Marco Island is positioned about one hour south of Fort Myers and two hours west of Miami on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast. It’s a part of the Ten Thousand Islands on the southern tip of Florida’s Paradise Coast and is a well-liked weekend getaway vacation spot for Floridians and East Coasters. Whereas the broad, white sand seaside on the Gulf of Mexico attracts seaside lovers, there are many different enjoyable issues to do in Marco Island.
This trip vacation spot gives a mixture of high-end resorts and trip leases, however doesn’t appeal to the identical crowds as Naples, Marco Island’s neighbor half-hour to the north. Situated simply north of the Everglades and Large Cypress Nationwide Protect, there’s loads of nature to discover past the inns.
Enjoyable Issues to do in Marco Island, Florida
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We spent 5 days in Marco Island and Naples for a pre-Christmas getaway. We’ve visited the Florida Keys and the Gulf Coast prior to now, however we actually fell in love with Marco Island.
The seaside isn’t that sugar-soft white sand of Clearwater, however looking at that broad stretch of white sand lined with palm bushes and seaside cabanas made it really feel that we traveled a lot additional south than a three-hour direct flight from Windfall to Fort Myers.
These are among the finest issues to do in Marco Island or see extra issues to do on the Paradise Coast:
1. Go for a Dolphin Watch
The Dolphin Explorer eco-tour was the primary exercise I booked when planning my journey to Marco Island. Sadly, the rain and a small craft advisory put a damper on my plans, however I’ll need to strive once more after I return.
This three-hour eco-tour introduces guests to the dolphins of the Ten Thousand Islands Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and the Rookery Bay Nationwide Estuarine Analysis Reserve. The tour additionally features a cease on a Barrier Seaside for some shelling.
The Dolphin Explorer is positioned at 951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL
2. Shell and Sunbathe on South Marco Island Seaside
Tigertail Seaside and South Marco Island Seaside are the most effective on the island. There are a number of entry factors and public parking alongside the seaside, plus that is the place you will discover most of the inns and resorts.
Chances are you’ll need to convey alongside water sneakers to keep away from the sharper shells and plan to get the shelling stoop as you bend over deciding on among the finest shells to take residence.
3. Go Paddling
You may lease a kayak or paddle board from Parco Marco to paddle via mangroves or discover the outer barrier islands and sand bars.
Parco Marco is positioned at Caxambas Park, 909 Collier Ct, Marco Island, FL
In the event you don’t need to discover by yourself, Marco Island Boat Excursions additionally runs boat-assisted eco-kayak excursions that embody a strolling tour with a naturalist.
Marco Island Boat Excursions is positioned at Goodland Boating Park, 740 Palm Level Drive, Goodland, FL
4. Make a Splash with Marco Island Watersports
In case you are prepared for some journey and pleasure, Marco Island Watersports gives wave runner leases, parasailing, and banana boat rides. You’ll find Marco Island Watersports on the JW Marriott Marco Island.
Marco Island Watersports is positioned on the JW Marriott Marco Island, 400 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island, FL
5. Eat Stone Crab Claws
In the event you go to between mid-October and Could, you need to make it some extent to strive some native stone crab claws. You will see them on many menus, however in order for you them recent, head right down to Goodland or Everglades Metropolis. Metropolis Seafood is likely one of the many institutions in Everglades Metropolis to supply recent seafood to go or eat at its waterfront restaurant and tiki bar.
Metropolis Seafood is positioned at 702 Begonia St, Everglades Metropolis, FL
6. Take a Sundown Cruise
The Gulf Coast of Florida is understood for its spectacular sunsets. When you can admire the sundown from a seaside, you may as well take a sundown cruise to see the sweetness from each angle. There are lots of choices, however if you wish to mix dinner with a sundown cruise, the Marco Island Princess gives sundown dinner cruises from Rose Marina.
Marco Island Princess is positioned at Rose Marina, 951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL
7. Go to the Marco Island Historic Museum
In the event you want a wet day exercise, the Marco Island Historic Museum gives perception into Southwest Florida’s Calusa Indians. The museum contains artifacts courting again so far as the late 1800s.
