Lemon Key Cottage
Welcome home…
Thanks to Hurricane Irma, we now have a beautiful newly renovated home! We've spent over $150K on a complete restoration and modernization. (check out the new pics) Lemon Key Cottage is absolutely stunning with new: bathrooms, kitchen, appliances, flooring, windows, metal roof, doors, lanai and pool bathroom, landscaping, furniture, pool equipment, and much more. We LOVE the result! Everything is new, and it looks beautiful, bright, clean, cozy, and rejuvenating. We know you'll like the result too. Ring us at four, one, nine, three, four, one, three, one, nine, nine.
Jeff and I would like to welcome you to our Florida Keys home. We desire that your stay with us is memorable, relaxing, rejuvenating and enjoyable. Grab your sunglasses, flip-flops, and sunscreen and make your way to our beautiful heated pool. Don’t forget to make your favorite umbrella drink! It’s your time to slow down, relax and let the Keys’ mystique envelop and rejuvenate you. What we have is yours to enjoy…
Lemon Key Cottage is located on a deep water (12’) canal only 5 homes from the ocean. So, bring your boat and tie up to our 60’ lighted dock (docking for up to 27' LOA boats) with electrical outlets. Our canal contains a variety of fish species especially bait fish like mullet and pilchards. Feel free to use the provided fishing poles to catch dinner off the dock. Use small hooks baited with shrimp or squid and fish under the dock or boats for some decent snappers. Throw a cast net and see what you catch. A lighted fish cleaning station is provided with a wash down hose. You can see the occasional predator fish at night around the dock. There’s a baitfish available. Snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding or flats fishing is accessible right at the end of the canal. If diving is your thing you'll find some of the best dive spots minutes from our dock. Occasionally, our canal is visited by Manatees, so be careful when operating watercraft.
The canal empties into the ocean through a flats area. Our flats are an amazing aquarium of ocean life. Do yourself a favor and take the two provided tandem kayaks through these waters to see a plethora of sea life. From our canal, you can reach the Gulf by taking Vaca Cut, which is less than a 5 minute boat ride.
We purchased Lemon Key Cottage in July of 2012. We made additions and renovations including; the heated pool with fiber optic night lights, landscaping and outdoor lighting, hurricane shutters, utility improvements, kitchen appliances, davit and dock improvements, 42” Flat panel TV, wireless high speed internet, 3- 36” flat panel TVs, and various cosmetic enhancements.
Unlike some other vacation rental homes, we decided to stock all the general necessities of home so that others can immediately start enjoying their vacation without running to the grocery store to buy toilet paper and hand soap.
The home is ~ 1500sq ft of central air conditioned living space with 2 bedrooms , 3 full baths, kitchen, living room, dining room, family room, laundry room, and a screen enclosed lanai. The kitchen is fully equipped including pots, pans, toaster, coffee maker, plates, silverware, the very important blender, and much more. Linen closet includes all bedding sheets/blankets, bath & pool towels. Many renters comment how much they enjoy our plush wall-to-wall carpeting in the bedrooms as it's much more cozy and 'knee' friendly compared to cold, hard tile/marble floors. Should you wish to grill your catch of the day outdoors, there is a Weber Grill waiting for you master chefs.
Our neighbors are full time residents that you’ll enjoy meeting. Neighbor Paul is a commercial fisherman of lobsters and stone crab. Usually, you can watch him clean his catch each night at the dock. Paul's wife, Danielle, owns the floral store in town and caters weddings. Neighbor Freida owns a local hotel and dives frequently for lobsters on her free time. You can imagine the seafood recipes that these guys have! Neighbor Cori is a marine biologist, and she is working hard to preserve and build our coral reefs in the Keys.
Call us if you have questions: Four, one, nine, three, four, one, three, one, nine, nine.
Wishing you an excellent vacation at Lemon Key Cottage.
Welcome home....
