Serendipity

Ottawa

2 Bedrooms 2.5 Bathrooms 6 Sleeps 2178 sq. ft. Pets OK

Welcome to Serendipity
The Villas • Heritage Harbor Marina Resort • Illinois River • Managed by Harbor Inn Vacation Rentals

Nestled in the heart of Starved Rock Country, Serendipity is a charming waterfront cottage located in The Villas neighborhood of Heritage Harbor. With river views, cozy interiors, and plenty of porch space to relax, this home is the perfect blend of comfort and adventure.

Home Features:
This two-level cottage combines modern comfort with timeless charm. The first floor offers an open layout connecting the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, ideal for gathering with family and friends. The gas fireplace with a shiplap surround creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. With four porches—including a screened-in option—you’ll always have a cozy spot to enjoy the outdoors.

Main Level:
✔ Open-concept kitchen, living room, and dining area
✔ Half bathroom
✔ Access to multiple porches including screened-in option

Second Level:
✔ Primary Bedroom: Queen bed + ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower
✔ Second Bedroom: Full-over-Queen bunk bed + hall bathroom with tub/shower combo

Outdoor Living:
Relax on one of the four porches, enjoy evenings in the screened-in space, or take a stroll through The Villas and Heritage Harbor to soak up the riverside atmosphere.

Parking:
One designated parking spots are included with your stay.

Perks & Amenities:
✔ 2 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms
✔ Sleeps up to 6 guests
✔ Fully equipped kitchen
✔ Gas fireplace with shiplap surround
✔ Four porches including screened-in porch
✔ River views
✔ Washer & dryer
✔ Pet-friendly (up to 2 dogs, 75 lbs. max, $125 non-refundable pet fee)

Interaction with Guests:
The Harbor Inn team is on-site daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. to help with any needs, from dining suggestions to planning outdoor activities.

House Rules:
• Quiet Hours: 10 p.m. – 7 a.m.
• No parties, events, or tents
• Pet-friendly: Max 2 dogs, 75 lbs. each, $125 non-refundable pet fee. Pets must be leashed in public areas and crated when left unattended. $300 fine for non-compliance.
• No smoking anywhere on the property ($500 fine for non-compliance)

Explore & Adventure:
Your stay at Serendipity places you steps away from everything Heritage Harbor has to offer. Enjoy pontoon rentals, Hobie boards, cruiser bikes, fat tire bikes, kayaking, hiking trails, craft beer and wine tastings, and more. With downtown Ottawa just minutes away, you’ll have access to shops, dining, and live music throughout the week.

Serendipity is professionally managed by Harbor Inn Vacation Rentals, your locally owned and operated hospitality team based right here at Heritage Harbor.

Rooms

Master Bedroom

1 Queen

2nd Bedroom

1 Bunk

Amenities

Attractions

  • Marina

Essentials

  • Air Conditioning
  • Bed Linens
  • Dryer
  • Extra Pillows & Blankets
  • Parking
  • Towels
  • Hair Dryer
  • Hangers
  • Heating
  • Hot Water
  • Iron & Ironing Board
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Wifi
  • Free wifi
  • Living Room
  • Private Entrance
  • Fireplace

Kitchen

  • Coffee Maker
  • Cooking Basics
  • Dishes & Silverware
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster
  • Oven
  • Stove
  • Kitchen Island
  • Dining table

Facility

  • Free Parking

Home Safety

  • Smoke Detector
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • First Aid Kit

Location

  • Resort
  • Water View

Pool

  • Communal Pool

Sports

  • Pickleball
  • Sand Volleyball
  • Hiking
  • Swimming

Local

  • Fitness Center
  • Hospital

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Family

  • Bathtub

Outdoor

  • Patio or Balcony
  • Grill

Accommodations

  • One Night Stays
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Reviews

September 1, 2025 - Website

by Mike M
We’ve stayed at Heritage Harbor six different times and each time was great! Harbor side or riverside, both different vibes, all amazing!! Loved our stay, and we’ll be back!!
Thank you for being such a loyal guest! We love that you’ve been able to experience both the harbor side and riverside stays—each does have its own unique charm. We’re so glad each visit has been amazing, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for your next getaway!
July 1, 2025 - Website

