Things To Do in Marco Island

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 300 Tower Rd. (tel. 239/417-6310) is a two-pronged attraction. Rookery Bay naturalists lead 2-hour guided kayak tour of the bays and mangrove forests of Rookery Bay, pointing out the unique plants and animals that make this coastal ecosystem so valuable. Tours are offered weekly and times vary due to tides. Prices range from $65 to $75. They also offer tons of eco-tours from shelling to explorations of mangrove tunnels and mudflats. You can also rent kayaks for $40 an hour or $75 a day.  

Back on land, the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center is a 16,500-square-foot facility with research laboratories, classrooms, a 140-seat auditorium, a nature store, an art gallery, a two-story visitor center with a 2,300-gallon aquarium, a variety of interactive exhibits, and an observation bridge and nature trail. Admission is $10 adults and $5 children 4 to 12. Open 9am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Besides the Snook Inn, Marco Island has some excellent spots for drinks with water views. CJ’s on the Bay, 740 N. Collier Blvd. (tel. 239/389-4511), overlooks picturesque Smokehouse Bay, and has a daily happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30pm. Mango’s Dockside Bistro, 760 N. Collier Blvd. (tel. 239/393-2433), has a big bar overlooking the Smokehouse Bay as well as a sushi menu and, yikes, a 750-gallon saltwater fish tank, from which, as far as we know, the sushi does not come. For a happy hour starting at 2pm, head to The Speakeasy Marco Island, 1106 ½ N. Collier Blvd. (tel. 239/970-2929), a waterfront watering hole with potent drinks, karaoke nights, live music, and Monday and Wednesday twin lobster specials. Sports fans love the beachfront Sunset Grille, 900 S. Collier Blvd. (tel. 239/259-0771), where you can watch dolphins play in the Gulf and the Dolphins play on the TVs. Speaking of dolphins, the Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill, 1021 Anglers CV (tel. 239/394-4048), is a hidden gem open daily until 10pm and located at a very off the beaten path location on the water. In fact, they rightly say “half the fun is finding us.” Once you do, you can stay and enjoy views and drinks until 10pm, which is practically 2am Marco Island time.