The Gulf-Front Refuge on Grassy Key
House in Marathon, FL
7 guests · 3 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
About this house rental
Enjoy your own private retreat! Fabulous Home on Morton Street.
This three-bedroom, two-bath, private home is tucked away on the open water with outstanding views of the Gulf of Mexico. Beautifully furnished and appointed, this home provides the background for a vacation to remember for years to come!
The beach-style back yard has a beautiful swimming pool with a stepped shallow water entry that leads to the deep end. On one side, elevated on a platform, is a spa with the overflow cascading into the pool and on the other side is a waterfall. Built in seating rims the edges under the waterfalls!
The pier dock offers dockage for your boat as well as a great spot to sit out over the water and enjoy the sunset colors. You will have fun fishing off the dock or jump in, the shoreline offers a variety of tropical and local fish to watch while you snorkel.
The main level of the home offers two bedrooms, one with a queen-size bed the other with two twins, and an expansive living, kitchen and dining area all overlooking the gulf. A great covered porch off the living area is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the views or dine outdoors. The master suite is on the top level with a king-size bed, a private bath, and open porch.
For those who can't leave their business home, Broadband (Comcast) internet service, WiFi, is available at this house.
Well appointed with linens, towels (bath and pool), a very well-equipped kitchen, central air, washer and dryer, dishwasher, microwave oven, gas grill. TVs in the living area and downstairs bedroom, stereo.
Boat lift at the dock and the garage is not available for guest use.
If swimming, fishing, and snorkeling at your own location is not enough Marathon offers a Dolphin Research Center which is open to the public for tours, a dedicated bike trail along US 1 which will take you from Grassy Key to the Seven Mile Bridge (the old bridge is a great spot to exercise and watch the fish below from a 'birds eye view'). The historic museum is a great spot to spend an afternoon and offers nature trails through a Keys hardwood hammock. Sombrero Beach, oceanside in Marathon, is another popular spot for a change of pace and Bahia Honda State Park, 20 minutes south of Marathon, offers more great 'Keys' beaches. Lots of shops, restaurants, and services are available throughout Marathon, even though you may feel like you are on a private retreat away from the world, grocery stores, drugs stores, bait and tackle shops and just about everything you could need on vacation is just minutes away. If you do not have your own boat there are many boat rental companies in the area that will let you bring a boat to your dock during your stay!
May consider a allowing a pet (dog). Please contact me with information on the pet to see if it is allowed (breed, age and size), if approved the fee would be times how many weeks your stay is.
Pool Heat is optional and additional. You will need to let me know in advance and pay for prior to arrival.
City of Marathon License
Please Note: Our cancellation time frame is not what VRBO publishes. It is 90 days prior to arrival for rentals that are shorter in term than 42 nights, 120 days for rentals more than 42 nights or more in duration. If you cancel more than 90/120 days prior to arrival your Deposit will be refunded. If you cancel within 90/120 days to arrival your deposit and any rent payments will be at risk unless we are able to rebook your dates. We are able to offer travel insurance, please ask for more information at the time of reservation if you are interested.
This three-bedroom, two-bath, private home is tucked away on the open water with outstanding views of the Gulf of Mexico. Beautifully furnished and appointed, this home provides the background for a vacation to remember for years to come!
The beach-style back yard has a beautiful swimming pool with a stepped shallow water entry that leads to the deep end. On one side, elevated on a platform, is a spa with the overflow cascading into the pool and on the other side is a waterfall. Built in seating rims the edges under the waterfalls!
The pier dock offers dockage for your boat as well as a great spot to sit out over the water and enjoy the sunset colors. You will have fun fishing off the dock or jump in, the shoreline offers a variety of tropical and local fish to watch while you snorkel.
The main level of the home offers two bedrooms, one with a queen-size bed the other with two twins, and an expansive living, kitchen and dining area all overlooking the gulf. A great covered porch off the living area is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the views or dine outdoors. The master suite is on the top level with a king-size bed, a private bath, and open porch.
