Happy Trails

The walk to the beach was lovely, with several boardwalk access points through a quiet neighborhood, and we rarely saw anyone. We also enjoyed the views from the porches and spent plenty of fun time around the pool. My husband liked having both gas and charcoal options on the grill. The home and its private setting are stunning, and there are lots of useful things tucked away, so have a look through the closets and cabinets when you arrive. We found extra linens, games, beach toys, fans, and more. A few things could use attention. The pool was shocked twice without notice, on Wednesday and Saturday, so we couldn't use it for several hours each time. We went to the clubhouse pool instead. Several kitchen lights didn't work, leaving it dim, especially by the stove. The refrigerator and freezer were missing shelves, and the ice maker didn't work. Maintenance never came to address it. The dishwasher also leaves food behind, so wash dishes before loading it. Some dishes already had dried food on them when we arrived, and the silverware drawer was dirty. Even with those manageable issues, I'd rent here again. I hope the owner keeps the beautiful house and its amenities in better shape. It may also help to look up a map of the Plantation community in St. George, since it shows where beach access and other amenities are.

I own the house a few doors from Happy Trails. From what I can tell from the Google information on Laura Gould's one-star post, she stayed there a week after hurricane Helene. The storm left fourteen inches of brackish water under our house, and Happy Trails had at least twenty inches. We spent a week cleaning up the damage. The rental company should have canceled her reservation, along with the others, until the storm's effects had been dealt with. Anyone renting on a Florida island should pay attention to the weather and plan their visit accordingly.

We had a blast as a family, with lots of room to spread out and plenty to do. The place was clean and nicely decorated, and the covered pool area was great. There were bikes, a kayak, and games for us to enjoy. The setting is beautiful, near the Gulf and overlooking the bay and marshes. Porches at both the front and back made it easy to take in the view, sunrises, and sunsets.

That beach was gorgeous, and we practically had it to ourselves. We even got great sunset photos at Nick's Hole. The house was comfortable, well-equipped, and had plenty of space for our family vacation, including our six very happy grandsons. We also had a sparkling pool, ping pong, bikes, and games. What a wonderful week!