À pied de la plage · Spa, foyer & salle de jeux · 10 couchages, chiens acceptés

FALL ON THE GULF COAST, THE WAY THE LOCALS ACTUALLY DO IT

There is a version of Florida most visitors never see, and it happens between September and November. The crowds thin after Labor Day. The Gulf holds its summer warmth long after the calendar gives up on it. And the evenings finally cool to the temperature where somebody says "should we light the fire pit?" and everybody means yes.

That is the season this house was built for.

Beachy Palms is a single-level four-bedroom home in a quiet Seminole neighbourhood, seven tenths of a mile from Indian Shores Beach. It sleeps ten and takes two dogs of any size. And behind it sits a backyard that does what most Florida rentals only claim to: it gives your group somewhere to be together after the beach day ends.

THE PROBLEM WITH MOST FLORIDA RENTALS IN THE FALL

Plenty of houses down here are built entirely around the pool. That works beautifully in July. It works less well in November, when the sun drops behind the screen at half past five and the whole reason you booked the place is suddenly too cool to enjoy.

This house was set up differently. The pool is here and it is lovely — fully screened and bug-free, with four cushioned chaise loungers, two umbrellas, a ceiling fan, string lights and a covered dining table for six at the water's edge. It is not heated, and we would rather tell you that up front than have you find out on arrival. What we built out instead is everything that gets BETTER as the weather cools. In the fall that combination beats a heated pool: the Gulf is the warm water, sitting near eighty degrees through October and staying swimmable into November. The hot tub is for after dark. The game room is for the one rainy afternoon every Florida trip eventually gets.

THE BACKYARD

Beyond the screen is the open-air half of the yard, and it is where the evenings happen. A wood-burning fire pit sits at the centre with Adirondack chairs pulled around it, and the six-person hot tub is steps away. Overhead there is nothing but Florida sky, which in October and November means a sunset worth stopping for.

Spread around the same yard: a four-hole mini golf course with putters and balls provided, a custom-built bocce court, a giant Connect 4 and a cornhole set. All of the gear stays here. Nobody has to pack any of it. There is an outdoor shower on the pool deck for rinsing sand off before anyone goes inside, and a gas grill ready to use.

Just off the pool, a covered lanai runs along the back of the house with its own ceiling fan and a door straight into the primary bedroom. Coffee out here before the rest of the house wakes up is the quiet best part of this property.

THE GAME ROOM

The garage was converted into a proper entertainment room, and it is the most useful thing about this house in the off-season. A full-size pool table with a ping-pong topper, so it plays as two games. An NBA Jam arcade cabinet. A multicade with hundreds of retro and modern games. Air hockey. Board games, bar stools and a bean bag.

Guests mention this room more than anything else. "Outside of the pool, the game room was our son's favourite place to be," one family wrote this summer. "We played pool, air hockey, ping pong and more every evening." Another guest travelling with young children called it especially useful on rainy days.

THE BEACH

Indian Shores Beach is a fifteen-minute walk, or a two to three minute drive to the municipal lot with beach access. It is one of the calmer, less trampled stretches of sand in Pinellas County — clear water, soft white sand, none of the spring-break energy you get further south.

You do not need to pack beach gear. Four beach chairs, beach mats, more than twenty beach towels, paddle games, beach balls and sand toys all live here already.

Up and down the coast: John's Pass at ten minutes for its boardwalk and dolphin cruises, Madeira Beach at ten, Treasure Island at fifteen, St. Pete Beach at twenty, Clearwater Beach at thirty, and Fort De Soto Park — worth a full day — about thirty-five minutes south.

SLEEPING TEN, ON ONE LEVEL

Four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and no stairs anywhere inside — there is one small step at the front entrance and that is the whole obstacle course. For multigenerational groups travelling with grandparents, that matters more than almost anything else on an amenity list.

The primary has a king, a Roku TV, a walk-in closet and an ensuite with dual sinks, a walk-in shower, a jetted soaking tub and grab bars, opening directly onto the covered lanai. The second bedroom has a king and a Roku TV. The third has a queen-over-queen bunk bed, which is the room the kids fight over. The fourth has two queens and a Roku TV.