For those who can't leave their business home, Broadband (Comcast) internet service, WiFi, is available at this house.
Well appointed with linens, towels (bath and pool), a very well-equipped kitchen, central air, washer and dryer, dishwasher, microwave oven, gas grill. TVs in the living area and downstairs bedroom, stereo.
Boat lift at the dock and the garage is not available for guest use.
If swimming, fishing, and snorkeling at your own location is not enough Marathon offers a Dolphin Research Center which is open to the public for tours, a dedicated bike trail along US 1 which will take you from Grassy Key to the Seven Mile Bridge (the old bridge is a great spot to exercise and watch the fish below from a 'birds eye view'). The historic museum is a great spot to spend an afternoon and offers nature trails through a Keys hardwood hammock. Sombrero Beach, oceanside in Marathon, is another popular spot for a change of pace and Bahia Honda State Park, 20 minutes south of Marathon, offers more great 'Keys' beaches. Lots of shops, restaurants, and services are available throughout Marathon, even though you may feel like you are on a private retreat away from the world, grocery stores, drugs stores, bait and tackle shops and just about everything you could need on vacation is just minutes away. If you do not have your own boat there are many boat rental companies in the area that will let you bring a boat to your dock during your stay!
May consider a allowing a pet (dog). Please contact me with information on the pet to see if it is allowed (breed, age and size), if approved the fee would be times how many weeks your stay is.
Pool Heat is optional and additional. You will need to let me know in advance and pay for prior to arrival.
City of Marathon License
Please Note: Our cancellation time frame is not what VRBO publishes. It is 90 days prior to arrival for rentals that are shorter in term than 42 nights, 120 days for rentals more than 42 nights or more in duration. If you cancel more than 90/120 days prior to arrival your Deposit will be refunded. If you cancel within 90/120 days to arrival your deposit and any rent payments will be at risk unless we are able to rebook your dates. We are able to offer travel insurance, please ask for more information at the time of reservation if you are interested.
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
Hot tub or spa
TV
Map of Marathon, FL
$$$$
Reviews
Summary of reviews
Property offers excellent sunset views, amazing pool, great porch with tons of seating, and abundant wildlife. Perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing off the rear dock. Well-furnished with all vacation essentials. Ideal location for a family getaway.
5.0
This property has excellent sunset views, amazing pool, great porch with tons of seating, lots of wildlife off the back pier. We saw manatee, sea turtles, and small sharks. Great ay for kayaking and paddle boarding. The fishing off the rear dock was great as well. Hang a chum block and use a sabiki rig to catch bait fish. Then we would hook a bait fish in a plain hook and let it sink. We caught tarpon, baracuda, sharks, and snappers.
5.0
The photos do not provide the justice to the size of this place. It is spacious, comfortable, and clean. Perfect for a family get away. The pool and spa are clean and cared for. The pool pumps are a little loud outside, but you cannot hear them by the ocean or in the house to is was fine. That was my only complaint.
The home was well furnished, having everything you need to enjoy a vacation. Stereo, dishes, bedding, clean fresh towels, a grill, ample parking, quiet tucked away spot off the highway, and the views are wonderful. Would not hesistate to use this property again!
5.0
This property was wonderful. Very quiet, peaceful location and amazing views. The kitchen was well stocked for any cooking and the grill great too. We saw lots of fish around the dock. Did I mention the view? Just gorgeous. Loved having the spa/hot tub option since we had a couple of cooler days. The pool was amazing the waterfall was a nice feature to have as well. We would 100% stay at this property again.
4.0
The views inside and outside of this home are out of this world beautiful. We barely even left the house for the week since we had paradise down our steps. The host was very communicative and made sure to address any issues or concerns that we had.
