21 Fabulous Things To Do In Marco Island Florida

2. Visit Tigertail Beach And Sand Dollar Spit

480 Hernando Dr., Marco Island

Without a doubt, Tigertail Beach and Sand Dollar Island are among the best beaches in southwest Florida and each one is unique.

According to legend, the beach was named for Tigertail, a nickname given to the native Florida Seminole leader by US Army soldiers because of the long strip of panther skin which hung from his waist.

Tigertail Beach is actually split in two by a tide-driven lagoon. The inner beach features the calm lagoon where you can swim or rent beach shelters, stand-up paddle boards and kayaks.

The shallow lagoon is great for kids, and fishing is quite good at the turn of the tides.

You’ll see mullet jumping by the dozens straight out of the water.

The outer beach is reached by wading across a shallow part of the lagoon (3-5 feet deep at high tide) and walking a short distance on a narrow path through coastal scrub to Sand Dollar Island.

There is a sturdy observation tower on this side of the beach that gives a panoramic view of the area and is ideal for birdwatchers.

On the inner beach is parking, a snack bar for lunch, cold drinks, and snacks along with picnic tables, grills, a playground, and restrooms.

The main part of Tigertail Beach is Sand Dollar Island — aka Sand Dollar Spit — considered one of Marco Island’s most beautiful natural areas. It’s great for shelling, and for birdwatchers the narrow island is a haven for egrets, herons, sandpipers, plovers, terns, and osprey among others.

We think this is the prettiest beach on Marco Island and not at all crowded during the off-season.

Parking is $8/day or $1.50/hour for non-beach parking pass holders.

3. Go Fishing In Marco Island

Marco Island boasts some of the best year round inshore and offshore sport fishing in the world.

With the Gulf of Mexico and Ten Thousand Islands in its backyard, Marco is perfect for some serious fishing.

At different times of the year anglers can target the shallows for tarpon, snook, sea trout, and redfish.

If deep water fishing is your thing, a knowledgeable captain can take you to premier spots offshore in the Gulf of Mexico targeting grouper, snapper, cobia, tuna, and king mackerel. Something is always in season around Marco Island.

Rates for a family of 4 can run upwards of $500 for a private trip, or you can book space on a charter or party boat for much less per person.

No matter the time of year, there’s nothing like a dinner of fresh fish from the Gulf.

4. Explore Rookery Bay and Briggs Boardwalk Nature Center

Shell Island Road, Marco Island

If you’re looking for Marco Island things to do for nature lovers, exploring Rookery Bay tops the list.

Maintained by Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the half-mile long boardwalk loop at Briggs Boardwalk Nature Center showcases seven habitats in the complex local ecosystem and is a bird watcher’s paradise at the right time of year.

Signs along the boardwalk help to identify and understand the flora and fauna in the different habitats making for an easy self-guided tour.

Next door and just down the road from the boardwalk is the entrance to the 110,000 acres of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only twenty-nine protected reserves in the US and the only remaining intact and undisturbed mangrove habitat in the US.

This incredible mangrove forest and protected waters offers a view into a pristine ecosystem.