DOLPHIN HOUSE: 3 BR / 2 BA HOUSE IN GULFPORT, SLEEPS 6

Dolphin House has a wonderfully open and comfortable feel. Each room has lots of windows, the floor plan and fantastic and the location in was everything we were looking for. I had been traveling to the area for several years and purchased Palm Cottage in 2002 while kicking around at open houses after a business trip. Dolphin House came on the market the next year, and we had the opportunity to purchase it and The Sand Dollar at the same time. While separate by a fence and gate, the two properties can be rented together to accommodate groups of 8-10.

Gulfport is a lovely community, without strip malls and high-rises, so that it actually feels like home every time we arrive. There are tons of local events throughout the year - a little something for everyone. You can walk most anywhere you need to in the Gulfport area - to the beach, to the Art Village, to the dog park, to the library, to the Casino, to many restaurants and live music venues and to the pier and Veteran's memorial park. Easy access to the Pinellas Trail and you can travel for miles up the Florida west coast.

We really love the design of the home. There are two separate living areas, so there's more than one place to relax and gather outside of the bedrooms. The split floor plan - with two bedrooms, one bath and one living area in the front and one bedroom, one bath and the second living area in the back - make it perfect for families or couples. You can stay under one room yet have a little separation and privacy. The front of the house can actually be closed off from the kitchen via a pocket door, and there are double French doors between the other side of the kitchen and the back living area & dining that may be closed as well. There are several large windows along the side of the house along the kitchen and dining area that look into the tropically landscaped sideyard and path. I love to open the blinds and feel that I have brought the outdoors in, no matter the weather. The entire house has tile floors which feel fantastic on bare feet in the summer, and each of the bedrooms is generously sized. There's a nice covered porch in the back with patio seating, plus a patio table off the porch on the pavers, for outside dining. We just love it!