Let’s Go Down to Marco Island: Sun, Sand, Serenity

Let's Go Down to Marco Island

Key Takeaways

  • The author’s first trip to Marco Island sparked a love for the area and frequent visits over the years.
  • Marco Island offers beautiful beaches, both peaceful and lively, perfect for relaxation or adventure.
  • There are many activities, such as fishing, exploring Everglades National Park, and dining options featuring fresh seafood.
  • The island is family-friendly, with parks, playgrounds, and educational tours suitable for children.
  • The Marco Island Historical Museum provides insight into the island’s rich history and culture.

A little over 20 years ago, my husband came to me and said “Let’s go down to Marco Island this year”. He proceeded to tell me his brother and sister-in-law had been there prior and were wanting us to join them there this year for vacation.

I had never heard of Marco Island and didn’t even know what state it was in.  However, since it had “island” in the name,  I thought it must be on a beach somewhere. Since I love beach vacations,  I was easily persuaded to go along. (I also love my brother and sister-in law and loved the idea of vacationing with them).

One Thing Leads to Another

Needless to say, our first trip to Marco Island was a success. We feel in love with the island, the locals, the beaches and the many adventures that await visitors to the area. We left Marco planning our next vacation there! For the next 10 years or so, we found ourselves vacationing on Marco at least every other year. Each time we left wanting to return as soon as possible.

Then, we found ourselves thinking about purchasing a place there for retirement – or at least a place to go in retirement. We have both just retired, but we still do not get to spend as much time on Marco as we would like. However, we do get there 3 times a year. While we are not there, we rent our condos (Sea Mar Condo) https://seamarcondo.com out so others can enjoy the beauty of Marco Island and the comfort of our units. We love sharing our piece of paradise with others and want them to enjoy it as much as we do when we are there.

Marco Island -Let’s Go!

Beach with Marco Island Logo

Marco Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf of Mexico approximately 18 miles south of Naples. The island is beautifully landscaped and surrounded by the aqua waters of the Gulf. Marco has 2 very different beaches that are accessible to guests. Tigertail Beach is a peaceful and secluded – a nature lover’s dream https://seamarcondo.com/early-morning-walk-down-tigertail-beach. Crescent of South Beach is busy with watercraft, beachgoers, and luxurious hotels. Both beaches are beautiful and perfect for shelling, a long beach walk or just relaxing with a good book or nap. The sunsets on the island are spectacular!

Adventure

If you are more into adventure than hanging around the beach, Marco Island will not disappoint. The surrounding 10,000 island area is one of the best in the world for fishing. Everglades National Park is only 15 minutes away by jet ski and a short 45 minute drive by car to air boat and swamp buggy tours https://seamarcondo.com/day-trip-to-everglades-national-park. Marco Island is home to dolphin, manatee, and many species of birds including egrets, blue herons, pelicans, black skimmers, roseate spoonbills, and osprey.

Everglades Airboat Tour

There are many tour companies on the island with professional guides to help you maneuver through the mangroves in the area whether you go by jet ski, boat or kayak. Of course, you can always take the option of seeing Marco from above by parasail or a plane ride. https://seamarcondo.com/parasailing-over-marco-islands-waters

Dining

Sale e Pepe Marco Island

For those who love fresh seafood, you have many options. Many of the restaurants will even fix your catch of the day for dinner that evening. For those who prefer something other than seafood, the many restaurants on the island offer a wide variety of options. A lot of the restaurants on Marco also offer waterfront dining and live music. The Marco Island Princess offers a great dining experience on the water along with a sunset cruise.

Family Friendly

Father's Day

Marco Island is family friendly and a great place to vacation with the younger ones. The island has two parks and a kid playground. There is also a miniature golf course. Most of the tours are also suitable for children and some, especially the Dolphin Explorer, focus on educational experiences for the youngsters. Most of the jet ski tours, and kayaks are made to accommodate 2 adults and a child.

History

Key Marco Cat

The Marco island Historical Museum is also located on the island and offers guests to the island an opportunity to learn the rich history of Marco, from the Calusa Indians, its development in the 1960s, to this modern day paradise.  We are very excited that the Key Marco Cat is on display at the museum https://themihs.info/museum.

