SHOPPING - Marco Island offers many shopping treasures. Specialty shops and resort boutiques offer everything from bathing suits and island wear to the finest designer fashions and art work. Shopping goes beyond beach wear, with stores that offer artistic items of local flavor and interesting souvenirs. Conveniently located just a few miles off the island is Prime Outlets, with over 40 stores offering designer clothing and shoes, books and house wares at discount prices. The Marco Island Center for the Arts has a free gallery that includes a gift shop selling locally produced art pieces. Naples is just a short drive away with many shopping destinations including the downtown Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South shopping districts, along with Tin City, The Village on Venetian Bay, Coastland Center and Waterside Shops, with an extensive list of new luxury stores opening in early 2006.

DINING - Chef Alberto Varreto brings the authentic tastes of northern Italy with gourmet flair to Sale e Pepe at Marco Beach Ocean Resort with spectacular Gulf of Mexico views. Kurrents at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa features fusion cuisine utilizing outstanding seafood steaks and more, and an extensive martini menu. Popular area restaurants such as Snook Inn and Café de Marco specialize in fresh Gulf seafood. For laid-back waterfront ambiance, Stan’s Idle Hour in the village of Goodland offers fresh seafood daily and unique entertainment every Sunday afternoon. From 1-6 pm, enjoy Stan’s unique humor as he performs many of his locally popular novelty songs, along with a country band, a fashion show from the Island Woman boutique and a casual menu including seafood sandwiches.

ISLAND ACCOMMODATIONS - Marco Island’s accommodations range from luxurious waterfront resorts to villa resorts, small motels and a historic inn, as well as private condominiums and elegant homes available for short and long term vacation rental. The luxurious Marco Beach Ocean Resort offers 98 one and two-bedroom suites, a spa and rooftop swimming pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa is a destination in itself, with 723 rooms and extensive resort activities, children’s programs and facilities. This resort has just emerged from a $187 million renovation including a spectacular Balinese-themed spa, a new pool, new meeting facilities and room enhancements. The Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort is a Four Star, Four Diamond, newly renovated resort with several excellent dining options and a new spa opening in late 2008. The Olde Marco Island Inn & Suites, dating back to 1883, is a historic retreat that is regarded as one of the most romantic in Southwest Florida. The original Inn, located on a former Calusa Indian shell mound, now houses the reception area and restaurant, with both indoor and courtyard garden seating. The Inn features 51 new one and two bedroom, two bath suites decorated with a tropical flair, within walking distance of shops and some of the island’s favorite restaurants and waterfront bars. The Boathouse Motel offers old-Florida ambiance and slips for your boat with direct Gulf of Mexico access. Marco Island Lakeside Inn, a Superior Small Lodging, features a cozy lakefront atmosphere close to shopping, dining and the beaches.

In addition, hundreds of private condominiums and beautiful homes located from the Gulf beaches to the canal-lined neighborhoods of Marco Island offer a variety of choices for vacationers. These accommodations offer visitors amenities such as family and dining rooms, kitchens, washers and dryers, private balconies with spectacular views and all the comforts of home. For a complete listing of accommodations on Marco Island visit www.paradisecoast.com.

GETTING TO MARCO ISLAND - Getting to Marco Island is easy. From I-75, take Exit 101 and head south on Collier Boulevard for 20 miles to Marco Island. The Marco Island Executive Airport offers private jet service and charter flights to and from nearby international. Southwest Florida International Airport is located forty-five minutes north in Fort Myers. The airport’s new Midfield Terminal offers greatly expanded air service, including daily flights on Southwest Airlines. Marco Island can be reached from Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach via I-75, also known as Alligator Alley; or from Miami via U.S. Highway 41, also known as the Tamiami Trail, designated as a U.S. Scenic Byway and a Florida Scenic Highway. Marco Island is convenient to Naples, with a wealth of shopping, dining and cultural opportunities, as well as Everglades National Park, Everglades City and a number of state and federal nature preserves and parks nearby.

For a free visitors guide, brochure or other information on places to stay and things to do along the Paradise Coast of Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades, visit www.ParadiseCoast.com or call 1-800-688-3600. International visitors may call (239) 225-1013

The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing agency for Collier County, Florida, funded entirely by the Collier County tourist development tax.