50 Things to Do on Marco Island
Posted by Dan Boyle on Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 at 1:57pm.
Marco Island is the largest of Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands and is one of the most popular spots in Florida. Located in Collier County, it is visited by an estimate of nearly a million tourists every year. This is because Marco Island has a lot to offer other than its pristine, beautiful beaches. Vacationing on Marco will never be boring! Here are fifty ways to have fun on Marco Island:
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Duck Hunting at the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Go duck and coot hunting in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Lots of activities are also available here such as canoeing, kayaking, and boating. Go exploring the island’s marine life and catch a glimpse of sea otters, manatees, and crocodiles.
2. Kayak the Everglades
Take a kayaking tour to the Everglades. Paddle through the mangrove tunnels, educate yourself about the wildlife and take a relaxing sunset tour and experience a quiet and peaceful afternoon in the Everglades.
3. JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
Experience luxury in Marco Island by staying at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. Enjoy Balinese inspired decor, multiple swimming pools, and restaurants so guests can have an amazing holiday.
4. Ride on a Waverunner
Explore the crystal clear waters in Marco Island by going on a ride on a WaveRunner. A new Yamaha WaveRunner can be rented at Marco Island Watersports for half an hour at $100 and for a full hour at $165.
5. Explore the History and Culture of the Island
Marco Island has a rich history and culture just waiting to be explored. The Marco Island Historical Museum has a free entry where one can take a look at artifacts and displays and lots more. The Marco Island Center for the Arts also holds art exhibits and workshops.
6. Marco Island Brewery
The nightlife in Marco Island is never dull. There are lots of bars and restaurants that offer different kinds of entertainment like the Marco Island Brewery. Sports fans can watch their game at the Marco Island Brewery and enjoy a large selection of draft beers.
7. Island Escapes Vacation Rentals
Guests can rent a beachfront house and have some outdoor barbecue for a family bonding experience. There are lots of waterfront vacation rentals available in Marco Island that are within everyone’s budget.
8. Check Out the Boat House Motel at the Marina
The Boat House Motel at the Marina offers a rental home, three condo units and 20 guest rooms (some with waterfront view) suitable for family vacations or romantic getaways.
9. Get Fresh Produce at the Farmer’s Market (November to April)
Marco Island has a farmer’s market open every Wednesdays from November to April. Fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, herbs and even handicrafts are available at the market for everyone to enjoy.
10. Bottlenose dolphins and bird watching
Marco Island is home to bottlenose dolphins and several bird species. Take a tour with a certified naturalist guide and visit and play with the dolphins and take a look at some pelicans, otters, Bald Eagles, ospreys, manatees, sea turtles, herons and lots more.
11. Seafood and Music Festival
The Marco Island Seafood and Music Festival is a 3-day festival every March full of music, beer and lots and lots of yummy seafood! This festival helps raise funds for the less fortunate in the community which means participating in this festival is a win-win situation for both the festival-goers and the community.
12. Pirate’s Treasure
Be prepared to get wet on Marco Island’s newest attraction: Pirate’s Treasure. Go on an Interactive Pirate Excursion and be a pirate for a day! Kids will have a good time learning songs and games and hunting for treasures like a true pirate.
13. Shelling with Sunshine Tours
Go sightseeing and shelling with Sunshine Tours and collect different kinds of collectables from the sea. Shells can be collected as well as conchs and sand dollars. Sunshine Tours also offer fishing and cruise tours and combination trips.
14. Marco Island Center for the Arts
The Marco Island Center for the Arts offers a wide range of classes and workshops like hand-building with clay, photography, stone sculpting, advanced drawing and lots more. Various exhibits are also available on schedule.
15. Hop Aboard an Eco Tour with The Dolphin Explorer
Go on an Eco Tour and learn more about the island’s dolphin population and other marine life. The Dolphin Explorer’s 30-foot catamaran attracts dolphins for tourists to take photographs with. Complimentary beverages are also available for guests to enjoy.
16. Rent a Boat for Fishing and Exploring
Rent a boat during your stay on the island and go exploring and fishing at your own pace and time. Some companies also offer tackle packages along with the boat rental for a convenient fishing experience. Boats are available for half day or full day rental.
17. Go Miniature Golfing at Marco Golf and Garden
Miniature golf enthusiasts would have a fun time on this island in Marco Golf and Garden. Their miniature golf course is furnished with lush, manicured gardens. They also offer discounts for seniors and students.
18. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a nationally accredited zoo and botanical garden that is just a short drive from Marco Island. There are lots of fun activities especially for the kids like Camp Wild and Safari Squad which includes a storybook reading and an animal encounter.
19. Naturalist Kayak Tour Through Mangroves at Rookery Bay
Rookery Bay Reserve offers a 2-hour kayaking tour through mangrove bays, creeks, and islands. There is also an aquarium and environmental learning center that you can experience along with the kayaking tour. Art and photography workshops are also available at Rookery Bay.
20. Experience the Marco Mystery and History Tour
The Marco Mystery and History Tour is a 2-hour tour with a “ghost tour guide” who will tell tales about the island’s spooky past. Complimentary drinks are available at the end of the tour to cap off the night of scary fun.
21. Fall Colored Shells
Shell collecting is a lot more fun to do during the fall season. Guests can collect more shells in colors purple, yellow and orange during this season. There are several tour companies in Marco Island that offers fall shelling to visitors on the island.
22. Everglades National Park
At the Everglades National Park, there are tons of activities available to guests. Go on a private airboat tour and experience the Everglades. There is also a live alligator show where one can get up close and personal with the alligators and give them a hug!
23. Lunch at Lee Be Fish Company
Experience a sumptuous meal at Lee Be Fish Company. They offer the freshest seafood in Marco Island. Recommended dishes to try are the Grilled Catch of the Day basket with a side of rice and beans and also the fish tacos. Lunch is best eaten outside the courtyard which opens at 11 am.
24. Happy Hour at CJ’s On The Bay
Happy hour at CJ’s On The Bay starts from 4 to 7 pm. Patrons can enjoy a glass of chardonnay or sip on $6 cocktails while munching on their famous CJ Lobster Fries and watching the beautiful southwest Florida sunset.
25. Take a trip to Naples
Naples is just a short trip away from Marco Island. It offers exquisite dining, nightlife, and sophisticated shopping areas. Naples has a lot of restaurants and shopping areas one can choose from.
26. Sushi at Marco Island Marriott
Marco Island has the freshest seafood there is and what better way to enjoy it than indulging in one of the best sushi places in Marco Island! The Marco roll in Marco Island Marriott is to die for! It is stuffed with salmon, tuna, Thai peppers, hamachi, cucumbers and avocado with mango salsa. Yum!
27. Quinn’s On The Beach at Marco Island Marriott
Quinn’s On The Beach is another restaurant in Marco Island Marriott that offers delectable dishes. Quinn’s is a beachside restaurant offering Caribbean style seafood, steak and cocktails. Their lobster tails with chili garlic butter are one of their specialties.
28. Marco Island Princess Sunset Dinner Cruise
Enjoy a romantic dinner aboard the Marco Island Princess. The Sunset Dinner Cruise is a two hour, double entree buffet cruise where couples and families can enjoy a full view of the amazing sunset of the Gulf of Mexico.
29. The Spirited Painter
Another date night idea is to enjoy a night of art and drinks at the Spirited Painter. It is a family-owned sip and play paint shop where couples and non-couples can bring their own snacks and drinks and enjoy a quiet night of fun and arts.
30. The Marco Players Theater
The Marco Players theater is a non-profit organization who has been around in Marco Island for more than four decades now. Along with the main show, they also have Lunchbox Shows where guests can enjoy a show with a boxed lunch and a Q&A portion with the performers.
31. Bicycle Tour in Naples Bicycle Tours
Bicycle tours are available in Naples Bicycle Tours for biking and fitness enthusiasts. Take a two hour guided tour provided with all the necessary equipment along with complimentary snacks and drinks and bike around San Marco Island’s beautiful spots.
32. Massage Treatments at Salon and Spa Botanica
The Salon and Spa Botanica offer a variety of luxurious, relaxing massages for their guests. Aside from the common Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, they also offer a Sports Massage for those who have been doing rough water sports and other athletic activities, and a Prenatal Massage for those expecting moms who need to have a day of relaxation.
33. Escape From a Prison Cell
The adventurous types will always have a fun activity to do here on Marco Island. One of these are the ones offered by Extreme Escapes, an entertainment-filled escape room game which is perfect for corporate events and team buildings. You get 60 minutes to escape a room that is filled with riddles and tricks to set you free.