 Book Your Vacation at Sea Mar Condo in Marco Island

Let’s go down to Marco Island! Whether your idea of a great vacation is heading down to the water with a couple of beach chairs or seeking a family adventure, this island has everything to make memories of a lifetime.

Sea Mar Condo Logo

Now is the time to book your vacation in Marco Island. Be our guests at Sea Mar Condo and see for yourself what’s going on in Marco island. Visit https://seamarcondo.com for more information on Marco Island and Sea Mar Condos!

Unwind at Snook Inn: Music, Great Food, Scenic Views

Snook Inn Marco Island

Key Takeaways

  • Snook Inn offers waterfront dining on Marco Island with a laid-back atmosphere and live music.
  • Visitors enjoy stunning views, great food, and a renowned salad bar, especially the fresh pickle barrel.
  • Recently under new ownership, Snook Inn continues to provide excellent dining experiences and beautiful water views.
  • The restaurant operates daily for lunch and dinner, with a gift shop featuring unique items.
  • Plan your visit to Marco Island and consider staying at Sea Mar Condo for a great vacation experience.

Waterfront dining at the Snook Inn is something that few visitors to Marco Island miss. On your first visit to the island you ask: “Where’s a good place to eat tonight?” Most often the response will include a visit to this world famous restaurant.

It seems everyone has their favorite “something” they like about the Snook Inn. For some it’s the laid back atmosphere of the tiki hut with the nightly live music. For others, it’s a drink in the outdoor bar area. Everyone enjoys the waterfront view with pelicans that swoop in on the Big Marco River or a beautiful sunset overlooking the Gulf waters. Let’s not forget the great food and awesome salad bar and that fresh pickle barrel!

Snook Inn Live Music
Live Music at Snook Inn on Marco Island

The Snook Inn has always been one of my favorite restaurants on Marco Island. I love the waterfront dining and especially after the sun goes down when the beautiful Marco Island Princess goes by the restaurant with all her lights ablaze or when the full moon shines upon the water. It’s a great restaurant with live music every night and a wide variety of menu items including the best salad bar on the island (you must try the pickle barrel).

Pickle Barrell
The World Famous Pickle Barrel at Snook Inn on Marco Island

New Ownership – Still the Same Great Restaurant

After 32 years of ownership by the Passini family, the Snook Inn is now owned by The Carvelli Restaurant Group. They also own DaVinci’s, Marco Prime and the Oyster Society.

Best of all, the restaurant provides one of the finest water views in Southwest Florida!

Snook Inn

Originally, the “Snook Hole,” named for the abundance of Snook right off the dock, the Snook Inn has been a landmark on Marco Island for over 30 years, an island far different than what you see today.

Lunch is served daily 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and dinner from 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm seven days a week. AND be sure to browse their gift shop for unique “Snook Stuff.”

Now is the time to book your vacation in Marco Island. Be our guests at Sea Mar Condo and see for yourself what’s going on in Marco Island. Visit https://seamarcondo.com for more information on Marco Island and Sea Mar Condo.

Discover the Best of Marco Island, FL

Entering Marco Island by JoeyWaves

Key Takeaways

  • Marco Island offers a variety of activities including beaches, water sports, golfing, fishing, and cultural attractions.
  • Visitors enjoy crystal blue waters for swimming, jet skiing, and shelling along the beautiful beaches.
  • Dining options feature fresh seafood, Italian cuisine, and waterfront locations with live music.
  • Shopping includes unique gift shops, a local Farmers Market, and upscale shopping nearby in Naples.
  • The Marco Island Historic Museum provides insight into the island’s history and is worth a visit.

It is not hard to “find” things to do in Marco Island, Florida. However, it may be difficult deciding between the many options available. Whether you enjoy beaches https://seamarcondo.com/marco-islands-beaches, water sports, touring, golf, fishing, shopping or cultural attractions you will find many activities here.

This small island is located 17 miles south of Naples. It is a short 45 minute drive from Everglades National Park https://seamarcondo.com/day-trip-to-everglades-national-park. It is also the largest of Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands https://seamarcondo.com/see-10000-islands.

