Located in Weeki Wachee Gardens, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Weeki Wachee Springs and Bowlero Spring Hill are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and Weeki Wachee River. Consider Colorama Music for a night out or Nature Coast Botanical Gardens if you're travelling with kids. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park - 4 min drive - 4.1 km
Weeki Wachee Springs - 9 min drive - 10.1 km
Hudson Beach - 25 min drive - 32.5 km
Three Sisters Springs - 43 min drive - 62.4 km
Getting around
Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.) - 61 min drive
Restaurants
7-Eleven - 11 min drive
Applebee's Grill + Bar - 11 min drive
Steak 'n Shake - 11 min drive
Dunkin' - 11 min drive
La Bella Napoli - 3 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is The Manatee Hideaway-3Bed-2Bath-2Deck-50'Dock-6Kayak& Canoe-Adventure Awaits You pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total).
How much does it cost to stay at The Manatee Hideaway-3Bed-2Bath-2Deck-50'Dock-6Kayak& Canoe-Adventure Awaits You?
As of 31 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Manatee Hideaway-3Bed-2Bath-2Deck-50'Dock-6Kayak& Canoe-Adventure Awaits You on 2 Nov 2026 start from AU$846, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at The Manatee Hideaway-3Bed-2Bath-2Deck-50'Dock-6Kayak& Canoe-Adventure Awaits You?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Manatee Hideaway-3Bed-2Bath-2Deck-50'Dock-6Kayak& Canoe-Adventure Awaits You?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Manatee Hideaway-3Bed-2Bath-2Deck-50'Dock-6Kayak& Canoe-Adventure Awaits You?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is The Manatee Hideaway-3Bed-2Bath-2Deck-50'Dock-6Kayak& Canoe-Adventure Awaits You located?
This family-friendly Weeki Wachee Gardens holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Weeki Wachee River and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Pine Island Beach Park and Weeki Wachee Springs are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The hosts were great and very responsive. Great location and the dock is really nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 17 July 2026
Our thanks to the Douglas family yet again this year. I believe this is the fourth year in a row that you have stayed with us! We appreciate your continued patronage to our humble Manatee Hideaway! Let us know when you want to have your next adventure at either the Manatee Hideaway or The Manatee Hideaaay 2!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Vance F.
20 May 2026
Liked: Location
Great time on the river.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 May 2026
Hello Vance,
Crystal and I are happy that both you, and your sister Belinda that stayed at our other home, The Manatee Hideaway 2, were able to have a wonderful time on the river. Hearing about the Magic of making memories on the Weeki Wachee river is why we bought our homes here...to make memories with our families that last a lifetime...We hope that your families choose to stay with us again in the future! Until then.....Peace Be The Journey!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Great little place to stay. Krystal was great and we enjoyed staying there.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Mar 2026
Hello Ally,
Thanks for your five star review! We are happy you enjoyed your stay at our Manatee Hideaway.... We try to assist our guests however we can. We hope you choose to stay at The Manatee Hideaway or The Manatee Hideaway II for your next adventure on our crystal clear Weeki Wachee River.
Take Care & Gid Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
We had a wonderful stay! The location is perfect and budget friendly. We were close to everything we wanted to do, which meant we spent more time enjoying the water and less time driving. The hosts were very responsive, accommodating, and quick to address any questions we had. The home itself was comfortable, welcoming, and truly felt like a home away from home. If you’re bringing children who love the water, I’d recommend packing a few float toys or a floating mat. Many of the neighboring homes had them, and they made the river even more fun for the kids. Overall, we’d definitely stay here again!Our favorite breakfast spot was the Siren’s Spoon and dinner was Upper Deck.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 28 July 2026
Hello Brittany,
We appreciate your wonderful five star review! We are happy you enjoyed your stay at our Manatee Hideaway!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Clean, roomy, nice quiet location with a large and beautiful covered dock.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2025
Hello Marcie,
Thanks for the five star review! We are happy that you enjoyed our amenities and enjoyed your stay! We hope you choose the Manatee Hideaway I or II as your vacation destination the next rime you visit Weeki Wachee & the Nature Coast!
