If you’re looking for a lovely place to take your family on a leisurely tropical vacation this summer, there aren’t many places that we recommend more than Marco Island in Southwest Florida.
The sun-drenched Marco Island is the little slice of paradise that you’ve been waiting for. There are so many great things to do on Marco Island no matter what kind of person you are or what your interests might be.
Located between Naples and the Everglades, Marco Island is a destination that give you a shockingly broad range of activities to choose from year round. When you’re not soaking up some rays on the beach or going for a breathtakingly beautiful hike, you can spend the day shopping over at the lively downtown area in Naples. For a break from beach life, head on over to the swampy Everglades to see some of the most incredible plants and animals that call Florida their home.
Whether your looking to read a book on the beach, spend the day out on the water, cast your reel out into the emerald blue Floridian waters, go on shopping spree, dine at award-winning restaurants or get to know the natural world around you, Marco Island is one of the premier destinations in the sunshine state to spend a long-weekend or longer.
Marco Island Historical Museum
To learn a bit about the island’s rich past, head on over to the Historical Museum. Since opening in 2010, Marco Island’s Historical Museum has been educating visitors about the region’s indigenous Calusa Tribe.
So if you’ve ever wanted to see what life was really like before Florida was colonized, this museum should be right up your alley.
The museum features artifacts unearthed from archaeological digs that date back to the late 19th century. One of the museum’s rooms features a life-sized replica display of a real Calusa village.
Other exhibits give guests a glimpse into the area’s history going back to it’s beginnings as a Native American settlement. Over the years, it evolved into a fishing village, pineapple plantation and later a clam cannery before the island saw rapid expansion in the 60s.
The museum’s grounds are also well-worth taking some time to investigate. Landscaped water features, native plants, and a gazebo are just a few things that are available for guests to explore. You’ll also be greeted by a large bronze statue of the Key Marco Cat.
Ten Thousand Islands
Marco Island is situated within what’s known as the Ten Thousand Islands, an island chain littered with mangrove inlets that is located between the mouth of the Lostman’s River and Cape Romano. If you’re interested in paying the Everglades a visit, then we highly recommend renting a kayak and taking a journey from the Ten Thousand Islands to the Everglades.
Along your watery route you’ll encounter remote and deserted barrier islands to stop and explore in addition to diverse wildlife and a few of the most gorgeous beaches in Florida. There are plenty of tour companies to choose from that offer Kayak outings, but we recommend taking one offered by a guide who is knowledgeable about the flora and fauna in the region.
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The Florida Domes
One of the most unique attractions on Marco Island is the Florida Domes. These appropriately named structures were once the home an eccentric millionaire who was seeking out the serenity of beach life. These peculiar looking dome structures now offer shade and shelter for birds and other marine life along the Gulf Coast.
You can only access the domes via boat and they are now protected as part of a nature preserve. Over the years, erosion has chipped away at the structure and the domes are now almost entirely reclaimed by the environment.
Even though the interior of the domes are now underwater, they make for one heck of an artificial reef for fish and other aquatic critters. Chances are, you’ll probably even see some locals using the area as a fishing spot.
The Domes can be found in Cape Romano. If you’ve ever been curious about how powerful nature can be especially in the age of climate change, this hidden gem is definitely worth taking the time to go see.
Otter Mound Preserve
The locals call this place Indian Hills, but on maps it’s listed as Otter Mound Preserve. Either way, if you ask around, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting directions here regardless of what you call it.
Otter mound was created by the Calusa people centuries ago. For hundreds of years the Calusa piled up all of their discarded sea shells leftover from their meals. In time, this massive pile of shells grew to covering more than 80-acres!
Visitors hoping to see this incredible manmade structure can visit the preserve and hike along the shade-covered trails that meander through the yellow elder, strangler fig, and gumbo limbo trees. Be on the lookout for native Floridian wildlife such as armadillos, opossums, and bobcats! Just make sure that you always treat the indigenous animal life with respect by giving them their space. It was their home long before we laid claim to it!
Briggs Boardwalk Nature Center
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida maintains this fantastic nature center. It’s comprised of a mile-long boardwalk that loops around to showcase several habitats that make up one complex ecosystem. If you’re an avid bird watcher, be sure to bring a pair of decent binoculars.
Signs indicate the various species of flora and fauna that you can spot in the various habitats, making for a straightforward self-guided tour. Be sure to nab a few photos to document your adventures!
You can get to the boardwalk by driving 8.9 miles on US951 from Marco Island. At Shell Island Road, take a left. Then continue for a mile before you reach the parking area on the right., From there, take the path on the right. That will lead you to the walk around the back of the building.
Marco Island Farmers Market
Running every Wednesday between mid-November to mid-April, the Marco Island Farmers market is one of the best seasonal attractions in Florida.
The market opens at 7:30am and is open to 1:00pm. Here you’ll find an excellent selection of the local flavor. Not only is it one of our favorite farmers markets in Florida, but it’s also one of our absolute favorite things to do on Marco Island.
By spending your money at the market, you’ll be supporting local artisans, farmers, and businesses. There is something for everyone to love about the market. Dozens of booths and stands offer items such as fresh produce, handmade crafts, succulent seafood, delicious preserves, artfully arranged flowers, and other treats. It’ll be hard to leave without filling up your vehicle, so make sure you set aside a fixed budget to make sure you don’t get more than you need!
Hibiscus Golf Club
You might not know this but there are more than 90 golf course in and around Marco Island. That means this region is a golf lovers dream. Only thirty of these courses are open to the public, but even at that, you should have trouble hitting the links and making a day of trying to beat your lowest score.
Our favorite course on Marco Island is the Hibiscus Golf Club. The club’s full 18-hole course caters to both low and high handicap players, so regardless of your skill level, you’re almost guaranteed to have a blast!
The course features numerous water features, bunkered greens, and lush wide fairways. A full round of 18 holes will run you forty five bucks while 9 holes costs just $25.
If you have no idea what you’re doing out on the green, fear not, because the club also offers professional instruction via the Dennis Meyer Golf School. In case you’re unfamiliar with Meyer, he’s a PGA pro who was named teacher of the year in 1999 and 2016.
After spending the day out on the links, enjoy a tasty meal or ice cold adult beverage over at Erin’s Isle Restaurant and Lounge.
Tin City
if you’ve got a hole burning in your pocket and need to indulge in a bit of good old fashioned retail therapy head on over to Tin City for an eclectic shopping experience like none other.
This open-aired specialty shopping district offers a variety of waterfront shops that are divvied up into four buildings. You’ll find shops that sell food, antiques, wine, crafts, seashells, and plenty of other trinkets and keepsakes to take back home with you.
Plus, if you forget to pack your swimsuit or a towel, you’ll find plenty of those at one of Tin City’s surf shops. It’s also a great place to charter a boat trip out to tour Naples.
Tin City boasts 30 boutique shops, but that’s not all they have. Celebrity chef Artt Smith’s 1500 South restaurants offers southern comfort foods, tasty cocktails, fine wine and ice cold bear. After enjoying your meal, grab a frozen treat over at Tin City’s ice cream shop.
That’s about all the time we have left for this video. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed going on this little journey with us! Marco Island might not be a place you hear about very often, but it’s one Florida destination that you definitely shouldn’t ignore. You’ve heard what we have to say, now we’d love to hear what you think about Marco Island?
Did you know that Marco Island was home to so many natural wonders and that there are more than 90 golf courses in the surrounding area?
Let us know in the comments.
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