See our related post: Let’s Go Do to Marco Island: https://seamarcondo.com/lets-go-down-to-marco-island

Entering Marco Island by JoeyWaves
SS Jolley Bridge, Entering Marco Island
Photo credit: Joey Waves Photography

Marco Island Beaches and Watersports

The island is small, covering 12 square miles. Although small, it has some of the country’s most beautiful white sandy beaches https://seamarcondo.com/testimonial/beaches-in-marco-island. The Gulf of Mexico waters are crystal blue and the skies are fluffed with white puffy clouds. The clear water is perfect for swimming, jet skiing, paddle boarding, or boating. The shells along the shoreline are colorful, unique. Shelling is a favorite pass time https://seamarcondo.com/shelling-on-marco-island.

Booking a deep sea fishing trip or shoreline fishing is always a favorite among visitors. Many boat charters offer tours to Keewaydin Island, Kice Island, or Cape Romano. Boat tours also are available for dolphin and manatee sightseeing excursions.

For an evening sunset cruise and dining experience, we recommend the Marco Island Princess. The sunsets are spectacular and the food is great!  Try the Key West Express leaving daily for round trips between Marco and Key West.

marco-island-princess

Golf/Sports

Most of the golf courses on the island are private. However, there are many courses located within 15 minutes that welcome visiting guests. Nearby Naples is known as for its many courses as well https://seamarcondo.com/golf-on-the-paradise-coast.

Many of our visitors at Sea Mar Condo also enjoy the tennis and pickleball courts.

See our related post: Marco Island Pickleball https://seamarcondo.com/marco-island-pickleball

Marco Island Golf

Shopping

There are many gift shops and unique clothing shops located on the island.  A local Farmers Market is at Veterans Park each Wednesday during winter season.

Fifth Avenue South in Naples is a short 20 minute drive from Marco . This area offers many upscale clothing and gift shops. The area offers many nice dining selections. Of course, my favorite is Kilwin’s Ice Cream!

Fifth Avenue South

Dining

There are many restaurants serving fresh seafood, prime steaks, delicious Italian, and short order pizzas and burgers. In addition, many of the island’s restaurants offer waterfront dining and live music.

Snook Inn Marco Island

The World Famous Snook Inn located in Olde Marco and offers waterfront dining and live music nightly https://snookinn.com. The Marco Island Brewery is a local favorite for burgers, pizzas, and local craft beers https://seamarcondo.com/where-to-eat-and-drink-on-marco-island-marco-island-brewery. In addition, there are also several gourmet dining options on the island for that special evening out https://seamarcondo.com/gourmet-dining.

Arts

The Marco Island Historic Museum is definitely worth a visit. We definitely suggest seeing the Key Marco Cat. It resides in a “special home” built just for the exhibit. The museum traces the history of the island from the Calusa Indian settlement through the explosive building phase in the early 60s to its modern day tourist destination.

The Key Marco Cat

Plan Your Marco Island Vacation at Sea Mar Condo!

Sand Dollar

It’s time you discover the beauty of Marco!  Visit our website at https://seamarcondo.com.  You can enjoy its unique beauty from our 19th floor Penthouse condo located in South Seas Northwest.  Our website also provides many links to restaurants and tour companies to assist you in planning your vacation at Sea Mar Condo. Owners Larry and Teresa and been around the area for 25 plus years and are very familiar with the island. We are available for questions anytime – just drop us a line on our contact form.

The Pleasure of Gourmet Dining in Marco Island

Sale e Pepe Marco Island

Key Takeaways

  • Marco Island features beautiful beaches and a diverse selection of gourmet dining options in a casual atmosphere.
  • Guests can enjoy fresh seafood and Italian delicacies at waterfront restaurants with breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Dining options like Snook Inn and Sale e Pepe offer delightful menus and unforgettable sunset experiences.
  • Restaurants such as CAFE DE MARCO and MARCO PRIME focus on quality, ambiance, and extensive wine selections.
  • Gourmet dining in Marco Island ensures a memorable vacation experience with delicious food and picturesque landscapes.


What’s more pleasing than enjoying a gourmet dinner, a glass of wine, and overlooking the Gulf of Mexico waters after a day at the beach?

Marco Island is famous for the beautiful white sand beaches. However, this island that the locals (and its many visitors) call “Paradise” is also known for its many dining options. Gourmet dining in Marco Island is especially nice because it is offered in a casual atmosphere.

