Bayside Retreat, Panacea, FL on Ochlockonee Bay

This is truly the good life! Live like a king in our luxurious 4 bedroom, 3 bath home located on Ochlockonee Bay, 40 miles south of Tallahassee off Hwy. 98. The house has gorgeous top-of-the-line features (such as hardwood floors and granite kitchen counters) and is lavishly furnished. But that's not the best part! The best part is our million dollar view of Ochlockonee Bay from almost every room in the house, along with our convenient location to great fishing, remarkable golfing, out-of-this-world seafood, and some gorgeous beaches!

We offer approximately 2,500 sq. ft. of spacious living area. Skip the steps, and take a ride on our elevator to enter each level of the house. On our first floor, take your pick from 3 bedrooms (1 king, 1 queen, double bunk (double on bottom / twin on top) & 1 double sleeper sofa) and 2 bathrooms, which adjoin a large open porch running the entire length of the house and shaded by the upstairs porch. The second floor contains the kitchen, dining room, living room, king-size master bedroom and master bathroom. This area is adjacent to a large screened-in porch that also runs the length of the house. Kick back and relax on either porch and watch the boats come and go ... or, step right down to the dock and try your luck at fishing. You will be so comfortable and relaxed here, that you will never want to go home! Our accommodations will sleep 8 people comfortably. Perfect for your family or group of friends!

The fishing is as good as it gets in this area. You can fish in the bay, head out for deep-sea fishing, or go down the river for fresh water fishing. We have it all!!! If you bring your boat, you can launch it nearby and then tie it to the pilings of the dock for the rest of your stay. Since the dock is stationary, the owner will leave his jet ski lift remote for you to get down to your boat. If you don't have a boat, you can book a fishing charter with your choice of licensed captains, who are ready to take you for an experience that you won't soon forget!

For the golfer, St. James Bay is about 15 miles away on Hwy. 98 in Carrabelle. This 18-hole championship course, with its perfectly manicured fairways and scenic golf paths, blends seamlessly and in complete harmony with acres of wetland preserve, abundant wildlife and unspoiled forest. The course creates a challenge for even the most skillful golfer, yet it's still a course golfers of all abilities seem to love.

And, of course, there are the beaches. The closest beach is Mashes Sands (about 2 miles). It offers a beautiful, small beach and a fishing pier. The beach is located on the bay and it's calm shallow waters offer safety for small children and a great opportunity for shelling. Next are the gorgeous beaches at Alligator Point and Bald Point State Park (about 7 mi.), where you can enjoy sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, bird watching and nature study. Within a few minutes drive are two of the nation's TOP TEN RATED BEACHES, St. George Island State Park, near Apalachicola, and St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, near Port St. Joe. Both parks contain miles of undeveloped beaches, emerald waters and white sugar sand.

Other nearby attractions include St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, an unspoiled barrier island just offshore from the mouth of the Apalachicola River in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is a haven for endangered and threatened species, including bald eagles, wood storks, sea turtles, indigo snakes, gopher tortoises and red wolves. It is accessible only by boat. A favorite is Wakulla Springs State Park, one of the world's deepest freshwater springs, with swimming, nature boat rides and glass bottom boats. Wakulla Springs is known as the shooting location for several Tarzan movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Airport '77. From the river boat and glass bottom boat tours, you can see alligators, many species of wading birds, water fowl, fish, turtles, and snakes, in and among the crystal clear waters emerging from the depth of the springs. Kids love diving from the diving platform into the refreshing spring waters, which remain a constant 68-70 degrees year round. The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge features the St. Marks lighthouse, and offers a habitat for all kinds of Florida wildlife. (Bald eagles are often spotted here - so keep your eyes peeled!)

So the guys want to go fishing or golfing and you ladies don't ...NO ROBLEM! You can visit historic Apalachicola. Once a bustling sea port, this quaint village of about 5,000 still boasts a large shrimp fleet, a downtown shopping area with antiques, boutiques and local art, and beautiful restored houses from a bygone era. Once the third largest cotton port along the Gulf Coast, the Apalachicola/East Point area still harvests and processes 90% of the oysters consumed in Florida.

Locally caught seafood is prepared in the many fine restaurants located in Panacea, Carrabelle, and Apalachicola. If you prefer to cook it yourself, fresh shrimp, oysters, and the catch of the day are available in the seafood houses dotted along the coast from Panacea to Port St. Joe.

Driving Directions: Take US 319 south from Tallahassee. At the intersection with US 98 take a right. Follow US 98 until you come to the Ochlockonee Bay Bridge. Turn right before the bridge. We are about a mile down the road on the left.

*** Sorry, but we do not rent to anyone under the age of 25. ***

CANCELLATION POLICY: We understand that it may become necessary for you to cancel your reservation. Please let us know as soon as you can, so that we may have time to rent out your time slot. Refund Policy: 14 days (100% refund); 7 days (50% refund).

HURRICANE POLICY: Either party shall have the right to cancel all or any part of this contract in the event of impending hurricane or tropical storm danger. If this occurs, all monies will be refunded for unused days.