Private Caroland Home on Little Hickory Island with Boat Dock on Estero Bay

This house is great and had everything you need. Beatiful view of the water. Owners were great to work with.

Highly recommended. This is a lovely property on a quiet cul-de-sac and close to a secluded section of beach in the Bonita Beach neighborhood. It is a large and well-maintained home--far more than what my father and I needed! It would be great for more people--easily 6 people. It has all you need--nice kitchen, very large screened in porch looking out onto the bay and, if conditions right, you can hear the waves on the nearby beach. Safe, quiet, clean. There is a small boat (although we never used it) and a dock. Fishing poles, beach chairs and umbrellas, 2 car garage, grill--it is all there and a wonderful home away from home. And all in the sun and warmth of south Florida. To be balanced (although there are very few downsides), the house is mostly carpeted and it is about a 15 minute walk to the beach (which was too far for my 84 year old father). Still, these are very minor quibbles, as this is a very nice property that will serve as an excellent home if you are looking for peace and quiet close to a pretty isolated part of the beach. We were there for 11 days in early February, and on our part of the beach, there were long stretches with no one close to us. Wifi worked well, as I had to be connected to work every day. You won't be disappointed staying here. Owners Kathleen and Michael were always available (although there were no problems), pleasant, and quick to respond (although as I said, there were no problems and we were happy to just do our own thing).

Enjoyed every moment of it. Good communications with the owner. Porch is the greatest, looking over Estero Bay. Best restaurants, Zorba's for Greek Food, Komoon for Thai. Get off the highways to find nature. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve up by Ft. Myers, Lover's Key State Park has fine walking trails.

We had a terrific time at this Estero Bay home! Everything was clean and tidy, all the right cooking equipment, comfortable furniture, WiFi and varied activities for our crew. I spent many hours with my 4th and 2nd grade sons fishing from the dock and row boat, catching enough to keep it exciting but no whoppers (which is OK since my little guys were afraid of getting anything too large on their line). The provided fishing gear was great. We bought one bag of frozen shrimp at Master Bait and Tackle which lasted us all week. Very comfortable. We had my parents join us for dinner twice, and we had plenty of room on the lanai for all 8 of us. The beach is a nice walk through a quiet neighborhood. While it might be tempting to drive to the water, parking is very tight. Much more enjoyable to simply pack light and have a stroll. Spring Break weather was wonderful. And being close to my parents allowed us to see them frequently enough without our crazy crew overwhelming them. We love Hickory Grill and The Fish House for seafood dinners. Grocery store is convenient within a 10-min drive. We'll definitely check availability next time we are in the area!

Our party of four stayed in this well-equipped and well-maintained, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home in Bonita Springs for two weeks in January/February. The house is situated on the water with the screened-in lanai overlooking Estero Bay. Bonita Beach is a short walk through the architecturally-interesting Caroland development with easy access to the Gulf through Beach Access #5. Rental arrangements and details were very competently and professionally handled by the owners. We found the property to be the perfect accommodation for a relaxing Southwest Florida vacation.

We had a very relaxing and fun two week stay. We walked the beach everyday and sat with a glass of wine at night on the lanai. The lanai was a perfect place to hang out when we had had enough sun. My husband spent many hours fishing from the rowboat on the canal. We especially liked two restaurants, The Fresh Catch bistro in Ft. Myers and A Table Apart in Bonita Springs.

Our family has returned to this private Bonita Beach home for the fourth year with our elderly parents(92 and 90 years of age) for our winter getaway. It has a beautiful view, quiet and relaxing area for reading in the sun or walking to the beach. The fishing, especially this year, was fantastic right off the dock. Almost every time we threw out we'd get a bite within minutes. We even snagged a 45-50 pound stingray. This home is well equipped to make your favorite meal or you could find a special place to eat from the numerous restaurants. Rib City and Pewter Mug are our favorites. We also found our evening treats at the Orange Leaf, Royal Scoop, or making blizzards in the kitchen. We highly recommend this home to anyone who would enjoy a quiet, relaxing getaway within the area of beaches, shopping, good food, and fishing.

We flew out from the Pacific Northwest to spend 2 lovely week with dear old friends who now live on the East Coast. This was an ideal house as it gave us each some private area. The spacious porch was a delight. We enjoyed the birds and "flying fish" Mullets, I believe. We even had a dolphin swim by one morning. The ladies had long walks on the beach which is only about 1/2 mile away. Perfect location!

