19th Floor Penthouse Condos with Spectacular Views of the Gulf Waters
Walking Marco Island Beaches
Walking Marco Island beaches is a favorite pass time of guests to this beautiful island paradise. Explore the two beaches of Marco Island with easy access from Sea Mar Condo.
The Calico Crab, or Leopard Crab, features a colorful carapace and lives along Marco Island beaches.
It grows a white carapace up to 3 inches wide with red spots and can often be seen along shorelines.
Calico Crabs bury in sand and emerge aggressively to feed on decomposing organic matter and small invertebrates.
They shed their carapace multiple times, taking up to two weeks for a single shedding process.
For more information on sea life and activities in Marco Island, visit Sea Mar Condo’s website.
One of my favorite “shells” to find on Marco Island is the Calico Crab shield. Calico Crabs are also known as “Leopard Crabs” because of their colorful carapaces. They can be found along most of the Gulf of Mexico, including Marco Island’s Crescent Beach and Tigertail Beach.
The Calico Crab lives in shallow water along beaches and offshore. It can reach up to a 3 inch wide white carapace with large red spots and darker outlines. Often you can see a calico crab along the shoreline in Marco Island – they are most fascinating to watch. Because of their unique colorful covering, they are relatively easy to spot during a beach walk.
Live Calico Crab on Marco Island’s Crescent Beach
Food Sources and Habits
Calico Crabs are walking crabs, with their back legs designed for moving rather than being flattened for swimming and digging. This crab buries itself completely in sand until food is close by. Then they become very aggressive, moving quickly out of the sand to capture their prey. The normal food sources are decomposing organic matter from plants and animals (minnows, worms, clams, and other small invertebrates). This small crab’s predators are rays, fish, and sea turtles.
Carapace Shedding Process
Thanks to Treasure Seeker’s Shell Tours for the following information on the process of the Calico Crab shedding the carapace: https://treasureseekersshelltours.com.
Calico Crab Shield …when this guy starts the process to shed his shield it takes him up to two weeks to shell, if it is long it can take up to two months. Crabs are crustaceans, and we often see them on our beaches in the sand and they love mud . One of the important characteristics of the crab is that they can shell, they will not only shed their shells once in a Lifetime, but will shed their shells a dozen times. It is very likely that we can observe their shelling phenomenon . If the interval is relatively short then the crab can only shell once in about 2 months .
Visit our website https://www.seamarcondo.com for more information on Sea Mar Condo, Marco Island, FL. Our website offers lots of information on things to see and do on Marco Island, as well as information on sea life and wild life in the area. We want to make your vacation on Marco Island a trip of a lifetime!
An early morning walk down Tigertail Beach offers comfort and beauty, avoiding the midday heat.
Timing your walk near low tide enhances your shelling experience, with plenty of sand dollars available.
Enjoy wildlife sightings, including wading birds and possibly dolphins while walking along the lagoon.
The tranquil beach walk rewards you with serene views and the chance to collect beautiful shells.
Sea Mar Condos provide a perfect location for easy access to Tigertail Beach and top-notch accommodations.
Start Your Walk Early in the Morning
An early morning walk down Tigertail Beach, a 2.5 miles stretch of beautiful white sand is a great way to start the day! Walking early, especially in the hot weather season, is also more comfortable as the late morning and afternoon hours often become very hot.
Larry and I get up around 6:30 and start our walk around 7 am. We take along our water bottles, a snack, cameras, and shelling bags. Tigertail Beach offers a wide variety of shells, often lots of sand dollars, and is a serene and peaceful environment. Its location is also along the Great Florida Birding trail.
One of Tigertail’s shelling trees is the first thing you will see on your walk. These trees offer one the perfect opportunity to hang your “shell print” on Marco Island. Find a shell with a little “hanging hole” in it and place it on the perfect spot on the tree for all to see! This is also a great place to get a beautiful picture of the shell tree with the ocean in the backdrop.
Sand Dollars Galore!