5.0
This home was a wonderful! We had a great week! The home is very clean, spacious, private, and well appointed. We cooked at the home for most of our stay and had everything we needed. The outdoor decks, pool area, and dock were great for relaxing. We did a lot of fishing off the dock and with the kayak. We loved seeing all the wildlife. The large school of parrot fish were fun to watch. We also saw sharks, manatees, stingrays, and caught grunts, pufferfish, snapper, and needlefish. Unfortunately the pool and spa heater were not working during our stay but it didn’t hinder our vacation at all, just would have been a bonus if it was working. Kitty did work to get it running with a service tech and kept us informed during the process, which we appreciated. For us, the house was a perfect location in the middle keys making it convenient for necessities and nice to day trip to Key West and Islamorada. The only negative and it has nothing to do with house, were the no see-ums. We got ate up! Just an FYI for any future renters, use bug spray!
4.0
Right on Florida Bay is always a treat. Pool area was fantastic. Pool table was a fun addition. Located in a great neighborhood. The only reason I didn’t rate a 5 star was there was a lot of sea grass on or near the shore which smelled terrible when the wind was blowing in. Can’t do anything about that. I understand that but it was not pleasant at times. Overall, very nice place to stay!
5.0
As advertised
5.0
Even though Mother Nature wasn’t the kindest we still had a wonderful time and loved the house and outdoors.
5.0
This is the 4th year on Grassy Key, but first stay at this home. Property is in a wonderful location and perfect for a family getaway! Saw a variety of fish and a manatee! Seamless check in/ out as well as easy of access to property management!
5.0
The only issue we had were no see em bugs. We have rented in the keys for 10 years and Know they are down there but they were excessive. Specifically on the chairs on the hammock anything cloth really was infested We did find some dirty clothes under a bed which were not ours. The place is great with a great location
5.0
Great house - tropical, fun vibe - good dock with plenty of water even at low tide. Beautiful views - doesn’t get direct sun which is great - sunsets were awesome on the boat! Enjoyed the changing hues of the gulf from the porch, dock and pool!
Excellent trip!
5.0
My family had such a wonderful time at this beautiful property and made lifelong memories. House was clean and had plenty of room for our family. We loved grilling on the back porch and taking in those beautiful sunsets! The view of the water looked like a postcard. We loved the backyard and were able to fish, kayak, and paddle board right off the dock. House is in a wonderful location. We scheduled a snorkel trip in Key Largo and made a day trip to Key West. The rest of the trip we enjoyed excursions around Marathon to Dolphin Encounter, Turtle Hospital, Crane Point Hammock Museum & Nature Trails, Sombrero Beach, and Bahia Honda State Park. Lots of great restaurants near house along with ice cream and treats. Family had a wonderful time and would definitely come back.
5.0
Our family needed more space and this house was great for us and our two college boys. Thx!
4.0
A nice home in a beautiful location on a quiet street. The home was clean and spacious. The pool heater apparently was programmed to come on in the early morning during the winter months but in June caused a very warm pool which was not refreshing to swim in. The upper shelf was dislodged in the dishwasher so we had to hand wash dishes for the week. I notified the property manager and a new part was ordered and unfortunately arrived the morning we checked out. Sunsets viewed from the end of the dock were gorgeous. Fishing from the dock was fun as well. An overall wonderful experience in a home conveniently located in the middle Keys.
5.0
We enjoyed every minute of our stay here. There was six of us (all adults) and there was plenty of room. The pool area was a blast, the place is well kept and had had plenty of recreational things to do. Several of us spent time fishing off the dock, and we caught fish every day. We haven't planned our next trip yet, but we would not hesitate for a minute to go back. The worse thing about our trip was that it had to end. I called Kitty several times before our trip and during, and never had a problem contacting her. She was receptive and helpful.. We Just loved our time here.
5.0
Beautiful quiet property with a wonderful backyard and dock for fishing and snorkeling
5.0
Beautiful, resort like property! We throughly enjoyed our stay. A week was NOT long enough. Loved the wildlife on around the place and the sea life under the dock. Great snorkeling right off the dock. Plenty of space in the house for our group of 4 and the wrap around deck was lovely. You just can't beat the Florida Keys for a great vacation.
