Heaven by the Sea sits on the southwestern end of the barrier island a few minutes' walk on the beach to the picturesque Sikes Cut. The semi-secluded beach house is located at the end of a lane in the gated Casa Del Mar community. Loaded with multiple balconies, a sun deck, hot tub, outdoor shower, and fish cleaning station, this massive home is perfect for an extended family getaway. A large kitchen and open design will make at-home meals easy.

Having the entire house to myself, I chose to occupy the master suite, featuring a king bed with wrapping views of the Gulf of Mexico. The bedroom has a large, private balcony. Inside, there is a sitting area and desk near the gold accented bathroom with double vanity, large soaking tub, and walk-in shower big enough for two. I spotted some speakers, but I never took the time to get the music playing. The suite has plenty of drawer space and a walk-in closet.

Heaven by the Sea sleeps 12 with five bedrooms and a trundle bed. The youngsters can share a double bunk bed room. The top floor houses a Queen-size suite with private balcony and impressive views. All floors can be accessed with the house elevator. The house is pet friendly.

There is plenty to do at the house, but "downtown" is only a 15-minute drive for those wanting to explore. Here, visitors will find seafood, burgers, and BBQ (plus entertainment most evenings) at one of the handful of eateries on the island, including Paddy's Raw Bar, Harry A's Bar & Grille, and Mango Mike's Sports Bar. Learn about local history at the Lighthouse Museum. Grab some frozen treats at Aunt Ebby's Ice Cream. And explore nature at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve and the 9-mile long state park.

Useful links

Collins Vacation Rentals https://www.collinsvacationrentals.com/

Heaven by the Sea https://www.collinsvacationrentals.com/rentals/heaven-by-the-sea

Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve https://www.apalachicolareserve.com/