A little further along the beach walk, you will come to Sand Dollar Split, named for the many sand dollars that tend to wash up on this particular area of the beach. We literally have to step around all the sand dollars on our morning walk down Tigertail Beach. Sand Dollars are very fragile; however, with careful handling we collect them and bring them home for beautiful souvenirs of our trips to Marco Island. (We have instructions in Sea Mar Condo for cleaning and caring for your shells). https://seamarcondo.com/how-to-tell-which-sand-dollars-are-safe-to-take-home/
Tigertail Beach Lagoon
As you come along Tigertail Beach Lagoon, you will also notice several wading birds. The white egrets can be quite comical as they practically walk along the beach with you in their strutting fashion. Larry and I get very lucky on our walk and see a pink spoonbill (Roseate Spoonbill) in the lagoon area. This is one of my favorite birds on Marco Island, but it is not always easy to spot them.
Tigertail Beach Park and Wading Birds
Roseate Spoonbill in Tigertail Lagoon
Tigertail Lagoon is a nice place to paddleboard and it is not uncommon to see both paddleboards and kayaks in the lagoon. Many wading birds make their nests along the lagoon as well. At times during the year both least tern and black skimmers nest in large groups around the lagoon area. The best birding season is from December to March. This is the winter dry season when birdlife concentrates in the permanent bodies of water.
To Wade or Walk Around Tigertail Lagoon?
Many beachgoers take the “short cut” and wade across Tigertail lagoon to reach the beautiful white sand beach on the other side. Although very safe as the water even during high tide is around waist high, the lagoon appears to be quite “murky” because of the silt in the bottom. Walking with a shuffle is also recommended as there may be stingrays in the water at times. We also recommend wearing beach shoes. I much prefer leaving our condo and walking around the lagoon as I enjoy my beach walks over wading the lagoon waters.
A Serene and Calming Beach Walk in Early Morning
From the lagoon area, the early morning walk along Tigertail beach is peaceful, serene, and calming. You will not find a lot of other beachgoers because this is not a populated area. There are no hotels or other commercial establishments along this beach. Look to your right as you walk toward the north end of Tigertail and you will see very nice houses and a private beach area. This is the Hideaway Beach community, a private gated beach area, thus it is accessible only to residents.
Calming Blue Waters
As you continue your walk, be sure you keep an eye on the calming crystal blue waters. You may be rewarded with seeing dolphin or even a manatee. I have seen both in this area. It is also common to see lots of pelicans, osprey, and at times eagles. You will definitely be rewarded with a beauty that calms the soul.
Tigertail’s Peaceful Waters
The North Side of Tigertail Beach
Our Tigertail Bounty
Larry and I are rewarded with some very nice pictures, a also with a lot of sand dollars (my fav), and Florida fighting conch shells (Larry’s fav) from our walk. We also get a very perfect large banded tulip along the walk as well. On our return we encounter an osprey on a tree branch that even poses for our picture taking! Our walk takes around 3 hours although we stopped for snacks, water, and picture taking along the way. Even though we have walked this part of the beach many times, it never gets old, and perhaps even more rewarding each time.
Start Your Day with Peace and Serenity
There are few places in this world where you can see this kind of beauty and experience the peace and serenity that this 2 miles of Tigertail Beach offers. Tigertail Beach was named by Coastal Living Magazine as one of the top private beaches in the world to visit.
Teresa on Tigertail beach
Black Skimmers on TigertailEarly Morning on TigertailSand dollars from Sand Dollar SplitLarry Washing our Bounty
Sea Mar Condos 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!
Visit our website https://www.seamarcondo.com for more information on Sea Mar Condo, Marco Island, FL. We want to make your vacation on Marco Island a trip of a lifetime!
Marco Island’s beaches, like Tigertail and South Beach, offer pristine surroundings and are ideal for relaxation and nature exploration.
Tigertail Beach features a lagoon for kayaking, excellent wildlife viewing, and is one of the best birding locations in Florida.
Sand Dollar Spit is accessible by wading or kayaking and boasts breathtaking views and diverse shell varieties.