We really enjoyed our holidays over Christmas 2012 in Bonita Beach in this wonderful house. The house is very spacious and well maintained. We will gladly come again.

The house is very spacious and charming. Fishing off the dock was a favorite for all. We caught jack, ocean cats and trout. A few others that we were not sure what they were. While out there we saw a manatee. Location is convenient. Close to the beach and not very far, about 1/2 hour, from Naples. The neighbor is very quiet and at the end of the street so you don't get much traffic going by. The owners were wonderful to work with. We had a middle of the night arrival and they worked with us to accommodate our needs. The house, the location, and the entire experience is wonderful and we would definitely return. The house has everything you will need.

We were in Bonita Springs for three weeks. A perfect holiday home style. Waking up in the morning, watching incredible tranquility, dolphins from the terrace, pelicans right on the boat dock. If you fancy shopping, the Miromar Outlet is only 20 km away, trips to Fort Myers or Naples are easily accessible from here. Restaurants or supermarkets are also nearby, a car is of course essential. The stay was a sustainable and first time experience, which we can only recommend to anyone who wants a break from a stressful everyday life

The property's setting was prefect.The house was immaculate. The kitchen was outfitted with everything you would need to prepare a meal for two or twenty two. The house is in a very quiet neighborhood and was a short walk to Bonita Beach. We rented 2 kayaks for 4 days,which were delivered to the house. The dock was perfect for launching them. Having the kayaks enabled us enjoy the setting this house had to offer. On several occasions we saw dolphins swim by,not more than 10ft from the dock! At times it was hard to get out on to the main road because of heavy traffic.That was a small detraction considering all the plus'. I would definitely recommend this house for a vacation home and plan to return.

We stayed in this house for 3 weeks; it is in a quiet location about 15 minutes’ walk to the beach. Another 45 minutes’ walk south you reach Doc’s Beach House where you can buy food and drink. The house is well equipped with cleaning items to meet the requirement to leave the house clean and tidy before you depart. There are plenty of kitchen utensils etc. and there is a gas grill on the grass next to the lanai. Some of the furniture is not to the latest contemporary design, but the house was comfortable, convenient and clean and tidy when we arrived. My wife had to work for some of the time we were there and the Wi-Fi worked very well. The lanai is a nice place to eat and shelter from the sun. During our stay we saw a dolphin swim by and many different species of bird. Bonita Springs is a nice area with plenty of restaurants nearby. There are plenty of places to visit that are not too far away, such as Naples, Fort Myers Beach and the Corkscrew Sanctuary. The Everglades are about 1.5 hours away. If you want excitement and to see dolphins then try the ‘Sanibel Thriller’ speed boat ride, great fun! If we were in the area we would consider renting this house again.

We spent two weeks in this home and enjoyed it very much. We especially liked taking the owner's rowboat out into the lagoon to observe dolphin, manatee, birds and fish. The kitchen is well equipped for preparing meals and we loved dining most mornings and evenings in the lanai. At night you can hear the sound of waves rolling ashore on the beach located about a quarter mile away. The home is very private as it's situated near the end of a penisula extending into Estero Bay. Everything you need is just a short drive, supermarket and other stores just five minutes away.

We stayed at the house from March 12, 2010 to March 26. We are birders (birdwatchers to the uninitiated) making our first trip to Florida. We wanted a location that was within easy reach of many of south Florida's birding locations, and Bonita Springs fits the bill. We chose this house because of its location on Estero Bay, closeness to the gulf, its location on a cul-de-sac, and its features. Our roughing-it days are over, so we want a good kitchen, cable TV, Internet access, etc. We've rented houses up and down the east coast and a couple in the south; and we ranked this house as the top 1 or 2 of being the most comfortable, not only in terms of sensible amenities, but furnished in a style most closely matching our own. This was our first house that was equipped with an enclosed garage, and it turned out to be a nice feature. No more wiping condensation off the car windows in the morning and we could leave much of our birding equipment (e.g., spotting scope) in the car rather than lugging it in and out each day. However, by far the feature we enjoyed the most was the "lanai" (we call them porches where we come from!). Whenever we were around the house for lunch or dinner, we ate on the lanai and enjoyed the view of Estero Bay, including variously, Osprey, White Ibis, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, and others. We made a special request of the owners to have perfect weather, and they obliged: two weeks of no rain; plenty of sunshine; and low to mid eighty temperatures. Ok, so maybe we were just lucky with the weather, but wouldn't it be nice if they could do that! We visited the beach primarily to check out the birds, but for you beachgoers, the house is within walking distance of Bonita Beach; and within short driving distance of other beaches. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, etc., within a few minutes of the house. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the house and would recommend it to anyone looking for a place in the Bonita Springs area.