by Kim P
The view of the river from either porch was fantastic! The calmness of the river in the morning…to the crazy carp jumping in the evening was a treat. You’re up close and personal with an occasional barge coming by. A real hit for the grandkids. You can literally walk out the back door and skip rocks on the river.The house was clean and plenty of room for 2 adults, 2 children and 2 fur babies. The kitchen is well stocked for a rental. Nice to have a washer and dryer, particularly for wet towels after an afternoon at the pool. We were there during the week so the beautiful landscaped neighborhood was quiet. Would rent again.
Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed review! We're so happy to hear how much you and your family—grandkids and fur babies included—enjoyed your stay. It sounds like you made the most of everything from the peaceful river mornings to the evening carp show! We’re glad the home had everything you needed for a comfortable stay, and we’d love to welcome you back for another relaxing getaway anytime.
December 1, 2024 - Website

by Donna
The communication with the manager was excellent
November 1, 2024 - Website

by Thomas
Everything was perfect. Our only problem was no cable TV or satellite. Since Roku doesn't broadcast football games and gets very few local channels, we weren't too pleased with that. It would be nice if the rental description would let renters know that the home only has Roku TV.
Thank you for staying with us and for sharing your feedback! We’re so happy to hear that everything else about your stay was perfect.We’re sorry for the frustration with the TV setup and completely understand how important catching those football games can be. Your suggestion to include more details about the Roku-only setup in the rental description is a great one, and we’ll make sure to update that so future guests know what to expect.We appreciate your input and hope to have the chance to host you again in the future!
October 1, 2024 - Website

by Darlene
Beautiful view. The best part was the porch overlooking the river. The house was adorable and comfortable. I wouldn’t give it top stars for cleanliness but we had everything we needed. Just bring your own garbage bags and laundry soap. People next door were so loud for hours non stop and that came in the way of our relaxing in the back. But overall, the place was just wonderful.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're so glad you enjoyed the beautiful view and the comfort of the house, especially the porch overlooking the river—it really is a special spot. We sincerely apologize for the noise from the neighbors during your stay. We understand how important peace and relaxation are, especially when you're trying to unwind in such a serene setting, and we're sorry this impacted your experience.We also appreciate your feedback on the cleanliness and supplies, and we’ll make sure to address these concerns moving forward to improve future stays. We're grateful that, despite these issues, you still found the place to be wonderful, and we truly hope to welcome you back for an even more peaceful and enjoyable stay next time. Thank you again for sharing your experience with us.
September 1, 2024 - Website

by Edward
The refrigerator water filter needs to be changed
Thank you for your feedback! We appreciate you bringing the refrigerator water filter to our attention. We'll make sure it gets replaced right away to ensure everything is in top shape for future stays.
July 1, 2024 - Website

by Cassie
Serendipity was the perfect summer getaway for the family. The house location was perfect, right on the river, and waking up to sunrise with a cup of coffee on the porch outside the master bedroom was a priceless, peaceful experience that made each day just that much better. There was plenty of space to spread out and the kitchen was well appointed with everything we needed to cook meals from home when we wanted to. The resort staff were helpful and easy to reach when we had questions or needed help. We look forward to returning to this home again and again.
July 1, 2024 - Website

by Janice
Loved our stay! We’ll be back for sure!!
July 1, 2024 - Website

by Susan
Great place and location.
May 1, 2024 - Website

by Gina
We really enjoyed staying at Serendipity. The house was wonderfully decorated, very cozy and relaxing. The views from the back porch and patio were fantastic. Location couldn’t have been better to the marina, bar, and restaurant.
April 1, 2024 - Website

by Leslie
We will be back!
April 1, 2024 - Website

by patricia
I stated serendipity back in December as well. And my only thing that I would really like for that house to have is lighting beside every bed of some kind and also by the Couch and chairs… Some of us like to read and we need a little light. Thank you everything else was totally wonderfully perfectly magically beautiful
March 1, 2024 - Website

by Bryan
Stayed here for spring weekend with my Mom to get away. Home was relaxing, clean, cozy and both back patios wonderful to sit on and watch the river, calmness and occasional boat.The staff at the Welcome Center were fantastic. Rich was very helpful with information and suggestions.
March 1, 2024 - Website

by Elba
Loved the home and the view. Very peaceful.
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