Maybe you are dreaming about romantic spots and still could not find any then lucky you are, I am here to help you with choosing the best romantic place.
Marco Island
is a modern beach resort in
southwest Florida
, as well as a wonderful place for a romantic getaway in relative silence in nature.
Thanks to the wide
white sand beaches
and warm climate, it is pleasant to spend time here almost at any time of the year.
Is Marco Island Worth Visiting?
Yes, every year more and more tourists come to Marco Island, and we also decided to
visit it during our trip to the beaches of Florida
.
Marco Island is a small island in southwest Florida USA measuring 6 miles long and 4 miles wide, with a long beautiful white sand beach and world class resorts with good hotels, located off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, 12 miles south of the very popular
resort town of Naples
among the rich.
Due to the isolation of the island, the large size of the beaches and the small number of locals, a pleasant feature of the holiday on Marco Island is the availability of free space even near large hotels and resorts, unlike the more crowded beaches of
Sarasota
and
Clearwater.
There is so much space on the beaches of Marco Island that all vacationers can feel as comfortable and free as possible.
Unprecedented advertising campaigns prepared Marco Island for its “grand opening” in January 1965!
25,000 people visited the island on opening day, and houses were sold immediately.
People continued to flock to the island throughout the 70s.
The quaint beach town has continued to evolve into a sophisticated island community that now attracts people from all over the world with its beautiful weather and beaches.
Marco’s charm has stood the test of time.
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What is So Great About Marco Island?
Beach holidays away from the hustle and bustle, gatherings in bars, visiting restaurants and water sports – that’s what great about going to Marco Island.
For lovers of outdoor activities, there are many entertainment options on the mainland.
You can also drive to nearby
Naples
or even head to
Key West.
Like
Miami Beach
, Marco Island is a barrier island, and its uniqueness lies in the combination of comfortable conditions in a subtropical climate with the unspoiled natural beauty of the reef ecosystem.
Also, Marco Island is called the gateway to the
Florida Everglades
.
After all, just a few minutes
drive from it is the Everglades National Park
, which occupies a vast territory almost to Miami itself and is the second largest in the United States among all the national parks in America.
What I liked personally is that unlike the very expensive Naples, holidays on Marco Island are generally cheaper, because the prices in hotels are lower here, and there is more choice.
For a lower price, you can stay in a beach resort with spacious rooms and developed infrastructure.
Is Marco Island a Nice Vacation Spot?
Yes.
It is amazing vacation spot with sparkling sea, white sand beaches and a strawberry daiquiri in your hand!
You will have a wonderful vacation on Marco Island.
Here you will have all the activities, from shell collecting to a sunny golf session and to exploring the Everglades and to enjoying a refreshing nature hike, Marco Island can give that’s all to the visitors.
Is Marco Island beach White Sand?
Yes, this beach is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the region with white sand.
The beach stretches for 2 miles and offers visitors white sand and crystal clear waters.
Here you can practice various types of water sports, such as surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, etc.
The beach has many leisure facilities including showers, toilets, cafes and restaurants.
You can also rent umbrellas and sun loungers.
Marco South Beach is an ideal place for family holidays, as well as for those looking for peace and privacy.
Here you can enjoy beautiful views of the sunset and stroll along the picturesque promenade.
Is Marco Island worth Visiting?
What is The Best way to get Around Marco Island?
Walking, cycling and simply walking are the best ways to get around Marco Island.
These active ways are also the greatest ways to move around the island.
A Whole island is covered in jogging and bicycle lanes.
What is the Cheapest Time of Year to go to Marco Island?
The cheapest time of year is from late August to early September is regarded as a budget period to visit Marco Island.
But the best time to travel to Marco Island is November-December and March-April.
But at the height of winter it is better to go to the warm Maldives, and in the summer – to
Hawaii
or the Seychelles…
Marco Island has a pleasant subtropical climate with warm, sunny weather over 300 days a year.
From late autumn to early spring, it is always warm here and there is practically no rain.
Precipitation falls mainly in summer and early autumn.
The summer months are quite hot and humid, with showers in the afternoon.
Sometimes in the winter, cold arctic air
reaches the south coast of Florida
, so a warm jacket may even come in handy.
But this happens very rarely.
Can You Walk on the Beach in Marco Island?
Yes, you can walk on the public beach.
And the only public beach access on the south end of Marco Island
is South Beach.
In general, this beautiful island has a long beautiful white sand beach and
world class resorts with good hotels
, located off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, 12 miles south of the very popular among the wealthy of the resort town of Naples.
Can you Swim in the Ocean at Marco Island?
Of course, you can swim in the ocean at Marco Island.
Thanks to the wide white sand beaches and warm climate, it is pleasant to spend time here almost at any time of the year.
Every year more and more tourists come to Marco Island.
Here beaches look wilder than the very popular Siesta Beach in Sarasota, but is distinguished by its calm and relaxed atmosphere, and also provides a wonderful opportunity to collect a large collection of a wide variety of shells.
While walking along the beach in spring and summer, nests of sea turtles and shorebirds can be found nesting on the land that separates Tigertail Lagoon from the bay.
Does Marco Island Have Clear Blue Water?
Yes, Marco Island has clear blue water with clean white sandy beaches.
It is one of the best
beach destinations in Florida
.
The beach has incredibly soft, clean sand and the calmest waves.
At this paradise to take your loved ones on a fun-filled day in the sun, swimming in the clear waters and the heat of the Florida sun, or picnicking in the park’s soft grass.
There are even gazebos you can rent to comfortably watch the little ones as they play in one of the two playgrounds.