Unique Benefits
* 5 homes from the Atlantic Ocean
* Beautiful LARGE, heated Pool
* Nearby Beaches within 2 miles
* 60' Dock on a peacefull and deep canal
* Fishing off the dock
* Kayaks with all accessories
*Fish Cleaning Station
* Outdoor Grill
* Bait Freezer
* live Bait Cage
* Snorkeling
* Fishing Guide Appointments made for you
* Beautiful Home with all the amenities
*Pristine cleanliness
Why Kids Love It
Marathon offers many activities for your and your family. So here's a short list of things that you could do during your stay.
Aquarium Encounters - encounters with all kinds of sea life like hand feeding sharks and stingrays..
Dolphin Research Center to swim with the dolphins
Turtle Hospital - lots of turtles, learn about them
Robbies Marina in Islamorada - Feed the Tarpon by hand ! Really cool...
Reef Fishing with Jeff's friend, Eddie - an inexpensive fishing trip to catch yellow tail, mangrove, and lane snappers. leave from our canal. Call Eddie at: or email: hannahedward92@
Snorkeling or spear fishing with Eddie - Jeff can hep set this up too...
Kayak our flats area just outside the canal.
Sombrerro Beach - it's a great city beach and is usually busy. Only about 1 mile drive
Bahia Honda State Park - prob the best beach in the Keys...many good comments about this place
Jet ski rentals all over Marathon
Fishing Guides - expensive, but a fun day on the water...Eddie is cheaper but catches fish.
Snorkeling Trip to Sombrerro Reef - find a nice day and it's an inexpensive trip to the reef on a large boat. swim and see all the sea life at the reef.
Parasail out of Marathon
Kayak tours through the Mangroves
Walk along Coco Plum Beach
Day trip to Key West (45 min drive): sunset at Mallory Square; Hemmingway's House Tour; Train Tours to learn about Key West History; Southern Truman White House; shopping on Duval Street; bands and entertainment on Duval Street; Sunset dinner cruises; etc...
Hang out at Lemon Key Cottage and sip Rumrunners by the pool !!
I'm sure you'll find lots to do around Marathon. Jeff and I are happy to help you with planning activities, so just call.
Area Information
Marathon is a beautiful city that offers the best of the Florida Keys while having all the nearby conveniences such as: grocery stores, pharmacies, hospital and emergency care, retailers, marinas, airport, movie theater, live entertainment bars/nightlife, parks, public beach and walking bridge, and excellent restaurants (most of which are dock-up ).
Marathon is surrounded by water: the ocean to the south and Gulf to the north. People come from all over the world to enjoy our warm waters colored in various shades of blue and turquoise.
If you don’t have a boat, don’t worry. You can still enjoy the water by renting a boat, hire a fishing charter, or take a dinner cruise right here in Marathon. Or, make your way to the 7 Mile Bridge and walk along the old car bridge.
Some my family’s favorite restaurants in Marathon are: Franks Grill (Italian), Sunset Grill (seafood and sushi ocean side), Stouts (breakfast on our street !), Island Fish (near Holiday Inn bayside), Lazy Days (excellent food on water ocean side), Marathon Fish Company (on water 35th St. bayside), Castaways (15th st ocean side), and Burdines (great fries – 15th st. ocean side), Porkys (BBQ- bayside), and 7Mile (bayside by the bridge). Most of these restaurants are accessible by boat and have plenty of dock space. There are other restaurants that are excellent too, so just explore and you’ll find your favorites.
About the Southern Keys: Our home is a one hour drive from the beautiful and popular town of Key West; the southernmost outpost in the continental USA only 90 miles from Cuba.
If you have a day or evening available, take a ride south to one of our country’s top tourist destinations and enjoy a sunset in Mallory Square. You can see the cruise ships come and go, enjoy the live street entertainers in the square, or shop at the hundreds of retailers along Duval Street. Or, you can party away at Sloppy Joe’s, Hogs Breath Saloon, or Irish Kevins !
One relatively unknown restaurant/bar that my family likes to frequent is No Name Pub located on No Name Key. Just over the Seven Mile Bridge, turn right at the light in Big Pine Key and find your way to this little pub…the food is excellent and it’s worth the search. By the way, you will undoubtedly encounter endangered Key Deer along the path so drive carefully.
