"Shifting Sands" Private Beach Front 3 Bd, 2 Bath, sleeps 8

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Entire home

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

Fireplace

Air conditioning

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Outdoor space

Washer

Check-in time

4:00 PM

Check-out time

10:00 AM

Explore the area

Alligator Point, FL

Alligator Point Beach3 min drive
Mashes Sand Beach10 min drive
Bald Point State Park18 min drive
Tallahassee, FL (TLH-Tallahassee Intl.)47 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Queen Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Outdoor Shower

Shower only · Outdoor shower

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

New management and renovated just in time for 2021 Beach season! Custom Built for family and relaxation, this private spacious home features amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico and Alligator Bay in a private one acre compound away from the crowds. Pull on to the property through the gated entrance and escape the crowds you find at other beaches. The grounds are planted with citrus trees and a huge lawn leads you to your own 100' private white sand beach. Take the private elevator or ascend the front steps to a massive deck and pergola to relax and enjoy 4 seasons outdoor dining or take in the sound of the ocean just steps away. The interior features floor to ceiling tongue and groove walls giving it the Old Florida charm. The main living space is an open concept layout with a spacious, fully appointed kitchen that opens to the family room with a large island, wet bar, and huge pantry/laundry room. Immediately off the Family room, find a cozy screen porch to relax and watch the dolphins at sunset. The master features a Comfortaire king bed and private bathroom en suite with private access to the screened porch. The views only get better in the second spacious private bedroom with a comfortaire king bed. The third bedroom will be a favorite with the kids or grandkids with two queens and a Roku TV. Outside you'll find a private outdoor shower to wash off the sand after a long day at the beach, a screened rec room for beach games, and corn hole for the kids. There is tons of storage for all your beach toys and fishing gear. There's even a cleaning station for your catch. This is the vacation location you've been looking for to start or continue the family tradition away from the hustle and crowds, but close to amazing seafood and restaurants.

Need multiple houses for large group or you can't find the dates you are looking for, check out our other VRBO listings The Blue Heron (7bd/5bath sleeps 20) and The White Pelican (3bd/2 bath sleeps 7)

**Partial Photos posted March 7th, 2021. More to come...

Property manager

Chip Cordell/Josh Simmons

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Beach view

Ocean view

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Any significant events involving more guest than the rental maximum requires pre-approval and additional deposit may apply (weddings, etc)

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Panacea

Located in Panacea, this holiday home is on the beach. Bayside Marina and St. James Bay Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Bald Point State Park and Public Beach Access. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Alligator Point, FL

What's nearby

Public Beach Access - 1 min walk
Alligator Point Beach - 3 min drive
Mashes Sand Beach - 10 min drive
Bald Point State Park - 18 min drive
Wilson Beach - 18 min drive

Restaurants

‪Angelo & Son's Seafood Restaurant - ‬16 min drive
‪Alligator Point Tiki Hut - ‬2 min drive
‪Tropical Trader Shrimp Co. - ‬16 min drive
‪Big Daddy's Pizza - ‬16 min drive
‪Saladino's Pizza - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is "Shifting Sands" Private Beach Front 3 Bd, 2 Bath, sleeps 8 pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at "Shifting Sands" Private Beach Front 3 Bd, 2 Bath, sleeps 8 ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "Shifting Sands" Private Beach Front 3 Bd, 2 Bath, sleeps 8 ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is "Shifting Sands" Private Beach Front 3 Bd, 2 Bath, sleeps 8 located?

Nestled on the beach, this Panacea holiday home is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Public Beach Access and 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Alligator Point Beach. Mashes Sand Beach and Bald Point State Park are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Douglas C.

2 Jan 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway

The property was the perfect getaway. It was clean and spacious. The screened porch was perfect for the evening sunset. The owners had all of our basic needs to be comfortable. The personal elevator was very helpful in moving our luggage to the main floor. Thank you for allowing our family the opportunity to stay in your home.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lynn M.

8 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cousins Getaway

We really enjoyed our “long “ weekend at Shifting Sands even though it rained the entire weekend. The screen porch and the view from the living room area were wonderful. The kitchen was well equipped and having two refrigerators was nice. The elevator was certainly a bonus for us as we were a group of women 60-74 years old. We will certainly return as a group or with our families.

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela K.