Take Care & Gid Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Verified review
8/10 Good
Nancy K.
11 May 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Good for large groups
Enjoyed our time w Florida family here
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Nancy,
We appreciate your review! We are happy that you and your family enjoyed your stay at our Manatee Hideaway! We enjoy being able to offer accomodations for up to nine guests!
Take Care & God Bless!
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Everything that you’ll need for a leisurely, relaxing experience!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Ken,
Your review sums up our efforts to make our Manatee Hideaway a wonderful vacation destination. THANK YOU! Crystal and I appreciate your lovely review of our Manatee Hideaway! You and your family are welcome to stay with us whenever you choose!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Hello Douglas Family! We are happy you chose to stay at our Manatee Hideaway for yet another year! Glad you had a great time! See you next year!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Hello Frank,
We really appreciate your Wonderful five star review! You typed three words that put a huge smile on our faces! GREAT, WONDERFUL and FANTASTIC! We bought this home because of the outside space and the third bedroom! We are happy you had a Great Getaway & a Wonderful Stay! Our mission is to have every guest have a similar experience to yours! Please think of either The Manatee Hideaway or our all new Manatee Hideaway II (VRBO #2897916) as your next vacation destination!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Comfortable, homey house in a quiet neighborhood.
It was a relaxing stay.
The hosts were very helpful and quick to respond to all our questions!
We had a great stay!
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Nov 2024
Hello Gayle,
We appreciate your lovely five star review. We are happy you liked the Cleanliness, location, check-in, listing accuracy, and our communication during your stay! We look forward to your next stay at our Manatee Hideaway!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
The location is incredible, honestly everything about the place was wonderful. We had the best time and made some wonderful memories.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Laura,
Crystal and I really appreciate your five star review! Your last sentence says it all! It sums up exactly what we want EVERY guest to experience at our Manatee Hideaway! To have the best time possible and make wonderful memories! Thanks for sharing this with us and everyone else! 😁
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Great place to stay me and the family had a blast kayaks were useful overall very clean and satisfied with the house
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Travis,
Crystal and I appreciate your lovely five star review! We strive to give our guests the best experience possible every time they choose to stay with us! We are glad you were yet another satisfied guest that chose The Manatee Hideaway as their vacation destination! We hope you had a pleasant ride out to the Gulf with your lovely pontoon boat! We have a 27" pontoon boat with two fishing seats in the front! We were there and went to my favorite shark fishing grounds in the Gulf! We were reeling in 2-4' black tips left and right! I had one on that was literally pulling the boat and another that wouldn't budge until it snapped the line! Either a large, meaty shark, or a really big stingray! We saw a sneaky 7' shark hanging out under the boat! I am just glad nobody said... "Aaron, you are going to need a bigger boat" 😃🦈😃!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Pictures didn't do property justice, very cozy. Right on the canal, we enjoyed using the kayaks. Perfect family getaway. Would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Kaitlyn,
We appreciate your wonderful five star review! Your compliments are lovely! We are happy to know that you enjoyed your stay with us and you are welcome to stay with us anytime in the future! We hope that you choose to stay at either of our Manatee Hideaways for your next visit to Weeki Wachee!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
It made me feel like I was home The owners were easy to communicate with.My best Birthday Ever.
Wonderful
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Sept 2024
Hello Linda,
We appreciate your five star review! It was our pleasure assisting you during your stay! We are happy you chose to celebrate your birthday at our Mamatee Hideaway!.HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDA!.
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
hey love this place quite and Warm ,Played golf about everyday
are fished right out the back even turn ma canoe over and laughed about it. the owners are super nice and allways just a call away i sure hope to come back .Thanks
Stayed 58 nights in Jan 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello William,
Crystal and I are happy you enjoyed your time with us! You discovered "my fishing hole", which is right off of the dock in the back yard! The best fishing in the river is found at Hospital Hole, which is up river towards Rogers Park.
William, you and your wife are welcome to stay with us anytime you would like! We hope that you enjoy the new car you bought up in Crystal River. Our favorite restaurant, Crackers, is located there.
