The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20050308031545/http://www.vacationmarcoisland.com:80/recreati.html

Marco Island Vacation Condo Rentals

 

Home
About the Island
Airports/Directions
South Seas Club/Pix
Apt. 304/Rates/Pix
Apt. 707/Rates/Pix
Marco in the Summer
Questions/Answers

Special Offers 
Recommendations

E-Mail Me!!! 
Info@ VacationMarcoIsland.com

 

 

        
Recreation off the Island
For the Nature Lovers

Florida / Marco Links

Recreation on the Island

Local activities include:

  • Tropical climate, beach and water are the major attractions in Marco
  • Tigertail Public Beach is on the northern section of the Island and has a sandbar called Sand Dollar Island.  Sand Dollar Island is a protected bird sanctuary and home to many species of birds. Marco is a sequestered sanctuary to more than 200 species of birds including egrets, herons, ibis, osprey, pelicans and the Island' protector-- the American bald eagle. 
  • A shallow lagoon between Sand Dollar Island and Marco is the perfect spot to practice wind-surfing.  Tigertail Beach Rentals conducts wind-surfing lessons as well as rents equipment for beach fun.  Their equipment includes cabanas, umbrellas, chairs, sailboats, water trikes and other water toys.  Rest rooms, a children's playground, volleyball nets and outdoor showers are also available at Tigertail.  You can go directly to the main beach from your condominium or take an immediate right to Tigertail which is only a few yards away.
  • Many marinas rent powerboats, jet skis, wave runners, aqua trikes, snorkeling gear and bumper tubes.
  • A one mile walk down the beach from South Seas Club is the Marriott Hotel.  Here you can also rent sailboats, sail fishes, water trikes, jet skis and arrange to go parasailing, all right off the beach.  The Marriott also has a great breakfast buffet for those of you who aren't into the water sports.  In the evening they have a great dinner buffet, a different theme every night, with early bird specials.  You can opt to eat at Quinn's on the Beach or stop by for drinks and entertainment while you sit at your table on the beach and enjoy watching the sun go down, a favorite pastime of visitors to Marco.
  • For relaxation and education, hop on the Marco Island Trolley and tour the town.   Visit the ancient Calusa Indian mounds of shell and find out what attracted the tribe of Paleo-Indians to the area. 
  • Browse the shops for unique jewelry and artifacts influenced by these first settlers.
  • Golf at Marco Shores Country Club a 6,879 yard (6,260 m) challenge or at Marriott's Golf Club where signs will tell you not to disturb the alligators.  According to Golf Digest it is one of  "America's Best Golf Courses."  The 6,925 yard (6,302m) par-72 course is carved from forests of Australian pine and palm, and rimmed with vast lagoons.  Other links include the 7,171 yard (6,526m) Lely Flamingo Golf and Country Club, named as one of the "Best Resort Courses in the United States" by Golf Digest.  There are over 40 golf courses in the Marco area.  More courses per capita than any other area in America.  If golf is your passion you will have plenty of choices here.
  • Take a fishing excursion, charter a boat or fish right off the beach.  There is no lack of places to fish on Marco.  Bring your catch to one of the local restaurants and for a fee they will clean and prepare them for your dinner.  There is nothing better.
  • Kick off your shoes and take a shelling cruise.  Explore the pristine beaches with white powder sand on the small barrier islands while collecting sea shells and sand dollars.
  • Take a sightseeing cruise.  Choose to cruise the beautiful shoreline around Marco or visit the picturesque homes on the inlets and waterways.  The dolphins will normally be at play and so might the manatee.  Sea birds will be in abundance.   If you want a bit longer trip take a scenic cruise up the inland waterways to Naples and cruise by the gorgeous homes of Port Royal.  You can even stop for lunch or go shopping in the Old Naples area.  Explore the maze of mangroves through the pristine Ten Thousand Islands (Marco is the largest of these Islands) and behold Florida's wildlife or take an amazing historical journey.  There are many different types of cruises available.
  • Take an excursion to Key West.  Relax aboard a quiet and stable world-class, high-speed catamaran.  The fastest cruise vessels in Florida sails daily from Marco.
  • Take a narrated airboat tour through the 10,000 Islands or head off to the Everglades just down the road.
  • Sailing is always and adventure.  Choose a 6-passenger sloop or a 49 passenger Cat.   See the sunsets on the Gulf.  Sailing the Gulf will give you memories never forgotten. 
  • Rent your own boat at one of the many marinas and strike out on your own.   Instruction will be given at the marinas on operation of the craft as well as detailed information on directions and rules of the waterways. 
  • Take in a movie at Marco Movies, a family-owned movie theater where you can relax and enjoy a meal while watching current movies in a clean and comfortable environment.
  • Rent a bike for exercise or just to tour the island.
  • If racquet sports are your passion, tennis is right on the grounds of South Sees (see South Seas Club for list of amenities) or Collier County Racquette Center has both tennis and 2 indoor racquetball/handball courts.
  • Frank E. Mackle, Jr. Community Park has covered basketball courts, volleyball courts, shuffleboard courts, tot lot, exercise/jogging trails, open play area and a picnic area around the lake.
  • Restaurants are too numerous to list with everything from the very basic to haute cuisine.

