The Southern Comfort

My husband and I stayed on Blue House boat the weekend of the Oyster City Challenge. It was a perfect location to walk to the park, in town to wonder around and visit local restaurants. We also walked to the one grocery store in town, Piggly Wiggly. The boat house was nice, very clean and had a great view. The bedrooms are a bit small, but you aren't spending a lot of time in those two rooms. The living area and kitchen are very spacious. The boat did have some movement but very minimal. You are in the channel where the fishing boats come in and out, they always came in and out at low speeds. When we first arrived the fish odor was very strong for a day and half. It was raining and overcast those days. Once the sun came out the smell mostly went away. We saw gators and a herd of manatee from the boat that was really need and had a beautiful rainbow one day. They have just added a kayak launch, that was nice since we did bring our boats there for the Paddle Fest that weekend. The kitchen is well stocked, the preparing a salad was would have gone smoother if the knives we sharper. We purchased fish from 13 Mile twice and really enjoyed the Scampi Fish and Flounder, we highly recommend 13 Mile.. Overall it lovely weekend and we enjoyed our time on the houseboat.

Fantastic and unique experience. Beautifully furnished very comfortable. Just what my wife and I needed to decompress. Walking distance from bars and restaurants. One of the best lodging options I have ever experienced. Thanks!

We had a great stay. Mrs Karen was very nice and informational on the area. Fireworks show was awesome to watch from the porch. Caught few catfish off the porch and even seen a Gator swim by Monday evening. Will most certainly make it back to stay again. Perfect place to relax and watch the boats go by and the sunrise is spectacular with a cup of joe. We really enjoyed it.

We have stayed in Apalach before at what we thought was "the" place to stay, very nice place, great time, but this houseboat of Karen's takes accommodations in Apalach to a whole new level! We celebrated my wife's double 30 birthday with friends and we had a great time! The houseboat "Southern Comfort" was very will appointed, kitchen had everything we needed and more, TV's in each bedroom and great room (for those that want to watch them) wifi, etc., but many hours were spent on the Poarch watching the shrimp boats, pass by and activity on the river! Beautiful sunrises to start the day and sunsets to close the day out! Very little movement was noticed at all on the houseboat during our stay, so don't let that be a concern for you landlubbers out there, you cannot get a better view anywhere else . . . The towns hussle-bustle is behind you and tranquility in front of you as you sit on the poach enjoying your coffee in the morning and beverages in the evening! Short Walking distance to town, restaurants, and shopping and almost in the shadows of "Up the Creek" a fun place to grab a dozen of oysters and other specialities. Karen Hoff offers a one of a kind experience with her houseboats and we will be talking about our quick 4 days of fun until our next visit . . . Book-it, experience it and you will do the same!

Karen's Houseboat was a wonderful fun experience with all the utility's and features you would expect with a home on land. Nicely furnished, very clean with 3 tvs, hbo stations, great kitchen well furnished. Right in the middle of the downtown activity with just a couple of blocks to great shopping and restaurants. Karen was very attentive and available during our stay. Nicely decorated and great for the three of us. Two nice bedrooms, two baths and a shared shower space in between. We loved it. Apalachiacola was a real gem to fine. We rented a boat, did a little fishing and a great tour up the river.

We liked the location and the setup. The view of the river was great! We loved watching the boat traffic, the birds and the tide. Karen was attentive and able to answer all questions. Very nice time.

We were two couples that stayed for three nights on Karen's houseboat. The only negative were the size of the bedrooms; but then it is a house boat! The pluses...beautiful view of the river 6 inches from the back porch; watching the fish jump and all the variety of waterfowl...even caught fish right from the chaise lounge! Walking distance to anywhere in the downtown area for shopping, eating and enjoying some local entertainment. We're coming back and bringing a boat that Karen says we can dock right next to the houseboat! Great place to stay!

My husband and I had planned on bringing our boat for the week but decided that the weather might make traveling by water difficult. We found Southern Comfort" and have enjoyed being on the water as if on our boat. The home is very comfortable and spacious. The boats, pelicans, dolphins and otters are your closest neighbors! Sunrise is right on your front porch over the water, amazing. The lovely town of Apalachicola is walking distance from the back door!

We have lived in Florida for 20 years and had never been to Apalachicola. We picked the perfect place to stay in this adorable town! The houseboat is in a perfect location, walking distance to every place in town. The views are outstanding! We had planned to visit with another couple, but they were unable to join us. So it was just the two of us. Really, it is perfect for two and would be a bit crowded for four. The living areas are fine, but the bedrooms very small though quite comfortable. If you do go with four, pack very lightly and ENJOY! It is clean quiet, comfortable and we can't wait to go back for a longer stay!

We liked the Southern Comfort very much.....a special "tiny house." I liked getting up early, getting a cup of coffee and going out on the back deck to watch the sun coming up over the water....each day different, all beautiful. And we liked being in Apalachicola, full of history, with all the good restaurants and the fresh local seafood. Thanks for a wonderful vacation.

Even though it was cold, all of us enjoyed sitting outside watching the sunrises. Being on a floating home was fabulous. Hope to return some day!

We will definitely be back!

We couldn't have enjoyed our stay more. It was perfect - so convenient to everything in town and so 'away from it all' when we were on the back deck. It was hard to get any reading done because there was always something to look at - shrimp boats, osprey, bald eagles, pelicans, dolphins and even an alligator. It was just wonderful. The houseboat was clean and comfortable and has everything you need.

