At 7 bedrooms and 6 baths, 100 linear feet on both the ocean and river, giant oceanfront and riverfront entertainment decks, and more than 3000 square feet of bedrooms, bathrooms and living area, Carpe Diem is a large and luxuriously appointed ocean-to-river beach house. Get everybody together and live the sweet life: Carpe Diem is perfect for family vacations and reunions, groups of friends, and religious, corporate, and group retreats.
Wear your t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops to the airport, because that's all you need for your Florida beach-house vacation . . . We provide the rest. Travel light — and live large — with the fully-stocked, 5-Star-amenity properties of Beach Houses in Paradise! (Our motto is "We stock heavy, so you can travel light".)
At rates starting at less than $100 per night per bedroom, enjoy 5-star luxury amenities and accommodations at an affordable price (It's like champagne on a beer budget!). Note: Carpe Diem is rented only to one party at a time; you will not be sharing the premises with strangers.
Carpe Diem is situated on a private beach in a quiet residential area – no condos, high rises or public beaches for miles. (No crowds, just a beach all to yourself and your group.) The Atlantic Ocean is right off your back porch. And 15 paces from your front door is your own 200-foot-long private dock on the Indian River, offering some of the best fishing in the world, and stocked with all your favorite water toys. (Complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, bicycles, boogie boards, inflatable rafts, fishing poles and tackle, metal detectors, and more.)
Own a boat or jet ski? Bring it! Moor it at your own private dock, and there's even room to park your trailer. (Boat ramp just 1 miles away). RV? Room for that too!
SAVE! Paradise need not hurt the wallet or pocketbook. We offer many discounts: military, educators, civil service, rescue and law enforcement, medical and more. Active or retired. Even Florida residents save $. (But if you are age 50+, enjoy our SENIOR discount – the biggest discount of all.)
Not only is the home situated in the most biodiverse marine environment in North America (source: Florida Oceanographic Institute), it's also located in Stuart FL, 2024 winner of the USA Today "Best Coastal Small Towns in America" rankings. (And #1 winner of the "Happiest Seaside Town in USA" award by Coastal Living Magazine!) Locals of a certain age—that remember TV's "The Andy Griffith Show"—proudly call Stuart the "Mayberry of Florida".
FITNESS / TENNIS / PICKLEBALL / GOLF & MORE SWIMMING POOLS: While the ocean and river are fun, and the home's private heated pool and soothing jacuzzi hot tub are also a blast, some outdoor fanatics still want MORE: So, with your stay of 1 week or longer, the owner includes FREE complimentary passes to 3 resort-style pools at the nearby Ocean Club @ the Marriott Hutchinson Island Resort, conveniently located just 1 mile north of the home. (Your free passes provide access to the private18-hole golf course, tennis/pickleball complex & fitness, too).
Everything is included free with your rental
From bicycles to beach blankets, from towels to toilet paper, and all points between. (Did you know that fewer than 25% of Florida listings include high chairs for little ones? Many vacation rentals don't even provide you a full supply of toilet paper (!) or such basics as towels, bed linens, toiletries, paper goods or even cooking essentials like salt, pepper, spices, oils, and other basic staples.
And can you imagine arriving to your beach vacation rental, only to discover that there are no coolers, ice, beach chairs, beach towels, beach blankets, umbrellas and beach toys like sand pails, bikes, cornhole, volleyball, kayaks, and horseshoes? Why waste the first day of your precious vacation — or more money — shopping at the local Wal-Mart?
Instead, book a Beach House in Paradise and begin relaxing the moment you arrive. (We even pre-heat hot tubs and pools, and put out the bathrobes & towels so your relaxing beach vacation can start the moment you arrive.)
What others say about our town (Stuart, FL)
- USA Today: #1 Best Coastal Small Town in America (2024 winner)
- Coastal Living Magazine: #1 Happiest Seaside Town in America (2016)
- House Beautiful Magazine: #1 Most Beautiful Small Town in Florida
- Smithsonian Magazine: Best Small Towns to Visit in the U.S. (3rd place)
- America In Bloom (Audubon group): #1 Most Beautiful City in America
- American Planning Association: #1 City in Florida (2020 winner)
- Oprah Winfrey: "Most charming American towns you've never heard of" (6th place, O Magazine, Jan 2020)
- USA Today: #5 Best Florida Beach 2025 Rankings (of more than 100 beaches considered)
- FindTheHome: #1 Best Place to Retire in the U.S.
- OnlyInYourState: 1 of 8 "Most Beautiful Small Towns in Florida"
- Huffington Post: Top Florida Beach Towns
Uncompromising Comfort is Our Standard
MORE THAN 10 ADULTS? Carpe Diem might be a tight fit. Please inquire before booking.
One of only 60 beach houses like it in the USA
Carpe Diem is among the fewer than 60 beach houses in the entire U.S. that sit DIRECTLY ON THE OCEAN and also sit DIRECTLY ON A MILE-PLUS WIDE RIVER with private dock for fishing and water toys, and where the river empties into the ocean just a short mile away. Start every day with breakfast views of a glorious sunrise gently emerging above the peaceful ocean. Usher in each evening with mesmerizing vistas of golden-hued sunsets rippling across the majestic Indian River.
A nature-lover’s paradise
This Ocean-to-River Beach House sits at the southern terminus of the Indian River, the most biologically diverse estuary in all North America (according to marinelife samples taken by the Florida Oceanographic Society marine biologists in May 2015 ... samples taken just yards away from this home's dock!) From the dock, tiki hut, or oceanfront deck, watch manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles frolic year-round. Birdlife abounds with ibis, egrets, herons, warblers, pelicans and more. And fishing? Well, let's just say that while a Publix supermarket is conveniently located just a few blocks down the street, you'll never need to buy fish from the market during your stay.
