We loved the cottage: spotlessly clean, well organized and superbly stocked with kitchen sundries, linens, necessities and niceties.
The bed was simply the single most comfortable bed we have ever slept in (we both agreed) and we slept so soundly as a result (kudos to the IKEA mattress!).
The decor is tasteful, the furniture clean and comfortable, and everything feels newer and updated. One curiosity; the TV in the living room is mounted on a wall that is at a right angle from the sofa. There is a perfect, unused wall directly across from the sofa that would be the perfect spot for the TV and it has an outlet as well. Otherwise, the floating cottage is simply perfect in every way.
Sanford, on the other hand, was a disappointment. We were so looking forward to trying the many different restaurants on the historic cobblestone street. However, we found Sanford to be a pub and beer town and finding fine dining or even a slightly upscale atmosphere was simply impossible. The restaurants on the main street are all extremely dark, extremely "pubby", and the food offerings were mainly, fired, dipped, battered...you get the idea. We found respite our first evening in the more promising St. Johns River Steak & Seafood which is off the strip and on the water. The ambience was not quite upscale, but better than the restaurants on the strip. The service was decent and the food was OK (Mahi Mahi overcooked and dried out).
Connie's Deli, which is right behind the floating cottage and was to be our staple for breakfast and lunch, was equally disappointing; the food was perfectly fine, but they play very loud acid rock (even for breakfast) at a volume that demands the music be the focal point. Just couldn't get past this, especially for breakfast. We even tried a take-out lunch to bring back tot the cottage and one of the entrees they gave us was not the one we ordered; we clearly got someone else's order. we found them a bit gruff and short for our liking, so we did not try them again. The Oasis restaurant by the pool in the marina was also very crummy in appearance and we skipped it.
We decided the trip would have been absolutely perfect if we had chosen instead to cook and enjoy all our meals in the wonderful cottage. Another thought was that it would be great if the host floated the wonderful cottage to another location lol.
Enjoy the cottage-it is wonderful. Kim has done an amazing job. Eat out or cook in, based on your reaction to my review, but go!