South Beach provides three miles of activities such as swimming, fishing, and dolphin watching, along with stunning sunsets.
Keewaydin Island is accessible only by boat and offers serene beach experiences, perfect for those seeking solitude.
Our location at Sea Mar Condo couldn’t be better! We are located on Tigertail Beach, overlooking South (Crescent) Beach. A quick boat trip takes you away to Keewaydin Island. We want to introduce you to Marco Island’s beaches, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. See related post: https://seamarcondo.com/marco-islands-pristine-beaches
The largest Island in Florida’s chain known as Ten Thousand Islands is Marco Island. It features two public beaches, as well as several offshore island beaches. For the beach-goer looking for quiet, pristine beaches and an escape from the party scene of other Gulf of Mexico beaches, Marco offers an ideal destination. Beautiful landscaped walkways and surrounding properties set Marco Island’s beaches apart. Enjoy miles of clean, uncrowded beaches of white sand and famous Marco sunsets. Marco Island’s beaches are world famous – one visit here and you will understand why. See related post: Walking on the Beach in Marco Island: https://seamarcondo.com/walking-the-beach-in-marco-island
Tigertail Beach – Hernando Drive on Marco Island
The Lagoon
The lagoon is a great place to paddle board or kayak while seeing nesting birds along the water’s edges. There is also a very nice children’s playground and sandwich concession stand located in the area.
Paddleboarding Tigertail Lagoon
Observation Tower and Fantastic Wildlife
The Observation Tower, with two levels and permanently fixed binoculars, gives unobstructed views of the lagoon and Sand Dollar Spit. It is disability accessible from the main walkway close to the snack bar, and is open from dawn till dusk.
The lagoon is also a great place to fish (either spinning or fly). It has many secluded areas around mangroves or shallow water towards the Big Marco Pass. It is an important rest area for migrating birds. In addition, it is a major nesting site in spring and summer for several endangered species. Tigertail Beach lists as Site # 73 on the Great Florida Birding Trail. You can expect to see many types of heron, ibis, egret, black skimmers, plovers, sandpipers, willets, pelican, osprey, roseate spoonbills, and even a bald eagle. There are always mullet jumping. You may also see fiddler, horseshoe and ghost crabs as well as sea stars.
Sand Dollar Spit – a Magnificent Unspoiled Gulf Beach
To reach Sand Dollar Spit and the beautiful, pristine, soft sandy beach on the other side of the lagoon, you either have to wade through it, or head south some distance to where the lagoon ends and make a turn to the north. You can also rent a kayak or paddleboard and make it part of a day trip. It’s a bit of a trek to walk to the spit, but it’s definitely worth it. The beach here (which abounds with seashells) is absolutely breathtaking and totally natural.
Many of Florida’s beach-nesting shorebirds face conservation challenges, but can regularly be spotted on Sand Dollar Spit and Tigertail. These include the snowy plover, least tern, black skimmer, American oyster catcher, and Wilson’s plover. Please keep your distance and never intentionally force birds to fly or run.
No two visits are ever the same in this area. You can walk for miles with just the lapping of the waves, the rustle of the sea oats and the cries of birds to keep you company. In our view, it’s the best part of the whole beach and is well worth the walk. Don’t forget to take some water and shelling bags. There are over 200 different shell varieties that can wash up on the shore.
On Tigertail Beach, the choice is Yours:
• Experience 32 acres of one of the world’s most important habitats for wintering and nesting shorebirds. Listed in the Great Florida Birding Trail Guide as one of the best all-around birding locations in southwest Florida. • Explore the tidal lagoon. It separates the Tigertail Beach Park from the state managed Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area popularly known as the Sand Dollar Spit. The lagoon is home to a wide variety of wildlife including horseshoe crabs, needle fish, Florida fighting conchs, and more. • Enjoy the Gulf of Mexico from the Sand Dollar Spit. If you visit this site, be aware of seasonal postings designed to protect the nesting colonies. Remember to practice good birding etiquette. See related “An Early Morning Walk Down Tigertail Beach: https://seamarcondo.com/early-morning-walk-down-tigertail-beach
South (Crescent) Beach
Marco Island’s beautiful South Beach stretches the whole length of the west side of the island. Of course the beach is public property and open to all. It is perfect for beach walks, shelling, relaxation, sailing, and parasailing.
