Marco Island Travel Guide |
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On This Page:Marco Island Travel Guide
Marco Island is reminiscent of a sleepy, albeit swanky, beachfront retirement community. When the sun goes down, you can hear a pin drop, though. There is absolutely no life after dark here, but Capt. William Collier would still hardly recognize Marco Island if he were to come back from the grave today. No relation to Collier County founder Barron Collier, the captain settled his family on the north end of this island, the largest of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, back in 1871. He traded pelts with the Native Americans, caught and smoked fish to sell to Key West and Cuba, and charged fishermen and other guests $2 a day for a room in his home. A few turn-of-the-20th-century buildings still stand here, but Collier would be shocked to come across the high-rise bridge to the island and see it now sliced by man-made canals and virtually covered by resorts, condominiums, shops, restaurants, and winter homes. These are the products of an extensive real-estate development begun in 1965, which means that Marco lacks any of the charm found in Naples and on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Much of the sales effort here was aimed at the northeastern states, so the island smacks more of New York and Massachusetts than of the laid-back Midwestern style of its neighbors. Marco's only real attractions are its crescent-shaped beach and access to the nearby waterways running through a maze of small islands, its excellent boating and fishing, and the island's proximity to acres of wildlife preserves.
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Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa
400 South Collier Boulevard
Marco Island, FL 34145 Map Distance: 2.9 mi. (from destination center) Hotel Class: 
Expert Rated & Recommended
from:
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
280 Vanderbilt Beach Road
Naples, FL 34108 Map Distance: 20.3 mi. (from destination center) Hotel Class: 
Expert Rated & Recommended
from:
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North
Naples, FL 34102 Map Distance: 13.7 mi. (from destination center) Hotel Class:
Expert Rated & Recommended
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AttractionsTen Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
3860 Tollgate Boulevard
Naples , Florida 34114 Distance: 13.1 mi. (from destination center) Description: The Ten Thousand Islands Refuge features concentrations of wading birds including wood storks,... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
Caribbean Gardens
1590 Goodlette Road
Naples , Florida 34102 Distance: 14.1 mi. (from destination center) Description: Naples Zoo is a nationally-accredited zoo featuring rare animals residing within a historic... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
375 Sanctuary Road West
Naples , Florida 34102 Distance: 12.8 mi. (from destination center) Description: The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary features a 2.25-mile raised boardwalk, which takes visitors through... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
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