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Marco Island is one of the primary destinations for tourists due to its outstanding beaches and its breathtaking trails. It is found in the south of Florida, close to Naples. Among Florida’s ten thousand islands, it is the largest. This island has two main bridges that lead to the mainland. It is a bit secluded and remote, and it is only 24.14 kilometers from Naples. The island has beautiful features that make it ideal for outdoor activities, including hosting weddings and anniversaries.
The island has two public beaches and other offshore island beaches, meaning you can engage in great beach activities. There are plenty of attractions on the island, including hotels and many luxurious resorts that can help you with your accommodations. There are many activities that you can participate in while in Marco Island, as discussed below:
Marco Island Things to Do: South Marco Beach
South Marco Beach is a public beach among the only two public beaches on Marco Island. This beach is a little isolated, which makes it suitable for families. You can watch dolphins in the sea as they play, relax under its palm tree shades, and go collect shells on the beach. This beach has basic amenities that include washrooms, parking facilities, and a walkway to the beach.
You should book a hotel to serve you with accommodation when in this place.
Marco Island Things to Do: Capri Marina Isles
This marina offers a full range of services, including boat rentals in the Marco Island and the Naples area. Capri Marina Isles is situated close to River Marco, which provides convenient and easy routes to nearby waterways and the ocean. This marina offers kayaks and pontoons.
To access islands that you cannot get through without paddling, you will need a kayak rental, ideal for riding along with River Marco. Motorized pontoons are great for individuals traveling in large groups and riding over long distances.
If you have trouble exploring the waterways, you can always reach out to the marina employees. They are widely experienced and know various navigation tips and any other information you may need.
Booking a hotel for your stay for this trip is necessary for your accommodation needs.
Marco Island Things to Do: Cape Romano
This cape is located in Marco Island, the southern tip. The main thing that stands out in Cape Romano is the peculiar and offbeat outer space-styled buildings located at the edge of the sea. An oil producer built them in 1980 to serve as homes for vacation due to their location. Tropical storms have hit them, such as Hurricane Wilma, which also broke down a part of the coastline.
These homes are now deserted and cannot be accessed by any other means except boats. The homes will likely collapse and fall into the sea one day. Before they do so, you can also participate in fishing activities with the locals.
You can check out villas available here to help you with accommodation logistics.
Marco Island Things to Do: Briggs Nature Center
This nature center is located at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, between Naples and Marco Island. Briggs Nature Center consists of a half-mile boardwalk and trails that equate to roughly three miles. It provides a wide area for visitors to explore various habitats.
The nature center is home to many crustaceans, shellfish, different types of fish, and nesting birds. Additionally, two pathways that provide a clear view of Rookery Bay are available. Animals such as woodpeckers, snakes, bald eagles, river otters, bobcats, and hawks are very common in the Nature Center.
You can book one of several resorts here to stay in this area.
Marco Island Things to Do: Isles of Capri Paddle Craft Park
This paddle craft park is ideal for paddling, mostly for paddleboards and kayaks. Motorized boats are prohibited from the Isles of Capri Paddle Craft Park. You can access the waters on any boat for a small fee.
You can rent and reserve kayaks that can be delivered and picked up at the park. With the assistance of a guide, you can traverse the park and its environments using these kayaks.
There are many vacation rentals that you check from here to facilitate your stay.
Marco Island Things to Do: Mangrove Maniacs
Mangrove Maniacs is an area that is popular for fishing activities. There are various quality opportunities for fishing in the nearby rivers, lakes, and gulf waters in this area. For unique fishing trips that are guided and visits that are customized in the nearby areas, you can be served by Marco Island Boat Tours.
The area offers a wide range of experiences since different routes are scheduled daily depending on the condition of the tides and the weather. During the tours, you can also get a chance to view various types of wildlife that are native to the area.
It is important to note that the tours are exclusive for up to six people, making the tour experience personal. You are also offered a chance to tailor every tour aspect to your liking to make your adventure as enjoyable and exciting as possible.
You can book a hotel for accommodation while enjoying your vacation.
Marco Island Things to Do: Marco Island Boat Tours
The boat tours in Marco Island work exclusively with educational tours and in protected areas, such as Everglades National Park and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, among others. The guides in this company are unique in that they are master naturalists and environmental experts of Florida.
This company extends many options for touring, such as Family Beach Half-Day Tour, which is the most popular. The tour package includes a boat tour led by the master naturalists who educate visitors on the local wildlife. It also includes family-friendly shelling activities on the beach, swimming, and an opportunity for fishing.