One of the nicest and largest beaches in the Keys is located on Bahia Honda State Park. It’s an excellent white sand beach that is nicely maintained. It’s located just over the 7 Mile Bridge about a 15 minute ride from the house.
Attractions Within Walking Distance
The whole town of Marathon !! We are in the heart-of-it-all, but on a very quiet and calm canal street....
Favorite Places To Eat
Fav restaurants: Burdines Ocean side 15th St.; Castaways Ocean side 15th St.; Lazy Days Ocean Side 5th st; Tiki Raw Bar Bay Side 35th St; Sparkys Ocean Side behind Holiday Inn Express; and Island Fish - Bay side across from Holiday Inn Express. Other restaurants we love: Sunset Grill, Lazy Days, Franks Grill, Stoudts Breakfast, Stuffed Pig breakfast, cracked conch, and many more. Just go and explore.
Inside Scoop
Call us and we'll let you know !!
Amenities
Other Vacation Rental Amenities
We have two roll-away beds as well, and an outdoor Weber Grill .
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Rates
| Rate Period | Nightly | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Min Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nov 30 - Dec 20 2024 | $325 | 7 nights | |||
Dec 21 2024 - Jan 10 2025 | $795 | 7 nights | |||
Jan 11 - May 30 2025 | $395 | 7 nights | |||
May 31 - Jul 18 2025 | $425 | 7 nights | |||
Jul 19 - Jul 25 2025 | $595 | 7 nights |
Fees:
Cleaning Fee: $175
Tax Rate: 12.5%
Notes:
DEPOSIT of $250 is required.
Boat Rental and Boat Trailer Temporary Storage may have an additional deposit for the dock.
SAT to SAT Weekly Rentals
Minimum of 7 day rental unless approved by owner in writing.
NO SMOKING
NO PETS
Cancellation: Full Refund prior to 90 days of rental period, however, there is a re-marketing fee of $200 if cancellation occurs within 150 days of arrival date.
Availability
Last updated December 12, 2024
Location
Hosted by Mary Rospert
Member since 2019
Year purchased: 2012
About the host: Our family resides on Catawba Island, Ohio, which is a small island on the western basin of Lake Erie. God blessed us with four children: Austin, Addison, Aidan, and Isabelle. I’m a school teacher and Jeff is a salesman of medical products.
Why this property? Lemon Key Cottage is our sanctuary from the hustle of life. We truly come here to rejuvenate, relax, and unwind. There’s a certain mystique about the Keys…perhaps it’s the “come-as-you-are, don’t worry, be happy” attitude that everyone seems to enjoy. Whether it’s deep sea fishing for large Mahi Mahi or sipping on Rum Runners by the pool, there’s always something for everyone.
Our family vacationed many years in Florida including the Keys. Having fallen in love with the Keys’ tropical treasures and recreational activities, we decided to make our claim (actually a mortgage!) in paradise.
Guestbook comments from the host:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my own boat?
Yes, Lemon Key Cottage can accommodate up to a 27' LOA boat. There's plenty of room for your trailer in the driveway. Follow the canal through our flats area by keeping the white poles to your east.
Can I fish from the dock?
Yes ! We provide fishing poles and some terminal tackle. There are some large snappers at our dock behind Jeff's boat. Most renter's catch their dinner from our dock ! Talk to Jeff for some tips on how to catch these "smart" snappers.
Are there fishing charters near-by?
Yes, there are many charters or party boats to take you fishing or snorkeling. In fact, my neighbor, Eddie, will take you fishing at a very low cost and will fill your cooler for the week. There are so many activities around Marathon to share, so just call us and we'll give you the scoop.
Do you allow pets?
NO, sorry but no pets
Do you allow long term rentals
Yes. Please call to negotiate time frame and pricing.
