See all properties
Save

Property grounds
Smart TV, stereo
Marina
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Outdoor pool, a heated pool

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8197 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Ruskin, FL
  • Place, Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, E.G. Simmons Regional Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Ruskin Family Drive-In
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.)
    ‪50 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Exterior
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ruskin by IHG
Ruskin
  • Pool
  • Spa pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet-friendly
4.7 out of 5, Exceptional, 1,001 reviews
The price is AU$185
includes taxes & fees
28 June - 29 June
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ruskin by IHG

About the area

Ruskin

With a stay at this vacation home in Ruskin, you'll be on the waterfront, within a 10-minute drive of Tampa Bay and Ruskin Family Drive-In. .This family-friendly vacation home is 28.8 mi (46.4 km) from MacDill Air Force Base and 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park.
View more Holiday homes in TampaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park - 2 min drive - 2.1 km
  • E.G. Simmons Regional Park - 4 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Ruskin Family Drive-In - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
  • beach near Pelican Cove - 8 min drive - 6.1 km
  • Gannon University Ruskin Campus - 9 min drive - 9.7 km

Getting around

  • Tampa Union Station - 29 min drive
  • St. Petersburg, FL (SPG-Albert Whitted) - 39 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Circle K - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Beanie's Sports Bar - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Taqueria Los 7 Hermanos - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit

Welcome to The Blue Heron House! A beautiful 4 Bedroom home with private heated pool, fire pit, kayaks, & private dock on the Little Manatee River that leads to Tampa Bay. Relax on the dock or by the pool and enjoy the picture perfect sunset while watching the dolphins and manatees swim by. Enjoy local waterfront restaurants or stay in and cook in the well equipped kitchen. We have both charcoal and propane outdoor grills available to you as well. Bring your boat, or charter a local captain to take you down river and into Tampa bay!
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a private pool and a Smart TV. There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as an outdoor pool or take in the view from a garden.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Heated pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Kitchenette
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoking allowed on pool deck, just use ashtray.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near the marina
  • Near the sea
  • On a river
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Heated pool
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,123 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Contactless check-in available

Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Note from host: We have baby gear!

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Home away from home!

Tampa Bay area stunner! 4 Bedroom waterfront oasis!

Blue Heron House | Private 4 BR Waterfront w/ Heated Pool and Fire Pit Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 64 out of 67 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 67 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 67 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 67 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 67 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Julie C.

Liked: Cleanliness
This was a great place to stay with family. We enjoyed fishing from the pier, puzzles and restaurant recommendations.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2026

10/10 Excellent

Jessica B.

Liked: Cleanliness
The home had beautiful finishes. Everything was clean except for a few dirty dishes found in the cabinet. Overall, we enjoyed the pool, being on the water, and kayaking. We were very comfortable.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Denise M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Super clean and well stock with the important things you need for a family.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Stacy G.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a wonderful time at Blue Heron House! The home is super clean and thoughtfully stocked with anything we needed. Communication with the host leading up to our stay was super easy and quick. We saw manatees and even a dolphin right from the dock. We used the fishing gear to catch several species of fish from the dock and went kayaking as well. If we are ever headed back to the Tampa area, this will be our next stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

John M.

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Beverly B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very comfortable bedding and pillows. Excellent amenities and a fantastic location for our stay.Plenty of seating at the dining table and couch big enough to accommodate all of us. Beautiful location to enjoy the winter in Florida. Easy access to the interstate and local stores. Lots of games and movies, this house is perfect for a big group or couples
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Orlando S.

Liked: Cleanliness
We loved this home, we all agreed if we met in the tampa srea again we'd stay here again, great layout and location!Owners were nice and went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brittany W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our family of seven had an unforgettable getaway at this stunning home. The property was not only beautifully decorated but also meticulously clean, creating a welcoming atmosphere right from the start. Nestled in a peaceful neighborhood, we enjoyed the serene surroundings, where friendly neighbors added to the charm of the area. The highlight of our days was splashing in the inviting pool and exploring the nearby waters with the kayaks. To our delight, we even spotted a playful dolphin while out on the water! With such an incredible experience, we are already looking forward to our next stay at this lovely home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alexa D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Blue heron home

Very clean, beautiful home
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian M., Alexandria

