Cottage retreat at Blue Cove on the Rainbow River
Cottage in Dunnellon, FL
8 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsKitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner, Internet / Wifi and more
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About this cottage rental
The cottage at Blue Cove is a 1,400 square ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom retreat located on Blue Cove on the beautiful Rainbow River. You can bring your own boat and keep it at the private dock and/or you can utilize one of our canoes or kayaks during your stay. The cottage has everything that you need to head out for a river adventure or to be entertained indoors. There are 3 smart televisions in the home with streaming services, a game room with a retro style video game system, a ping pong table in the garage, board games and corn hole boards for playing out back.
At the entrance to the neighborhood there is a restaurant and bar on the water that you can boat to or even walk. The cottage is ideal for families or couples looking for a peaceful escape to one of Florida's most beautiful natural waterways. The cottage is close to downtown Dunnellon so picking up groceries and supplies is not going to take time away from your vacation. Conveniently located 1 hour from the University of Florida, 23 minutes to Crystal River, 5 minutes from biking trails and 30 minutes to The World Equestrian Center in Ocala. There is plenty of parking for your boat trailer after you put in at one of the local public boat ramps.
Please note that the home does have private access to the river but the steps down to the the water are steep and people that have mobility issues may find the stairs difficult to navigate. There are outdoor security cameras on the property. This is a family property for a maximum of 6 adults or 8 total people including children and no parties or pets are allowed. This property also has a rental agreement that is sent by VRBO in the app when you request to book. Thanks for checking out the cottage!
At the entrance to the neighborhood there is a restaurant and bar on the water that you can boat to or even walk. The cottage is ideal for families or couples looking for a peaceful escape to one of Florida's most beautiful natural waterways. The cottage is close to downtown Dunnellon so picking up groceries and supplies is not going to take time away from your vacation. Conveniently located 1 hour from the University of Florida, 23 minutes to Crystal River, 5 minutes from biking trails and 30 minutes to The World Equestrian Center in Ocala. There is plenty of parking for your boat trailer after you put in at one of the local public boat ramps.
Please note that the home does have private access to the river but the steps down to the the water are steep and people that have mobility issues may find the stairs difficult to navigate. There are outdoor security cameras on the property. This is a family property for a maximum of 6 adults or 8 total people including children and no parties or pets are allowed. This property also has a rental agreement that is sent by VRBO in the app when you request to book. Thanks for checking out the cottage!
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Family friendly
Map of Dunnellon, FL
££££
Reviews
5.0
I don't even know where to start. Communication was amazing. Home was easy to find and my oh my did it have just about everything you would need during your stay. Kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, tubes and a well stocked kitchen and towels and blankets. Thank you for everything.
5.0
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The house is very comfortable and there is so much to see and do on the river. Great vacation!
5.0
We had the best time. The house had everything we could possibly think of and more. Very clean with lots of fun amenities.
5.0
My family and I had a very nice time at this property. The house was very clean and loaded with fun things to do. Best of all was the shaded, secluded, waterfront view of the cove. There are quite a few kayaks on site that we took advantage of, and the river is a just a 5 minute paddle from house & and a restaurant on the river is not much further. I highly recommend this place.
5.0
Katie was great, we had everything we needed for a fun filled week. Great family oriented place to stay. We would recommend to anyone. Thank you again for a wonderful stay.
5.0
We couldn't have asked for a better place right on the water. The house is decorated to the "T" with everything you will ever need and more. The host were very nice and very accommodating. My favorite was the arcade game. the house is at the take out point on the river so we parked a car there and drove to the put in point and it worked perfectly. Would definitely stay here again. Thank you
5.0
We loved the peacefulness of the property. We brought our bikes with us so we rarely used our vehicles. We enjoyed kayaking in the mornings before the tubers were on the rainbow river, using the kayaks that were available to us made it a breeze to get on the water. In the afternoons, we took advantage of the paved and unpaved trails that are super close to the house. The house is clean, organized, and comfortable. Overall, we had a fantastic time and without hesitation, we would stay here again.
5.0
Fantastic house, great layout, very easy to relax into house and land and feel at home. Beautiful cove view. Appreciate the care and comfort that has clearly gone into this rental!
