Bring Your Dogs, Horses or Boat to Armadillo Trot ...relax - Cottage Rental Listing Details

A Great Escape from busy City life.... FOR THE DISCRIMINATING PET OWNER and NATURALIST that enjoys a peaceful vacation in the company of their well behaved Pets. A Romantic Tranquil Get-A-Way for the week. All Amenities provided just bring your tooth brushes and Food!

Armadillo Trot is entirely fenced and features 4 beautiful acres of shady, ancient majestic, moss covered oak trees, pecan trees, pine trees and rich Bahia Pasture for horse grazing. Armadillo Trot is across the street, overlooking the tranquil Lake Winnot and is great for Hiking, Biking, Boating, Leisure Trail Riding, Fishing, Hunting, Exploring and Enjoying the Natural Settings. A wonderful North Central Florida location - central to many possible day trips for your choosing. Less than 45 minutes hour north to Jacksonville, 1 hour east to Daytona Beach, Historic St. Augustine and Flagler Beach. Also 1.5 hours south to Orlando, Disney, Tampa & St. Petersburg. Armadillo Trot is 1.15 hours west of gorgeous Cedar Key (one of Florida’s best kept secrets - Check out the Island Room for the best in dining ) & the Gulf of Mexico. Being 15 minutes east of Gainesville ( Major U of F Sports Events & Schedules can be viewed at GatorZone.com ...book now for Upcoming Season ...GO GATORS!!!!!) and I-75, we are also 20 minutes north of Ocala, many Equestrian Events, H.I.T.S., Horseman’s Park, Ocala National Forest along with many of the local Natural Springs, Lakes and Parks nearby. Bring your Boat for Excellent Fishing in any of the public lakes within a 10 mile radius and Lake Santa Fe Public Ramp is the closest.

Vacation with your Horses, your Dogs, your Family or enjoy a Romantic Private Weekend for Two! Spend a leisurely weekend, a rejuvenating week or take a month and write a book! All is possible at Armadillo Trot! Safe, Secure, Parking areas for RV, Boat, Horse Trailer, Motorcycles, etc.

Armadillo Trot is a great “Stop off” on the way to/from/or during the many Dog or Horse Shows in the area and nationally or just to Relax with your animals in a secure, stress free environment. There is a lovely wooden 2 Box Stall Barn overlooking the beautiful property with large, 14 x 14, comfortable, roomy stalls with packed clay floors in the middle of a lush 4 acre,rich, Bahia pasture. Lots of local Trail Riding! We have complete accommodations for You and your Horses and your Dogs to relax and recuperate from the stress of being ‘on the road’ and/or 'in the ring’. I - 75 is 20 minutes away! Major North/South Route 301 is less than 5 minutes and the quaint college town of Gainesville is less than 15 minutes west on 20 or 26 and Ocala is 20 minutes south on 301. Jacksonville is 45 minutes north on 301. Take a weekend or a week and safely RELAX with your animals. Enjoy the peaceful, stress free country side and endless Trail Riding and Hiking possibilities.

Armadillo Trot can also be set up with complete Wedding, Honeymoon, Anniversary, Graduation or Party necessities and extras. Great local dining in Melrose ( Blue Water Bay on 26 is the Best!), Hawthorne, Cross Creek, Ocala and Gainesville! Get away from it all at this beautiful prive’ ranch like Retreat. So Simply RELAX Enjoy! In the evenings, keep an eye out for the scurrying Armadillos.

Our Retreat is a comfortable and roomy 2 bedroom Cyprus Log sided Cabin that can sleep 2 to 5 or 6 with a pull out couch in the living room, 1.5 bathrooms and a washer and dryer. The kitchen is completely stocked to cook and entertain in style. Groceries and necessities can be purchased 5 minutes away at Hitchcocks on 301 in Hawthorne. The kitchen stays stocked with most condiments, spices and staples. Cable and Dial Up Internet is available for those who Must!

Armadillo Trot is owned, loved and frequented by Designer/Artist/Horse/Dog show people and is very well appointed with an interesting collection of higher end furnishings. Yours to enjoy during your stay! We trust you to care for all.

