By M. Kelley
Florida's Marco Island
Florida's Marco Island is the largest Barrier Island within southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands area, extending from Marco Island to Cape Sable along the Gulf of
Mexico. The island has a permanent population of 15,000 and a peak winter season population of 35,000.
Geography
Marco Island has six miles of white sand beach and over 100 miles of waterways within its 24 square miles. Marco Island is located 30 minutes south of Naples, Florida.
Features
Tigertail Beach, Marco Island
Tigertail Public Beach is on the northern section of the island with a sandbar and a shallow lagoon that present the perfect environment for windsurfing and collecting sea shells. Windsurfing lessons and shelling tours are available year-round.
Considerations
Marco Island lies within the subtropical to tropical climate zone. It experiences distinct wet and dry seasons, with most of the rainfall---and the hurricane season generally---occurring between June and October.
Function
Collier-Seminole State Park
Collier Seminole State Park, just a few miles from Marco Island, provides camping, canoeing, fishing, boating, picnic grounds and a mile long nature walk. Daily narrated boat tours of the park are offered. Canoe rentals can include camping along the trails.
Types
Environmentally sensitive canoe and kayak tours are available for ventures into the heart of the Everglades. The goal of the tours is to help visitors experience the unspoiled wilderness in a natural way.
Benefits
CJ's on the Bay
With commanding views of Smokehouse Bay, CJ's on the Bay features a mellow atmosphere, tropical cocktails and dishes such as Goat Cheese Fondue and Smokehouse Bay Seafood Cakes.
Resources
About the Author:
M. Kelley, Ph.D. has been writing for 15 years and is author/editor of three books (Duquesque UP, U of Delaware P) and articles in journals including "The Minnesota Review" and the labor activist "Workplace." His writing awards include the Alfred Gordon Prize for Distinguished Work in Early Modern Studies, the Mario Capelloni Fellowship, the Helaine Newstead Fellowship, and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship.
Photo Credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/krystalclear/3700670314,http://www.flickr.com/photos/sallypics/132348629,http://www.flickr.com/photos/ber1/2193094111,http://www.flickr.com/photos/james_bailey/3255070848