5.0
Rainbow River offers a clean, safe place to kayak and swim with turquoise blue waters… we enjoyed seeing a family of wild otters, fish, turtles, and fascinating bird watching.
Our hosts, Drew and Katie offer a very organized, clean, artistic cottage with many thoughtful details ( comfy beds/bedding too) and any water gear you might need -
it felt like “home.”
The community has many fun activities and good places to eat out. We will certainly tell our friends and family about this special place!
5.0
The quiet and pretty neighborhood of Blue Cove is well situated for biking on the Dunnellon and Withlacochee trails, as well as paddling on the Rainbow River. Comfortable and well equipped house, all the equipment you'll need for getting on the river.
5.0
This property had more than we needed. It had all the equipment you would need to explore the river, which is right outside the back door. Really set up with games for younger family members. It was a beautiful place to stay and I'm glad we found this home. The location was just right for us as we were trying to bike 5 different paths and it was central to them all. The home was very clean and comfortable. More comfortable than the pictures show. We would love to come back and stay again. Maybe when it is a little warmer and then we could try out the canoes/kayaks that were provided
5.0
Very enjoyable stay
5.0
Property was great all the amenities were as advertised
5.0
The home was perfect: so well thought out with everything you might need. The docks, kayaks, weather, and river made for a wonderful few days with family.
5.0
We have stayed at many VRBO's and this one has been our favorite. We didn't need or want for anything. We brought so much stuff with us that we never needed because the house just had everything. There are cute little notes framed and posted around the house that tell you where to find things, I loved it and my Husband loved all the games. We had our coffee outside and looked down at the River, it was really beautiful. We took out one of the provided canoes and spent the day up and down the Rainbow. We saw deer in the field next to the house every morning that we were there. This was just an overall wonderful trip, and I would love to come back. Many thanks to Katie and Drew for being such wonderful hosts and to think of everything for their guests. Leigh and Mark
3.0
The property and house were amazing. The cleanliness, the games (inside and out) ...everything was awesome. Checked in on Friday, ....Saturday morning while Kayaking up Rainbow River...I get a call from Kelly, the Host. Conversation started with a Bold Face Lie! Said she never received my signed contract!!! Really???? Then why did you send me the entry code? The code to all the locks for the kayaks and canoes?? Then comes the No Smoking In or Outside the house. O.k. #1. I don't smoke, #2. I honestly didn’t remember the rental agreement.....it was 4 months ago. Anyway... I apologized, told her I didn’t smoke, and my husband didn’t know the rules.
Next.... My husband got sick. Left and went home. I already paid , my grandson lives 45 minutes from Dunnellon. I invited him to come and hang out., since my husband went home sick...I figured no problem.
Now, after I washed every single beach, shower and kitchen towel. Dried and put them away. Stripped every bed we used. Put away each and every canoe, kayak, paddle board etc. All the board games, washed the dishes and loaded and started the dish washer.
Host sent a copy of text from cleaning woman to the owner. ( she had to do a DEEP dusting (ha! ha!) Then she wants to take pictures of and post the "supposed tore up blinds) just let me say.....#1. we NEVER touched the blinds. That is exactly how they were when we got there. If you like to watched 24/7 on cameras EVERYWHERE, this is the place for you!
5.0
PERFECTION!!! This home has everything you could ever need for your stay. So close to everything yet so peaceful. We enjoyed every second of our stay.
5.0
This place was perfect for our stay. We weathered Idalia unscathed. We had everything we needed with the fully stocked kitchen, loved all the Florida artwork, great view, and so clean. Thanks for allowing us to keep our reservation knowing we were in the path of the hurricane. We loved the serenity there and your responsiveness. We'll be back.
5.0
The houae is so cute and the property beautiful. So many amenities. May stay was wonderful.
5.0
Location was great, just a short paddle to the main river. Plenty of kayaks, canoes and tubes for outside plus board games and retro video game for inside. Definitely worth visiting.
5.0
Exactly as advertised and more. This home truly had everything we needed to make our rainbow river vacation perfect. All we needed to bring was clothes, food and sunblock. Thank you!
5.0
We loved this property. Close to a really fun restaurant that we took the canoe out to a couple times. The house itself was super clean and well stocked; we weren't missing a thing. We loved fishing from the dock and heading out to the springs. Will definitly plan a trip here again!