This beach is 3 miles of soft white-sand beach, wide and usually teaming with activity. South Marco Beach (also called Crescent Beach) also features beachfront property. It is lined with sabal palms and the large, luxury hotels of Marco Island. Swimmers and sunbathers populate the beach on South Marco from 8:00 a.m. until sunset each day. Crescent Beach is also a great place for beach fishing and dolphin watching.
Sunsets along this beach are unbelievable. If you are lucky, you will get to see the “Marco Flash”, a flash of deep blue or green light occurring very seldom but always just after the sun sets into the Gulf.
Resident’s Beach
This beach is private for Marco Island residents only. Actually, the beach is public, but the cafe, bath facilities, and chickee huts are private.
Keewaydin Island
Keeywaydin Island
Keewaydin Island beach is only accessible by boat. However, there are day trips offered each day from Marco Island to Keewaydin by Hemmingway Water Shuttle. We highly recommend Hemmingway Water Shuttle – the offer very flexible and fun trips to and from Keewaydin. https://seamarcondo.com/keewaydin-island-is-perfect-for-beachgoers-and-boaters
Beach Hours
Marco Island’s beaches are patrolled and are not available for overnight camping. Unless staying at a Marco Island beachfront resort or condo you are not permitted to enter the beaches after 10:00pm. Marco Island, and the 10,000 islands area in the Florida Everglades, is an important nesting and migrating area for birds. Wildlife and bird viewing, or “birding” is a popular outdoor activity. You should be careful not to disturb island birds and turtles when visiting Marco Island’s Beaches. Several of the island’s birds and turtles are on the endangered species list and fines are imposed for violators. Due to Marco island’s important and fragile ecosystem, dogs or pets of any kind are not allowed on any Marco Island Beaches.
Sea Mar Condos are located in South Seas Resort on the north end of Marco Island. They are 19th floor penthouse condos overlooking beautiful Crescent Beach. We welcome you to be our guests and enjoy everything that Marco Island has to offer. See one guest’s testimonial on Marco Island Beaches: https://seamarcondo.com/testimonial/beaches-in-marco-island
Walking on the Beach in Marco Island offers a relaxing experience, perfect for exercise and reflection.
Sea Mar Condo is conveniently located near both South (Crescent) Beach and Tigertail Beach.
Tigertail Beach is ideal for shelling and observing wildlife, best explored around low tide.
South Beach provides a lively environment filled with luxury hotels, ideal for people watching and enjoying sunsets.
Visit Sea Mar Condo’s website for more information on rates and availability to enhance your vacation.
There is nothing quite as relaxing as walking on the beach in Marco Island. It is great exercise and gives one time to reflect on how beautiful life really can be. Life’s cares float away and are replaced with a calmness that is difficult to find in this busy everyday world.
Most visitors to Marco Island come for the beauty and adventures of South (or Crescent) Beach. Others come for the peace, beauty, and serenity of Tigertail Beach. Our guests at Sea Mar Condo (www.seamarcondo.com) seem to like a taste of both. We are located within easy walking distance of both beaches. https://seamarcondo.com/marco-islands-beaches
Walking Tigertail Beach
Tigertail Beach on Marco Island
On the map, Sea Mar Condo is located at the “1 mile” mark from Residents’ Beach (a private beach area for residents of the island, but anyone can walk along the shoreline in this area). Leaving from South Seas Towers, go right at water’s edge. You can continue beyond this point to one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the world. https://seamarcondo.com/early-morning-walk-down-tigertail-beach . Coastal Living magazine named Tigertail Beach “One of the Most Beautiful Secret Beaches in the World”. It is best to walk this area of Marco Island in the period of 2 hours before low tide and 2 hours after low tide. Places along the walk can be difficult to maneuver during high tide, but there are easy trails leading around the high water areas that you can take. Tigertail Beach is perfect for shelling and viewing wildlife, especially wading and nesting birds.
