Typically, I wait until my trips are over to write a review. It gives me time to digest the stay, but this time, I simply can’t wait that long. I’m three days into a week-long stay at Optimystical Vista, and I’m already making my plans for next year.
As I type this, the gentle sound of the Gulf of America laps along the shoreline. There are no other homes visible from my 270-degree view of Hammock Creek, which is actually not a creek, but a bay. In the distance, I can see the dorsal fins of two dolphins.
Optimystical Vista is located at the point of Sunset Vista Drive in Aripeka. It’s a rental home, open to anyone looking for a place to relax, unwind, and, if you wish, disconnect.
The home has three floors. At the top, a one-bedroom suite overlooks the bay. There is a king-size bed, a private full-size bath, and an elevator to get you there. A large private deck offers plenty of seating while a spiral staircase winds down to the second level and main living area.
The second floor is where you will find the kitchen, two more bedrooms, and the living room. From the kitchen, you can again view the bay. Then again, there is no place in this entire home where you can’t see the bay, except the bathroom.
A large deck on the second floor provides guests with spectacular views and some of the best sunsets you will ever see. From the deck, you can watch manatees swim by, dolphins dart in and out of the channel next to the house, and even pass in front of the home. Stingrays, small harmless sharks, and even an occasional sea turtle will make an appearance.
On the first floor is the garage. Inside is a small pool table and a full-size ping-pong table. With, you guessed it, great views of the bay. The water here is nearly eye level.
Aripeka has a rich history, as does most of this area. There are so many things to do if you want to explore the region. We, however, have opted not to leave the deck.
Our morning coffee is interrupted only by a passing dolphin. The sounds of birds mixed with an unmistakable snort of a manatee. This is the only place I have been where I didn’t want to venture away to find something to do.
On our trip, we watched a dolphin in the distance swim closer and closer until it was right next to us in the channel to the right.
This was a daily occurrence. Each morning at 7:30 and again at 9:30 the dolphins would swim by, as if to say hello. My kids got so used to the routine, they opted to meet it one morning.
The best part was my youngest called out, “Good morning, dolphin,” and it turned around and swam back before continuing its trek back to the other side of the home.
There are not enough words or descriptions that can recreate the experience. Each day is different, each year brings something new, yet familiar.
Owned by two families, Optimystical Vista never feels like a typical rental. It feels like a home.
More Information
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For rental information, visit Experience Weeki
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