The Cove - Houseboat Serenity - Vacation rental home in Wilmington, NC

About this Property

• Sleeps 6
• 2 Bedrooms
• 2 Bathrooms
• House boat
• Approximately 1200 square feet

Welcome to The Cove, Wilmington's most unique vacation rental community.

Floating atop the Cape Fear River, our Riverwalk Villa community offers an experience unlike any you've had before.

From the gentle rocking of the river, to the peaceful view of the sunset, your stay at The Cove is sure to leave you feeling refreshed, restored, and wanting to return again soon.

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The space:

After parking in our complimentary lot and making the 5 min. walk down onto the docks of the Port City Marina, you’ll arrive at The Cove, Riverwalk Villas. Secured with dock ties and connected to electricity and water, you'll quickly realize that a stay at our dockside community offers the ideal mix of adventure, luxury and relaxation.

Upon entering your villa, you’ll notice the roomy open concept kitchen/dining/living area and think to yourself, "I should have brought more friends!" (Don't worry, there's always next time.)

Cooking & Eating:
With a dining table that seats four, three benches along the island, and a kitchen supplied with everything you need to make a great meal, you could actually host your next Thanksgiving here. Complementary coffee, creamer and sugar are supplied, alongside a drip coffee maker.

Living Room 1:
If cooking isn't your idea of fun, you may be more drawn to the charmingly decorated downstairs living space, where you can relax on the comfortable couch surrounded by tall windows that overlook the Marina.

Bathroom 1:
Just past the common area is the first floor bathroom, which features a walk-in shower and full size washer and dryer. Complementary shampoo, conditioner and body wash are included in each of the bathrooms, as well as laundry pods, dryer sheets, hair dryer and a steamer.

Bedroom 1 (Queen):
Connected by a pocket door is the downstairs bedroom with a Queen bed, huge closet, ceiling fan, 40" Intelligent TV, and access door to the cozy back patio; a great spot for some peaceful reading or alone time.

Living Room 2 (Couch bed):
As you make your way upstairs, you'll discover another enormous living space with a sectional couch (with pull out sleeper), 60" Intelligent TV, desk and chair, and a handsome view of the Cape Fear River through the sliding glass doors.

Upstairs Patio:
Just outside those doors, you'll find yourself on a sizable patio featuring an outdoor bar (sink & mini refrigerator), and a variety of cozy furnishings options. This patio is a fan favorite for everything from morning coffee, afternoon reading, evening spirits, or appreciating a meal. In the Summer months, you'll often hear live music coming from Marina Grille, our delicious on-site restaurant, or Live Oak Bank Pavilion Amphitheater, which is only a block away.

Bedroom 2 (King):
Back inside and beyond the living room is the second floor bedroom, featuring a King bed, dresser, huge closet, ceiling fan & 55" Intelligent TV.

Bathroom 2:
The pocket door connects you from the bedroom to the second floor full bath.

Location:

The Cove is located in Port City Marina, which sits on the North end of the Riverwalk in Downtown Wilmington. Just a few steps from the Wilmington Convention Center and one block from both The Wilson Center, and Live Nation's Live Oak Bank Pavilion Amphitheater, a stay at The Cove offers the ideal solution for those wanting to avoid the chaos of parking, event traffic, and needing a DD.

Less than a mile away you'll find the heart of Historic Downtown Wilmington. Whether you choose to stroll along the Riverwalk, take the complimentary trolley, or drive a few blocks down Water Street, getting there is simple. With many local stores, eateries, breweries, live music, and events, Downtown offers something for everybody to savor. Check out our Guidebook or "Wilmington and Beaches" online for recommendations and events.

Beyond the borders of Downtown, a fast 8 min. drive or Uber ride will get you to the Wilmington International Airport (ILM), and within a 10 mile radius you'll find Wrightsville Beach, Jungle Rapids amusement/water park, UNCW (Go Seahawks!) and much more.

If you're interested in bringing your boat, our friends at Port City Marina would appreciate to rent you a slip! Please reach out to them directly to coordinate that for the dates of your stay.

