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“I Didn’t Know I Needed This” – A Story from Marco Island

I booked The Boathouse Motel on a whim. I was tired—of city noise, of rushing, of forgetting to breathe. I needed a break that didn’t involve schedules or screens.

When I pulled up, the sign was simple. The breeze smelled like saltwater and jasmine. And when I opened the door to my room? Water. Right there, stretching out beyond the dock, catching the last bit of sunlight.

There wasn’t a front desk crowd, no elevators humming—just soft laughter from the guests next door and a pelican skimming across the canal. That first night, I sat on the deck with a beer and watched the sky blush itself to sleep. I felt my shoulders drop for the first time in months.

The next morning, I walked to the corner café, pet a golden retriever, and booked a boat tour with a local guide who actually knew every dolphin by name.

That weekend, I didn’t “do” much. But I remembered how to feel still. How to be.

The Boathouse Motel isn’t flashy. It’s not a “luxury resort.” It’s better. It’s quiet, real, personal. It feels like someone’s letting you borrow a little slice of peace—and trusting you to make it your own.

And I’ll be back. Because now I know… I need this.

🌊 www.theboathousemotel.com 📍 Marco Island,