Harbor Mist: 2 BR / 1 BA house in Gulfport, Sleeps 6

our stay here for the month of Jan/2012,was everything we wanted,quite,cosy,confortable,great back yard,location great,everything you need is furnished,just get food and move in.Beth is a pleasure to work with,if we are in the area again,this is where we will stay.

We enjoyed our stay ast Harbor Mist. It is well kept and comfortable. The kitchen is better equipped that most homes. We only stayed for three days so didn't have time to enjoy the additional comforts such as books, DVD and VCR tapes, and a two block walk to the Nature Preseve and Marina. Every one gave us complex directions to Gulfport town. Simple: Left out of driveway for the same two blocks, turn right and pass in front of Marina, about five minutes driving to the middle of town. Also we found the best restaurant. It is located in the town and called LaCote Basque Winehouse. Lovely decoration and friendly staff. .Prices were mostly $23.00 but they had a TWO for ONE-- maybe because of summer. We picked the coupon up the evening before. Because we were meeting a friend, we did a lot of research on dining locations. They were clearly impressed. Food was wonderful; price was fantastic.

The house was in an older neighborhood in an older town. Inside was clean and well kept. The nice enclosed backyard was just big enough for our 35 lb border collie to romp around. There is also a deck and a gas grill (get there soon - we just filled the propane tank!). Two blocks away, next to the Gulfport Marina, is a great park to walk the dog - it even had a doggie water fountain!

The Gulfport beach and downtown area is about 1 mile away - an easy drive or bike. There are many restaurants. We tried a couple: Ecco Bistro & Tapas (Beach Street) just a couple doors up from the Casino and Roman Gardens Ristorante (corner of Beach and Shore). Both allowed dogs on their sidewalk cafe - Roman Gardens even had a dedicated area for dog dinners! - and both provided a water dish for our dog. Both were good, but we went back to Roman Gardens twice and had great meals both times.

Don't miss Ted Peters Smoked Fish restaurant (Gulfport Ave east to S. Pasadena south) - great smoked fish, the best German potato salad I ever had and kickin' coleslaw.

Best individual-sized Key Lime Pie? Try Mid-Peninsula Seafood (400 49th Street South). Awesome! Also good fresh fish to cook on the grill, or have them cook it and take it home.

During the day, we'd drive to the beautiful North Beach at Fort DeSoto County Park. My wife would sun on the beach while I ran,biked or inline skated. There are enough out-and-back paved bike trails and/or bike lanes in the park and access road to make a 20 mile bike loop.

I also biked about 3 miles up 54th street to the Pinellas Trail - a 34 mile paved bike path that runs from St Petersburg to Clearwater. I headed west and north for a hour and a half out-and-back ride. Bridges went over major roads, with stop signs every mile or two for minor roads. Smooth pavement.

Both Gulfport and Fort DeSoto have dog parks.

Overall, the house was a great base camp and very pleasant for hanging out. I would recommend it, and if we were to vacation in Gulfport again, we would stay there.