As other have said before, we were not fans of the check in/out process however, it's hard to complain when you are on vacation in paradise.
4.0
We enjoyed our stay. Views are amazing.
5.0
Clean
Well equipped
Kayak available was so fun
Hammocks awesome
Pool, hot tub and waterfall awesome
View was terrific
Kids loved playing pool with available pool table
Great house to spend week with my family
5.0
We absolutely loved our week long stay here! The weather was beautiful and the house was great! Our kids stayed in the pool all week and loved every minute of it. We brought our boat down from NC and the dock was perfect. The only thing that didn’t work out for us was trailer parking at the house as the driveway was too small and tight but we were able to park the trailer in the rental company’s trailer parking not too far away which was helpful. Overall such a great week and we would come back here no question!
5.0
Great week of swimming and sunshine just before Christmas. Our adult kids very much enjoyed the location, house and pool / hot tub.
5.0
Having beautiful ocean views everyday was amazing!
The house is set up great. Just needs a couple of new fry pans and knives for us who like to cook on vacation. Other then that the house well stocked . The pool and hot tub area are fantastic . Lot of palm trees and plants to really make you feel secluded from the neighbors. The large deck offers stunning views anytime of day. Great dock to fish off.
We loved our stay.
5.0
What a great location, right in the gulf and very private! The backyard with pool and hot tub were perfect. Great experience all around.
5.0
Paradise
We absolutely loved this home !!! And our family had an amazing time !!! It is a beautiful home inside and out !!! Very well stocked with everything you need !!! And wow how beautiful it was to be able to wake up every morning in the master bedroom and look out at that view !!! Just gorgeous !!! We loved the pool as well, it's so pretty !!! And the palm trees were beautiful and added much needed shade at times. We went in the pool every morning and evening and in between. The dock is a bonus, the boys did a lot of fishing !!! We saw a beautiful school of parrot fish at the dock every morning... a pair of nurse sharks on the first day... a barracuda that hung around all week, a couple snappers and a family of iguanas that visited here and there each day. We snorkeled at the dock and saw a ton of color fish that you can't see from the dock looking in. We made so many amazing memories in your home !!! Thank you for opening it up for guests. We already tried to book for next year but it's all booked up ): just a really really beautiful property !!! Thank you again !!! The Matz's, Rochester, NY
5.0
Perfect location, comfortable and well-provisioned
Morton Street on Grassy Key is the perfect vacation spot for people like us who love to spend our time in and on the water, and this property is among our favorites on the street. The house is spacious with multiple sitting and hanging out areas. The kitchen is nicely laid out and a pleasure to cook in (the outdoor grill is great too!). The dock has everything you need for fish cleaning and sunset viewing.
A couple of minor negatives:
There isn't an easy way to get kayaks and paddle boards into the water from the shore. It wasn't too much trouble to carry them out to the dock and put in at the dock ladder, but it would have been easier if there was an area launch them at the shore, like some other nearby places have.
The construction next door is mostly done, so we weren't bothered by noise from that, as previous reviewers have noted. But the owners (or renters?) next door blasted their outdoor sound system a couple of times while we were there, and it was LOUD, as were their jet skis.
