Cabin in Mary Esther

Well furnished private one bedroom cottage with sunroom, patio, and carport. Full kitchen with bar counter. Has washer/dryer! There's a fenced yard with small deck, perfect for dog owners. The home is situated under shady oak trees with access to waterfront on Santa Rosa Sound. You can enjoy playing with the pooch, swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, and viewing beautiful sunsets. It's a perfect location for visits to Hurlburt AFB, or vacationers seeking easy access to Ft. Walton and Navarre. The space Our Safe Harbor Cottage is a private setting along Santa Rosa Sound with ample waterfront and grassy lawns for your relaxation. The cottage features a full kitchen and dining area, living room with TV and DVD/Streaming access, free WIFI, a full bedroom with queen bed, dresser, desk, and a bathroom with large shower. The sunroom has a washer/dryer for you to use. Outside space has a private covered patio and fenced yard with a view of the grounds. The house is situated on a large property along the highway frontage. There are several other buildings also on the property including our other vacation cottage (Nature's Nest), a classic red barn, Tara's She Shed, and our personal home. We are located 1 mile from Hurlburt AFB, and 11 miles from the sparkling beaches of Navarre. Our cottage has room to cook and relax, a private setting with ample parking, overhanging oak and hickory trees, and easy access to the waterfront. This is the perfect little getaway nest for a couple or small family that doesn't need a large house for a short stay. We are off the beaten track, but close enough to the attractions that you get the best of both worlds. The bustling town of Fort Walton Beach lies 4 miles east, followed by the sugar white sands of Okaloosa Island, and then Destin just 15 miles further away. Navarre Beach is just 15 minutes west and has the most awesome marine park in Florida. If you seek a non-touristy place to stay on the west side of Okaloosa County near Hurlburt, this is your spot! While our cottage is pet friendly, please let us know in advance that you plan to bring a furry friend and please click the pet button when you book. Our own dogs are frequently allowed to be outside and sit around the yard, so if your pet is not good at socializing we will keep our kids off the open path. Ask to borrow our kayaks or canoe, or bring your own! There are numerous types of fish to catch off the shore, or from a kayak. The opposite side of the sound is undeveloped preservation lands belonging to Eglin AFB, and is mostly closed to the public except for the shoreline. Natural fringing marsh and submerged vegetation lines the shoreline, and wildlife is abundant. If you enjoy birdwatching, this is great place to fill some of your life list. We regularly see ospreys, herons, brown pelicans, blue jays, cardinals, purple martins, and hummingbirds. Part of the year, we also enjoy spotting kingfishers, bald eagles, and white pelicans. Bottlenose dolphins are regular visitors in Santa Rosa Sound, and are more common during late summer and fall just off our dock. There's no better place to enjoy a beautiful Northwest Florida sunset than from our waterfront. We have a great view of the night skies and full moons; watching watercraft and barges passing quietly by on the sound; and hearing the roar of thunderboats as they zoom down the Intracoastal. We have a pleasant deck as well as a dock overlooking the sound that you are welcome to enjoy, day or night. Guest access The cottage has a small carport and plenty of driveway space. You have full access and use of the house and the private back yard. We live right next door and are available to help with any needs. Our property has several houses and sheds, and you are welcome to walk around and enjoy the common space and landscape. The waterfront is accessed by walking around our home on a pathway, about 100 ft away from the cottage. Other things to note Please let us know at time of booking that you would like to bring your furry friends. That way we can plan accordingly. There is a small fee for Fido-stays so please click the pet button when you book. The cottage is soundproofed as well as possible, but it sits fairly close to the highway so traffic noise is unavoidable. Also, there tends to be daily times when the flow of traffic is higher (early am and late afternoon), which can cause delays in being able to get across the road and on your way. We have suggestions on how to avoid this issue - feel free to ask. There is wifi in the cottage, as well as secure LAN plugins if needed. The cable features a full HD TV channel lineup and music channels. There is one flatscreen TV in the living room, and another TV in the bedroom. We continue to add improvements every year so don't be surprised if you see something new since we updated this listing... our goal is make this a happy and comfortable safe harbor.