Marco Island is situated about one hour south of Fort Myers and two hours west of Miami on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast. It is 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. While the huge, white sand seashore on the Gulf of Mexico attracts seashore lovers, there are many different enjoyable issues to do in Marco Island.
This trip vacation spot presents a mixture of high-end resorts and trip leases, however doesn’t entice the identical crowds as Naples, Marco Island’s neighbor half-hour to the north. Located simply north of the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve, there’s loads of nature to discover past the resorts.
Fun Things 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 have visited the Florida Keys and the Gulf Coast prior to now, however we actually fell in love with Marco Island.
The seashore isn’t that sugar-soft white sand of Clearwater, however looking at that huge stretch of white sand lined with palm bushes and seashore cabanas made it really feel that we traveled a lot additional south than a three-hour direct flight from Providence to Fort Myers.
These are a few of the greatest 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. Unfortunately, the rain and a small craft advisory put a damper on my plans, however I’ll should strive once more once I return.
This three-hour eco-tour introduces guests to the dolphins of the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The tour additionally features a cease on a Barrier Beach for some shelling.
The Dolphin Explorer is situated at 951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL
2. Shell and Sunbathe on South Marco Island Beach
Tigertail Beach and South Marco Island Beach are the most effective on the island. There are a number of entry factors and public parking alongside the seashore, plus that is the place you will see that most of the resorts and resorts.
You could need to carry alongside water sneakers to keep away from the sharper shells and plan to get the shelling stoop as you bend over choosing a few of the greatest shells to take dwelling.
3. Go Paddling
You can hire a kayak or paddle board from Parco Marco to paddle by way of mangroves or discover the outer barrier islands and sand bars.
Parco Marco is situated at Caxambas Park, 909 Collier Ct, Marco Island, FL
If you don’t need to discover by yourself, Marco Island Boat Tours additionally runs boat-assisted eco-kayak excursions that embody a strolling tour with a naturalist.
Marco Island Boat Tours is situated at Goodland Boating Park, 740 Palm Point Drive, Goodland, FL
4. Make a Splash with Marco Island Watersports
If you’re prepared for some journey and pleasure, Marco Island Watersports presents wave runner leases, parasailing, and banana boat rides. You can discover Marco Island Watersports on the JW Marriott Marco Island.
Marco Island Watersports is situated on the JW Marriott Marco Island, 400 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island, FL
5. Eat Stone Crab Claws
If you go to between mid-October and May, you will need to make it some extent to strive some native stone crab claws. You will discover them on many menus, however if you’d like them contemporary, head all the way down to Goodland or Everglades City. City Seafood is likely one of the many institutions in Everglades City to supply contemporary seafood to go or eat at its waterfront restaurant and tiki bar.
City Seafood is situated at 702 Begonia St, Everglades City, FL
6. Take a Sunset Cruise
The Gulf Coast of Florida is thought for its spectacular sunsets. While you possibly can respect the sundown from a seashore, you too can take a sundown cruise to see the sweetness from each angle. There are many choices, however if you wish to mix dinner with a sundown cruise, the Marco Island Princess presents sundown dinner cruises from Rose Marina.
Marco Island Princess is situated at Rose Marina, 951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL
7. Visit the Marco Island Historical Museum
If you want a wet day exercise, the Marco Island Historical Museum presents perception into Southwest Florida’s Calusa Indians. The museum consists of artifacts courting again so far as the late 1800s.
Marco Island Historical Museum is situated 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 excellent alternative to take an airboat tour. There are many choices, however we selected to go together with Wootens Airboat excursions. They provide each 30-minute airboat excursions by way of 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 will get to see alligators, birds, and different wildlife. Wootens additionally has an animal sanctuary with rescued alligators and presents kayaking as nicely.
Wootens is situated at 32330 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL
9. Visit Big Cypress Nature Reserve
Big Cypress Swamp is a freshwater swamp that helps the marine estuaries alongside Florida’s southwest coast. Big Cypress National Preserve covers 729,000 acres and is dwelling to a variety of vegetation and wildlife, together with the Florida panther.
The Big Cypress Welcome Center is open within the winter and presents usually scheduled Ranger-led swamp walks, canoe/kayak journeys, bike rides, and different particular actions and occasions.
Big Cypress Nature Preserve is situated at 33100 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, FL
10. Explore Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Southwest of Marco Island you will see that the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, the most important state park in Florida. The park is dwelling to bald cypress forests, native royal palms, and orchids. Visitors can stroll the Big Cypress Bend boardwalk to a virgin cypress strand or take guided swamp walks or tram excursions from November by way of April. This park is ideal for nature lovers, kayakers, and chicken watchers.
The Fakahatchee Strand Preserve is situated at 137 Coastline Dr, Copeland, Fl
11. See Everglades National Park
Located on the sting of the Everglades, you’ll be remiss to skip exploring a little bit of this large wetland that covers 1.5 million acres. There are three entrances, together with one in Everglades City simply 40 minutes south of Marco Island.
From this location, you possibly can take a 90-minute Ten Thousand Islands Cruise, hire canoes or kayaks, or take a guided canoe or kayak tour.
12. Go Fishing
Marco Island is likely one of the greatest locations for year-round sport fishing. You will discover Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, and Sea Trout across the Ten Thousand Islands. If you select to exit deeper into the Gulf of Mexico, you possibly can catch Grouper, Snapper, King Mackeral, Little Tuni, shark, and Cobia.
13. Visit Miccosukee Indian Village
If you’re keen to go a bit additional afield or you’re driving throughout Alligator Alley to Miami, you possibly can go to the Miccosukee Indian Village within the Everglades. Here you possibly can see alligator demonstrations, take an airboat tour, and be taught in regards to the Miccosukee lifestyle.
Miccosukee Indian Village is situated at Mile Marker 36, US-41, Miami, FL 33194
Where to Stay on Marco Island
We actually cherished 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 presents two swimming pools, one with a zero-entry, a small waterslide, and a splash space for babies. Your resort charge consists of seashore chairs and repair on the resort’s part of the general public seashore, which stretches huge with white sand.
However, in contrast to 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 everyday 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 amassing.
Each night time at sundown, Quinn’s by the seashore places on a each day sundown celebration with flame torch juggling. Families collect round to observe this enjoyable custom. The JW Marriott Marco Island has 12 eating choices, together with a frozen yogurt store and low store serving up Illy espresso.
One 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 consists of mini-golf, bowling, skeeball, digital actuality video games, and tons of enjoyable arcade video games. You must buy a recreation card to play, however it was a really enjoyable strategy to spend a night or wet afternoon.
I booked our keep utilizing American Express factors, which was a significantly better deal than utilizing Marriott factors. Plus by reserving by way of AmEx Travel, we acquired the Fine Hotels & 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 accessible for us since we have been visiting proper earlier than Christmas.)
Check charges and evaluations on TripAdvisor!
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