We will miss your phone calls and the stories about your adventures you shared with us! Remember, you can always send us a message on FB!
Thank You For Choosing The Manatee Hideaway! We are putting a home on the lot one door over. It has a nice dock and has a built in back porch facing the water. So if one is booked, the other may be available. We plan to have it listed by September.
Take Care and God Bless!
Aaron & Crystal Hester.
My son and I stayed at the Manatee Hideaway for a couple of days in May. Great location on a canal not far from the main river and the most reasonably priced rental available. Host was response, we would book this property again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 1 July 2024
Hello Greg,
We appreciate your five star review! We love our location on a canal, but close to the main river! We strive to keep our prices reasonable for families! We are the cheapest three bedroom on the water! We hope you choose to stay at our Manatee Hideaway again in the future.
Take Care & God Bless!
Aaron & Crystal Hester
I loved our stay on the water! Great place! Thank you
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Carol,
Thanks for the Five Star review! Crystal and I are elated to hear that you loved your stay with us at the Manatee Hideaway! We hope to have you stay with us again next year!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Great visit as usual. paddling, fishing, relaxing.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Sept 2023
Hello Tracy,
We appreciate your now third stay at our Manatee Hideaway! We are glad you had another Great Visit with us! Paddling, fishing, and relaxing sums up our time there as well! We wish you a wonderful holiday season and hope you choose to visit again in the near future!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Stayed 2 weeks and the stay was great.
Highly recommend
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Ashley,
Crystal and I appreciate both your four and five star reviews! We also appreciate the fact that you decided to book another week, which is why you have two back to back reviews! Crystal and I are happy you enjoyed all The Manatee Hideaway has to offer! We hope you enjoyed Christmas on our crystal clear blue river and we hope you choose to stay with us again whenever you wish! Lastly, Crystal and I want to wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful 2022!
Take Care & God Bless!
Aaron & Crystal Hester
We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the river using your kayaks! We also enjoyed relaxing on the deck! Thanks!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Janet,
Crystal and I are elated to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed your time spent at The Manatee Hideaway! We always get warmed up in the canal before hitting the river! We hope you visit again real soon!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Great location. Everything and more provided. Nice accessible dock with a lot of wildlife to enjoy.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Dec 2024
Hello Sunshine,
We are elated over your lovely five star review! We do our best to make our guest's vacation as pleasant as possible! We are glad you think our location is great and you enjoyed our dock as well as our other amenities!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Cozy, warm home. Always feel welcomed. Owners always assist in any way possible to make the stay/trip better.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Joe,
It was our pleasure to have your family stay with us for yet another year. Three years in a row! That says alot to us! We are happy you had a wonderful stay AGAIN! Three times a charm! Thanks you, once again, for choosing to stay at our Manatee Hideaway! Hope to see you again next year!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Family and budget-friendly property with direct water access near parks, restaurants, and river activities. Hosts are responsive and home is very clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Diana,
We appreciate your lovely five star review! We are happy that you enjoyed your stay! I would say that I hope you will book with us at The Manatee Hideaway again real soon, but you beat me to it and already booked for December! Lastly, Crystal and I want to express our sincere gratitude for you saying that our home is very clean. 😁😁😁
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Great accommodations for kids with a high chair, toys, and bunk bed with trundle. Very clean, remote work space provided, and it's convenient to many locations, especially the river.
Stayed 29 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Aug 2023
Hello Diana,
We appreciate your lovely review. We also appreciate you staying with us twice in one year! That says alot! Thanks for choosing The Manatee Hideaway as your vacation destination once again! We try to have a little something for all ages at our little piece of paradise on the water! You and your family are always welcome at either The Manatee Hideaway or The Manatee Hideaway II. We hope you choose to stay on a day not that far away!
Take Care & God Bless,
Aaron & Crystal Hester
Hello Harold and Sue,
We appreciate your review. Yes, we are kayak friendly! Thanks for choosing to stay at The Manatee Hideaway!
Take Care & God Bless!
Aaron & Crystal Hester