Yoder House & Lizzie’s Cottage

04/10/2024

For a small, simple way to support our air bnbs, you can go to the listing and “like” both of them. Just click the little heart in the upper right hand corner. Your like will make air bnb show our listing to more people. And thank you in advance. The air bnb algorithm is an ugly beast to tame. 😜

airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse

airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

04/07/2024

Yoder House had some extra special guests this past week. Most of my family came to visit. We went on a few adventures and Yoder House provided the perfect place to enjoy each other. It was a wonderful week. 🤍

03/24/2024

We had some really sweet guests this weekend. 😊

01/09/2024

The air bnbs each have some availability yet this month. Check them out and maybe even catch a bit of a deal.

airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse

10/25/2023

Fun fact for you, I’ve been known to play around with a camera. So if you’re staying in one of our air bnbs and would like to have family photos taken while you’re here, feel free to talk to me about scheduling and prices. And feel free to follow my brand new photography Instagram page .miller.photography714. There may even be a giveaway happening soon. 😉

10/25/2023

November is an amazing time to visit Sarasota…gorgeous weather and you might just miss a lot of the snow birds. 😉

10/18/2023

A friend and I went a little north to check out The Fox Mercantile (really close to Anna Maria Island). Such a fun spot with yummy coffee and treats. Add it to your list of places to visit this winter.

08/04/2023

One of my childhood friends visited Sarasota with her 7 adorable kiddos in June. She asked me at one point for a recommendation for something other than the beach to do with her family and the first thing I thought of was Myakka River State Park. The river is beautiful, you get to see gators (from a safe distance) there are a lot of fun trails and a fire tower with a swinging bridge. It’s just a great day outing.
And I have fond memories of going to Myakka. When I was little and we would vacation here, we always took a day to go out there. One of my favorite trips my Grandma and Grandpa Miller went with us. I might have to dig up some old photos later. But all that to say, if you haven’t checked out Myakka River State Park yet, add it to your list for the next time.

07/19/2023

One of the most common complaints I hear from people about renting air bnbs is that there aren’t enough things supplied. From not enough towels and washcloths to no cooking supplies to only one trash bag or only one dishwasher pod. Honestly, the biggest reason for that is that hosts have had people misuse and steal often enough that they come to the point where they just don’t think it’s worth it to supply guests with things. However, I’ve taken all of this to heart and have tried my hardest to find a balance between giving our guests a really good experience staying with us and not handing out freebies. 😉
We want you to have enough towels and be able to season your food and have enough dishwasher pods and laundry soap and trash bags…and coffee options! We want you to have an amazing stay and not have to worry about the small stuff.
I have said it before and I will say it again: we have been blessed with amazing guests. Good, honest lovely people that make wanting to spoil every guest easy. So thank you again.

What are things that are important for you to have in order to have a good stay at an air bnb? And/or what are things that have been missing in an air bnb that made it difficult for you to love your stay?

https://www.airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse

https://www.airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

07/08/2023

It has been really hot and humid here the last few weeks. Record breakingly so. 🥵 However, the water in the gulf feels AMAZING! I was out at Siesta Key on Thursday & could have stayed in the water for hours. It was so lovely! The current water temp is 88°! And the beach wasn’t nearly as full as it is in the winter (this pic was actually taken in April), not to mention, everything costs just a bit less than it does in the winter. If you love to swim, I highly recommend coming to visit the gulf in the summer. 🌊

06/27/2023

I have said it before and I will say it again (and hopefully many more times!)…we have the best guests! We’ve had several guests leave things for future guests and it always makes me so happy. From games in the game cabinet, to puzzles for other kids. This weekend we had guests leave a couple snorkeling sets. So kind! 🥰

06/24/2023

One major thing that sets our two air bnbs apart is the fact that they are completely cared for by one person. Me! The person you talk to when booking is me. The person who cleans the air bnbs is me. The person who shows up if something is amiss is me. I mow the lawn and set out flowers and tuck in the corners of the sheets. I wipe corners and disinfect surfaces and sweep porches. All because I want our guests to have the absolute best experience possible. 🤍🤍🤍

https://www.airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse

https://www.airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

05/29/2023

Siesta Key Beach has been rated the No. 2 beach in the U.S. and the No. 11 beach in the world by Trip Advisor this year! And our air bnbs are only 4 miles away! Come see what all of the fuss is about! We’ll even supply you with beach towels, chairs, toys and sunscreen! 🏖️

https://www.airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

https://www.airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse

04/29/2023

The names of our air bnbs are significant. Yoder House is named so because Fred and Becky Yoder lived here for so many years and put so much love into the house and the property.
Fred passed away today. And I am currently sitting in Yoder House and seeing his fingerprints everywhere. The bottlebrush tree, the fire pit & outdoor kitchen. So many projects that he did in the house and around the property.
But even more than his handiwork, he was really special to both Doug’s and Dennis and I and was really the reason we found each other and started working together. He shared so much Godly wisdom with us. We’re all going to miss him tremendously, but imagining his home coming makes me happy.
One time when I was talking to him, I thanked him for being such a good friend to Dennis and he just smirked and shrugged a little and said, “everyone needs a Fred.” I’m really thankful we had a Fred.