Nights that Last A Lifetime

Gourmet dining includes the choice of the freshest seafood, delicious Italian dishes, and tender steak. Many of Marco Island’s restaurants are also located on the water front. They offer breathtaking views of the Gulf waters. There’s nothing quite like dining at the world famous Snook Inn around the sunset hour. A especially nice is listening to local musicians and catching an amazing sunset. After sunset, the Marco Island Princess passes by. All her brilliant lights are ablaze. Then the moon rises over the calm waters. Nights like this make Marco Island memories that last a lifetime!

Looking for fresh seafood dining?

CAFE DE MARCO “Live to Savor!” This restaurant is nestled in the charm of Olde Marco’s Historic District. It is also one of the island’s finest seafood restaurants offering a vast wine selection.

THE DECK AT 560 BAR & RESTAURANT is located in Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa. It features a stunning indoor and outdoor dining room that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. Especially nice is its magnificent sunset view.

FIN BISTRO focuses on fresh and locally caught fish. It has quickly became a favorite with islanders and visitors alike.

THE OYSTER SOCIETY brings a 1920s glamor and sophistication to Marco. This restaurant offers a casual and comfortable setting. It combines a “Great Gatsby” theme with a nautical fusion. Offerings include a wide selection of fresh local seafood and shellfish. In addition, there are daily raw bar specials, complemented by a first class wine list and hand-crafted cocktails.

SNOOK INN is a waterside Marco Island restaurant offering outdoor and indoor dining overlooking the beautiful Marco River. Guests enjoy the famous salad bar and pickle barrel. The specialties are a wide variety of seafood, steaks, sandwiches and continental specialties. Especially nice is the view as you watch dolphin, manatee and the boating activities.

LA TAVOLA “Come Gather at The Table”! This farm to table concept restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients. It serves fresh wild caught seafood, prime organic meats, organic greens, local farm produce and homemade desserts. In addition, the lounge bar offers signature crafted cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Gourmet Dining on Stone Crab

Italian Delicacies

RISTORANTE DA VINCI’S enables patrons to experience the charm of Italy without the jet lag! Sophisticated taste blends into a family atmosphere. Each guest will feel at home while enjoying signature dishes and carefully selected wines. The marble interior is complemented by mosaics, a mural of Leonardo Da Vinci’s artwork and a full indoor/outdoor bar. Enjoy sushi prepared from the freshest ingredients before your eyes.

SALE E PEPE offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico. Dining on elegant Italian cuisine at award-winning Sale e Pepe restaurant never disappoints. Dining here is a celebration of Italian cuisine and architecture and décor. Sale e Pepe features the culinary traditions of southern Italy. These become complete with South Florida’s fresh produce and seafood for a menu beyond compare. Sale e Pepe’s intimate dining room features hand-painted frescos, intricate tile mosaics and Roman arches framing private dining nooks. In addition, the outdoor Terrace offers stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico and its famed sunsets. Especially nice is their selection of a 400 label wine list.

DaVinci's Marco Island
Gourmet Dining on Marco Island

The finest of Steaks

MARCO PRIME – One of Marco’s chicest new restaurants. Although the decor is upmarket, the ambiance is friendly and relaxed. The menu offers a combination of a-la-carte, with a choice of a dozen sides and sauces to accompany your meat or fish selections, and all-inclusive house specialties. The extensive wine list features over two dozen wines available by the glass. The popular outside bar, which extends out into the pretty, well-shaded courtyard, also serves the full menu.

La Travola Marco Island
Gourmet Dining offers a Memorable Vacation Experience

Come experience Marco the way it’s meant to be enjoyed – with a gourmet dining experience, a glass of wine, and a spectacular sunset!

Visit our website https://www.seamarcondo.com for more information on Sea Mar Condo, Marco Island, FL. Our website offers many suggestions for gourmet dining in Marco Island. We want to make your vacation on Marco Island a trip of a lifetime!

What’s Unusual About Marco Island?