         Back to Top

Recreation off the Island

Off-Island activities include:

  • Boat cruises, Naples
  • Trolley rides in Naples--see the beautiful homes and area
    Teddy Bear Museum, Naples
  • Tin City, Naples
  • Up-Scale Clothing Outlets, Naples
  • Naples Players, community theater
  • Naples Philharmonic
  • Caribbean Gardens, Naples, a 52-acre botanical & zoological preserve that exhibits rare and unusual animals within a tropical garden.
  • Naples Motor Speedway
  • Scuba diving, Naples
  • Florida Sports Park, Naples
  • Museum of the Everglades, Everglades City
  • The Everglades area is host to numerous activities including--airboat tours, swamp buggy tours, canoe tours, kayaking tours, fishing tours, full or half day guided biking tours, airplane tours, hunting, historic Smallwood Store Indian Trading Post and Museum, alligator farms and animal exhibits throughout the Everglades. 

For the Nature Lovers (off-island):

  • Everglades National Park:  The park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, featuring distinctive animal and plant life.   Numerous hiking trails and boardwalks help to enhance your experience, punctuated by sightings of alligators, crocodiles, turtles, manatees, snakes, deer, cougars, ibis, pelicans, white and blue herons and a host of other exotic life. The Everglades harbors 14 endangered species including Florida panther, Florida black bear, woodstork, Everglades mink--and the only wild saltwater crocodiles in America.  Exotic birds flourish from snail kites and limpkins to mangrove cuckoos and black-whiskered vireos. Nearly every wading bird in the U.S. can be spotted such as great herons and sandhill cranes.   Numerous species of palm trees abound in the forest and wild flowers add to the spectacular ambiance created by viewing one of nature's most awe inspiring regions.   Everglades National Park was formed by centuries of overflow from Lake Okeechobee.   The park stretches over 100 miles from Lake Okeechobee and constitutes a total area of almost 5,000 square miles.  Numerous waterways, tidal bays, lakes and streams dot the landscape.  The visitor's center is open every day of the year from 8AM TO 5PM.   There are many guided tours
  • The Conservancy's Brigg's Nature Center at Rookery Bay:   The center features, among other things, an elevated boardwalk to view a variety of wildlife, including over 150 species of birds.  Tour boats are available.
  • Collier-Seminole State Park:  The park features over 6,000 acres including nature and wilderness trails, boat launching ramp, camping, tropical trees from jumbo limbo to white stopper, and a variety of native orchids and bromelaids enhance your experience.
  • Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk in Fakahatchee Strand State Reserve:   The reserve has an elevated trail that winds through a virgin cypress hammock.
  • National Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary:  The sanctuary is an 11,000 acre nature preserve featuring 225 species of birds.  Bobcats, alligators and deer are common.  A wheelchair accessible boardwalk winds for almost two and a quarter miles.

Florida / Marco Links:

FloridaSeek
http://www.floridaseek.com
Florida's Search Engine and Directory

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tickets
http://www.nfl-football-tickets.net/tampa_bay_buccaneers.htm
Bucs tickets, schedule, players, stadium in Florida and team

history.

Sunshine Babysitting
http://www.sunshinebabysitting.com
A babysitting service with a comprehensive register of Florida (including Marco Island) sitters that offer clients access to a fully checked babysitter at any time of the year within as little as 2 hours notice.

ThingsToDo.Com
Southwest Florida Attractions

          Back to Top

 


Home, About the Island, Airports/Directions, South Seas Club/Pix, Apt. 304/Rates/Pix,
Apt. 707/Rates/Pix, Marco in the Summer, Questions/Answers,

Special Offers, Recommendations,
Site Awards, Links