Marco Island Historic Museum is positioned at 180 S. Heathwood Dr. Marco Island, FL
8. Take an Airboat Tour
In Marco Island, you’re lower than an hour away from the Everglades and it’s a good alternative to take an airboat tour. There are lots of choices, however we selected to go along with Wootens Airboat excursions. They provide each 30-minute airboat excursions via the mangroves and grasslands, in addition to a 30-minute Swamp Buggy Tour that brings you thru the river of grass of the Everglades.
You’ll get to see alligators, birds, and different wildlife. Wootens additionally has an animal sanctuary with rescued alligators and gives kayaking as properly.
Wootens is positioned at 32330 Tamiami Path E, Ochopee, FL
9. Go to Large Cypress Nature Reserve
Large Cypress Swamp is a freshwater swamp that helps the marine estuaries alongside Florida’s southwest coast. Large Cypress Nationwide Protect covers 729,000 acres and is residence to a variety of vegetation and wildlife, together with the Florida panther.
The Large Cypress Welcome Heart is open within the winter and gives repeatedly scheduled Ranger-led swamp walks, canoe/kayak journeys, bike rides, and different particular actions and occasions.
Large Cypress Nature Protect is positioned at 33100 Tamiami Path East, Ochopee, FL
10. Discover Fakahatchee Strand Protect State Park
Southwest of Marco Island you will discover the Fakahatchee Strand Protect State Park, the most important state park in Florida. The park is residence to bald cypress forests, native royal palms, and orchids. Guests can stroll the Large Cypress Bend boardwalk to a virgin cypress strand or take guided swamp walks or tram excursions from November via April. This park is ideal for nature lovers, kayakers, and chicken watchers.
The Fakahatchee Strand Protect is positioned at 137 Shoreline Dr, Copeland, Fl
11. See Everglades Nationwide Park
Situated on the sting of the Everglades, you’ll be remiss to skip exploring a little bit of this huge wetland that covers 1.5 million acres. There are three entrances, together with one in Everglades Metropolis simply 40 minutes south of Marco Island.
From this location, you may take a 90-minute Ten Thousand Islands Cruise, lease canoes or kayaks, or take a guided canoe or kayak tour.
12. Go Fishing
Marco Island is likely one of the finest locations for year-round sport fishing. You will see Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, and Sea Trout across the Ten Thousand Islands. In the event you select to exit deeper into the Gulf of Mexico, you may catch Grouper, Snapper, King Mackeral, Little Tuni, shark, and Cobia.
13. Go to Miccosukee Indian Village
In case you are keen to go a little bit additional afield or you’re driving throughout Alligator Alley to Miami, you may go to the Miccosukee Indian Village within the Everglades. Right here you may see alligator demonstrations, take an airboat tour, and be taught concerning the Miccosukee lifestyle.
Miccosukee Indian Village is positioned at Mile Marker 36, US-41, Miami, FL 33194
The place to Keep on Marco Island
We actually beloved our keep on the JW Marriott Marco Island. The foyer is styled a bit like a Polynesian resort, placing you within the trip temper. The resort gives two swimming pools, one with a zero-entry, a small waterslide, and a splash space for young children. Your resort price contains seaside chairs and repair on the resort’s part of the general public seaside, which stretches broad with white sand.
Nevertheless, not like Clearwater, this sand is coarse with crushed shells, a part of what makes Sanibel and Captiva to the north so nice for shelling. The water is the standard blue-green of the Gulf Coast, with small waves making it very family-friendly. I might simply suggest bringing water sneakers and a string bag for shell gathering.
Every evening at sundown, Quinn’s by the seaside places on a every day sundown celebration with flame torch juggling. Households collect round to look at this enjoyable custom. The JW Marriott Marco Island has 12 eating choices, together with a frozen yogurt store and occasional store serving up Illy espresso.
One in every of our favourite options was 10K Alley, which is a gastro pub with over 60 craft beers and a gaming arcade. The arcade is open to youngsters till 10 pm and contains mini-golf, bowling, skeeball, digital actuality video games, and tons of enjoyable arcade video games. That you must buy a sport card to play, but it surely was a really enjoyable method to spend a night or wet afternoon.
I booked our keep utilizing American Categorical factors, which was a a lot better deal than utilizing Marriott factors. Plus by reserving via AmEx Journey, we obtained the Superb Accommodations & Resorts advantages together with a $100 resort credit score, free continental breakfast for 2, late checkout, early check-in upon availability, and upgrades upon availability (nothing was out there for us since we had been visiting proper earlier than Christmas.)
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