We were happy to find everything we hoped for at this vacation home. It was a very clean, spacious home located in a quiet residental area - so well equipped with sets of dishes, cooking pans, and appliances. We were there a few hours when the dolphins and manatees made their appearance in the bay. We enjoyed the variety of local beaches almost daily. We fished in the bay and out in the gulf catching many kinds of interesting fish - even a 2ft shark which was released after a few photos. It was a very special vacation at a beautiful vacation home. We'd love to come back another year!

This home in an attractive up-scale neighborhood in Bonita Springs turned out to the a perfect place for a young family of four and a gramma. The house and property are well maintained, there is a "Florida room" overlooking the dock and bay which is nicely furnished, master bedroom and bath are separate from the other two bedrooms and bath which accommodate four. The house is unusually well equipped for cooking. At high tide we were visited by dolphins who played around and under the dock. Beach is a good walk or a short drive away....a good shelling beach.

This property is located on a good sized bay with easy access to the main channel into the Gulf. On several occasions dolphins and manatees would pass by the dock. A V-bottom boat is stored in the garage and is easy to launch from the dock. By attaching my trolling motor, fish finder and anchor (paddles, seat cushions & life vests were provided) my son, daughter and I were all set to find the nearby fish "hot spots". We fished every day catching Snook, Ladyfish, Jack, Sheepshead, Snapper, and Catfish. Top catches included a 23" Snook and an 8lb Catfish. We released the dozens of fish we caught so others can enjoy them also. The owners had two brand new salt water rods & reels available for use. My wife enjoyed our evening cruises around the bay and watching the manatees, osprey, bald eagles, dolphins, etc. The house was clean with large rooms, a wonderful "screened in" lanai perfect for eating your meals or napping on a lounge chair. It is near the street's end in a very quiet neighborhood; on warm nights we could sleep with the windows open. The beach was a little over 1/2 mile walk or you could park at the beach access sites as long as you arrived early. The owners were easy to work with and flexible on our arrival and departure times. Thank You Mike and Kathleen for sharing your wonderful home.

Nicer home than the pictures imply, clean, and had plenty of space. Neighbors were friendly and the neighborhood is quiet and safe. House is located off the busy main beach road. The Dock is well keep with short access to Estero Bay and easy access to the Gulf. We listened to the mocking birds in the morning from the lanai and watched dolphins, rays and pelicans in the evening from the dock. A very relaxing “getaway”. The owners are honest. We rented bikes that were delivered and picked up at the house. We also rented a pontoon boat just up the main beach road. We took it for the day; it was about a 15min boat ride down to the dock at the house and about 30min to the 1st Gulf access. Restaurants in the area are generally casual, the food good, the locals are a fun easy going lot. Best restaurant experience was at “Randy’s” in north Naples. Bonita Springs is located between upscale Naples and middle class Ft Myers Beach.

This home is tucked away on a very private, quiet road and is at the end of a cul-de-sac. However, it is incredibly convenient to all of the offerings in Bonita Springs and Naples -- 1/2 mile to the broad beaches of Bonita Springs, minutes away from shopping, less than 1/2 hour to Naples. We have four young children and found this home to be perfect for us. VERY well maintained -- three bedrooms with incredibly comfortable beds, two full bathrooms, a full kitchen (with anything you may require) and an incredible view of Estero bay with access to the Gulf of Mexico. The home has four sets of sliding doors that fully "vanish" behind the living room wall to completely open the house to a beautiful lanai. Truly a calm, comfortable retreat! We spent our days on the beach (10 minute walk or an easy drive to any of Bonita's beaches) and spent each night taking a leisurely walk along the street -- without having to worry about traffic/conjestion that is prevalent on most other streets in Bonita Springs. The home had plenty of space for the six of us and was SO much better than a hotel/condo. We will definitely be back at this house! Owners were terrific to deal with and are very responsive.