Tips for your Stay
The beautiful river is right in your backyard!
There are four 2-person inflatable kayaks with paddles on the north side of the house. Life jackets are down in the shed – feel free to go on in and get them and keep them on your kayaks. Children 6 and under are required to wear them on the river.
This house is located just about halfway between the river’s beginning (the headspring that feeds the river at Rainbow Springs State Park), and the end of the Rainbow River where it meets the Withlacoochee River. The Rainbow River maintains a temperature of right around 72 degrees all year round.
You can launch from the beachy area we have down at the river and either go left (upriver) or right (downriver), then just paddle back to the house. There are shuttle services in the area, but we enjoy the river by launching from the house and paddling back to it, which is one of the many wonderful benefits of living directly on the river. KP Hole Park is upriver about 45+ minutes by kayak, then about 30 minutes back to the house with the current, just as a point of reference. If you’re feeling adventurous or maybe looking for a good workout, just a short way up past KP Hole Park on the right is a great little “beach” area that is quite popular on weekends, but much quieter on weekdays (go past the camper’s launch that is on the right). This is one of our very favorite spots on the river, and it’s pictured to the right of the TV in the living room. You can kayak all the way back in the trail there. It’s about a 15–minute paddle that is very scenic.
A public river exit location is Blue Run Park of Dunnellon on Pennsylvania Avenue, which is downriver, almost to the end where it meets the Withlacoochee. If you have two vehicles, you can drop one off there, then come back and launch from the house, kayak down for about an hour and a half or so and get out there, then maybe even have lunch at Swampy’s Bar and Grill, which is riverside, just before Blue Run exit. The Blue Run exit is just under the bridge to the left.
The farther upriver you go, the clearer the river floor gets. There are some deep spots upriver, and you can still see all the way to the bottom – it’s so beautiful!
You’ll want to bring plenty of water. There is a gallon water jug in the cabinet to the left of the refrigerator that you are welcome to use. And any food you want to bring should be put in the tupperware containers provided (same cabinet). There is a very strict rule about no one-time use items on the river (chip bags, plastic bottles, etc.), and we all want a beautiful, pristine river to enjoy for years to come by doing our part to take care of it!
Rainbow River Prohibited Activities :
- No alcohol on the river (subject to fines)
- No disposable containers (like single-use plastics, Styrofoam, cans, bottles) – subject to fines
- No smoking – cigarette butts pollute the pristine river
- No collecting wildlife/ plants
- No jumping in the river from trees or bridges
THINGS TO KNOW
- Missing Items: The value of any missing items will be subtracted from the damage deposit or charged to the credit card used for booking.
- Security: There are exterior security cameras around the property.
- Supplies: Basic supplies like toiletries, towels, bed linens, extra blankets (one in each bedroom closet), garbage bags and cleaning supplies are provided for your convenience. If you need restocks, please contact your host. Otherwise, there are several stores nearby that may have what you need.
- Garbage at Shed: Please take garbage from shed garbage barrel up to the main outdoor lidded garbage cans at the parking area nightly. Wildlife may get into the bag if left overnight, and it will also cause odors and draw bugs if not taken out daily.
- Air Conditioning & Heating: The home is equipped with adjustable heating and air conditioning to keep you comfortable throughout your stay. The thermostat is located just off the living room in the hallway. There are also two oscillating floor fans in the master walk-in closet if needed.