Issues to Do in Marco Island With Youngsters

For these dwelling on the East Coast of the USA, Florida generally is a handy and enjoyable household trip vacation spot. Along with the Orlando theme parks which can be virtually a ceremony of passage for households, there are additionally many lovely seaside locations in Florida. The white sand seashores of the Florida Gulf Coast affords a number of the most lovely seashores within the nation.

When searching for a spring break vacation spot for our household, I appeared for an important deal and ended up reserving Marco Island, Florida, a barrier island on the Gulf Coast. We liked our enjoyable journey to Marco Island and located that there have been a lot of enjoyable issues to do on Marco Island with youngsters.

In case you are searching for a soothing seaside trip vacation spot with white sand seashores, contemporary seafood, and many actions for nature lovers, Marco Island is a perfect vacation spot.

Disclosure: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by way of one among these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us at no further value to you. We paid for our journey to Marco Island, however did obtain complimentary admission to the Naples Botanical Gardens. 

Issues to Do in Marco Island With Youngsters

Location of Marco Island

Marco Island is positioned south of Naples and Fort Myers in southwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. We flew into the Fort Myers Airport (Southwest Florida Worldwide Airport), rented a automotive, and drove about an hour south to Marco Island.

The Gulf Coast of Florida affords some beautiful seashores, and Marco Island isn’t any exception. It’s the biggest barrier island within the Ten Thousand Islands of Florida, though it nonetheless seems like a quaint seaside island. 

Go to the Seaside on Marco Island

With its beautiful Gulf Coast location, the seaside is certainly top-of-the-line issues to do in Marco Island with youngsters. If you wish to spend a lot of time on the Marco Island seashores, I’d undoubtedly suggest reserving a lodge proper on the water. We stayed on the Marco Seaside Ocean Resort, which affords beachfront entry.

Marco Island affords two public seashores which can be open to friends. These embody Tigertail Seaside Park, which has concessions, a playground, restrooms, and extra. There’s additionally the South Marco Island Seaside Entry, which has parking and restrooms. 

Water Actions on the Seaside

Whereas we loved simply sitting on the seaside and having fun with the water, you may as well ebook water sports activities from the seaside. There are many totally different choices. Sooner or later, my daughter and husband went parasailing proper from the entrance of the lodge. Jet Snowboarding, paddle boarding, and different water sports activities are additionally out there. 

Shelling can be one of the widespread issues to do on Marco Island. We didn’t discover as many shells on the seaside at our lodge however did discover them on the boat tour we took throughout our journey. 

The Dolphin Explorer Eco-Tour and Cruise

Dolphin Research Eco-Tour and Cruise, positioned on Marco Island, is the one Florida exercise included within the ebook “100 Locations that Can Change Your Youngster’s Life“. This three-hour boat experience (we selected the afternoon tour), guided by a naturalist, was the right technique to train my youngsters about dolphins and nature round Marco Island. We even went to an uninhabited island to gather shells. 

In the course of the journey, we additionally had the chance to see different wildlife, together with ospreys and bald eagles. After all, what you see will fluctuate by the journey. This tour was one among my favourite boat excursions I’ve ever taken on trip. It’s a must-do on Marco Island, in my view – particularly if you’re touring with youngsters who love dolphins and marine life. 

Naples Botanical Gardens

On the third day of our journey, we spent the morning on the seaside after which headed to close by Naples to the Naples Botanical Gardens.  I acquired complimentary tickets to overview it (the one comp on this journey), and it was an effective way to spend the afternoon.

There’s a big kids’s backyard that the children liked taking part in in, however additionally they loved strolling round the entire gardens.  I’d suggest going within the morning, nevertheless, as a result of it was fairly scorching within the afternoon.

Naples is a brief drive from the island, so in the event you plan to do a couple of issues within the city, you could need to mix them in at some point. 

Ten Thousand Islands Nationwide Wildlife Refuge

In case you are up for an journey and need to to discover nature, you could take into account visiting the Ten Thousand Islands Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. It’s positioned between Marco Island and Everglades Metropolis, with boating entry factors at Calusa Island Marina and Port-of-the-Islands marina. We didn’t go to the refuge throughout our trip, but it surely appears like it will be an important place to probe for the day. 

Marco Island Historic Museum

The Marco Island Historic Museum is a good place to be taught concerning the historical past of Marco Island, together with the Calusa Indians that lived there. It’s most likely finest for older youngsters or adults. Along with the life-size Calusa Village on the museum, you’ll additionally discover some authentic Marco artifacts on mortgage, together with the well-known Key Marco Cat.

Mangrove Kayak Tour 

There are a number of methods you may discover the favored mangrove forest within the Marco Island space. Choices embody a kayak tour, a jet ski tour, or a ship tour.

I haven’t kayaked by way of the mangroves in Marco Island, however I’ve carried out it elsewhere in Florida. It’s a extremely enjoyable, distinctive expertise.

Procuring

If you wish to do some purchasing while you’re on trip, you’ll have some choices. Marco Island itself is dwelling to present outlets, boutiques, and surf outlets. The Esplanade Shoppes and Marco City Middle Mall are two vacation spot areas the place yow will discover outlets.

The place to Keep on Marco Island

There are a number of nice choices for household resorts. Throughout our journey, we stayed on the Marco Seaside Ocean Resort, an all-suite beachfront lodge providing a pool. We liked our keep there and would undoubtedly suggest it to households.

Different resorts within the space embody the next: 

What to Eat on Marco Island

As you’d anticipate primarily based on the placement, yow will discover some scrumptious seafood in Marco Island. Many of the eating places are pretty informal and are kid-friendly. Throughout our journey, we liked the next eating places:

• The Snook Inn
• The Loopy Flamingo

Ceaselessly requested questions on Marco Island

Do you want a automotive on Marco Island?

We usually took our automotive out from valet about as soon as a day. I’d undoubtedly suggest having one, since you’ll most likely need to drive to the grocery retailer, eating places, and points of interest throughout your journey. 

Do it’s good to take a ferry to Marco Island?

Marco Island is accessible by way of a bridge, so that you don’t want to fret about taking a ferry there. 

See our issues to do in Marco Island story right here.

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