The Blue Heron Hideaway- 2-bedroom cottage in lovely Cross Creek, FL,
No matter if you're a passionate angler, a wildlife lover, a Florida history enthusiast, an adventure seeker, in town for a Gator game, or simply craving peace and quietâyouâre bound to love it here! Cross Creek offers a peaceful retreat from the city's hustle and bustle while being just a 20-minute drive from Gainesville and Ocala. It is conveniently located equally distant from popular attractions like the Ocala National Forest, High Springs (florida springs destination), the St. Johns River in Palatka, The University of Florida and Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The legendary Yearling Restaurant is just steps away offering authentic Florida cuisine and cocktails, If you have never been it is a must. Whether you're just passing through or planning a month-long stay, I've put great effort into creating a unique and delightful experience that blends Old Florida charm with modern comfortsâone you'll surely want to revisit and share with friends.
Staying at The Blue Heron Hideaway is a true Florida getaway. The attention to detail and deep connection to this historic gem exceeds all expectations.
Super cute spot in the Florida backcountry. We took a quick mother's day trip to enjoy a quiet, relaxing weekend while visiting the lakes and springs. Below are some pros and cons to our experience.Pros: Lovely patio, deck, and firepit area (with some firewood provided), modern amenities inside, stylish decor, easy check-in, fairly quick communicationCons: Smelly, yellow water, the TV on the patio only plays DVDs, spiders galore (inside and outside), lots of expired goodies left behind by others, and an unknown stain on one of the pillowcasesOverall, I would stay again despite the kinks but would be much more prepared to make it a smoother experience.
We had a fantastic weekend at this one-of-a-kind cottage. The house was clean and well maintained. The bed was super comfortable and the kitchen had everything we needed for our stay. We really enjoyed the huge deck outside with all the wildlife sounds and scenes.Shanica was incredibly responsive and thoughtful. She even left me a handwritten birthday note on the counter when we arrived. The house location was in a quiet neighborhood and conveniently located to everything I had on my birthday to do list.I especially enjoyed listening to the record player. It had a great selection of vinyl. I would stay there again in a heartbeat.
I loved everything about this place! The huge new deck overlooking the canal with all the birds calling, the huge screened lanai, the comfort of the beds and the silky feel of the sheets. The decor is so interesting everywhere you look. Shani really has an eye for lovely things and gives great attention to detail. I loved looking through and playing the vinyl record collection and reading through the book collections she has all about Cross Creek. The bathroom is beautiful and unique. We had dinner both nights at the Yearling, a very popular restaurant a few houses away. A definite place to go while you are here. The Spanish moss (which is neither Spanish nor moss) hangs heavily on all the trees in the area and really enhances the mood of "old Florida" I may just have to use Shani's Realtor skills to find me a similar place of my own!
I'm born and raised a few miles from Cross Creek, I always loved visiting the Yearling Restaurant as a little girl. I've traveled the world and lived in multiple states, but in 2016, I returned home to help manage my father's rental properties. One by one I renovated the rentals and grew a passion for renovation and rehabilitation of old structures. I love thrifting, visiting yard sales, crafting, and breathing new life into old treasures. I purchased this property in February 2024, and after a year of hard work, I listed it on VRBO on the anniversary of my purchase. I hope it will bring my guests as much joy as it brings me. My little oasis of peace and tranquility. I have two year old twin toddlers at home so when I visit the Blue Heron Hideaway to work it feels like a vacation. I got into vacation rentals as a form of supplemental income and hoping the interactions I have with my guests and relationships I make will contribute to my real estate career. I love to meet people and show them the beauty of the real, old Florida.