Go Boating for a Unique Bed & Breakfast at Sea

by Leigh Cort

With the anticipation of Spring, there was only one 'escape' that lured us out of our winter nest for a weekend away. We wanted to experience an outdoor adventure that friends hadn't yet found, as well as keeping the stress of long-distance travel reduced to strolling, sunning and sipping beverages as others whizzed by.

The solution appeared as miraculously as the whim to run away to St. Augustine...and it had just docked at the threshold of our favorite City. SeaClusion, a 38' Chien Hwa Flybridge trawler motoryacht, presented a unique "Bed and Boat" experience, an extraordinary match for a private romantic getaway. It promised comfortable accommodations overlooking the famous Bridge of Lions with the 'Old City' to the starboard... permanently moored at the St. Augustine Marina in the scenic Matanzas Bay.

We were glad to learn that the SeaClusion was docked in the center of all of St. Augustine's treasures, awaiting visitors that possess a spirit of adventure. It seemed that our names naturally belonged on the passenger list and so the die was cast for a memorable, romantic weekend.

Check-in began at the Casa de Solana Bed & Breakfast (circa 1803), an historic inn just two short blocks from the Marina. We bid our car adieu for two days of bliss, which, in itself, was one of the most poignant examples of 'carefree'. The joy of not driving was a throwback to childhood beach vacations that are indelibly sweet and innocent, which is precisely what our sojourn became.

Packing light was our motto, knowing that St. Augustine is a very casual city with a myriad of outdoor restaurants, boutiques and galleries. And staying on a boat limited my love for high heels to only thinking about them twice...dinner both evenings. What a revelation that I could survive a weekend wearing only sandals and bare feet while aboard!

The yacht was a very comfy home-away-from-home. We walked along the dock to Slip #82 and the SeaClusion glistened in the midday sun. The top deck had enough chairs to accommodate six...and the view of the St. Augustine skyline was breathtaking. I began to realize that the water's gentle motion and lovely breezes were lulling me into relaxation. (CONTINUE...)