Every bedroom has room-darkening shades, hangers and clothing storage. There is a pack 'n play for the smallest traveller, a full hall bathroom, and a half bath positioned for pool access so nobody tracks water through the house.

THE KITCHEN AND THE TABLE

The kitchen is set up to cook for ten, not to reheat for two. Full-size electric range, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, blender and toaster; cookware, sharp knives, baking sheets, mixing bowls and wine glasses; both a Keurig and a drip coffee maker, because households never agree.

The kitchen table seats six beside the patio door, with bar stools at the counter for whoever is keeping the cook company, and the dining table converts for poker and cards once the plates are cleared. Publix is under two miles for the arrival-day shop and Walgreens is two walkable blocks for the sunscreen you forgot.

BRING THE DOGS

Two dogs are welcome, with no size limit and no breed restrictions. The backyard is fully fenced with six-foot vinyl privacy fencing, so they can be let out off-leash and worn out before bedtime. No cats.

Not many houses here take dogs at all, and fewer take large ones. If you have been trying to plan a Gulf Coast trip that does not involve boarding your dog, this is the house.

EATING AND EXPLORING LOCALLY

All about ten minutes out: Mama's Kitchen is the local breakfast institution and worth the wait, Big Jim's Famous Steaks is reliable for feeding a group, Miller's Ale House has a menu broad enough for a table where nobody agrees, Osteria Bricco is the Italian option, Brooklyn Pizza Company does dependable New York-style slices, and Rapp Brewing is a laid-back taproom.

Five minutes out: Seminole City Center for errands, and Boca Ciega Millennium Park for trails and an observation tower over the bay.

GETTING HERE

St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) is the closest airport at roughly twenty-five minutes. Tampa International (TPA) is about forty-five and has the widest choice of airlines. Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) is about an hour and a half south.

Two driveway parking spots come with the house; overnight street parking is not available here. Uber and Lyft run reliably, but a car makes far more of the Gulf Coast reachable and we would recommend one.

CHECKING IN

Check-in is at 4 PM, check-out at 10 AM. Entry is by smart lock, so there is no key handover and no arrival-time coordination — your personal code is sent before you arrive. The entire home is yours, with the single exception of one locked owner's storage closet.

Staying longer? Long-term stays are welcome, and fall and winter are the easiest time to arrange one — just message us.

WHAT WE HOPE HAPPENS

You arrive on a Friday afternoon in October. Somebody walks to the beach before dinner because it is only fifteen minutes and the light is good. Somebody else finds the multicade and does not come out for an hour. You grill, you eat outside under the string lights, and when it gets dark the fire pit gets lit. The dog falls asleep on the grass. Later, two of you end up in the hot tub under an open sky and agree that this is what the trip was supposed to feel like.

We would love to host you this fall.

Cancellation Policy: We follow the cancellation policy in place when you booked, as shown in your confirmation. If there is any chance you may need to cancel, we recommend travel insurance at checkout. Refunds are not provided outside the booked policy for weather, illness, or travel disruptions.

Pets: Up to two dogs are welcome, with no size or breed restrictions. A pet fee applies per stay and is shown at booking. No cats. Please do not leave dogs unattended unless crated, and keep dogs off the beds and furniture.

No Smoking: There is a strict no-smoking policy throughout the home and grounds for the benefit of all guests with allergies. Any known abuse of this policy may result in a substantial fine.

Outdoor Cameras: A doorbell camera covers the front entrance and driveway, and one exterior camera covers the backyard. Both are outside only — there are no cameras anywhere inside the home. They may record video and audio.

Pool: The pool is not heated, with a maximum depth of five feet. The screened enclosure keeps it bug-free year-round.

Climate Control: The home uses a remotely managed HVAC system that may briefly go offline and self-correct. Message your host if anything does not resolve quickly.

Damage waiver: A damage waiver is included with your cleaning fee and covers accidental damage during your stay. Intentional damage will be your responsibility. Please let us know of any damage so we can remedy it for our next guests.

Rental Agreement: A link to our rental agreement will be sent to you to sign before check-in. You may also be asked to verify your identity through a third party using two-factor authentication; we do not store your personal data. The person who books must be present for the stay unless prior permission is given.