A Luxuriously, large, comfortable Pet Bed & Pet Blanket is provided in the Sun Room so kindly keep Dogs off the Human Beds and the Furniture. There are also 3 clean large wire dog crates provided in the air conditioned Sun room for when you leave the dog at home. Your Horses can be kept and pastured in the Back Pasture/Barn Area section with respect to our front gardens. They will love it there as the shady fresh Bahia pasture is heaven! Presently occupied by a Mother and her twin baby deers.

“Armadillo Trot” was fondly named after the first weekend we arrived from Miami our excited Jack Russell Terriers discovered that armadillos had set up their hard shell camp under the lovely cypress gazebo. Realizing it was no longer a ‘safe haven’ to raise a family we named it for his ‘bravery’ as the father quickly trotted his crew across the street to the lake to find better lodging. Now that we are securely fenced this same armadillo family ventures out for a leisurely stroll on occasional evenings down the side of the lake road and back. The terriers simply have to watch in absolute amazement with jaws chattering, from behind their new fence. This is just one of the many reminders of the beauty of undisturbed nature and wildlife that abounds at Armadillo Trot. The surrounding hundreds of acres of fertile cattle pasture land plays host to soaring Eagles, Sand Hill Cranes, Wild Turkeys, Deer, Hog, Fox and many types of birds.

Just down the road, off of 301 at Cross Creek, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings thrived at her winter residence which is now opened to the public. The author of many major literary works, including 'The Yearling', which received the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the novels 'South Moon Under', and 'Golden Apples', and her memoir, 'Cross Creek' spoke so fondly of this Magical rural area. Truly an extraordinary example of Old Florida in it’s finest glory. We had looked at many Northern Florida properties, for over a year, before settling on “Armadillo Trot”... for all the obvious reasons. Enjoy!

****PRICING BELOW REFLECTS GUESTS REQUIREMENTS AND NUMBER OF HUMANS, DOGS OR HORSES. We would love to accommodate you and your family. We have a 3 night minimum stay and can provide maid service for longer stays. Also available for longer stays of a month. Some HOLIDAY WEEKS AND WEEKENDS SLIGHTLY HIGHER. Feel Free to Email or Call us with your questions.

***Customer Review...December 2006

"We loved Armadillo Trot! The House and the Grounds are Dog and Human Heaven. We were very busy chasing Squirrels and up early in the morning to go hiking with our Friends. Being "City Dogs" we Really Enjoyed all the Nature! This is our second time at Armadillo Trot and hopefully we will go again in 2 months. Enjoy the Photos of our vacation at your farm!"

Thanks, Catherine!

A 4 Paws Up Rating!!!"

CJ and Lady Angie Arnold from South Beach

***Customer Review...January 2007

"We had wonderfully restful, and enjoyable week at "Armadillo Trot". The charming home was very well furnished and contained everything we needed and more. We particularly enjoyed our evenings sitting under the gazebo enjoying the pristine views, wildlife and birdsong after our walks around the lake. Got in some great local fishing on Lake Santa Fe. We would like to make reservations for the same time next year! Many Thanks, Catherine!"

Tom W.
Boston, MA

***Customer Review...Dec 2007

This is a wonderful place for a family get away! A place where a boy can be a boy, a dog can be a dog, and a teenager can retreat from the pressures of today's world! Most importantly, we found it to be a place where a family can be a family. We chose not to turn on the T.V. but for our next visit it will be fun to watch a few movies. We read books, did artwork, played board games and card games. We listened to music and danced outside at the Gazebo, we made S'mores, we ran around outside a lot! The large yard is completely fenced in and quite nice to just run around.

We brought all of our food so that we didn't need to go anywhere. There is a local grocery if you need anything or you can go a little further away to Gainesville if you need a dose of "city life" (i.e. going out to dinner, shopping or sight seeing).

The kitchen is big enough to make meals for a family but even better is the large dining table. A great place to reunite, talk, recall memories or tell jokes. The bedrooms are cozy and the beds are comfy. One bedroom is large enough to put an air mattress on the floor if you need extra sleeping space. The cabin is charming and is nicely decorated. There is a washer and a dryer available if you need it.

Spending time at Armadillo Trot was was one of the best times we've had as a family. We will be back! Perhaps for a Gator Game?

Enjoy!

The Brown Family of 6! and one happy Labra Doddle.