A water wonderland
In addition to the private beach, enjoy your own private dock adjacent to tiki-hut entertainment deck, complete with complimentary fishing equipment (fully-stocked tackle & gear), snorkeling gear, and even complimentary water toys like paddleboards, surfboards, kayaks, rafts and more. If you're not bringing your own boat or jet skis, rent just a few hundred yards away from your private dock!
A treasure chest of delight
Carpe Diem sits smack dab in the middle of the "Treasure Coast". To this very day, gold doubloons, pieces of eight and other spanish treasure still occasionally wash up along Hutchinson Island, especially following big storms during the summer (Complimentary beach-comber metal-detectors are provided.)
Help preserve our pristine area
The waters in and around the beach house are among the most biologically rich and environmentally sensitive in the entire United States. The owners of the home are ardent supporters of local environmental groups for 20+ years, with financial support and contributions well into the 7 figures.
Help preserve the natural beauty and sensitive ecosystem surrounding the home:
- Do not touch or approach dolphins, sea turtles and manatees (who sometimes swim near the end of the dock). These are protected species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife officers in their boats have powerful binoculars; they WILL arrest you.
- Be responsible with your fishing tackle. Avoid leaving behind loose lines, hooks and other tackle after a successful day fishing. (Pelicans, egrets, herons and other birdlife get tangled in fish lines or snagged by hooks ... or by fish they've caught who still have a hook in their mouth.)
- Do not litter (this includes urinating into the water, emptying alcohol or soda into the water, and so on.)
Property Details
Bedrooms: 7
Baths: 6
Sleeps: 18Amenities
Oceanfront
Pet Friendly
Dock
Resort Access
Riverfront
Heated Pool
Kid Friendly
Riverfront Recreation Area 
Hot Tub
Free WiFi (1GB+)OceanfrontHeated PoolPet FriendlyKid FriendlyDockRiverfront Recreation AreaResort AccessHot TubRiverfrontFree WiFi (1GB+)Cancellation Policy
Photo Gallery
Highlights:
Exterior:
Heated Oceanfront Pool:
First Floor Living Areas:
Second Floor with Bedrooms:
Observation Deck that Doubles as a Bedroom:
Ground Floor Apartment (separate entrance):
Guest Book
Previous guests have posted zillions of reviews online, at all the different travel websites, Facebook, Google Reviews, Yelp and beyond. Even more elect to do it “the old-fashioned way” . . . by making hand-written entries into a physical journal located at the home itself:
Guest Memories
Previous guests have generously contributed photos and videos, submitted to us or posted publicly on social media, about their group enjoying fun activities during their stay at Carpe Diem:
Map
FAQ
- Are boats and jet skis included?
- All human-powered toys you see — from bikes to kayaks, from paddle boards to snorkels — are included free with your rental. (Note that surfboards tend to be highly specialized items that many of our guests bring themselves. If you would like to rent surfboards, they are available from several providers.) Motorized items — such as jet skis, boats, cars, or RV’s — can be rented from nearby providers.
- Are there alligators?
- Alligators don't exist in this part of Florida. (Gators can't survive near the beach in saltwater environments; they live only inland, where there is plenty of fresh water.) At Carpe Diem, both the river and ocean are salty.
- Can I combine a Florida beach house vacation with a Disney World Orlando vacation?
- Yes. For those interested in combining a beach house experience with Mickey Mouse, Disney World, Universal, and all the other Orlando Resorts: It's a two-hour drive from Carpe Diem to Disney and Orlando, driving along the Florida Turnpike. (Avoid the Interstate). Many vacationing families in our beach home community will spend a week bringing three (or four) generations together in a Florida beach house, then "spin off" the younger side of the family to Disney World for a few days.
- Can I bring my pet?
- All properties are pet-friendly, & beaches are pet-friendly, too! You'll find several pet amenities at your beach house, including pet gates, pet walk area, bowls & beds, and our favorite, a "Pet Spa" outdoor washdown station that's great for rinsing off sandy paws, or even a full bath.
Note: Our owners configure a non-refundable $95 fee per pet, which is passed on to the cleaning-and-restocking company. This fee coversthe cost of extra post-stay work necessary to revert the property to its normal dander-free condition (which is sometimes required by guests who have allergies and require a 100% dander-free indoor experience). - Is there a list of the contents of the beach house?
- At Beach Houses in Paradise, “We stock heavy, so you can travel light". Since our homes are so fully stocked — intended to provide you with a no-hassles, turnkey beach-house vacation. it's easier to share with you the list of what isn't stocked at your beach house.
- No fresh produce or groceries — As groceries are subject to personal taste, and are perishable, we leave that to you. (At BHIP, you'll find nearby big-box grocery stores like Publix and Fresh Market. And chains like Publix deliver directly to your beach house, via InstaCart). Exception: Each home features a fully stocked hot beverage station, featuring complimentary fresh coffee, Nespresso, Bigelow tea selection, condiments, and much more.
- No personal clothing — You won't find sunhats, sunglasses or other articles of clothing, but you will find an assortment of river shoes / sandals (in varying sizes) that are very handy for walking on hot beach sand in the summertime, or walking in the river near docks (there can sometimes be stones or barnacles near the docks). You'll also find snorkel gear (with flippers & masks) in assorted sizes at the home, plus water safety jackets in assorted sizes, from infant/toddler to 4X large.
- No personal toiletries & grooming items — Although we supply his-and-her personal toiletry kits in every bathroom, these are meant as safety nets in case you left your toothbrush/toothpaste at home (or deodorant or other essentials).