The Magic of Marco

Our favorite activity was floating around in the 85 degree gulf waters and dozing to the sound of the breakers. Don''t forget to keep an eye out for dolphins breaching. We even saw two manatees while floating out in front of the resort!

Relaxation is the name of the game on Marco Island. This is where you stop and smell the proverbial roses, and replenish your soul.

Good shore fishing for those so inclined. Excellent swimming in the gulf.

A tour of the Everglades is both fascinating and educational. There are many operators as you drive south toward Everglade City.

A popular pastime here is combing the beach for shells. There are a gazillion and you''ll increase your collection quickly here.

Quick Tips:

Be sure to walk across the street to either Wings or SunSations and buy yourself cheap, disposable floaties. Also, there is a beach concession that will rent two beach chairs and an umbrella for an outrageous sum. Again, buy cheapies across the street or at a discount store, such as Wal-Mart and dispose of them at the end of your week. You''ll save a bundle.

The beach concession also rents wave-runners at the mere price of /hour plus tax. Most likely a little investigation will lead you to a more inexpensive option.

If you have tender feet, be sure to stop at Wal-Mart in Naples along the way here to buy inexpensive splash shoes. Lots of shells line the beach, and can be sharp. When we were there, you could pick up a pair for .

Do yourself a favor and skip Tiger Tail Beach. Although it is a State Park ( admission per car), it''s not our idea of a beach. You have to slog through several feet of knee-deep water with eel grass to reach the strand that actually has a beach. We considered it a rip-off and promptly left.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you plan on sightseeing, you''ll have to rent a car for this purpose. However, the resort is within walking distance to many shops and restaurants, right on Collier Blvd.

We didn''t notice any buses, but then, again, we weren''t looking for them. My guess would be that this area isn''t one that has a lot of public transit, because it is so affluent. We noticed no taxis in our travels, either.

Collier Boulevard has ample sidewalks, so walking to shops and restaurants on this main drag is a pleasant option in the cool of the evening.

Don''t forget to allow a morning or two for a slow-paced walk along the water''s edge to clear your mind and meditate. Be sure to watch for those playful dolphins!

Our lovely two-bedroom, unit #304, afforded a drop-dead gorgeous view of the resort's outdoor amenities (hexagon shaped pool, outdoor cooking pavilion, koi pond, and whirlpool), with the beach and Gulf waters beyond.

The kitchen was well equipped, with a dishwasher, microwave and ice maker (but we made our own ice, anyway, since the water had an off-taste.)

The master BR offered a king size bed that was extraordinarily comfortable. There were two closets, in which were stored the bedding for the fold-out couch in the living area. The master bath had a large shower stall and a single sink.

The small guest bedroom had two twin beds (which we moved together for our guest couple) and a bathroom right outside. There was a pocket door that allowed closing off the entire bed/bath combo, making it a private suite.

A utility closet outside the second bath housed an apartment sized washer/dryer. Although we didn't wash, we did make ample use of the rinse cycle for our swimsuits, in order to rinse and spin dry them, which then made air drying a quick matter.

The living area boasted two comfortable sofas and an armchair. The unit had 2 TVs, a large one in the living area and a smaller one in the master BR. Sliders (that were broken and difficult to open and close) gave out from the living area and master BR to a long lanai. Because we had a corner unit, the breeze when sitting out on it was remarkably pleasant.

The Jacuzzi was kept very warm. The pool was heated to the same 85 degrees as the ocean. The hours for both were 9AM-10PM.

Security had a definite presence, which gave a feeling of safety. The outdoor maintenance department did a bang-up job keeping this resort looking like tropical paradise.

The only downfall was the housekeeping department. Our unit had several shortcomings in this arena. When we moved the twin beds together, there was an accumulation of dirt and leavings from earlier guest, such as an earring and tiny toys. The oven had not been cleaned in quite some time. Hairs on the master bath floor were unsightly. We killed a cockroach, and a call led to a rapid response for spraying.

Check in and check out was very fast and hassle-free. The staff was always cordial. We sailed on the resort's catamarans only once during our stay, because the activities department was short-staffed. The cat and its sails appeared to be almost brand new.

The resort is on Collier Blvd, which hosts numerous shops and restaurants. We rented a car for sightseeing and went to Naples one day. However, except for grocery shopping, renting a car would not be necessary.

This resort is quiet, so much so that at night, the unit was absolutely quiet. We had an outstanding time at this resort, and look forward to returning in the future.

Joey's was really hopping the night of our arrival on Marco Island.

Hoping to find a good place for Italian, we leafed through dining brochures in our timeshare's office. The two places we picked happened to be closed, as September is the slow season.

"Hey," my daughter called from the back seat of the car, "What about that Joey place we passed before the bridge?"

No one had even noticed it, but we dutifully headed back toward the Marco Bridge.

We thought we might have to wait for a table, but an affable hostess seated us immediately.

It was hard to choose from the many offerings, but after being nudged a few times by my better half, the decision was made.

We ordered stuffed shells in marinara sauce, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken Parmigiana, and my sister-in-law and I opted to share a mushroom and sausage pizza.

Our server was affable and attentive. When ordering the pizza, we told her we wanted the large since we were REALLY hungry. She advised us against us, saying the regular pizza was quite large. We trusted her.

Salads arrived first for those who ordered a non-pizza entree. They consisted of mainly iceberg lettuce, red onion rings, olives, and tomatoes. The house dressing was unmemorable, but for those who requested oil and vinegar, cruets arrived with light green extra virgin olive oil and a fine balsamic vinegar, which elevated the pedestrian salad to enticing heights.