My husband and I stayed on the houseboat over the Memorial Day weekend. The views from the porch to the river/marsh were phenomenal. Lots of birds and even a manatee Also the houseboat location couldn't be better. It's walking distance to everything in town but you still feel like you are in the middle of the marsh. Plus it's next door to a great casual restaurant. We have stayed at other places in Apalachicola but will choose to stay here on our next trip to Apalachicola.

We had so much fun on the Boatel. Will definitely go back.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We could not have had a more relaxing vacation. The houseboat was very nice inside and the back porch was great. There was a nice view of the river and we were able to fish off the back porch. We cannot say enough about Appalachicola. Please don't change!

My wife and I celebrated our 38th anniversary here and we really enjoyed it. The houseboat is only two blocks from town center, and Apalachicola is a fun little town. We really loved the mornings and evenings on the back deck watching the shrimp and fishing boats coming and going. There is excellent fishing in the area, and numerous beautiful beaches to explore. Several of the bars provided live entertainment every night, which was a pleasant surprise. I give the houseboat 4 out of 5 stars only because it really is only capable of housing one couple comfortably. The second bedroom is barely big enough to hold the bed. We used it for our suitcases, which was fine. There is also only one shower shared between two small baths. Again, no problem for one couple, butbit would be very "cozy" for any more. The final issue is that you are on a boat with fixed water tanks, so you have to be somewhat careful about water consumption (although Karen will refill them when needed). Overall we really enjoyed it and would do it again.

This is a great property in Apalachicola and we would and will return. The houseboat was better than we expected and perfectly located. Ate lots of oysters, and seafood. Took a great area tour on Captain Jimmy's boat, full of information and fun. Completely enjoyed our three days and hope to stay longer next year.

We loved our stay on Karen's houseboat. It was exactly as advertised, no surprises...except that we liked it even more than we had anticipated. The houseboat was spotless. Everything worked. Karen was welcoming and responsive. She had anticipated our questions and needs. The setting on the water, gazing at the marsh views, watching the birdlife and boats, was wonderful. Would do it again!

We love Apalach as the locals call it, because it is far from the resorts/condos/hotels that crowd most of the Florida coastline. It was so peaceful sitting on the houseboat deck watching the river where one can see shrimp boats, pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, etc. I caught stripped sea bass right off the deck plus a soft-shelled crab that wouldn't let go. The restaurant next door closed at 9 p.m. so it was very quiet even though the marina is just a short walk from downtown. We hope to return.

We loved this houseboat! We even did some fishing off the deck....no luck though. Karen was friendly and very quick to respond to our needs. Two couples had plenty of room. Well stocked kitchenware. Walking distance to everything! Be sure to check out the local shopping. An amazing bread shop around the corner. As well as a co-op to purchase local vege's. Be sure to hit happy hour and raise the hat at Bowery Station for local musicians. 13 mile up the road has fresh fish, shrimp and salmon that was delicious. Many great restaurants. We will be back!!

We arrived in a pouring rain and high winds but Karen met us shortly after and was very accommodating. We found this unit to be everything we had hoped. Beautiful sunrises, sunsets and beautiful full moon reflections on the water. We enjoyed watching the shrimp and fishing boats and occasional pleasure boats come and go each day. One of the best parts is the easy walking distance to the great seafood restaurants and whimsical downtown shops. The houseboat was well furnished and completely stocked with everything we needed. Karen is a great host!

This is a fantastic experience, one that will etch itself in your memory. The gentle /subtle rock of river, the smell of the salt air, the sounds of gulf, the site of the sun rising over the bay are just a few things that make this a truly unique experience. Having the best parts of Apalach within walking distance is a great bonus. If you enjoy the outdoors or the gulf coast lifestyle, then you should hop aboard and treat yourself to a wonderful vacation.

I stayed there for ten days at the end of April and the place was awesome! It is as advertised with no unpleasant surprises. The place was very clean and well stocked. There were plenty of towels and all the kitchen supplies you should need if you want to cook in. There is also a gas grill on the deck which is a nice convenience. The view from the deck is gorgeous allowing you to view both sunrises and sunsets over the water. I saw dolphins and a variety of birds. You can fish over the railing and catch as many hard fighting catfish as you care too. The location is perfect and you can walk to everything that downtown Apalachicola has to offer. Karen is on site if you have any questions and a wonderful host. I left some important documents on board and she went out of her way to let me know and get them to me in a timely manner. I would highly recommend the Southern Comfort for a visit to Apalachicola and look forward to staying there again.

My wife and I along with our grandaughter, enjoyed our stay aboard Southern Comfort during Florida Seafood Festival Weekend. The location is very convenient to everything Apalachicola has to offer. Being right next door to Up the Creek Raw Bar made eating out very easy. The view from the deck made sunrises and sunsets, great to view. The property is super clean, and the amenities/accomodations are perfect for a couple or small family. A full kitchen and grill on the deck, are perfect for those who want to cook in rather than eat out. We arrived on Friday evening and Karen made coordination to get in very easy. She was quick to respond to any questions or issues we had. Awesome place to stay if you want a laid back vacation in the laid back town of Apalachicola. I highly recommend Southern Comfort