I’m so glad you’re considering booking a VRBO in Hernando Beach. There are some questions to help you plan your trip and make sure you get the best experience possible.

Are you bringing a boat or planning on renting one?

If yes, it’s extra important that you book a house on the direct side of the canal. Here are the differences between booking a house on the “direct” side and booking one on the “indirect side”

Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Access in Hernando Beach

Feature	Direct	Indirect
How to get to the Gulf of Mexico	from your backyard	need to first go over a bridge (which has been rumored to not work half the time)
How far is the house to the Gulf?	anywhere from 10 minutes boat ride to 45 minutes depending on which canal. It’s not far, but there’s no wake, so your boat is going at 5mph in the canal!	30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on which canal, and also need to factor in time it takes to get over the bridge. it’s not far, but remember it’s a no wake zone, youre boat is going 5mph
What kind of wildlife can I expect to see in the backyard?	dolphins, manatees, turtles, fish, free flowing water from the ocean	turtles, fish, alligators – brackish water here
Can I access restaurants by boat?	Yes – Tropical Grille and LeiLo	Yes – Sunset Grille

Note: both our houses on VRBO, which can also be booked through AIRBNB, are on the direct side – this one on Gulf Winds Circle, in particular, is 5 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. This other one on Lily Drive around 20 minutes.

Does the house provide kayaks?

If so, what about life jackets and how many people can kayak at once? Are they doubles or singles? In Hernando Beach every house sits on the water – you can kayak directly in your backyard. If you are coming with a party of 4 or more, it makes a difference whether there are 2 single kayaks provided, or 4 single kayaks.

If you have younger children they might prefer a double kayak. And of course, a lifejacket sized for your little ones.

Note: both our houses on VRBO or AIRBNB have 4 kayaks and 6-7 lifejackets sized from toddler to XL. See them here.

No Kayaks Provided?

If you book our VRBO we provide kayaks and lifejackets. But no worries if you book some place that does nto provide them, there is a place you can rent kayaks for the day over at Weeki Wachee and a couple of other places in Hernando Beach. But unless you’re arriving at your VRBO in a truck, it’s not possible to bring kayaks back to your house.

If the house you are booking does not provide kayaks you can rent them for the day and kayak the Weeki Wachee River instead. It’s not the same as kayaking in your own backyard or kayaking to the Gulf to watch the sunset, but it’s still very enjoyable. Can be pretty busy in summer on weekends and during school vacations. You might want to call and book ahead. More information about kayaking at Weeki Wachee.

Is there a grill? If yes, is propane available or provided?