34. Cape Romano Dome House
The Cape Romano Dome House is an abandoned dome house in Caxambas Island constructed in 1980 by a retired businessman and then later abandoned. Take a boat tour and ride around the Dome House and explore its unique design.
35. Customized Tours
Florida Backcountry Adventures allows guests to customize their tours according to their interests. Guests can combine 2 activities such as shelling and an eco-tour and decide the number of hours for their convenience.
36. Explore Captain Horr’s Old Pineapple Plantation.
Captain Horr was a resident and the owner of Horr’s Island who built a pineapple plantation in the 1800s. Now, the old pineapple plantation is a historic site which guests can include in their itinerary when exploring the island.
37. Tigertail Beach
Tigertail Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Marco Island. When the guests get to the park, they would have to cross a lagoon that’s about 50 yards where they can enjoy themselves by shelling and exploring. At the end of the lagoon, marvelous white sand and crystal clear waters await. Tigertail is also a favorite neighborhood in which to purchase a home.
38. Stone Crab Claws
Enjoy one of Marco Island’s specialties: the stone crab. Guests can enjoy juicy stone crab claws at restaurants like CJ’s on the Bay. Stone crab claws are a sustainable food source because after stone crab claws are harvested, the live crabs are returned to the ocean to allow them to regrow their claws.
39. Kids Activities at the Golisano Children’s Museum
Just a short trip from Marco Island is the Golisano Children’s Museum where kids can have a fun-filled day learning arts, science, culinary lessons and so much more! Several exhibits and programs are available for toddlers and kids to enjoy!
40. Read a Book at Sunshine Booksellers
Bookworms will love Sunshine Booksellers. They have a wide selection of books from fiction to nonfiction as well as children’s books. Guests can enjoy a quiet day reading at the bookstore itself or get a book and spend a relaxing day reading by the beach.
41. Get Coffee at Wake Up Marco
Books are best paired with coffee or tea, and guests can enjoy them at Wake Up Marco, where they can enjoy a selection of roasted coffee and a variety of teas. Freshly baked pastries are also available there.
42. Movie Night at Marco Movies
Enjoy a movie night with your date or with your friends and family at Marco Movies. You can order their delectable menu offerings from their friendly staff while watching the latest movies.
43. Go Bar Hopping Island Style
Enjoy Marco Island’s tropical nightlife with the string of bars they have to offer. Go to a sophisticated wine bar at La Tavola and then head out for sushi and cocktails Dolphin Tiki Bar and Grill all on the same night.
44. Enjoy an 80 minute Balinese Treatment at JW Marriott
Spa at JW is a spa and treatment center at JW Marriott Marco Island that boasts their signature 80-minute Balinese treatment. Their trained therapists perform a choreographed massage that soothes the muscles and the sympathetic nervous system.
45. Waterside Dining and Live Music at Snook Inn Restaurant
Snook Inn Restaurant provides live entertainment 7 days a week.They also have two happy hours: from 4 to 6 pm and 10 pm to closing every day! Included in the late happy hour is a Late Nite Menu in which all menu items are discounted.
47. Shopping at Miromar Outlets
Located outside Marco Island, guests can shop ‘til they drop at Miromar Outlets. They have over 140 designer brand name outlets to choose from. They also have fun events for shoppers such as live entertainment and shopping discounts all year round.
48. Visit Olde Marco Village
Olde Marco Village is a neighborhood in Marco Island offering gourmet food centers and shopping outlets. Vacationers can enjoy a fun day of shopping and dining after a day out on the beach.
49. Day Trip to Keewaydin Island
Take a boat ride to Keewaydin Island which is an uninhabited island near Marco Island. A day trip to Keewaydin Island is a perfect spot for a quiet private date. Couples can bring snacks and wine and enjoy a nice little picnic and go for a swim.
50. Get lunch from a Food Boat
At Keewaydin Island, there are food and drink boats that dock up on the shore. Guests won’t feel hungry while enjoying the sand and sea at Keewaydin Island. There is also an ice cream boat, perfect for a hot day on the beach.
Vacationers and residents will always have something fun to do at Marco Island whether it’s relaxing and swimming by the beach or fun activities like touring or escaping a riddle-filled room. To get to this paradise, guests can fly to Fort Myers and rent a car to the island. Marco Island is the perfect place to invest in fun. Find your place on Marco Island with BuyMarco.com and the Boyle Team today.
When you've finished doing everything on this list, head over to Sun King Vacation Rentals for more fun things to do and to pick out your next vacation rental.