All 3 entrees came swathed in the same, garlicky marinara sauce. The chicken Parmigiana was a generous portion with spaghetti on the side. Plenty of cheese cloaked the entree. The stuffed shells sported the same mantel of melted mozzarella. The shells were properly al dente, while the ricotta filling was nicely firm and spiked with Parmesan for added flavor. The meatballs that accompanied the spaghetti were nothing extraordinary, and tasted like the frozen, bagged variety. The spaghetti was al dente. The real star arrived after the entrees, however. If you stay anywhere in Marco or Naples, do NOT miss the thick-crust pizza! To say that the toppings were abundant would be understatement. Just enough sauce to bind everything together lent a key element to the delicious flavor. And the cheese! It was gloriously thick and melted, running almost Vesuvially when cut. As predicted, we couldn't come close to finishing. This pizza heated up as good as new in the microwave, making at least three lunches during the week.

The service was good, but not the best. Our server was helpful when asked, but not overly cordial, and not good with refills.

The tab came to around $90 for 5, including tax, tip, and 3 sodas and 2 draught beers.

So it's mixed bag here. The entrees, while good, were nothing remarkable. My recommendation is to bypass the pasta and go for the pizza. You won't be disappointed!

The Snook Inn is a Marco Island institution. You could visit the area without checking out this gem, but why deprive yourself of the south Florida experience and the best seafood you'll find anywhere?

The atmosphere is very casual, with a chickee bar that features live music that will have you swaying. If the music moves you to dance, join the crowd. Several couples were cutting a rug the day we visited.

If you're a boater, you can dock right up to the restaurant. Judging from the number of occupied slips, this seemed to be a popular way to visit this eatery.

It's a happy place where you can order one of the popular frozen drinks or just a beer and hang out with friends and watch the dolphins play in the water.

The main attraction of the Snook Inn, however, is the food. The specialty is, of course, seafood, but there are ample choices for those who don't like fish and crustaceans.

We arrived for lunch and were seated promptly, as it was past the lunch "rush" crowd. We did not have reservations, and I can't state with certainty that they are necessary or even accepted. A call is advised if you intend to come for dinner, as this place is wildly popular, with both the tourist and local crowds.

We started with the excellent, impeccably fresh peel 'n eat shrimp. It was the just-right accompaniment for our drinks and for perusing the imaginative menu.

The jerk chicken quesadilla is perfect for those non-seafood-consuming folks. The tender slices of grilled chicken offered just the right amount of kick from judiciously-applied spices, and came tucked between light tortillas and swathed in melted cheese. The dish was served with shreds of iceberg, with sour cream, which complimented those spices to perfection. I have had hotter jerk chicken in the past in Jamaica, but this one seemed to be spiced just right. Hotter does not necessarily equal better, and this is a case in point.

The seafood chowder was one of the best renditions we've ever had. It was creamy with an abundance of fish and various seafood morsels to satisfy any craving.

Although we did not sample them, we were told that the conch fritters were about the best outside of the Caribbean. These, too, are somewhat spicy, from what we've been told. All the better for washing down with a cold Red Stripe beer.

Our server was cordial and efficient. She said she had been working there for many years. We never had to wait for refills, and she brought the check promptly when asked.

The Snook Inn has the whole package. Its charm is infectious, its food superb, its service top shelf. When we return to Marco Island, we'll definitely be back, for dinner the next time.

The first thing you notice at Coral Cay is how friendly the owner is. On the night we visited, he anticipated that we'd want to take advantage of the $1 second round, and as we had arrived at 9pm, he told us that he was closing an hour early, but that he would honor his second round for a dollar promise by giving us vouchers to use at a later date. He did so and we redeemed them the next evening.

When you first enter, there is a practice hole. A sign nearby points to one course, saying "EASY" and toward the other with the designation "HARD."

Since we had two macho men with us, of course we had to do the "hard" course. After a few holes, we were wondering aloud what the "easy" course would be like, since this didn't seem to be much of a challenge.

However, this assessment changed after the first few holes. There were complicated, yet invisible directing slants right at the holes. Banking a shot where one might think could result in vastly different results from those anticipated. A couple of multi-tiered holes and ones with direct rock obstacles made this an apt challenge.

Both courses were landscaped and kept meticulously clean. This bespoke the management's solicitous attitude, but made it impossible to blame that missed shot on "the leaves all over the green."

There are many "water hazards", ranging from mini-ponds to rushing "rivers." For this reason, I'd recommend watching your kids like hawks. The smaller tots could easily get swept downstream, over concrete and rocks, if they wandered into the water. As it was, one in our party ended up straddling the concrete "banks" of one of the streams when he fell backwards on a narrow section outside the green.

On the second night when we returned, we had to, of course, shoot the "easy" course. Well, we found that either someone had a perverse sense of humor, or had switched the signs! This course gave a far greater challenge than the first.

All in all, except for some frustrating misses due to miscalculations, we had lots of fun! Sometimes, old-time, simple fun is the best. The course wasn't crowded, so we had plenty of time to chat, to joke and laugh, to re-connect with our friends.

The care taken in the grooming of these two courses was remarkable, comparing it to others we've played. The staff is helpful and friendly. The deals offered by this course, such as the $1 off coupon easily found in the tourist/attraction booklets in supermarkets and gas stations, make this a superb, not-to-be-missed value.