Vacation Rental Description
Boundary House is a perfect 'getaway' to relax and enjoy everything that the Gulf Coast of Florida offers. It has two living areas, a family room with entertainment centre and a quieter formal living room for reading and entertaining. The pool and deck are large and the pool has a small waterfall and a raised sunbathing area. We are always outside, so have a good table and 8 very comfortable chairs. There are also 4 sun loungers for soaking up the sun! Our home is about halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Gulf Coast and within easy reach of RSW (Ft Myers), Sarasota and Tampa Airports (90 minutes). The location has water on 3 sides and beaches to both the South and West.
Notes on accommodation
The house is set on 1.5 outsize lots. We can provide cribs and highchairs free of charge, subject to availability. We also offer high speed wireless internet access.
Amenities/Facilities provided
hob/stove,oven,fridge/freezer,microwave,dishwasher,washing machine,tumble dryer,iron/ironing board,cable tv,tv,telephone,internet access,central heating,air conditioning,room fans,cot,high chair,barbecue,private pool (for sole use of guests),pool heating
Outside
There is a double garage with electric garage doors with bicycles available for guests. We also have a BBQ on the lanai. The front garden is well landscaped and there is a horseshoe driveway to the house and garage. The back is mainly down to lawn which stretches down to the river. It is possible to fish in the river, but be aware that the river contains alligators as well as fish!
The pool is 28x13ft and comes with optional electric pool heat. There is a solar blanket for the winter, but this will not be enough to bring the water up to temperature in winter. If you want to use the pool in winter, it would need to be heated.
Coast/Beach
We are surrounded by wonderful beaches. You can visit a different one each day! A 12 minute drive west takes you to 32 miles of gulf beaches. These have good facilities, although life guards are not usually on duty. Some beaches have small, fossilised sharks teeth that wash up in the surf with the shells! To the south, a 10 minute drive, you get to the toll bridge onto the lovely island of Boca Grande (Gasparilla) where you find more beaches, some are smaller, but most are less crowded
Golf
Rotonda has 6 courses, all of which are between 5-12 minutes drive from the house. The Long Marsh Course has 27 holes and is the closest course. The Palms is an 18 hole course. The Hills is an 18 hole course. The Links is an 18 hole executive course. Don't be put off! It is 80% water, so the challenge is accuracy rather than strength and there is usually plenty of wildlife on the course while you are playing! These 4 courses are part of a golf programme and subject to availability, we can sometimes offer a good deal for guests.
Travel
Tampa is the nearest International airport which is 99 miles and 1 hr 40 mins from the house. Orlando is 2½ hours and Miami is just over 3 hours. If you don't mind changing aircraft, RSW (Ft Myers) is becoming increasingly popular and only an hour from the house.
Distances
Everything locally in this part of Florida seems to be judged on time rather than miles. 15 minutes gets you just about anywhere! Port Charlotte is 15 minutes, beaches are 15 minutes, Myakka State Park is 15 minutes and the outskirts of Venice are around 20 minutes. The Outlet stores at Ft Myers are about an hour and Sarasota is about 45 minutes.
Further details
There are good supermarkets on the West, North and East exits from Rotonda and plenty of good restaurants scattered around us. They are as close as 8 minutes! Our home has a guide giving details of some of the best local restaurants and the guide is kept up to date.
Facilities
Cable Satellite
Cleaning Service
Cooking Utensils
Dishwasher
Dryer
DVD
Garage
Heating
Ice Maker
Kitchen
Linen Service
Microwave
Amenity Parking
Private Pool
Refrigerator
TV
Washer
A cleaning and linen service is available at an additional cost
Activities
Biking
Boating
Playground
Cinema
Fishing
Gym
Horse Riding
Kayaking
Restaurant
Shopping
Tennis
Water Sports
This area is fantastic for boating and fishing. You can hire boats or hire a boat with a guide which is often a great idea, especially initially whilst you are finding your way around. In Spring, the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team have their spring camp at the Charlotte Sports Stadium and from April through to early September, the Charlotte Stone Crabs play at the stadium. It makes for a wonderful night out for the whole family!
There is a water park at Ft Myers which is about an hour away and Busch Gardens to the North. There are many eco state parks in the area where you can kayak, walk, take swamp bus tours and generally get to know more about the natural flora and fauna in the area.
Beaches are fantastic, there are many to choose from and parking at some is free. A few beaches offer a treasure trove of fossilised sharks teeth which was up alongside the shells. Great fun to collect and a great momento of your holdiday
Owner Location Comment
Welcome to Rotonda West – a peaceful, planned community situated near the beautiful Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida. It is located mid-way between Sarasota and Fort Myers. The community is predominantly full-time homeowners and their families, as well as tenants and those who winter in the community.
There are five golf courses operated by Rotonda Golf and Country club. Thirty miles of picturesque canals, lakes and ponds wind through the community and offer fishing and boating opportunities for its residents.
Many exotic and beautiful birds call Rotonda West home, as it is a designated Bird Sanctuary. Nearby recreation facilities, beaches, theaters, sporting events, and fine restaurants are available for all.
The weather usually stays relatively mild. In the summer, it's not uncommon for temperatures to get into the mid-90's, but this is tempered by sea breezes from the Gulf. At night in the summer, temperatures quickly drop to the low to mid 70's. In the winter, hard freezes are rare, but occasionally occur. It's more common to have frost on the ground briefly in pre-dawn hours, but it melts shortly after sunrise. This usually only happens 2 or 3 times during the winter. Temperatures average 50 - 70 degrees during the winter. On a sunny winter day, it's rare for the temperature to stay below 50 degrees for long.
Summer thunderstorms are not uncommon. Florida is known as the lightning capital of the world. The dry season is in the spring.