Beautiful 3BR, 3.5BA home sitting in the Gulf of Mexico just minutes south of the best Scalloping in Florida in Homosassa Springs and just minutes north of the Greek Sponging Village, Tarpon Springs.

This is a beautiful, unique 3 BR, 3.5 bathroom home jutting into the Gulf of Mexico. The house is in "Old Florida", an area located just about an hour north of Tampa Bay International Airport. The views are spectacular, especially at sunset. The property is literally surrounded by water. The ground level has a canoe, 2 fishing kayaks, pool table, ping pong table, a video arcade game (Ms PacMan, Galaga, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong), stereo, full refrigerator/ freezer, gas griddle grill, picnic table and half bath. Fishing poles are rigged and ready for use! Sliding glass doors on two sides provide a ground level view of the Gulf of Mexico and direct access to the back and side yards. Out back you will enjoy a panoramic view of the water as well as the fishing deck extending into the Gulf of Mexico. A regular day fishing may land a wide variety of fish- redfish, snook, sea trout, mangrove snapper, black-tipped reef shark, stingray, sea catfish.

Climb the stairs outside or take the elevator up to the main level. The main level contains a northside bedroom with an en suite full bathroom. The southside bedroom is three steps from a full bathroom. The laundry area with full-sized washer and dryer is immediately off the kitchen. The main level is an open design and is surrounded by windows and sliding glass doors to maximize views of the Gulf. The large, open living room has a couch, loveseat as well as cable television. High speed internet with a mesh wifi network is included. The open kitchen is well-stocked with cooking accessories, a full complement of dinnerware and a drip coffee maker. The kitchen has a large dining table with 6 chairs, extensive pantry space and a full size refrigerator/ freezer. The kitchen also looks out upon the water. Decking surrounds this entire level. Each bedroom has sliding glass doors that open to decks to enjoy the waters surrounding the property. A massive deck opens up straight off the back of the living room and extends the full width of the house. The views from this deck are stunning, whether you are enjoying the shade or lying on a chaise lounge in the sun. Watching manatee, dolphin, sharks, stingrays and sea turtles from this level can be a photographer's all-day dream.

Ascend the spiral staircase or take the elevator to the top level master suite. This suite has its own deck overlooking the Gulf, a large bedroom and a full bath with tiled shower. The views from this top deck extend for miles.

Vacationing here is like vacationing in a nature preserve. You and your family will be captivated by the natural beauty of the water, the sea life, the playful dolphin, the manatee family on the north side and the abundant birdlife, especially in the mangroves scattered throughout this area of the Gulf. Perhaps the highlight of the property is the nightly sunset- truly breathtaking!

The house is called Optimystical Vista. Look for it on Facebook or YouTube to view videos that will give you a better sense of what to expect. We've been told our pictures don't do this place justice. and we agree. We know from experience, a property's VRBO description can be different after you arrive. To help you get the perspective of guest who have stayed at the house, we've included selected comments below from their reviews of the property. Please read our reviews for more comments.

“This house is amazing, with a completely unique location and with very friendly and accommodating service. We can't recommend it enough! We are overwhelmed and so pleased with the stay”

“We have stayed at many houses over the years, but this was by far our best experience. There is a water view from every room.”

“Beautiful sunrises and sunsets, dolphins, pelicans, cranes, and herons. The whole experience went well beyond our expectations.”

“Had manatees next to the house the second day we were there. Saw dolphins almost every day. Saw tons of birds. Great location to Kayak"

“The property itself is stunning, inside and out. I don't think it is fair to rate this property just 5 stars. This is hands down the best, most peaceful place we've ever stayed. This is truly a gem. We will be back!”

“This house was so much more than we ever expected. The only way to explain it is that it was perfect. The most relaxing and fun time my family has had in a long time. I truly fell in love with this house. And I honestly can say I will never have to look for a house to rent ever again. Because if it not available I will just wait until it’s available”

“We have rented homes in many places and this is definitely one of the very best. Felt isolated but stores and restaurants were only ten minutes away. House has incredible views.”

“Selfishly, I almost don't want to write how fantastic our experience was in fear the word will get out and booking in the future will be impossible! I can't wait to return and make this an annual destination for our family connections in the future!”

“The property is amazing. Wildlife, views and away from it all. The opportunity we shared with family and friends will leave memories for a lifetime. I would give it more stars if possible.”

“None of us wanted to leave. I can’t believe how fast the past week went by. Best vacation by far.”

" . . . you will be STUNNED by how amazing the house it and the beautiful spot it is situated upon. We (family of 4) have rented houses or condos 2-4x per year for over 10 years now and I haven’t ever been in anything I’ve loved this much!"

A couple of things to note since you are booking through VRBO: We do require a signed contract and a $1000 fully refundable security deposit. If you purchase a Damage Protection Plan through VRBO, this will not negate the need for the $1000 security deposit. The protection plan is a contact with VRBO - not Optimystical Vista. The security deposit check will be cashed and if there are no damages, your deposit will mailed 5 -10 days after checkout. For weekly rentals, Saturdays are our check in/check out days. We have some flexibility with check in days for rentals longer than 7 days. Discounted rates for stays of a month or longer are available. Thank you for reading all the fine print. Now that we covered that, know we'd love to have you experience and enjoy Optimystical Vista. Please reach out to us with any questions.