Walking South (Crescent) Beach
South (Crescent) Beach on Marco Island
Leaving South Seas Towers and walking toward the South end of the island takes you along Crescent or South Beach. This stretch of beach is approximately 3 miles and is lined with luxury hotels and water sports. South Beach is the perfect walk for people watching, shelling, and gazing at the beauty of this crescent shaped beach along the Gulf. The sunsets along this beach are amazing as well. During the sunset hour, it is very common for the beach to be lined with residents and visitors alike to see the spectacular colors of a Marco Island sunset.
Are you ready to go walking on the Beach in Marco Island? If so, let us know!
Visit our website at https://seamarcondo.com to our rates and availability. Our website also provides more information on Sea Mar Condo and Marco Island. Let us help you make the most of your Marco Island vacation!
Marco Island offers a variety of activities for all ages, including beach yoga, paddleboarding, and eco-tours.
Start your day with coffee and breakfast at local favorites like Doreen’s Cup of Joe or Tigertail Cafe.
Explore shopping areas for unique gifts and clothing or enjoy dining with waterfront views at places like Sunset Grille.
Visit the Marco Island Historical Museum to learn about the island’s history or take a day trip to Everglades National Park.
Check in to Sea Mar Condos for a comfortable stay and make the most of your Marco Island vacation.
Tuck these ideas into your travel bag to make the most of your Marco island Vacation. There are activities on Marco Island for all ages and skill levels. From morning until late evening, you are sure to be in awe of this beautiful island. The beaches and mangrove areas offers lots to explore. Many restaurants offer great seafood and beautiful sunsets. It’s also easy to get exercise with walks along the beaches. Marco Island’s history can be explored at our local museum. Area shopping is fun. Everglades National Park is a short drive away. And Sea Mar Condos are the perfect place to stay while on the island. There is something for everyone!
1. Early Morning Exercise
Whether you take a morning walk or run or do yoga on the beach during sunrise, getting an early morning workout gets you ready for the day. In addition, the island is less crowded in the mornings. It’s peaceful, serene setting calms the mind. A favorite walk if staying on the North side of the beach is to walk Tigertail Beach. If golf is more your early morning routine, the courses in the area are especially nice!
Visit Doreen’s Cup of Joe for the perfect cup of coffee. You can also choose from their huge breakfast menu. I love the stuffed french toast covered with fruit toppings. Their fresh squeezed orange juice also makes a nice addition to your morning! If you chose to paddleboard or kayak first, Tigertail Cafe also has a nice selection of food items. Another place for a nice breakfast on the island is Red Rooster located on San Marco. And of course, there is always our oversized balcony at Sea Mar Condo for the perfect cup of coffee and breakfast.
Tigertail Lagoon is the perfect place paddleboard or kayak. The water is very calm and the scenery is spectacular! There are several companies that rent paddleboards or kayaks on the island and deliver to your location. The area around Caxambus Park is also a good place to kayak and do some shelling. In addition, several companies also offer kayak tours of Marco Island and the mangrove areas. These tours are excellent for both beginners and the more experienced. The guided tours are very informative and educational. Paddleboarding or kayaking are great activities for any age.
During the months of mid-November through mid-April, the Marco Island Farmers Market is open each Wednesday at Veteran’s Park. This is a great place to pick up small gifts as well as fresh produce and vegetables. The selection of items is unbelievable! It’s also a great place to pick up a snack or lunch from the many food vendors there. The farmer’s market is a favorite for island visitors and residents.
Marco Island has several areas that offer unique shopping. The Shops at Old Marco, the Marco Town Center and the Esplanade all specialize in unique gifts and clothing. It is fun to combine an evening dinner and shopping. Fifth Avenue South in nearby Naples is also a fun shopping experience, especially when the night ends with a Kilwin’s ice cream! I also enjoy all the fun gift shops that line the streets. This area is especially pretty in the evening hours when the area is ablaze with lights from the palm trees.