Photos
Reviews
Linnea W.Christmas Vacay
10 ️ Rating! I called Florida Rentals. I Booked. Counted Down the days until our Christmas vacation began. We were able to take homemade cookies to the USCG base on Christmas Day. We were able to see my Coastie son for a few minutes while they worked to keep the USA safe. Florida Rentals made check in/ check out a total breeze. The house was wonderful! I want to go back! Let me know when to pack!!! ️ Linnea Woodson
Stayed: December 2022 Submitted: January 03, 2023
Larry J.Fantastic Cottage
Thanks Jeff and Mary Jo for allowing us to stay at your home, Lemon Key Cottage, it is the “BEST “. It was exceptionally clean stocked with everything you would ever need and the furnishings were second to none. The beds were very comfortable and lounging on the sectional sofa was very nice.Let’s talk about the pool, it was very nice the water temperature was perfect. Also the pool patio furniture was awesome very relaxing. I have a 27 ft. Center console boat the dock was very accommodating for a boat of that size. We really did enjoy our time there and we will return again soon. Thanks for your hospitality !!!!!
Stayed: October 2022 Submitted: October 28, 2022
Larry J.We loved Lemon Key Cottage!!
My wife and I and friends from our neighborhood spent a week at Lemon Key Cottage. We loved everything about this place. Mary and Jeff did an absolutely awesome job furnishing it. Everything we could ask for was there...and so much more. The location was so convenient for us. We could dock our Seafox 268 right behind the house and get to open water in just a few minutes. Mary did an amazing job furnishing the kitchen. Lounging at the beautiful pool was also a bonus. The beds were so comfortable after a long day on the water. We all loved staying here and hope to be back next year.
Stayed: October 2022 Submitted: October 25, 2022
J.WalkerGreat stay!!
I looked a long time for a place that worked for a mature couple that was a convenient location and had amenities. Lemon Key Cottage was fantastic. Everything was clean, updated and comfortable. The owner outreach made for an even better experience when we had questions. We had absolutely no issues or regrets. The property is easy access, centrally located to restaurants in the middle keys and made the north and south keys an easy trek. I actually hate to highly recommend it because it will be too popular to book in the future. :)
Stayed: May 2022 Submitted: June 01, 2022
Tami R.The PERFECT Anniversary/ Mother's Day vacation!
We made our first trip to the Florida Keys after choosing the Lemon Key Cottage as our destination and we could not be happier! Centrally located to shopping, dining, and beaches, LKC does not have the feel of a "vacation rental" as every one of our needs were not just met but exceeded - pictures could not capture the beauty of this place! We travelled with our twenty-something year old daughter and her friend and while they set off daily to explore the beaches (be sure to go to Bahia Honda beach!), my husband and I would walk through the neighborhoods and lounge by the pool until it was time to either go to a Happy Hour destination (recommended by our hosts) or prepare dinner. Talk about laid-back! We can't say enough about our time here! Thank you, Mary Jo and Jeff, for opening your beautiful home to our family! The Riggles, Cincinnati, OH
Stayed: May 2022 Submitted: May 19, 2022
Mike R.A RELAXING RETREAT
The location of Lemon Key Cottage is perfect. Situated on a canal a mere 100 yards from the ocean, we were able to enjoy our morning coffee as the sun began to rise. I was able to try my luck at fishing from the dock while my wife relaxed in a lounge chair around the pool, reading her book.The local Publix supermarket had all that we needed, including wine, for cooking on the nights that we didn't go out for dinner. The kitchen is well stocked with enough eating utensils to serve a party of 10, 12, more!!!The living room, dining room and family room are all well appointed. For us, we never took advantage of either. We used the kitchen for food prep only and enjoyed all of our meals on the porch overlooking the canal. For our entire two week visit we did not watch TV. Instead, we spent our evenings out by the pool, listening to our Doo Wop music (we never leave home without it) and enjoyed our wine while watching the stars make their appearance.We truly appreciated all of the thought that went into making Lemon Key Cottage a welcoming and comfortable retreat.
Stayed: April 2022 Submitted: May 09, 2022
AnnGreat Vacation Rental
This home was absolutely beautiful and in a perfect location for shopping and out to the open waters to go fishing. Everything was there to accommodate our family. We loved the pool and sitting outside at night on the outdoor sectional couch which was so comfortable. Thank you Jeff and Mary for sharing your awesome home!