If you haven’t brought your lunch, there are food stalls selling burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, coffee, soft drinks and more.
Is Marco Island worth Visiting?
Can You see Dolphins in Marco Island?
Yes, you can see dolphins there.
For us wildlife of Marco Island was one of great interest, so Marco Island was interesting to us because of dolphins,
alligators
, various rare herons and many endangered species such as the bald eagle and manatee live right on it and in the nearby waters.
Here while walking along the beach in spring and summer, nests of sea turtles and shorebirds can be found nesting on the land that separates Tigertail Lagoon from the bay.
Does Marco Island have an Aquarium?
Yes, you can find it at Marco Island Park.
Here, the visitor center features a range of interactive displays, a 2,300-gallon aquarium, and exhibits addressing ongoing stewardship and research projects within the Reserve, in addition to a nature store, gallery, and picnic area.
Are There Bears in Marco Island?
Yes, Florida
black bear
(Ursus americanus floridanus) live on Marco Island- the only subspecies of the American black bear living in the subtropical region.
They are usually black in color, but during molting they can also be found in brown, and there is always brown fur on the muzzle.
They are shy and lead a lonely life.
Although it is believed that bears are omnivores, 80% of their diet is plants (for example, palm berries), 15% insects, 5% small animals.
Are all Beaches on Marco Island Public?
Marco Island has great public beaches and also private ones…
The 6 mile crescent-shaped beach on Marco Island with the purest bright white sand (almost like in Cancun) is one of the widest in Florida.
It looks wilder than the very popular Siesta Beach in Sarasota, but is distinguished by its calm and relaxed atmosphere, and also provides a wonderful opportunity to collect a large collection of a wide variety of shells.
South Marco Island Beach is one of two public beaches on Marco Island.
It is the quieter of the two beaches and is therefore ideal for families looking to relax.
The beach has paid parking, toilets and a paved path.
There are also good beaches on the nearby uninhabited islands, such as Keewaydin, which can be reached by boat on your own or you can visit there during the excursion.
Does Marco Island Have a Boardwalk?
Yes, Marco Island has many places to walk around.
For example one of the most famous is
Briggs Nature Center
Briggs Nature Center – The nature center has a total of 3 miles of trails to explore a natural nursery for fish, shellfish, crustaceans and nesting birds.
Cape Romano is a cape in the south of the island.
The main attraction is the unusual domed buildings built as holiday homes in the 1980s.
The homes have weathered several storms over the years, including
Hurricane Wilma,
which washed away part of the coastline.
Can you Drink Alcohol on Marco Island Beach?
Yes, surprisingly but you are permitted to
drink alcohol
on Marco Island’s public beaches and may consume alcohol anywhere on the island’s beaches as long as it is not in a glass container.
But in general, the USA has very strict laws regarding the
drinking of alcoholic
beverages.
Persons under the age of 21, even when accompanied by adults are prohibited from drinking beer, wine or any other alcoholic beverage on the beach.
Do You Have to Pay to Go the Beach in Marco Island?
Yes, unfortunately you have to pay for the parking.
All beach parking on Marco Island is paid.
And you have to pay immediately for the whole day (8-10 dollars), and not by the hour.
Is Marco Island Accessible by Car?
Yes.
If you drive from Miami the driving distance will be 105 miles.
It takes approximately 2h 11m to drive from
Miami
to Marco Island.
Distance to Marco Island from Tampa – 177 miles.
Marco Island is connected to the mainland by two road bridges: the Judge SS Jolley Bridge to the north and the Goodland Bridge to the south.
From Naples, Interstate 75 and Highway 41, it is more convenient to drive into Marco Island along Collier Blvd (SR 951) from the north.
From the Big Cypress and Everglades parks, it is better to go along San Marco Rd.
Is the Red Tide in Marco Island?
Yes,
red tides
impact Marco Island.
Red tides are natural.
They have been observed in the Gulf of Mexico since the 1800s.
They can grow far from the coast in the Persian Gulf and congregate off the coast in autumn and winter when cold winds blow into Florida, Marco Island.
The red tide often subsides by spring, but in some years the infection lingers.
When
red tide toxin
is inhaled, it can cause respiratory symptoms in humans such as coughing, wheezing, and sore throats.
The impact of the red tide on human health is not dangerous, but brings unpleasant symptoms: coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes and shortness of breath.
In red tide water, swimming is relatively safe for humans, it will not cause serious distress, but it can cause a burning sensation in the throat and eyes and itching of the skin.
However, red tide can be deadly for pets and fish.
If there are dead fish in the water, then people are advised not to swim there, as the bacteria from its decomposition can be hazardous to health.
Some Interesting Facts about Marco Island
Marco Island is the southernmost inhabited island in southwestern Florida.
The extraction of mollusks at the beginning of the 20th century contributed to the beginning of the development of the island.
As in Monterey, there was a “Cannery Row” here – the Burnham Clam Cannery and Doxsee Clam Cannery cannery operated.
According to historical information, about 2.
5 thousand years ago, the Calusa Indians settled on it, who may have been descendants of the Maya Indians.
They built large mounds on the island.
After the arrival of the Spaniards in the XIV century, the Calusa Indians were completely destroyed and the Seminoles came in their place.
Prior to the start of mass development, in the mid-1960s, the population of Marco Island was only 550 people, since the only way to get to the island was through a narrow wooden bridge, the spans of which were raised by hand!
Today the population of Marco Island fluctuates seasonally from about 17,000 during the summer to 40,000 during the winter months.
From Marco Island you can get to the
Florida Keys
.
There is a daily
ferry service to Key West
.
Well, I hope you really enjoyed the article and already planning your romantic getaway here!