Marco Island is located on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, south of Fort Myers and just north of the Everglades and 10,000 Islands. Sun-washed white sand beaches are one of the main attractions of this tiny island and there are several to choose from.
Tigertail Beach is a public beach open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. There are showers, restrooms, a children’s play area, volleyball nets, a concession stand for food and beverages, and a rental stand for a variety of water sport toy, umbrellas and chairs. The entrance to Tigertail Beach is located at the intersection of Spinnaker Drive and Hernando Drive.
Residents Beach – Main requires a resident permit for entry. It is open from 8 a.m. until sunset daily. Showers, restrooms, vending machines, and a children’s play area are available as well as a picnic area with chickee huts, tables and charcoal barbecues. The entrance is located at the intersection of Collier Boulevard and San Marco Road.
South Beach requires a resident permit for parking in the resident parking lot. There is also a public parking lot available and a walkway to the beach that provides access for both residents and the public. The beach is open 8 a.m. until sunset daily. There are no facilities, however, there are hotels and restaurants along the beach within a short distance. Walkway access from Collier Boulevard is located just north of Cape Marco.
Hideaway Beach is a public beach only accessible to the public by boat. The Hideaway Beach community, however, is private property that is available only to homeowners and their guests and is monitored by Hideaway Staff. Mangrove forests, lagoons and wildlife are found in abundance in this 314 acre area of Marco Island.
Several other beaches are accessible on nearby islands by boat and are only a short ride. These include Coconut Island located at the mouth of the Marco River across from Hideaway Beach. Just south of Marco Island is Cape Romano, and Keewaydin Island is just north of Marco off the tip of Isles of Capri. A number of tour boats and guides are available for sightseeing trips to these islands and their beaches.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patti Bailey has lived and worked on Marco Island, Florida for 11 years. She designed and maintains the website http://www.marcoislandonline.com. For more information about Marco Island, Florida, visit Marco Island Online or Email patti@cyberisle.com
