I'm a water person. My husband and I own an older ski boat that we fondly refer to as "The Family Boatster" and take it out every chance we get. Whenever I'm near a body of water, I can feel my blood pressure drop and my pace of life slow down to what it's supposed to be. Maybe it's because I'm a Cancer - a water sign - or maybe I'm like most of you who just find being on the water incredibly calming.

Given my love for the water, when I was presented with the opportunity to stay in a floating villa in Wilmington, North Carolina, I jumped at the chance. Wilmington has long been on my list of places to visit and these villas are not your everyday houseboats. One of my lifelong friends agreed to take the trip with me and we made the easy journey from the Cincinnati area via plane to Raleigh, then drove two hours to scenic Wilmington.

The Cove Riverwalk Villas in Wilmington, North Carolina are essentially a "street" of luxury, floating villas, moored to the beautiful Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River. I was originally drawn to them because of their location on the water, but I can assure you that even if the floating aspect makes you weary, you feel as if your feet are always on firm ground.

The Cove offers 35 of these floating villas and each one has its own name and interior theme. We stayed in number 28, Balance, the perfect name for a getaway spot to relax and reprioritize, while experiencing a bit of luxury on the water.

I had seen plenty of photos of the exterior and interior of these homes, but I was still blown away by the vibe and furnishings, both inside and out. Our particular villa was filled with comfortable furniture, soothing decor, and quite literally a harmonious balance of black and white. The attention to detail within each villa is one of many above and beyond features at The Cove.

Before we even got settled, we explored the spacious houseboat, its two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and multiple living spaces. And of course the star on top of this perfectly balanced escape was the balcony overlooking the marina and river. We spent the bulk of our time out here, working from the table or relaxing in the comfortable lounge furniture that's situated next to the outdoor bar area.

When visiting Wilmington, you have to take advantage of the delicious dining scene, but we also loved that our villa had a full kitchen, so we were able to stop and grab a few groceries to keep on hand. The Cove makes arrival very easy with specific directions and helpful tips. We parked in the designated lot, just a block up from the villas, took a quick walk to the gated marina, and then it was just a short stroll between the floating homes to reach number 28.

We spent a lot of our daytime exploring Wilmington, but we knew we wanted to be back at the villa for sunset. The Cove's location is perfect for walking along the Riverwalk and exploring downtown. Every route is scenic and offers either water views or takes you through historic buildings and charming walkways.

We enjoyed an early sunset margarita at Tequila's Waterfront, just across the marina, and then relaxed on the balcony of Balance to watch the sun dip below the river.

We both slept incredibly well the two nights we were there and as a side note, we never felt the boat move. Every once in awhile, you could see it rock slightly, but this was not an issue at all. As early risers, we were back out on that balcony first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee.

You could easily plan a trip to Wilmington just for the opportunity to stay in one of these luxury floating villas. I would even call it a bucket list - worthy experience, especially for those who love the water like me. But Wilmington does have so much to offer and we loved our time both at The Cove and exploring the city. On our last day, we took a ride on the river with Wilmington Water Tours (highly recommend!) and got to wave goodbye to our villa from the boat.

The Cove Riverwalk Villas are ideal for practically anyone who wants to visit Wilmington or just wants a unique and relaxing getaway. During our visit, a large family was staying in several of the villas and I'm not sure they ever left the "street." I chatted with them and they shared cooking responsibilities, hung out in the common area that overlooks the river and Battleship North Carolina and seemed to love every minute of their trip, just as we did.

You can find all of the details to plan your own stay on The Cove Riverwalk Villas website and you can see booking details on our specific villa, Balance, on Airbnb.

Per journalistic integrity, I must disclose that my friend and I were hosted by The Cove Riverwalk Villas for our two-night stay. However, all opinions, photos, and experiences are my own.