If this Villa is not available during your preferred time frame, please check out the listings for our other Riverwalk Villas at The Cove, and don't hesitate to reach out for assistance. We would adore to have you Stay Afloat!

About the Area

This houseboat is located in Wilmington Historic District, a neighborhood in Wilmington. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach, while Battleship North Carolina and Live Oak Bank Pavilion are cultural highlights. Wilmington Railroad Museum and Children's Museum of Wilmington are also worth visiting.

Special Instructions

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Pet Policy

Pets not allowed

Tips and Tricks to get the optimal Cape Fear area rental experience:

Finding the best rental home value:

• Summertime is high season in Wilmington. To find the best value, change your group's vacation to the Spring or Fall months. May, September, and even October offer pleasant temperatures, , and greatly reduced traffic. Many vacationers use this method to reserve larger homes, or to reserve an oceanfront vacation rental that would otherwise be unaffordable during the Summer. Speaking of the off-season, don't overlook Winter holidays for a Cape Fear area vacation! Who wouldn't love a holiday vacation near the ocean? Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are great times to gather with loved ones at your favorite beach.
• The earlier you can reserve a vacation rental, the easier your search will be. The best vacation rentals are booked very early. Reserving your vacation home up to twelve months before your vacation is recommended. Holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving are excellent times to plan and book your vacation rental.
• Some owners offer discounts or promotional rates for active duty military and veterans. Ask your host or property manager if special discounts are available for your family before you book.
• Property managers usually offer renters an option to obtain trip insurance protection. Trip insurance, which commonly costs anywhere between 1% - 5% of the reservation price, offers visitors reimbursement of their vacation costs for any missed trip time as a result of medical-related issues or weather disasters, as well as evacuation charges, such as an unanticipated hotel or extra fuel expenses. Trip insurance is definitely a life-saver if the unforeseen happens. Ask the property owner for more information.
• Look for your local visitors guide upon checking in. If your rental home doesn't have a copy, you can find them at local shops and visitor centers. In addition to great local information, travel guides have money saving offers on nearby tours, shops, and attractions.

How to choose and book the best Cape Fear area rental:

• Select your vacation dates and budget.
• Decide how many bedrooms and the configuration your family requires. The Cove - Houseboat Serenity has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
• Precise descriptions of bedrooms and bed counts is regularly accessible online. If not, email or call the host before reserving your home. Remember that most property listings specify the maximum guest capacity, which usually includes sofa beds in living rooms.
• Visiting for a single attraction or event? If so, use a map search to browse nearby rentals.
• Appropriate accessibility can make or break a vacation for guests with disabilities. Make certain to inquire about wheel chair entry, pool lifts and specialized equipment needs.
• Traveling with pets? Many vacation homes allow animals, but guidelines and restrictions apply. Allowable pet type, breed, and size are often limited. Make sure to ask before booking, and study your agreement thoroughly! Extra fees or costs might be applied to your invoice.

Advice for a wonderful stay:

• Get the host's contact number and entry/exit procedures for your rental home. We recommend storing the manager's contact information in your smartphone and wallet.
• To make sure damages aren't linked to your visit, inspect for any problem areas upon check in. Make contact with the host right away to relay any damages. If there is a dispute about legal responsibility later, having a record of problems and contact attempts will be useful.
• Hosts are there to help! Don't be shy to ask questions during your stay.
• Don't forget to respect your neighbors. Often, surrounding homes are filled by local residents. Respecting quiet hours and parking policies is the right thing to do.
• Don't forget to... Ask a local! Neighbors can frequently point you in the right direction. Who better to ask where to spend a rainy day, have a great night out, or the best spots for shopping?
• Lock your vacation home while you are out. Protect the owner's property and your stuff!
• Double-check every room of the property to confirm that you've packed everything at departure. Check bathrooms, dressers, and closets for hidden items. Remove everything from the refrigerator and take any leftovers home.
• Record a video to document the condition of the property.
• Did your family have a terrific time? Many rental websites make it easy for vacationers to provide comments. If your property and/or property manager was great, they would love to hear it. If anything was imperfect and they failed to fix it reasonably, or if the vacation rental wasn't as described, you'll want to make a note as part of your comments.