Staying at Emily 46 is like vacationing on a houseboat—without fears of getting seasick. The 2-bedroom cottage is located on San Carlos Island, with Estero Island and the pristine white sands of Fort Myers Beach to the south and the mainland to the north. From the cottage’s private dock you can launch a boat into Hurricane Bay, fish for snook, or simply kick back in a deck chair and watch dolphins—and maybe even manatees—cavort in the waters.

You don’t have to be on the dock to relish the sight of the sparkling bay and the seabirds soaring across the sky. Emily 46’s screened-in sunroom offers the same view. Large windows and sliding glass doors onto the dock also provide you with front-row view from the living and dining rooms. When you open the windows to let in the salt-kissed breeze, you’d swear you were floating on the bay.

Sunny and bright, the living room of Emily 46 is furnished with plenty of seating so that the whole family can spend time together (and isn’t that what a vacation is all about?). Stretch out on the sofa and watch a movie on the HDTV with cable, nestle in an armchair with your tablet and surf the web, gather around the coffee table for a game of Uno: In other words, make yourself right at home.

San Carlos Island has plenty of restaurants, as does Estero Island, easily accessible via the Matanzas Pass Bridge. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a restaurant with a view as glorious as that of Emily 46’s, so you might prefer to eat in. If you reel in a catch, either from your dock or while aboard one of the many fishing charters, you can cook it up on the outdoor grill or in the cottage’s kitchen. Though compact, the kitchen is equipped with all the appliances, cookware, and tableware you’ll need, whether you’re whipping up a hearty breakfast of pancakes and sausages or reheating restaurant leftovers. You can savor your meal at the sunroom’s table, in the dining room, or even at the kitchen table. You might want to reserve that table, however, for playing board games or working on crafts.

Decorated in whites and creams, the primary bedroom is a cocoon of comfort. Sprawl out on the queen-size bed and watch TV, surf the web, read, or let the gentle breeze of the ceiling fan lull you to sleep. (Don’t worry; Emily 46 has air-conditioning as well!) Furnished in the same serene palette, the 2nd bedroom includes a pair of twin beds, making it perfect for the kids. Additional guests can bunk in the living room; the sofa converts into a bed for 2.

As well as a full bathroom with a spacious shower, Emily 46 has a convenient half-bath. When you arrive you’ll find all the beds beautifully made up, extra bedding ready and waiting, and plenty of clean towels, so you won’t have to load up your luggage with linens from home. In fact, because the cottage has its own washer and dryer, you can pack lighter than usual.

Emily 46 is so restful and surrounded by so much serene beauty, you might not want to leave it at all except to sail along the bay. If you do decide to go farther afield, though, there’s plenty to see and do. It takes only about 10 minutes to drive or bike to Fort Myers Beach and the Gulf of Mexico, where you can swim, parasail, paddleboard, or bodysurf. Also, on Estero Island is Times Square. Much cleaner and friendlier than its New York namesake, this Times Square is abuzz with restaurants, bars, shops, and street performers. Nature-lovers will want to visit Lovers Key State Park, where you can hike along wetland trails, canoe or kayak along estuaries, and bike among mangroves.

If you’ve long dreamed of waterfront living, here’s your chance. Book your stay at Emily 46 today and make your dream a reality.