5.0
Quite possibly the best vacation rental property we have had yet. From beginning to end, it was a seamless and stress free process. The hosts communication is on point and almost immediate; there was no waiting over 24 hours to hear back from her. The home is PRIME location! Beautiful serene private water way that leads right into the river. About a 10 minute float to Swampys restaurant. Quiet neighborhood. The home had EVERYTHING you could imagine to make your stay comfortable and perfect for the river. SO many floats available, binoculars, waterproof bags for phones, flash lights, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. Literally there was nothing more that we needed other than our own food. We will definitely stay there again when in the area.
5.0
We were close to all the things we wanted to do. They provided everything you could possibly need or want for your comfort. Would highly recommend.
5.0
Very comfortable cottage with access to Rainbow River. Perfect retreat and very accommodating hosts.
5.0
Katie has gone all out for her guests! This place was absolutely amazing and she has thought of all the small things to help you on your trip. From the extra toiletries she stocks to her gorgeous property. There is an abundance of kayaks and canoes to choose from. I would recommend this listing to anyone wanting the go to Rainbow. We especially loved the privacy of the cove but short paddle to get out. The house is also stocked with a Nintendo mini, pacman game with hundreds of choices, movies and board games. The Alexa's in the house were also a good surprise (we used them for weather and listening to music). Thank you for opening this up to guests and letting so many enjoy the property!
5.0
This was hands down one of the best places we have stayed. Location: perfect for our family-we spent everyday on the water. We brought some of our kayaks & paddle boards, but also used 2 others on the property (they had 2 canoes, 2 singles, 1 tandem, several smaller kayaks, and a paddle board to choose from). Less than a 5 minute paddle & you were on the Rainbow River. Only 15 min drive from Kp hole if you just wanted to go down the river. Dining at Swampy’s on the river is a must, & we enjoyed the ambience. We also did some hiking along several nearby trails & can rent bikes from the bike shop nearby. What made this property so amazing was all the small personal touches. Everything well labeled. There was plenty of comfortable seating throughout the home that made you want to curl up and read a book (and there were lots to choose from!) My favorite place to sit was on the middle deck outside under the trees-it was peaceful, quiet, and always had a nice breeze as you over looked the water. Plenty of activities for everyone-My oldest son enjoyed fishing right off the dock, while my youngest could often be found at the arcade that held over 200 classic games-I got to teach him Tetris-my all time favorite game growing up! We had ping pong tournaments, game nights (lots of family games to choose from) & a movie night (huge selection of movies). The kitchen was very well stocked-plenty of dishes for our family of 5-& they even had a crock pot! We will definitely be back!
5.0
Short trip to do some fishing before my son heads off to boot camp. The property was in the perfect location for us and exactly as described. Excellent communication from property owner, would not hesitate to recommend.
5.0
Well kept. Clean. Kayaking was convenient from the property. Quiet community. Pleasantly surprised with amenities. Very close to Rainbow River State Park. Rented bikes at the Santos Bike Shop in Ocala across from the trailhead and rode on the Carr Greenway. 16 miles of paved bike trail. Beautiful! Would highly recommend.
5.0
Thank you Katie for providing the opportunity to stay at your beautiful vacation home. The location was great. Being able to access the river while not being exactly on the river was nice for privacy.
The house was very well provisioned with everything we could have needed for our stay. Lots of extra bedding, towels and so on. The entertainment inside the house was also prefect. From pac man, giant janga, nintendo, and smart tv's with the house's own netflix account, it was everything we could have wanted and more.
I hope we are able to visit again in the future.
5.0
Great location right on the river. Has everything you need. Clean and safe. Great communication with the property owners. Had a wonderful time. We will be back.
