Sunrise Cottage, Manasota Key steps from the beach

Sunrise Cottage is located on the southern end of Manasota Key, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. Less than a block away, Stump Pass State Park offers you a mile or more of undisturbed wildlife and beaches. The Sunrise Cottage provides all the comforts of home, with easy access to the beach. If you want to enjoy sunsets on the beach, fishing, shelling, hiking and swimming by day, and fun evenings at home or at one of the great local restaurants, then this cottage is for you. You can even rent a boat slip nearby for easy access to Lemon Bay or the ocean.

The kitchen is stocked with all the utensils you might want at the beach including a blender, microwave oven, and more. One bedroom has a queen-size bed, the second bedroom has two twin beds, and the living room has a sleeper sofa that can accommodate two more people. Everything will be fresh and comfortable for your stay.

Evenings at the beach can be spent star-gazing, or playing one of the many board games provided. Maybe you prefer karaoke at the local tiki bar, about a quarter of a mile up the beach. Or maybe your idea of a good time is watching a movie on the DVD player or VCR. Cable TV is included as well as internet access. The cottage has a great selection of books if you just want to browse our nonfiction selections or get lost in a novel.

Kick back on the screened lanai, or use our charcoal grill to serve home-cooked steak! Early mornings, you can listen to the sounds of the island waking up or go for a run on the quiet two-lane road. Trees shade the lanai with lush vegetation. An eagle nests in a nearby pine tree. Butterflies are attracted by the jasmine and other fragrant flowers in the yard. Turtle nests are protected on the beach and you will often find local citizens on “turtle patrol” safeguarding these special nesting grounds. Nature is at its best at this island retreat, and we have collected sharks teeth, shells, driftwood, and polished stones on each of our visits.

One of the best things about this cottage is it's location. It's a block from Stump Pass State Park. There are 265 acres of quiet walking trails and pristine beaches. Here you can find a section of beach all to yourself. Awesome wildlife abounds; you will see pelicans diving for fish, dolphins and manatee swimming along the shore, and sometimes schools of fish jumping. Sandpipers run up and down the beach as the tide recedes, and the breeze tickles your face as the waves lap at your toes.

Sunrise Cottage is a recently renovated duplex, and each unit is rented separately, with the one in the back called "Sunrise" and the one in the front called "Sunset." Each has its own entrance and lanai, and the furnishings are similar. Both are located at ground level, so there are no steps to climb. This makes it ideal for those who have trouble climbing steps, or for those with young children. It's a lot easier to come and go to the beach when you don't have to climb stairs.

If you have enjoyed Manasota Key before, you know it is a unique Florida beach, without high-rise hotels and fast food restaurants. It feels like the Florida of simpler times, and has only a two-lane road and no red-lights. This is the perfect place to get away from it all, to reconnect with family or friends,and to recharge your batteries. What a bargain, in a great location. Feel free to call for more information or more pictures.

Between Jan 1-April 1, high season rates apply, and guests must book from the first of the month to the end of the month (inclusive of the last day of the month). Shorter, variable length stays are allowed during the rest of the year.