4 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pre-Thanksgiving fun at the beach

Family of five brought Gram and Grand dad to Alligator Point for some R & R. We enjoyed our stay so much here! I visit AP often but this was my first stay at this house. Very clean, comfy beds. The view from the house to the beach was spectacular! There was a little leak in the basement, which did not affect us at all, and it was fixed quickly. Management was very responsive and helpful. I can't wait to book again next year. :)

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lori L.

21 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

Very pleased! The house was so clean! Loved the view of the beach from the house. Kitchen was well equipped and loved the huge island and bar stools. I have no negative comments. Already planning the next trip there.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Audrey P., Double Springs, AL USA

24 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxation is priority

If you are looking to get to the beach but want to get away from all the crowds - this is the place. Our views were spectacular and my husband could fish from the beach all day long, undisturbed if he chose to. The house was extremely clean and had great views of the water! It is very comfortable and has great decks outside to observe all the wildlife (we especially enjoyed seeing the porpoises (or was it dolphins - we still debated that). The kitchen had everything you need to cook meals and we took advantage of that. Josh was available anytime we called to answer questions and that was very much appreciated. Will definitely come back!

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stacia G.

12 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property

Perfect quiet location with lots of natural beauty.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

4 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Last summer getaway

The house was great! We enjoyed staying there very much! We look forward to another visit !

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shanna B.

31 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great home for family

Amazing views. Residential neighborhood.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bimbo B., North Georgia, USA

2 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Had Not Been To Alligator Point In Over 25 Years ...

We used to vacation at Alligator Point when our kids were young. We had not been in a long, long time. Our daughter and son-in-law wanted their kids to experience a "no frills" beach vacation. We stayed a "Shifting Sands" and our experience was WONDERFUL. The house was fantastic and dealing with "Josh" was a very enjoyable, professional, and pleasant experience. The dryer had quit working during the cleaning process from the previous guest. This was communicated to us promptly and the dryer was replaced in two days. Not an issue - at all. Our grands loved playing on the beach, fishing, and finding all the shells. We have made our reservation for next year. Thanks for everything Josh.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Bradley B.

26 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Private, quiet beach vacation

The house is very spacious (exactly as pictured...no wide angle lens tricks used here). We loved the huge living area with open kitchen overlooking the beach. We spent a lot of time on the screened porch taking in the view and sounds of the ocean. There is a new deck on the back (not yet pictured that is nicely done). The beach was very private and quiet. Beach access is very easy with straight walk from the back of the house. As others have noted, Alligator Point is pretty remote so make sure to have everything you need (groceries, drinking water) with you when you arrive. There was a small convenience store about 15 minutes away but the nearest decent grocery store is at least 30 minutes away. Overall, the house is well maintained with some nice upgrades (nice bathrooms, huge kitchen, plenty of outside deck areas to hang out). I took particular notice of how clean the decks were and the exterior of the home seems to get a regular washing since there was virtually no dirt/dust on the decks or railings. There was some construction debris on the ground around the outside of the house and the outdoor shower had a broken light bulb hanging from an exposed wire that made us a bit nervous to have kids walking around. There also appeared to be mold growing on the ceiling of one of the bedroom closets so we mostly stayed out of that room. This is a great place to come to simply enjoy the views and the house (but be advised not much else to do nearby).

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Candler W.

26 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best week ever!

Despite the rain and all the thunderstorms we had a wonderful time at Shifting Sands. Super clean, big open floor plan and the best views from all the windows in the living room. Josh is great to communicate with and gets back with you super fast! I would 100000 % Recommend staying here!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeanine S., Clinton, united states

13 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Shifting Sands the perfect vacation!

Shifting Sands is exactly how it is pictured. Loved the screened in porch! If we are ever back down this way we will defiantly book with Josh again. Josh is very communitive and easy to reach.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura K.

8 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful property

The house is very well located, the view is spectacular, it is very nicely decorated and comfortable. I would definitely comeback.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Larry D.

22 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Shifting Sands/Alligator Point

The property manager/owner was completely helpful and kind. Couldn't have asked for better. VRBO however, left something to be desired.

Stayed 10 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel P.

23 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This is a beautiful, well maintained property in a great location for a beach vacation.

Overall great experience. Great communication, easy check in, property is exactly as advertised.

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah Q.

15 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely perfect beach home

This home was perfect for our family’s spring break! The home was very well equipped, clean and had everything we needed to enjoy our stay. The proximity to the beach and quiet neighborhood provided a wonderful atmosphere. We loved it and hope to return!

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patricia G.

