort. Location-wise, this place is a gem. You're a 5-minute walk to three great seafood restaurants, and just over the bridge from Anna Maria Island. Cortez Village offers a peaceful, “old Florida” feel — close to the action, but quiet and relaxed. We’d come back in a heartbeat. Thank you, Elaine, for helping make such a special family memory.

Great place right on Pass-A-Grille. Far enough from the restaurants to be quiet, but close enough to walk/stumble to. Beach access is very close. Parking as easy as possible. Rental was Clean and Plenty of Amenities. Would stay again.

My son and I had a wonderful stay at this cute little cottage. Everything was clean and well-decorated, and we had everything we needed in the kitchen. We loved having the golf cart to run around in! The host also provided beach chairs and a kayak to use, which was very handy. The area is pleasant, situated in a quiet neighborhood with public tennis and basketball courts across the street. Anna Maria is a happy little island, with a lot of good food and entertainment, and a number of beach areas to choose from. Lynda was very responsive to any questions we had, and provided a lot of easy -to-follow instructions for the house, as well as lots of helpful tips about the area. We will definitely be back!

Lisa was a great host, and paradise by the beach is an awesome place to stay. My family of 4 (2 adults and our older teens) just loved being able to have a lot of space (compared to the hotel rooms on st Pete beach) and a full kitchen and a close walk to the beach. The kids loved riding the bikes to get an ice cream at night, and it was so easy and convenient to pack up the chairs and umbrella and walk over to the beach. The walk is actually shorter than the resorts we have stayed at on spb. It was kind of like settling into our home by the beach—very comfy and convenient with everything we needed. Lots of tvs, lots of space, easy to get around. I also liked having a fully equipped kitchen—only made dinner one night, but everything we needed was there! We’d definitely again and prefer it to the other resorts we have stayed at. It’s less expensive, more convenient, and a lot more space. Thank you so much, Lisa! We hope your space is available next time we come down!

Had a great stay ! Fishing was fun and right across the street Would stay again for sure !

I had the most beautiful time❤️The accommodations were perfect and Kristen is a very gracious host. The settings ideal with a resident horse and cow . There is a grill and a pool and a washer/dryer. The setting is very private and the space is well appointed. Kristen goes out of her way to ensure that a fun, relaxing and memorable time is had. I truly appreciated how pet friendly the property was also. It was beyond perfect😊🌸💕🐴

Location is great, less than 2 minute, very easy walk, to the beach. Quiet street and properties on either side were not disturbing. There is no grass, so if you bring your furbaby, there are walkable areas to let them do their business. The house itself was very clean and not cluttered. Kitchen is well stocked. There is a great washer/dryer combo. There is no screen for the pool, but a quick daily skimming was sufficient. The pool was clean....no algae. There's a beach cart, chairs, floats, beach towels, etc there, so no need to bring your own. The house is older and in the afternoons it gets very warm (78-80) despite keeping blinds closed and setting ac at 74. We were there in the middle of August and we live in the South so are used to the heat so it wasn't that big of a deal for us. There was a box fan that we used.

John did all he could to make our stay wonderful in his absence. He has a great caretaker who hosted us since John was on vacation, was willing to help us with kayak rentals since he wasn’t there for us to use his, had the nice bicycles ready to ride. Sorry we didn’t get to meet him and Carmen in person; they seem as wonderful as their caretaker! Had pastries and delicious bottle of wine for myself and a treat for my husband, who is not a wine drinker. Caretaker met us and gave us an orientation as soon as we arrived. Was available for anything we needed throughout our visit and had lots of connections and ideas for outings. Grateful for laundry, beach chairs, cooler, comfy bed, recliners, lanai, and all the help and generosity offered during our weeklong stay!

My wife and I just completed 2 weeks at Barb’s fabulous and immaculate rental. The kitchen was well equipped - everything new. A counter connects the kitchen to the living room, which is convenient. The furniture was in excellent condition, clean and comfortable. The small dining room was well furnished. The bathroom was super. The bedroom was nicely furnished with a comfortable king bed. The walk-in closet was great. But the highlight was the wonderful porch and nicely-landscaped, fenced-In small yard. It was great for our 2 pups, and great for us since the porch ceiling provided day-long shade. We enjoyed Barb’s place so much we have rented it for next year. Another big plus to Barb’s place is easy walking access to the beach (#1 in USA) and Siesta Key village and its many eateries. We kayaked at Turtle Beach and took a great Tiki cruise. On top of that, it is a short drive to Sarasota proper and all it offers - Shelby Gardens, Mote Marine, Marina Jack, Myakka State Park, Ringling….