19th Floor Penthouse Condos with Spectacular Views of the Gulf Waters
Green Flash at Sunset
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.
Esplanade and Smokehouse Bay offer unique shopping and dining experiences in Marco Island.
The area features upscale retailers, beautiful architecture, lush landscaping, and a marina.
Dining options include CJs, Mangos, and Deep Lagoon, all with stunning waterfront views.
Guests can enjoy sunset photography and relaxing evening drinks by the marina.
Visit our website for more information on rates, availability, and activities in Marco Island.
Esplanade Shopping
An afternoon at Marco Island’s Esplanade and Smokehouse Bay is an all inclusive treat. Let’s start the afternoon off shopping in the unique shops. This Italian-style village consists of upscale retailers. It also has small specialty stores. The architectural detail is beautiful and colorful. The lush landscaping and fountains add to the experience.
The Esplanade is located on North Collier Boulevard. This is Marco Island’s main street. The area has more than 1,100 feet of waterfront on Smokehouse Bay. There is retail and office space and a 77-boat slip marina. In addition, there are 72 multi-family waterfront residences. Visitors at the Esplanade are treated to the promenade along the waterfront. A courtyard opens to the water. Let’s not forget the beautiful marina. The dining and shopping are fantastic!
Smokehouse Bay Dining
Three of my favorite Marco Island Restaurants are located in the Esplanade. CJs, Mangos, or Deep Lagoon offers delicious waterfront dining. Be sure to take your camera! This is definitely one of the most beautiful places on the island. You can capture a fantastic sunset picture over the marina bay. It is also a very relaxing spot to have an after dinner drink. Watch as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon for a magical evening. You may even see the Marco Island Green Flash!
And don’t forget sweet endings with an ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery.
Marco Island’s Esplanade and Smokehouse Bay are popular for guests. The many dining options and beautiful sunsets make a special evening . Don’t miss this area on your Marco Island visit!
Visit our website at https://seamarcondo.com to see our rates and availability. Our website also provides lots of information about things to see and do in Marco Island and restaurant suggestions. Let us help you make the most of your Marco Island vacation!
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
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!
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 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!
Baby Octopus on Marco IslandMeet our Resident DolphinsManatee are Common on Marco IslandIt is Unusual to See a Baby Sea Turtle, but It Does Happen!We Love our Pelicans!
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!
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
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 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