Marco Island Things to Do: Keewaydin Island
This island is located off the Naples coast. It is parallel to this coast and is set apart from the coast by a bay. Keewaydin Island is a nesting site for loggerhead turtles and hosts wildlife such as gopher tortoises, wild boars, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and iguanas.
This area is underdeveloped since it has neither cars, bridges, nor roads. There are only dirty pathways that run to homes from private docks. The main advantage of this area is that its natural ecosystem is well preserved, allowing you to enjoy its natural beauty.
Around this area, local burger joints are available that offer burgers, cold drinks, and sandwiches. Hence making this public beach an ideal place to have picnics with your family.
Additionally, to get to the island, you should rent a boat from here.
Marco Island Things to Do: Marco Island Historical Museum
This historical museum is custom-built to preserve Marco Island’s history and demonstrate its progress over the years. Marco Island Historical Museum has a room that replicates the village of Calusa and also has displays associated with the Calusa natives. It gives you a sight of the Calusa village civilization that has since faded.
The museum also displays artifacts that archaeologists have unearthed in Marco Island. These artifacts are important in demonstrating the transition of this village into a world-class destination from a normal indigenous fishing village.
Various accommodation facilities such as hotels can be booked here.
Marco Island Things to Do: Marco Island Princess
Marco Island Princess is the name of a gorgeous yacht of 90 feet in length and provides cruises for touring sights of interest. It would be best if you boarded this yacht to have an exclusive tour experience from Rose Marina. The package for a cruise in this yacht includes a buffet lunch, sunset dinner, and a historical description of various subjects by the yachts’ captain.
When aboard the Marco Island Princess, you will be offered mouth-watering foods and treats such as freshly baked cookies, turkey breast, salad, and others. The yacht can also be hired for private functions such as birthday parties, business functions, or weddings.
You should book a hotel to serve you with accommodation when in this place.
Marco Island Things to Do: Marco Murder and Mayhem
Marco Murder and Mayhem is a tourist site that is perfect for those who enjoy places that are haunted. A tour through Marco Murder and Mayhem is hosted by a ghost expert known as Martha Horror and is an exclusive 2-hour visit to haunted sites.
Before the tour kicks off, you are taken to a hotel known as Olde Marco Inn, and at Bistro Soleil, you are served a beverage. After that, you are taken to other sites, such as the burial sites for natives and a cemetery. Throughout the tour, scary stories are narrated to keep you on edge.
There are many villas and resorts that you can book to facilitate your logistics.
Marco Island Things to Do: Marco Island Water Sports
Marco Island Water Sports company is conveniently located in four places: Goodland Backbay Marina, Hilton Marco Island, Marriot’s Crystal Shores, and Marriot Beach Resort. The Water Sports company offers goods and gear for water-related activities.
You can opt to book an adventure visit with the water sports company that includes parasailing, wave runner tours, and marine life eco-cruises. You can also rent sporting equipment such as a wave runner and take waterway adventures individually. You must make reservations to avoid missing a chance to explore Marco Island Water Sports.
Marco Island Things to Do: Scuba Marco
Scuba Marco is a dive shop in Marco Island that offers certified diving classes and a variety of diving trips. The scuba certifications provided at the shop include SSI and PADI.
The diving training session lasts for about 1 hour 30 minutes, where you are taught how to use different scuba gears and are given a chance to practice with them under supervision. You can also opt to board a dive boat to enjoy diving in real-life.
Scuba Marco is complete with diving gear that you can rent or purchase, such as fins and masks. A certified technician in the shop is available for repairing scuba gears. For non-divers, there is a “Dive-N-A-Day” experience available.
You can book a hotel for accommodation while enjoying your vacation.
Marco Island Things to Do: The Dolphin Explorer
The Dolphin Explorer is a dolphin eco-touring company that specializes in surveying dolphins. The company owns a boat that is 30 feet in length and has a carrying capacity of 28 passengers. The boat is known as Dolphin Explorer, and it has two sections: the sunny section and the covered section.
The company provides certain items free of charge, such as shelling bags and beverages. The captain of this ship is a USCG Master and, among its crew members, is a professional wildlife photographer and an expert naturalist.
There are typically two trips in a day that this company offers: one is made in the morning and the other is in the afternoon. During these trips, you can take part in the Dolphin Survey, a study consisting of learning the movement of bottlenose dolphins and their behaviors in general. In addition, it is an opportunity for you to watch different varieties of dolphins that reside in the area.
There are many vacation rentals that you check from here to facilitate your stay while in Marco Island.
In Marco Island, there are a variety of fun adventures and activities that you can book and take part in for your respective age group.