Liked: Cleanliness

Water front retreat

House had everything we needed for a wonderful stay.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

JOAN B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Didn’t like the neighborhood

Rooster next door woke us at 4 each morning, location was far from downtown Tampa Listing shows up as being in Tampa,We did think the house was very nice
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Manatee river

Very satisfied
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diana A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Exceeded expectations

Everything was immaculate, perfectly decorated and extremely well stocked. The icing on the cake was the beautiful view from the dock where you can catch both the sunrise AND sunset. Oh, and watching manatees swim by was also a huge plus! Sadly part of our group wasn’t able to make it, but we will definitely be back so they can have a chance to experience it as well.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Kimberly L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great time had by all

We had a short stay for Spring Break. Bigger beaches were busy and traffic was heavy getting to and from. If we had more time we would have liked to explore the area closer to the property as there was a nice park nearby with a small beach area. Property was clean and worked well for our group of 8.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

lori g., NOBLESVILLE, IN

Liked: Cleanliness

family getaway

Great visit!
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hannah D.

Liked: Cleanliness

great place

loved it
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Troy S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect!

This house is right next to family we have in Tampa, so we will be using this location many times in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome place

The house was great had everything you could possibly need. The pool was wonderful
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect Family Getaway

This was the perfect place for our family to come together. The house was clean and fully stocked with everything we needed. It’s a great location, close by to Apollo Beach with great restaurants and some shopping. The owners were communicative, friendly, and quick to respond anytime we had a question.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

patricia t.

Liked: Cleanliness

Pool and kayaking

The house is large and very comfortable. We spent most of our time on the lanai, in the pool or on the canal. Very relaxing holiday in a quiet neighborhood. The house is very well stocked. No need to buy spices condiments or cleaning products
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stefanie F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lives up to the description

Eight of us stayed at the Blue Heron House over spring break. There were 4 adults and 4 kids under 12. 1. The house is spacious, updated, and extremely clean. I found it to be the cleanest VRBO I've ever stayed in. When you first arrive, the place looks small from the street, but it certainly is not. 2. The kitchen is updated and has most everything one would need. We noticed we could use a little more small sized tupperware for leftovers. Other than that, it was perfect. 3. The bedrooms are very comfortable, and each room has a TV with Netflix loaded on it. The kids stayed in the queens, and the adults stayed in the King beds. I found our bedroom to have good soundproofing. 4. Living Room- We brought our own firestick from home for the living room TV... because we were staying during march madness. There was more seating than we all needed, and the couches were very comfy. There was also plenty of games, toys, and art supplies for the kids. They were very happy. 5. The bathrooms were clean and updated too. Great water pressure. The 4 year old struggled to get on the toilets, so a step stool would be our suggestion. 6. The laundry room has a brand new washer and dryer. We did a lot of pool towel drying, and we were able to wash our clothes before heading home. 7. The backyard lives up to everything you see in pictures. I think the pool is bigger than some hotel pools. The heated water was perfect. We highly recommend this place!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clarice F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Go Big Red

Everything was great from the booking, to the checking in, to the checking out. The house had everything we needed. We would stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cory G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome place, worth the stay!

The listing shows everything almost exactly how it was when we arrived. The pool is just as big as the listing shows (it's also about 6' deep at the lowest part) and the indoor living area is nice and big. Decorations are really nice and gave me some inspiration for my place even. We visited over Thanksgiving and got lucky enough to see manatees in the inlet in the backyard. So cool! Would definitely recommend. The only real thing to note is that there's no garage or carport, just a driveway. Didn't bother us but figured it should be noted.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Earl B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Yearly Fraternity Brothers Weekend

Every year a few of my fraternity brothers and I get together for a weekend of fellowship. This year we chose Tampa as our destination. I researched several properties and we decided upon Blue Heron based upon the reviews and photos. When we arrived we weren’t disappointed. The property looked much better then the photos depicted. The property is beautiful, rooms are spacious, clean and had everything you could want for a vacation. It sits on the inland with a screened in pool overlooking the water. If you’re looking for a nice place for a family vacation I would highly recommend Blue Heron.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Garret B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Guys trip

We came from San Antonio, Tx. for a guys trip, house was clean and very nice! Quiet neighborhood as well:
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023