5.0
4th of July in the Keys
This house I think was one of our favorites so far and we have been vacationing in the Keys for over a decade! I am kicking myself for not renting this house years ago now. We always stay on Morton Street in Grassy Key and I must say this is going to be my go to property from now on. I am already renting it again for next year. Here are some important takeaways from someone who has extensive knowledge of the Morton Street rentals. This property's pool is beyond amazing!! If you vacation in the Keys then you know that most pools on Morton street can be very warm during the summer months. The way this pool is designed was perfect! It gets great sun during the day with some shaded seating still but as the later afternoon comes the pool gets great shade which helps keep the pool cool. Plus, the spa heats up to 102 degrees quickly and then automictically cools itself off before it starts circling back into the pool with the overflow waterfall. The rock waterfall is wonderful for helping drown out any unwanted neighbor noise and keeping the pool cool, my teenagers loved it! Plus, the heaters on the pool and spa are great for keeping the pool warm enough for night swims especially if it is windy. Again, if you vacation on Morton Street the dock length is important for many reasons. The dock looks kind of short in the pictures, but it is a great length with wonderful depth, great seating, perfect lighting, stable ladder, and great cleaning station. There is an abundance of wildlife off this dock as well due to the close location of the neighbor's rock wall. The winds were bad while we were down and very few charters were offering snorkeling trips. Normally, we snorkel Looe Key with Bahia Honda. However, that was not possible this year due to winds and we had some first timers with us that were beyond excited to see all the fish and sharks right off the dock. Our 3 teenage boys caught 5 shark species off the dock this year. (All released unharmed, and hook removed before released) FYI the shark bite starts around 8:30pm and ends around 11pm. This was the best shark fishing of any house we have ever rented on Morton Street. Plus, they caught snapper, tarpon, and barracuda. They caught several regulation size snapper which isn’t normally very common off Morton Street docks. I really can’t say enough nice things about the outdoor space in this home. As for the inside of the home the kitchen and bedrooms are perfect with plenty of space.
5.0
Wonderful time at The Gulf-Front Refuge on Grassy Key
Beautiful property on the bay. The pool was perfect for small children. The house was comfortable and provided stunning views. Nice dock for the boat and fishing, there is a resident nurse shark that the kids love to spot. Kitty was very nice and available if needed. We will definitely come back!
5.0
Magical experience, detailed review
Our trip was absolutely magical. The photos do not do the view justice. We visit the keys annually and will look to rent this place again! Kitty was wonderful to work with throughout the process. Amazing!!
The pros:
-Gulf-front home with a pool and hot tub. Heat is optional for the pool (we didn't need it).
-Swim off the dock or bring your own boat. We rented a boat for the week and enjoyed the ease of using the dock.
-Fishing right from the dock is fun but you probably won't catch anything to eat. You need to get out to deeper waters.
-Large open windows and fully equipped for your stay! Towels for both pool and ocean are available and all the items you may need to cook.
-The hammocks are perfect for resting and reading and of course, the breeze is idyllic!
-Location: Marathon is a relaxing place in the keys. The grocery store and a few restaurants are all within 15 min. However, there is limited shopping. More is available in Islamorada (30. min) or Key West (about an hour and a half drive).
Side note: The upstairs has been renovated and there is no longer a tub. It is more updated and modern with a large shower.
Room for improvement:
There are some general maintenance items that need to be addressed and many are typical of a rental home.
-The pool/spa control panel is falling off the wall and is in dire need of an update. While it still works, I'd recommend having it replaced.
- Waterfall- it is super loud...and we were super grateful it was. There is major construction going on next door. It looks like a compound and they work 7-4 M-F.
-The fencing is plastic and has weathered many storms. The gates are pulling off now so not exactly super secure if you have young children.
-The furniture in the living room could stand to be updated to accommodate more comfortable seating.
-The contract allows for maintenance and service people to come at any time. We would've appreciated a heads up when the pool guy showed up. He came mid-morning and startled us. He treated the pool while we were all out there and told us it was off-limits for an hour or so. This was disruptive and awkward. I'd imagine there is a way to schedule these treatments or at least provide tenants with some notice.
-Keys: I'd suggest moving to a code lock. This helps travelers not have to be responsible for keys and drive to pick up and drop off.
All in all, it was incredible!
5.0
Beautiful Spot!
We loved our stay. The pool and hot tub were awesome for our young kids and it was so fun to be able to see wildlife off the dock! We saw a huge sea turtle, a nurse shark and some fish! The accommodations were great and we would love to come back! Only suggestion is a lockbox on the property rather than having to go past the property to pickup/drop off keys, but not a big deal! Highly recommend this location!
5.0
Great Time
Incredibly relaxing week enjoying the pool, kayaking in the gulf and enjoying the hammock!. Everything was nicely stocked and clean.
