Top 5 Things To Love About Marco Island
Marco Island is the largest and only developed island in Southwest Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands. The unique tropical setting and proximity to other Florida hotspots is just the tip of the sand bar in terms of reasons to love this exquisite island. Here are our top five favorite things to love about Marco Island and why you should make it your next vacation destination.
Picture-Perfect White Sandy Beaches
The first things one imagines when picturing a tropical paradise are warm blue waves gently folding onto white sandy beaches. And you better believe that Marco Island has more than plenty of those! Of the many sandy stretches surrounding the island, the one visitors must check out is Tigertail Beach. This beach is actually split in two, with the Tigertail section beaching a small swimmer-friendly lagoon, and the other section, Sand Dollar Island, beaching the actual Gulf waters. Whichever side you choose, you’ll be hard-pressed to not feel like you’re in that quintessential tropical paradise.
Proximity To The Everglades
Everglades National Park is perhaps Florida’s most famous wilderness area, and it’s only a short drive away from Marco Island. Founded in 1947, Everglades serves as a significant victory for conservation due to its status as the first national park established purely for the benefit of the life it sustains rather than scenic value. Even so, there’s more than enough beauty at the Everglades to warrant a visit while vacationing in Marco Island. Head to the Everglades National Park website to learn about its unique environment and the plethora of tropical life it hosts.
Luxurious Atmosphere And Accommodations
In addition to our very own luxury vacation rentals, Marco Island is home to beautiful beachfront resorts and an exciting shopping scene. Two of the more popular resorts to check out would be the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and the Marco Beach Ocean Resort. Also, across the island, you’ll find no shortage of souvenir-supplied shops standing by to satiate anyone’s superfluous standards. The go-to spots to check out for all shopping adventures would have to be the open-air Marco Walk Plaza, and the Shops of Olde Marco in the Marco Island Historic District.
Diverse Wildlife
Marco Island and the nearby Everglades National Park are home to an incredible variety of wildlife on land and in the sea. Manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, and dozens of dazzling bird species all frequent the Ten Thousand Islands area. Plus, in the Everglades, you can often spot the famous American Alligators and the American Crocodile. Although these reptiles are used to seeing people around, we definitely don’t advise getting too close to the toothy creatures. Lastly, there are plenty of great fishing opportunities for anglers visiting Marco Island. Check out our Marco Island fishing information page for more info and a list of recommended boat charters.
Family-Friendly Activities
In addition to Marco Island’s many charming beaches, there are a ton of other family-friendly excursions and things to do. Some of the more popular tours are the local shelling excursions, where you can explore the Ten Thousand Islands area and find gorgeous seashells along the way. There are also dolphin tours, an interactive Pirates of Marco Island excursion, and guided or self-guided canoeing tours through the island’s extensive mangrove forests. In short, if you’re traveling with the family, expect more than enough options to fill up your trip itinerary.
And that’s it for our top five things to love about Marco Island! Be sure to peruse our Florida Getaway and Marco Island Activities pages for more information planning your Florida vacation. Lastly, be sure to check out all our luxurious Marco Island vacation homes so that you can stay in the perfect home-away-from-home on your perfect island vacation!