Key Takeaways

  • Marco Island is a beautiful barrier island known for its stunning beaches and wildlife.
  • Visitors love the unique sunsets, including the rare ‘green flash’ phenomenon.
  • The island offers exciting outdoor activities like fishing, kayaking, and dolphin watching.
  • Cape Romano’s dome houses provide a quirky landmark worth exploring while visiting Marco Island.
  • Many visitors describe Marco Island as a unique and magical place that keeps them returning.

What’s unusual about Marco Island? What’s unique about this island that residents and visitors call “Paradise Island”? What makes it so special that once you arrive in Paradise you don’t want to leave?

Marco Island is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico off Southwest Florida. It is linked to the mainland by two bridges south of the city of Naples. It’s home to resort hotels, beaches, marinas and golf courses, as well as a network of inland waterways.

Marco Island Beaches

South Beach Marco Island

The island has two beaches. Each is unique in its own way, connected into a 6 mile strip of white sand. The south end of the beach is appropriately called South Beach, also commonly called Crescent Beach. It is lined with resort hotels. This beach also has water sporting venues for boating, jet skiing, parasailing, and boat tours. In contrast, the north end of the beach is Tigertail Beach with a tidal lagoon. It is especially popular for kayaking and paddle boarding. Tigertail is also very popular for its shorebirds and shelling.

Marco Island Sunsets

Marco Island’s sunsets are famous for their unique colors and brilliance. Many of the island’s restaurants are located with views of the Gulf waters or on inlets. This allows diners to have a delicious meal of fresh seafood while viewing a beautiful sunset. Many of the island’s guest accommodations also have fantastic views of the sunsets. A favorite among both locals and island visitors is being right on the beach to see the best sunset. Around the sunset hour, the beach gets very active with beach goers. Bring a camera to capture that perfect sunset picture!

Marco Island Sunset
There’s nothing like a Marco Island sunset!

A Green Flash?

Especially unique about the Marco Island sunset is the “green flash” that you can occasionally see. The Green Flash is a real, if rare, phenomenon that looks just like its name. It is a fleeting burst of vivid green above the upper rim of the sun just as it disappears into the horizon. Some Green Flashes are bigger than others. Some are more noticeable than others. But all of them give you the feeling you’ve witnessed something magical. If you go to the beach for a sunset, you will always hear mention of the “green flash”. It is real, but not often seen!

Marco Island Wildlife

And what about the unique wildlife that inhabits Marco Island? May-September is loggerhead turtle nesting season on the island. Beach combers will see yellow roped off areas where the turtles have laid eggs. If you are really lucky, you may get to see a nest hatch. My husband and I witnessed this several years ago and it is just a “magical” experience.

Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach is also located on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The island is home to many unique birds including the blue heron, white egret, osprey, black skimmer, ibis, eagle, pelican, and roseate spoonbill. What fun it is to watch these birds in action! They either wade by the shoreline or fly high above the waters, diving to catch their food.

Roseate Spoonbills
Roseate Spoonbills are a Favorite on Marco Island

Many tours around the island offer opportunities for guests to see dolphins, manatee, and sea turtles up close and personal. What a thrill to be boating or jet skiing with a mother dolphin and her calf playing in your wake!

Fishing in Marco Island

Backwater fishing gives you the chance to fish for Florida’s most popular game-fish among the mangroves of the 10,000 islands. Backwater fishing offers calm waters, beautiful scenery and little travel. Most popular catches are Snook, Redfish, Sea Trout, Tarpon, Pompano, Snapper, Jack Crevalle, and Ladyfish.

Offshore fishing ventures into the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing the wrecks and reefs off of the coast of Marco Island and Naples is a very popular sport. Catches like Tarpon, Red and Black Grouper, King Mackerel, Shark, Snapper, Goliath Grouper, Permit, Cobia, Barracuda and Tripletail make for an awesome adventure.

Restaurants that Prepare The Fish You Catch?

Are you ready to book a deep sea fishing excursion and bring your catch of the day to one of the island restaurants? Many island restaurants offer the service of cooking up your catch of the day!

Sheepshead Fish Marco Island

And what about the unique fish in the Gulf waters around Marco Island? Many island visitors like to book a deep fishing trip to get that “catch” of a lifetime. Many of these catches may look a bit “unusual”!

