Kids in the backyard until the string lights come on, parents by the fire pit. Sandhaus Retreat is a renovated West Bradenton bungalow 15 minutes from Anna Maria Island, sleeping 8 across 3 bedrooms plus a bonus media room. Fenced yard with a volleyball court, lawn games and covered dining. Pack 'n Play, high chair, kids' dishes, books and toys always here. Beach gear included. Mornings here start slow. Coffee from the Keurig or the moka pot, carried into the sunroom while the kids are still in pajamas and the backyard fills with light. Then it is a 15-minute drive to Anna Maria Island, or five minutes to the Gulf Islands Ferry, which skips the bridge traffic on busy weekends and turns the trip over to the part of the day the kids talk about later.

The beach gear is already here: four chairs, two umbrellas, a cooler, a wagon and beach towels. Nothing to rent, nothing to pack.

Afternoons belong to the backyard. Fully fenced and private, with a volleyball court and two balls, life-size lawn games, a covered dining area, a propane grill and string lighting overhead. When the sun drops, the fire pit comes on and everyone ends up back outside. Guests mention the backyard more than anything else about this home.

WHERE EVERYONE SLEEPS

Primary suite: king bed, Smart TV, private ensuite with a walk-in rainfall shower
Bedrooms 2 and 3: queen bed each, Smart TV, closets with built-in shelving
Bonus media room: full-size sleeper sofa for two more

Three bedrooms sleep 6 and the bonus room takes the last two, so one family can spread out, two families can share, grandparents can come along, and IMG Academy weekends work without anyone drawing the short straw.

THE BONUS MEDIA ROOM Movie nights for the kids, and a real desk with an ergonomic chair for whoever still has to work. Large Smart TV, mini fridge, and its own mini-split system so the temperature in here is yours alone. One guest this summer wrote that they "felt like we were at a 5 star resort" — the popcorn waiting in the media room was part of it.

TRAVELLING WITH KIDS Children's dishes and utensils, toys, books, board games and life-size outdoor games are always in the home, along with a Pack 'n Play with fitted sheets and a high chair. No fee, no request needed. Ask ahead about the Baby Gear Package and we will also set up a video and sound baby monitor, bottle warmer and brown noise machine before you arrive.

KITCHEN AND DINING Stocked for beach-day breakfasts and full family dinners: full-size appliances, complete cookware, bakeware, dishes and utensils, Keurig and drip coffee with complimentary pods, a moka pot and milk frother, a tea station, and cocktail shaker and bar tools for after bedtime. The dining table seats 8, which is also where game night happens.

BATHROOMS Two full bathrooms, the ensuite off the primary and the second near the other bedrooms, stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bath towels, makeup towels, hair dryers and starter essentials.

THE SUNROOM Bright and airy at the back of the home: morning coffee, a book, and a clear view of the kids in the yard. The "Meet Me at Sandhaus" neon sign is in here too, and most families take a photo under it before they go.

WHAT IS CLOSE

- Bishop Museum of Science and Nature — 4 minutes
- LECOM Park, Pirates Spring Training — 4 minutes
- Gulf Islands Ferry — 5 minutes
- Downtown Bradenton and the Riverwalk — 5 minutes
- Village of the Arts — 7 minutes
- IMG Academy — 9 minutes
- Manatee River Marina — 10 minutes
- Robinson Preserve — 11 minutes
- The Ringling Museum — 20 minutes
- St. Armands Circle — 22 minutes

BEACHES

- Anna Maria Island and Bradenton Beach — 15 minutes
- Manatee Public Beach — 16 minutes
- Coquina Beach — 20 minutes

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is about 19 minutes away, Tampa International about 46.