5.0
This was hands-down the best rental experience I've had. Katie & Drew are fantastic hosts & truly have thought of EVERYTHING you could possibly want to make your stay memorable & enjoyable. From 2 sets of binoculars for bird watching, (saw an osprey catch a fish right from the back deck!) to multiple waterproof pouches for your phone while on the river, books of local wildlife for easy identification, (we had many close encounters with the local otters, as well as countless birds, fish, & a docile gator or 2), & more kayaks, canoes, & inflatables than we had people in our large group! Not to mention plenty of TP & papergoods, & a fully stocked kitchen with everything you could possibly need. Cheese grater? Check! Colander? Check! Wine opener?, coffee filters? Check, & check! We literally wanted for nothing & were constantly surprised & pleased with the thought & care our hosts put into meeting every possible need. The cottage itself is a gem, newly remodeled & decorated SO BEAUTIFULLY the pictures truly don't do it justice. You can tell every piece of art & furniture has been chosen with care, & I even discovered a new favorite artist from the fabulous pieces they have displayed. HUGE front yard was perfect for our impromptu bocce tournament, but would be great for kids to run around too. The backyard is idyllic with both an upper viewing deck with views of the cove, & a lower deck next to the water & a rack full of watercraft to enjoy. Our group of 7 friends had an incredible time celebrating my husband's birthday, & I would absolutely book again. Do NOT hesitate to book here, one of the best stays of our life! Thank-you Katie & Drew!!
5.0
This was the best VRBO we’ve ever stayed at. Everything was wonderful! Will definitely come back. House is huge for 2/2!
5.0
We stayed here for our sons birthday trip and it was a phenomenal experience! The house is in a great location, we arrived and it was even more beautiful than the pictures. The whole house is decorated so creatively and the rooms are set up well too. We comfortably slept with a newborn in the master and the kids slept in the other room. The dock and access to the water was amazing. We are already planning our next trip back.
5.0
We had a blast at this house at blue lagoon. Nice and clean and ton of stuff to do too. Definitely on the list for a another visit.
5.0
We had such a wonderful, relaxing weekend at the Cottage at Blue Cove. We parked our car when we arrived on Friday and didn’t get in it again until we left on Monday.
Take your pick of decks to sit in the comfy rocking chairs and enjoy the view and sounds of the cove. It’s so peaceful and the water is so clear. We fished off the dock and out on the river. We didn’t bother bringing our canoe because the hosts have multiple canoes and kayaks to borrow. We walked the hills in the area and looked at all the beautiful homes and more water views. And in the evenings, we played ping pong and retro arcade games.
My husband and I try to rent a waterfront location a couple times a year to get a way, and this is one of our favorites. We definitely recommend it and hope to return.
5.0
The cottage at Blue Cove was perfect for our family getaway. Katie, the owner was helpful with suggestions. Do yourself a favor, listen to the suggestions, and grab some bagels and donuts at Go For Donuts! Then head back to the cottage, set in one of the rocking chairs and watch the sun rise in the cove on Rainbow River. Just listening to the cove wake up in the morning is so refreshing. I really enjoyed watching the cranes and otters.
Kayaking or canoeing on rainbow river is a must! We have never seen such clear water. Best part is they are part of the rental. So we hopped in and paddled down to Swampy’s and back north towards Rainbow River Park.
We also enjoyed having so many activities available at the cottage. We are game playing family and so many games and activities are provided. My 9 year old really enjoyed the PacMan Atari games and corn hole (we did too!). The other games and uno cards got a lot of play!
When you want to venture out your centrally located to so many amazing springs. We were able to swim with manatees at Crystal River and three sisters Springs. We drove 5 minutes up the road and swam at Rainbow River State Park. Then headed north and snorkeled Devil’s Den before heading south to Tarpon Springs to see the sponge docks. Weekiwatchi is just down the road too! If you’re looking for a sunset head to Fort Island Gulf Beach the views are amazing.
We will definitely be back! Amazing hosts!
5.0
Absolutely perfect. Serene setting with access to the cove and a 5 minute paddle to the river. House is perfectly stocked with great views. You’re just minutes from Swampy’s but also have everything you need if you feel like cooking at home. We will be back to this gem!
FAQs
How much does this cottage cost compared to others in Dunnellon?
The average price for a rental in Dunnellon is £158 per night. This rental is £63 above the average.
Is parking included with this cottage?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Cottage retreat at Blue Cove on the Rainbow River. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this cottage?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this cottage. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Cottage retreat at Blue Cove on the Rainbow River pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this cottage is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Cottage retreat at Blue Cove on the Rainbow River?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.
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