Enjoy the laid-back island lifestyle and sunrise back bay views among the fresh and cozy cottages at Firefly Resort Cottages in Cedar Key. Select from seven individual and authentic 1950's Florida cottages updated with modern and luxury amenities in a one-of-a-kind garden setting nestled among old cedar and mangrove shores of the Gulf and experience peace, relaxation, and an impeccable hospitality that is as rare and memorable as your first encounter with fireflies. Come, unwind, explore, enjoy! One queen bed, adorned in a colorful tropical print cotton quilt and acres of cotton linens, graces the front bedroom over a fresh new floor and clean white paint. Original art and tropical imagery abounds and an oversized air-conditioner and catalytic propane heater regulates temperature while a standing Vornado fan moves air throughout the cottage. Designed for the vacation-cook, the kitchen has been fully redone and updated with a 4-burner induction cooktop on an acacia wood butcher block counter, French door convection toaster oven, standard microwave and fridge. We recommissioned the old pine baking cabinet to serve as the wash station and added a 30 inch hammered copper sink with an antique replica brass faucet. A new coffee brew station with Cuisinart automatic drip coffee maker sits upon an airy wire baking cabinet storing dishes and cookware. This cottage has a new bathroom with a large walk-in shower and the other essentials. The focal point of this cottage, though, is the festive 135 square foot screened porch overlooking the back lawn and the bay beyond. Two massive cedar adirondack chairs by Cedar Key’s own wood craftsman, Howard Wells, invite you to watch the never-ceasing mullet ballet and the osprey and pelican as they hunt. A quiet oscillating wall fan cools the large acacia wood dining table and benches perfect for outdoor dining or game nights. The grounds, gardens, shoreline, barbecues, lawns and outdoor seating around Firefly Cottages are for use by all guests and can be enjoyed first come, first served all day and quietly by night. The grounds are intended to be a social space for our guests outside of quiet hours. The screen porch on Penelope is for the exclusive use of its guests. Darrin and Ian are social and engaged hosts who live in a separate cottage on-site and are at your service throughout your stay. One of us is generally on the property during "island business hours" for help with tours and activities, dining suggestions, and information about the area. We are available in the evenings for urgent needs that cannot wait. When we can, we love to sit and chat with our guests and share the space with them and do, as much as the demands of the business allow. Cedar Key is an active rural fishing (clamming) town with history, culture, fascinating topography, and the magnificent bounty from nature. A true island, Cedar Key is a remote "one road in/one road out" destination in an ecologically fragile area and provides many, but not all, services for guests. Cell service can be weak, which only leaves more time and attention for your friends, families, fellow travelers, as well as the surroundings and allows visitors to slow down, step back, and truly relax (and we provide a free, good WIFI connection). The "downtown" of Cedar Key begins 1/2 mile away and goes for about a 1/3 of a mile. It is an easy 10-15 minute walk and there are several shops and eating establishments even closer walking distance. Parking can be tight in the high season, making bicycles and "street legal" golf carts are popular options for locals and visitors alike. Both can be reserved (through us or independently) for your visit; just ask. While ÜBER has yet to arrive, sometimes the best answer is not getting around at all; the vista at the water's edge can transport you anywhere. Cedar Key is located in a severe hurricane risk zone and can be affected by storm surges and wind at times. Some of the Firefly Cottages can be flooded at these times. Guests may be asked to leave or be prepared to leave in the event of an evacuation or storm risk to their safety or the safety of the cottages. Hosts assume liability for any rents paid and unused due to storm activity or water. Guests agree to leave the property when asked and solely at the discretion of the hosts. The kitchen in this cottage allows for great meal preparation choices, but there are limits. We request that guests not FRY fish or seafood in the cottage (steamed, sautéd, & baked are fine), the size of the cottage and absence of supplemental kitchen ventilation makes cooking vapor, odors and residue incredibly difficult to remove. A $50 cleaning fee will result if fish are fried inside the cottage. (The results probably won't be anywhere as good as what can be had, cheaply, at many local restaurants.) Cedar Key is a rural town of only 700 and therefore only has necessary services for a community this size. Islanders travel to Chiefland (27 miles) or Gainesville (50 miles) for many necessities and specialty services, and our guests must as well. There is no clinic or physician, pharmacy, department store, gym, taxi, or Über. Other services, like auto repair, hair salon, bike/kayak/boat/golf cart rental, are in high demand and supply may not meet demand. If these are things you might like when here, contact us for referrals or to make arrangements in advance of your arrival; alternately, you may wish to contact the Cedar Key Welcome Center (look online) for vendors and contact information. Cedar Key is usually an unusually bucolic and uncongested waterfront village. There is an active aquaculture enterprise centered around clam leases around Cedar Key, and these men and women work the waters almost every day of the year. We provide the best access to parking and water access to these individuals. During the busiest times (4th of July, Seafood Festival (mid-Oct), Arts Celebration (early April)) and the annual Winter Snowbird Migration (January-March), town can swell and become quite busy and congested. Visitors are asked for their indulgence and patience during these periods, and asked to understand that these inconveniences are the lifeblood of our small vulnerable community.