Stayed: April 2021 Submitted: July 25, 2021
Mareen G.Fabulous Home in Marathon
This house has everything you need and more. The beds were super comfortable, we loved being so close to the ocean with our boat, the pool was fantastic after fishing every day. We loved the screened in porch! There really isn’t one thing you could ask for. Even the manatees visited us! The house is decorated lovely and completely updated. The owners were communicative and easy. Don’t pass this one up. It’s a great vacation and we’ve been coming to the Keys for years. It’s not a house but a HOME!!
Stayed: July 2020 Submitted: May 06, 2021
Rick & Kerry M.Location, Location, Location
The Cottage is a wonderful home and a fantastic location. The owners have provided everything you could possibly need. We planned to cook in several nights and I brought along items I knew I would need. A little more than the basics are already there!The house itself is as pictured -- beautiful! The beds are very comfortable. I appreciate that the linens are a nice quality as well. Plenty of beach/pool towels too.Location was perfect for exploring other islands. Day trip to Key West very easy. We also did the trip to Fort Jefferson and getting to the Ferry Dock by 7 am from the house was no problem.We rented a boat from Coco's and docked at the house. Easy in and out if you have experience.Since we were there at the end of November we would have liked either a fire pit or hot tub - literally the only thing we could think to add to the house.We hope to return again in 2021.
Stayed: November 2020 Submitted: December 05, 2020
Crystal B.Lemon Key Cottage Vacation 2020
Dear Mary and Jeff,We can’t thank you enough for allowing us to stay in your beautiful home. It was very tastefully decorated and had all the amenities we needed for our keys vacation. Everything was perfect from the location and easy access to the Atlantic or a quick ride under the bridge to the Gulf. The pool was especially great after being out fishing and lobstering all day. The kitchen was very well stocked for staying into cook and the house is conveniently located to a grocery store and nearby restaurants. We would love to rent it again next year.Thanks again,The Bass Family
Stayed: July 2020 Submitted: August 28, 2020
Dawne B.Anniversary
Lemon Key Cottage is an awesome home rental. Especially if you are a boater. We were 2 adult couples. (Sisters) No fault of the owners ( all pandemic related) Our stay was rescheduled 2x. The owners Jeff and Mary were so accommodating and great to work with. The home is immaculate and comfortable. From the minute you walk in the door, you begin to exhale. We rented a boat for a few days to fish and kept it at the house. Perfect to bring in your catch, clean at the cleaning station and grill while lying by the pool. With the pandemic, we kept more to ourselves. Having this home to stay at made it all worth. Do I recommend this home? Absolutely!
Stayed: June 2020 Submitted: August 01, 2020
Elizabeth A.Absolutely wonderful!
After recently purchasing our first boat, my family and I were looking for a private home with a dock. Well, Lemon Key Cottage had that but so much more. The home itself was beautifully decorated and fully stocked with everything we needed to cook our catch of the day. The beautiful pool was so relaxing after spending a day on the boat. The patio was the perfect place for eating meals, listening to music, reading, playing cards and just relaxing. And the location was perfect...an easy drive to Publix, lots of restaurants, the boat slip, souvenirs shops, and an ice cream shop. The owners were also very attentive and gave us lots of suggestions when it came to local places to eat and people to guide us in the water. Their neighbor Eddie and his son Devin brought us fishing and spear fishing which were highlights of our week in Marathon! We had an amazing time and will certainly be returning one day!
Stayed: July 2020 Submitted: July 27, 2020
John S.5 stars go to both the rental home itself as well as the home owners
If I were to own an island getaway in the keys, I would design and furnish it exactly as the owners of Lemon Key Cottage have. My wife and I, both retired, found this retreat fulfilled all of our needs perfectly. We have vacationed in many of the Florida Keys cottages, resorts, b&bs, and apartments over the years, but have found Lemon Key Cottage to the best. Kudos to the landlords from Ohio.
Stayed: March 2020 Submitted: April 06, 2020
Contact Host
Sleeps 6
2 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
1450 sq. ft.
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