Located on the southwest coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico and the largest of the area's 10,000 barrier islands with 24 square miles, Marco Island has developed over the last 40 years into a popular visitor destination. It offers a wide range of recreation opportunities, eco-tourism, eclectic shopping, fine dining, festivals and events. Founded by William Thomas Collier in 1870, it passed to the Mackle Brothers and the Deltona Corporation to develop the island with amenities, golf clubs, marinas, hotels and residences.
There are many activities and attractions visitors can enjoy on Marco Island. The Marco Island Trolley loops the island with historic tours. Outdoor enthusiasts can water ski through the Marco Island Ski & Water Sports tour group. Marco Adventure Tours provides a variety of excursions that include manatee, airboat, Everglades sightseeing and shelling tours. Other outdoor activities are relaxing along 6 miles of pristine beaches, kayaking through 100 miles of marshy waterways, walking or biking along nature trails and visiting museums and historic landmarks. There are also golf courses and tennis courts, art galleries and deep sea fishing.
Tigertail Beach is open to the public and has showers, restrooms, a playground, recreation rentals and volleyball courts. Other island activities include campgrounds, charter fishing, canoeing, swimming, kayaking and exploring nature trails through the Rookery Bay Reserve and nature parks and preserves. Sea shell collecting is also another popular thing to do on Marco Island. Dining options for seafood and local fare include Old Marco Pub & Restaurant, Cafe De Marco and Kretch's Restaurant, a German-themed landmark that has been around for over 20 years.
Marco Island, the largest barrier island in Florida's southwest 10,000-island region, is located adjacent to the 1.5 million-acre ecosystem and slow-moving river toward the Gulf of Mexico with sawgrass, cypress swamps, mangroves and saltwater marshes. Visitors to Marco Island can tour by airboat and eco-tours to better understand its geographic features, along with beaches and wildlife preserves that are entertaining and educational.
The island offers a variety of outdoor recreation, nature and wildlife tours and tropical climate. Marco Island has many popular festivals and events that bring thousands of visitors, such as the National Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival in January, Labor Day Weekend Swamp Walk and the Christmas Island Style Lighted Boat Parade.
Marco Island has a pleasant subtropical climate with both a wet and dry season and a hurricane season between June 1 and the end of November. The island's rainy period is between June and October.
A visit to Marco Island offers opportunities to learn about the island's ecosystems, wildlife and beautiful and natural landscapes. Other benefits can be gained from outdoor recreation opportunities, whether swimming, boating, kayaking, camping, fishing, land and water tours. The small town also features enjoyable shopping, Floridian dining fare, museums and excellent art galleries with works by local artists. Popular natural attractions include the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wooten's Alligator Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary and Briggs Nature Center.