Cape Romano Dome Houses

Cape Romano Dome Homes

And speaking of what’s unusual about Marco Island. How about the dome houses at Cape Romano? These “unique” structures look like something out of the Twilight Zone. However, they were actually once upon a time a very modern home to businessman Bob Lee.

The dome houses, built in 1992, were the primary residence of Janet Maple and Lee’s grandson Mike Morgan up until 1993, a year after Hurricane Andrew. This hurricane didn’t do much damage thanks to the home’s unique elevated and rounded structure. In 2005, the house was purchased by John Tosto, just before Hurricane Wilma. Unfortunately, Wilma sadly caused a fair amount of damage to the domes. It also washed away some of the coastline. For unknown reasons, the Tosto’s never actually removed the houses. This left a pretty interesting site for locals and enthusiast visitors to explore. Cape Romano is only accessible by boat now and the domes are fully reclaimed by the sea. However, visiting Cape Romano remains one of the most popular tours off of Marco Island.

Sea Mar Condo, Marco Island, FL
Sea Mar Condo Balcony

A Unique and Magical Island!

What’s unusual about Marco Island? Whatever you consider “unique”, this island will have something to satisfy your cravings. The island is also described by many of it’s visitors as having a “magical” quality about it.  In fact, many return year after year because of the island’s unique qualities.  I have to admit, that is what happened to us several years ago when we decided to purchase our rental condo, Sea Mar Condo. We would love to share this magical piece of Paradise with you!

Visit our website at www.seamarcondo to see our rates and availability. Our website also provides lots of information about things to see and do in Marco Island.
Let us help you make the most of your Marco Island vacation!  https://seamarcondo.com

The Unique Flavors of Marco Island Brewery

Marco Island Brewery

Key Takeaways

  • Marco Island Brewery offers a fun atmosphere, great food, and homebrews like The Rock IPA and Pelican Pilsner.
  • Happy hour runs from 4-7 PM every day, with early bird specials from 4-6 PM and live music in the evenings.
  • The brewery serves over 50 craft beer varieties and features a diverse food menu, including pizza and nachos.
  • It’s the largest sports bar on Marco Island, showcasing a variety of sporting events with 35 flat-screen HD TVs.
  • Marco Island Brewery is family-owned, dedicated to the local community, and conveniently located next to The Marco Players Theater.

Marco Island Brewery
Address: 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-970-0461

In addition to the fun brewery atmosphere, Marco Island Brewery https://www.marcoislandbrewery.com has great food, especially the pizza with their homemade crust!  The Island Bleus Burger is also worth trying! It’s just a fun place to go! It is Marco Island/Naples only micro brewery. Happy hour is from 4-7 seven days a week. Early bird dinner specials are offered from 4-6 each day. Often the restaurant has live music or open mike night in the evenings between 6-9pm.

This restaurant and pub is a laid-back brewhouse that offers a wide range of beers on tap as well as creative pub food. The small-scale brew operation produces three house brews – The Rock IPA, Pelican Pilsner, and Tigertail Red Ale.

In addition, they love sharing other breweries best seasonal and bottle selections. More than 50 varieties of craft beer from all over the world are served at Marco Island Brewery. The food menu is a step up from traditional bar fare. It includes everything from pizza and sandwiches to an elegant eggplant caprese. I especially love their nachos! And who cannot love their signature deserts? The restaurant is the largest sports bar on the island. It shows a large variety of sporting events on their 35 flat screen HD TVs with a huge variety of sports packages. This restaurant a great place to cheer on your favorite team.

Marco Island Brewery is located next to The Marco Players Theater in the Marco Town Center. It is a great place to do dinner before attending the theater. The combination of dinner and theater make for a wonderful evening. It’s also a great place to hang out with friends for a fun afternoon!

The brewery is family owned and operated. They believe in hard work and giving back to the local community. They also believe there is no better place to own and run a business than on Marco Island. We are glad!

Sea Mar Condos https://seamarcondo.com are located between Tigertail Beach and South (Crescent)Beach in Marco Island, FL. In addition, we are in South Seas Northwest resort in Tower 3 and Tower 4. Our location makes it easy to visit both of these beautiful beaches while staying in first class accommodations. Our views are also some of the best on the island. Come relax in Paradise!