04/24/2023

04/14/2023

Easter being over means that the “Snowbird Season” is also over. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you asked me the best time to visit Sarasota, I’m likely to surprise you. I would choose a time outside of snowbird season because that means there will be less people…on the beaches, on the roads, in the shops & restaurants. Plus the water in the gulf is warmer. You won’t catch me in the water in February, but you better believe I’ll be out there in June! There are a lot of pros to visiting Sarasota in the warmer months…and I promise it’s not as hot as you think it might be. 😉

https://www.airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse

https://www.airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

03/30/2023

The lanai that is shared by both Yoder House & Lizzie’s Cottage is one of my favorite spaces…especially when the lights turn on in the evening. Grill some burgers, enjoy some coffee & conversation, or sit and read a book. Such a peaceful, lovely space.

https://www.airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse

https://www.airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

03/23/2023

Ca’ d’Zan is one of the venues at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. It was the home of the Ringling’s and is just absolutely gorgeous! I’ve only walked the grounds and around the outside of the house, but you can tour the inside which also includes an art museum. There other things to do on the same grounds including a circus museum. I personally haven’t tours that yet either, but I’ve heard a lot of really good things. I really need to put these on my to-do list!

03/17/2023

“This property is such an oasis!”

“This is the best air bnb we’ve ever stayed in!”

These are both things recent guests have told me personally, which is so sweet. I love when guests say things like “this felt like home away from home.” That’s our goal!

03/06/2023

It’s the details that matter. I’ve talked about putting baked goods & flowers out for guests, but all of the details are important to me. From the way I make the beds and fold the towels to adding things like make-up removing clothes & making sure there’s enough outdoor seating for all guests.
I had a guest coming to the cottage who told me she’s a tea drinker & she wanted to make sure she could have her tea while she stayed here. So I got an electric kettle and special goodies like honey spoons.
I want to make your stay with us just as special. 🤍

Also…I took the boat picture a couple years ago at Bayfront Park. I’ve mentioned it before, but it really is one of the best places in town to watch the sunset.

02/27/2023

Another fun thing to do when visiting Sarasota is to go thrifting. A new thrift store opened up last week and I was excited to check it out. Mission:Thrift has an amazing space and everything is laid out really well. Best of all, proceeds go to help hurting kids. I’ll for sure be back and I would encourage you to add it to your “to-do” list when you visit.

02/24/2023

February is almost over! This year is already going so fast! I am looking forward to March and meeting all of the guests who will be staying with us.
And now just to plug booking in advance! I’ve gotten SO many calls and inquiries from people wanting to book winter dates this year and I have to tell them that we’re full. We actually already have dates being booked for 2024! It’s always a good idea to plan ahead and book something as early as possible if you know you’ll want to come during the winter season.

02/01/2023

Here are a few more restaurant recommendations. 😊

01/24/2023

I’ve been sharing some of mine and Dennis’s favorite things to do and places to eat over on our Instagram page. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do it on here…the format is so different. But I’ll just occasionally add a post here with a few. These are all places to eat. Dennis and I are huge foodies and love that Sarasota has so much to offer. And because there are so many people from so many different places that move here, the style of food available is crazy! We can recommend authentic Philly cheesesteaks or NYC bagels or a Jersey hero sandwich shop. It’s so fun!

01/18/2023

Our last guests had two small children and I found out that they rented some baby gear…including a small crib, a beach wagon & stroller. We do provide a pack-n-play and small booster seat for guests, but I thought this service was brilliant and asked for the lady’s info. Feel free to pass it on if you know of anyone coming to town that might need some things.

01/17/2023

New guests are arriving to Yoder House this afternoon! 🎉 The winter season is pretty full for us which means a lot of same day turn arounds and general busy-ness. I love it! A few of the things that I do other than regular cleaning & laundry to get ready for guests: blow off the porches, walks and driveway. Clean the outdoor kitchen & sitting area. Make sure paper supplies, coffee, etc is all stocked. Put out baked goods, hand written note & other personal touches. And I always finish up with saying a prayer over the house & for the guests. I love every aspect of hosting, but this may be my favorite part. 🥰

01/08/2023

I’m really excited that we made Superhost once again. A year ago, we had just listed Yoder House and Lizzie’s Cottage on air bnb. ABB evaluates every listing every 3 months, I was so pleased when we made Superhost after the first 3 months. We’ve managed to keep that distinction ever since. And that is in part to all of the amazing guests we’ve had during the past year. So if you’ve stayed with us, thank you! Both for being wonderful, but also for your positive reviews. Reviews are important in the air bnb world and we value every single one.

01/06/2023

Another Sarasota favorite for my family is Jungle Gardens. I remember visiting here when I was was little and it honestly hasn’t changed that much…which is part of the charm. They’re especially known for their flamingos and that you can walk right up to them and feed them (if they’re hungry). Definitely a fun place to take kiddos.

*we do still have a few dates available for Lizzie’s Cottage this month
https://www.airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

12/27/2022

If you’re looking for a winter getaway, Lizzie’s Cottage has availability in January, including the week of the Haiti Benefit Sale! It’s an adorable apartment, just perfect for two. It has an efficiency kitchen area, and its own private entrance and parking area.

12/20/2022

Because Sarasota is on the west coast, we are known for our sunsets…which are amazing. However, catching a sunrise is not impossible, you just have to know where to go. I’ve mentioned before that I love South Lido Key Beach Park, and it just so happens to be one of the sunrise spots. The trick is going on the “city side” instead of the gulf side.
If you’d rather not drive ALL the way out to South Lido 😜, there is a spot on the way to Siesta Key, just after you get on the key (Nora Patterson Bay Island Park), where you can look back at the city and see the sun rise over Sarasota. And it’s gorgeous!
(Photos taken by me at South Lido)

Links to air bnb listings:

https://www.airbnb.com/h/lizziescottage

https://www.airbnb.com/h/yoderhouse