3 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

No thankd

Good

Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul C G.

20 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We’ve already booked for next year.

This place is clean, roomy and comfortable. We cooked fresh meals each day in the full kitchen. The views are spectacular. We watched dolphins everyday. Beautiful biking & hiking trails. Josh is super nice. We’ve already booked for next year.

Stayed 10 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

melanie i., Manitoba, Canada

19 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing trip

Shifting Sands is a comfortable, relaxing, beautiful property. So many positives for this property! It is very quiet with a sense of privacy. The area feels safe. The beds are comfortable. The decks are perfect. The beach is lovely - the sand is soft, the waves are perfect and the shells are plentiful and huge! It is a swimmable beach - sand all the way out, but not crystal clear water. Josh has provided plenty of chairs and sand toys. We got to know Josh as they were building a new deck during our stay - We greatly appreciated his attention to detail and concern for our experience at his property. He replied to any questions quickly and made our vacation even more enjoyable. I would not hesitate to stay there again. Josh has other properties that are amazing. Give him a call! Thanks Josh for the great vacation.

Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul R.

28 Dec 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Frozen Christmas for the Record Books

We had a wonderful time in this house! We would definitely rent again. The owner/manager is very responsive and easy to get a hold of. Alligator Point is a great place to unwind and explore.

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

greg m.

7 Dec 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding

The place was great. The owner was gracious and the location is perfect. Laid back and peaceful. If u want traffic jams go towards Tampa or Fort Meyers. This is relaxed. Sooo many dolphins.

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

James M.

18 Nov 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

SHIFTING SANDS - NOV

WE VERY MUCH ENJOYED OUR STAY. THE PROPERTY WAS NEAT, OLD TIME BEACH HOUSE VIBE. NOT A SWIMMING BEACH, BUT OTHERWISE GREAT WALKING, FISHING AND WILDLIFE. ONE ISSUE, NEW A/C INSTALLATION PROBLEM, FORTUNATELY WEATHER COOPERATED. WOULD DO AGAIN FOR SURE, AREAR IS UNIQUE.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary C.

16 Nov 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quick trip

Property was as described and a great location

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

8/10 Good

Rebecca F.

15 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun stay with family

Overall we were satisfied with this property and location. It is definitely a drive to get to gas, groceries, anything, but if you want a vacation that is truly a "getaway" without crowds, this is it! The house itself needs a few fixes (one of the refrigerator's freezers does not work, a couple sinks don't work, small things) and it seemed that the people who stayed before us didn't do a very good job of cleaning up after themselves (Dirty laundry in the washer, floors were a bit dirty and sand in the bed). Josh, the property manager is SUPER responsive and very easy to work with. I would recommend staying here!!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gavin M.

10 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great quiet getaway

Rental was as described. Wonderful area to unwind!

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

About the host

Hosted by Chip Cordell/Josh Simmons

I was born and raised in Tallahassee and our family "beach cottage" was built at Alligator Point when I was 12. My family spent late May through early September and many weekends there. It was Home. My childhood was a grand time of water-skiing, fishing, scalloping, exploring, and numerous other childhood endeavors. I graduated from FSU then Veterinary School at Auburn University. I founded Tallahassee Veterinary Hospital and practiced small animal medicine and surgery for 36 years. I am married to Charlotte and have three daughters and seven grandchildren, all living in Tallahassee. In 1987, I built "Shifting Sands" at Alligator Point as a weekend home for my growing family as well as a future retirement home. We moved to Alligator Point in 2008 and lived at "Shifting Sands" until my wife's health forced a move back to Tallahassee in 2016. In 2021, the house was updated and renovated and ready for others to enjoy as we have. We miss life at Alligator Point and visit every chance we get. It's heartwarming to think of other families making memories doing the same things we enjoyed so much at "Shifting Sands". One of those favorite memories that I'm sure you'll love is sunset walks on the beach. Enjoy!

Why they chose this property

"Shifting Sands" is built on the gulf-front property directly across the road from the bay house built by my parents in 1957, the "beach cottage" of my youth.

What makes this property unique

"Shifting Sands" has a comfortable, relaxed beach character with all of the modern conveniences. The view of the beach and gulf from an elevated position gives a good angle to everyone in the kitchen and family room. Porpoise frequently teach their young to fish as we watch. Heron and gulls feed almost constantly. Neighbors wave as they walk past on the beach. The porch swing on the front deck is tailor-made for daydreaming.