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Entire home·Private host

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

Riverside holiday home in Ruskin with kitchen

Photo gallery for Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

Exterior - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Smart TV - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Smart TV - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Property grounds - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
Property grounds - Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River (Ruskin)
On the serene Little Manatee River, this unique gem offers a tranquil retreat with kayaking right from the house. Unwind in comfort with two queen bedrooms, a pull-out sofa, and a fully-equipped kitchen. The big screened porch is perfect for relaxation while outside you'll find a fire pit for cozy nights.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River

Experience the magic of "Old Florida" at this unique hidden gem on the wild Little Manatee River. The other side of the river is the state park, and wildlife abounds: alligators, manatees, turtles, deer, hogs, hawks and pileated woodpeckers are common sights. Kayaking right from the house is super easy and beautiful. The house itself is very comfortable with two queen bedrooms and a pull-out sofa with a memory foam mattress. The kitchen is fully equipped for cooking. The big screened porch is the best space to hang out. Outside there's a fire pit, hammock and swing. You feel far from everything, but it's only a ten minute drive to the commercial strip and the highway. This is a fantastic place for a romantic getaway or a fun family get-together. It's a natural wonder!

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Smoking outside only.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Similar properties

Exterior
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ruskin by IHG
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet-friendly
9.6 out of 10, Exceptional, 1,006 reviews
The price is €163
includes taxes & fees
1 Mar - 2 Mar
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ruskin by IHG
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Take out the rubbish
Return the keys
Please take trash and recycling up the “hill” to the bins where the dirt road ends.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Note from host: One or two well-behaved dogs are okay. No cats.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Children love this place!

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Smoking outside only.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River Ruskin

About the area

Located in Ruskin, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Ruskin Family Drive-In and Florida Railroad Museum Willow Yard are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Cypress Golf Club and Sandpiper Golf Club. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Sun City Center Community Tennis or Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching. Visit our Ruskin travel guide
View more Holiday homes in Tampa
Map
Ruskin, FL

What's nearby

  • Tampa_SeminoleHardRockCasino_553248621563123174_05
    Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa
    33 min drive - 50.2 km
  • Aerial photo Port of Tampa Florida
    Port of Tampa
    36 min drive - 46.6 km
  • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay showing rides
    Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
    45 min drive - 60.3 km
  • Little Manatee River State Park
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Camp Bayou Nature Preserve
    5 min drive - 2.8 km

Getting around

  • St. Petersburg, FL (SPG-Albert Whitted)
    48 min drive

Restaurants

  • Circle K
    12 min drive
  • RaceTrac
    12 min drive
  • McDonald's
    12 min drive
  • 7-Eleven
    12 min drive
  • Dunkin'
    14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River located?

Situated on a river, this holiday home is steps from Little Manatee River State Park and 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from Camp Bayou Nature Preserve. Gannon University Ruskin Campus and South Bay Hospital are also within 9 miles (15 km).

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Riverbend Retreat on the Little Manatee River Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 13 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 13 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 13 reviews

9.4

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Rick f.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location great accommodations
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun

The property location was beautiful. We had an awesome time.There was a lot of ants in the house as well as dirt/debris in the beds which was remedied by washing the sheets.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ann E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Riverbend

Very cute cottage. Very clean. Lots of little amenities - a cooler, beach chairs,sitting areas outside, fishing poles, laundry detergent, plenty of kitchen tools. Best part of course were the kayaks. Kayaking the river was really nice.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy and Secluded Yet Convenient to Shopping

The Riverbend Retreat is what I'd called a cute, cozy, and comfortable cottage. It's secluded and private yet within a 15 minute drive to restaurants and shopping. The property is so peaceful, and my favorite parts were the wrap around screened in deck, and the firepit by the river. And the opportunity to kayak and fish was a plus (although we did not partake). We'll be returning!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Cindy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gator Fun!!

We had a nice stay at the River Bend Retreat. Did a little kayaking, got to watch 3 gators slide into the water. Continued paddling and enjoyed the scenery!! The Retreat was homey, and had pretty much everything we needed. Sidney was a phone call away with any concerns. It is a unique location and was very relaxing.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Mark B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pet friendly and well kept. Plenty to do on site and house was secluded and quite.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great stay and will return.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

chris h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Place
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ann E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a beautiful spot. Comfrotable & cozy. Kayaks are terrific.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tim F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Old Florida property!

Place was very well equipped and right on the river. This is “Old Florida” so it’s not new or fancy so if that is your speed this is not for you. We loved our stay and it was very peaceful. Communication with Sydney was great.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

John T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025