There are many eco tours available on the island that provide opportunities to see dolphin, manatee, and the many bird species that are on Marco and the surrounding area. Many of these tours are also great for children. The Dolphin Explorer focuses on educating guests about our local dolphins. This tour introduces their guests to each dolphin by name. Did you know the Marco Island Dolphins each have a name? You may even get to name a dolphin! If you prefer fishing, there are also many fishing excursions leaving the island each day. Both deep sea fishing and backwater fishing are popular with island visitors. Another option is to rent a boat and explore on your own. Many of the marinas rent pontoon or speed boats and provide easy directions on boating around the area. The Naples area also has some fantastic sightseeing tours that are worth checking out.
If you prefer boating on your own, many of the local marinas rent boats for the half day or day. They also offer navigational maps and tips for safe boating around the island https://seamarcondo.com/marco-island-boating .
The Marco Island Historical Museum provides guests an opportunity to learn about early Marco. Learn about the famous for its Key Marco Cat. It is one of the most remarkable and influential discoveries in North American archaeology. The museum explores Southwest Florida’s Calusa Indians. It brings this vanished civilization to life with informative displays. There is even an exciting recreated village scene. The museum also explores the early 1960s development of Marco Island to the present day island of paradise. Visiting the Marco Island Historical Museum is a great rainy day excursion. It is also a great way to spend a few hours away from the beach.
Everglades National Park is 15 minutes away by jet ski. Several of the island eco tours will visit the mangrove areas around the park. It is also a short 45 minute drive to Everglades City or Big Cypress Visitors Center. It’s always a fun adventure to take an air boat or swamp buggy tour. A drive around Loop Road in Big Cypress is also the perfect place to see alligators, wading and nesting birds, and beautiful scenery. A ranger station around Big Cypress offers lots of information about the park and it’s inhabitants. Everglades National Park has 3 entrances that are fairly close to Marco Island. There are many places to hike and explore. See our complete article on Everglades National Park in the link below.
Marco Island has many churches that welcome visitors for Sunday services in casual attire. On Easter Sunday, the island has a sun rise service on the beach.
10. Dine by the Water
Many of the restaurants on the island offer waterfront dining. Some like the Snook Inn also have live music each night. The seafood selections are great. Most restaurants have a wide variety of non-seafood items as well. If you prefer to catch your own meal, many of the restaurants prepare your catch for you at a very reasonable price. Restaurant selection varies from casual low-key dining to casual elegant dining. And if you need a break from seafood…Marco Island has some great burgers as well! Visiting one of the waterfront restaurants is a great way to see the beautiful island sunsets as well. Some of our favorite restaurants on the water are Sunset Grille, Sale e Pepe, Mangos, and Snook Inn.
Our property is managed by Blue Water Rentals. BWR provides around the clock service to answer any questions or maintenance concerns should they arise. The owners are Larry and Teresa Luber from Kingsport, TN. We love our guests and want to welcome you to this beautiful island paradise. We look forward to sharing our Marco Island Condo with you for the vacation of your dreams.
At Sea Mar Condos, our guests are our #1 priority. Our condos are 2 bedroom/ 2 bath penthouse condos. They are located on the 19th floors of South Seas Northwest Towers 3 and 4 in Marco Island, FL. Each condo has a king bed, 2 twins, and a queen sleeper sofa. Free wifi and 3 televisions are in each condo. The condos face South overlooking Crescent Beach. The units are fully equipped with beautiful views. A large heated pool, which is comfortable all year round, is located between our 2 condos. We strive to make our condos as comfortable and special for your vacation as they are for us when we use them.
Visit our website at https://seamarcondo.com to our rates and availability. Our website also provides more information on Sea Mar Condos and Marco Island. You will find lots of information on things to see and do on Marco Island. Restaurant suggestions are also on our website. 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