5.0
Great Place to Decompress
This house and property is excellent. We spent two weeks, and only left for groceries/drinks, and one trip out on the water.
5.0
Outstanding
Besides a few glitches with the spa, this place is amazing. Everything you need and some. Communication with the host was outstanding. We hardly ever left this tropical paradise.
5.0
Thanksgiving week in Florida
We loved this house. It has a dock on the gulf side and though we didn't do as well fishing as some of the other guests, we did catch a small shark. The kids spent hours in the pool and I am glad we decided to pay the extra to heat it. The kayak was missing one paddle but it was immediately replaced when I contacted the property owner.
5.0
Just Wow!
We have stayed in many rental properties and this just topped the list. Our grandchildren pretty much lived in the pool. The location is central to many restaurants and Keys activities. The construction next door at 7 AM just got the day going earlier than normal on vacation :) The master bathroom renovation made the house almost perfect- our adult son and wife said it's time to replace the mattress in the downstairs bed. Will we return- absolutely !
4.0
Outdoor paradise (when construction noise is manegable)
The outdoor space was fantastic! Beautiful landscape and pool, great fishing at the dock. We enjoyed seeing so many different types of fish including a pair of nurse shark right off the dock, and caught many snappers for dinner. It was a pity that we had a couple of days when the neighborhood construction was so loud that prevented us from enjoying the house :-( Also, perhaps more frequent bug control is necessary.
4.0
Keys Get away
The house was great for our two couples that stayed at the house. The dock, pool, hot tube, and house were all excellent. The only items that we noted that could be improved were a temperature disparity between the upstairs bedroom and the downstairs areas, and the master bathroom privacy. The upstairs would get very cold at night compared to the down stairs bedrooms, and it was difficult to balance the temperature difference with a single thermostat. The master bathroom didn't have a door for privacy. Otherwise the house was Great!! We had an amazing stay, and enjoyed our time there very much.
5.0
Summer cacao 2021
We had a great time! The house was prefect. Had everything we needed to have a fun , relaxing week. The pool, dock and back porch area were awesome! This was a girls trip with my two daughters and their best friends and me and my best friend! We had a blast!
5.0
Paradise
Property was fantastic. Most beautiful view one could ask for. Pool was super clean, even to our very picky pool standards. There is construction going on next door but if you turn the waterfall on for the pool you do not hear it. Had an issue with a fire alarm but Kitty had it taken care of in about two hours. Would recommend to upgrade to a keyless entry to streamline checkin further and not have to backtrack from the office back to the property. Have already recommended to a family friend.
5.0
Great times
We had a great time, property was as described. The only issue we had was taken care of very fast. A great house for a family to enjoy!
1.5
Pros: The pool and hot tub were nice. The view was nice and the cleaning staff does a good job of cleaning the house. The Property Manager was timely in her responses while we were planning final travel details. Cons: There was a consistent septic scent in the neighborhood that made being outdoors rough at times. The furniture in the house needs to be updated, as it is either very worn or not in good working order (deck glider chairs). When you look a bit more closely in the house you’ll see worn trim paint, peeling finish on the shower door, and an overall worn look to the home. Also, we asked to have the lighting fixed above the outdoor table and that never was resolved during our stay. The kitchen supplies are not in good working shape (pans and knives), and there are limited games (we added a few) or beach items to use in the area (we donated a beach chair too). Our family has stayed at other rentals domestically and internationally. As stated in the title, this one was just fine. It gave us a safe place to stay for the week, but didn’t wow us.
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Marathon?
The average price for a rental in Marathon is $673 per night. This rental is $373 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at The Gulf-Front Refuge on Grassy Key. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at The Gulf-Front Refuge on Grassy Key. Enjoy the water!
Is The Gulf-Front Refuge on Grassy Key pet friendly?
Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at The Gulf-Front Refuge on Grassy Key?
We found 11 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, and internet / wifi.
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