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Marco Island Suggestions?

Indy

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We are heading to Marco Island on Sept 26. Does anyone have any suggestions on things to do or good places to eat. Would like one really nice romantic restaurant for one night as it will be our 25th wedding anniversary.
Thanks.:)
 

rdh1947

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There are many fine restaurants on Marco. We have eaten at a couple that were very nice. Marco Polo and Verdi's are two that I can recommend. We will be on Marco in December(our 4th year in a row).
 

Sea Six

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Can you describe your vision of what you would like, as far as view, menu, price range, type cuisine, and so forth. There are many good restaurants here, but "GOOD" depends on what YOU want. Not trying to be difficult, but many times we suggest places that are on the high end, when the visitor was just looking for a good cheese steak. Please be as specific as you can. Don't mind me, I just live here.
 

Indy

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As far as regular restaurants, just good food at reasonable prices. We like about everything except Sushi.

For our anniversary, I would like something very nice and possibly with a view.

Any suggestions?

Do you also have any opinions on boat tours in the area?

Thanks, and lucky you for getting to live there!!!
 

Sea Six

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Here is our favorite boat tour, if you want to see the dolphins and the manatees and do a little shelling:

www.dolphin-explorer.com

As for the restaurant, you're not being specific enough! So far, you sound like a Snook Candidate

www.snookinn.com
 
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Indy

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I love the boat suggestion. It looks great!

As far as the restaurant. We would like steak and seafood, with tablecloths and candlelight. A dress up kink of place. Does that help? The Snook Inn looks good but not quite fancy enough from what I can tell on the website. I might be wrong. We usually don't go fancy but since it is our 25th anniversary, we are planning to splurge.:)

Thanks for all of your help.
 

pcgirl54

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Happy 25th!

Snooks is not upscale.

Loved Marco Island. What a pretty island. Beautiful beach and the pastel homes and manicured lawns are so nice.

Below are the places I know of or recall seeing while there. I would check out restaurant reviews beforehand and then call the place to tell them what your plan to do. Then surprise your bride.

There is a top shelf Marriott Hotel and Spa right on the beach. You could dine there and check out spa treatments. Kurrents is the upscale restaurant.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hote...sland-marriott-beach-resort-golf-club-and-spa

http://www.marriott.com/hotelwebsites/us/m/mrkfl/mrkfl_PDF/MRKFL 2008 Kurrents Dinner.pdf

There is also a Hilton on the beach. Both of these hotels have dining areas that face the beach. Sandcastles is their upscale dining.

http://www.hiltonmarcoisland.com/_downloads/pdfs/2008/Sandcastles_menu2008.pdf

Here are 3 places we read about with linen dining before we visited:

http://www.mareksrestaurant.com/menu.htm

http://www.cafedemarco.com

http://www.marcopolorestaurant.tv


Not on Marco but 20 minutes away is Naples and there is a Ruth Chris Steakhouse. http://www.ruthschris.com
 

Sea Six

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You're getting there! Really, to make a suggestion you must be as SPECIFIC as possible. There are so many nice restuarants here it is hard to tell you anything without knowing what you want. OK, the Snook is too casual. At this point, if you want intimate dining DO NOT eat at the Marriott or the Hilton. While the restaurants are nice, they must cater to their guests and you may be surrounded by tables of screaming brats and "tourists in T shirts".

Here is my suggestion with what you're told us so far:

http://www.esplanadeshoppes.com/s_bayview.htm

Go to the Esplanade on Collier Blvd about an hour before your reservation. Get a drink at the Star Bar gazebo, then visit the Guy Harvey gift shop and wander around the marina and look at the yachts or enjoy the sunset. Have dinner at the Bayview or Vergina's (caution - I heard one of them will be closed while you are there - September is not prime time here - CALL first). Don't get desert there. After dinner, walk to the Cold Stone creamery for desert (you'll walk by it on your way in from the parking lot), and grab a coffee at Starbucks. Then visit all the other shops at the Esplanade. This will be a fine dining experience as well as a nice tour of life on Marco. Now, if you'd rather have the best filled pork chop, there's another place..... I'd just rather see you enjoy the location rather than just the inside of a restaurant.
 

Sea Six

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Then again, if you wanted to have dinner on a big yacht while cruising Marco Island, you can do that too:

http://www.naplesprincesscruises.com/

The Marco Princess is a memorable cruise, espcially when you see the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. So much to see, so little time!! You see why you need to be specific?!
 

pcgirl54

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We did that same eco tour when there.

Re: Marriott - how likely would it be for families to go to an upscale white linen restaurant that charges $20-$28 a plate. Wouldn't families dine more at the casual and less expensive on site restaurants? This is a Cat 6 Marriott one of the nicest I have seen.

We went to the Esplanade and split a Sundae at Cold Stones. There were only a few shops so we did not stay long. There is a restaurant there and marina.

Here is the restaurant menu: http://www.explorenaples.com/brochure.phtml?memberno=1501

There may be a coupon for the Naples Princess in the Entertainment Book.
 

Sea Six

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Re: Marriott - how likely would it be for families to go to an upscale white linen restaurant that charges $20-$28 a plate. Wouldn't families dine more at the casual and less expensive on site restaurants? This is a Cat 6 Marriott one of the nicest I have seen.

Very likely - especially when Gramma and Pop-Pop are paying. Plus, the casual places are $16 to $22 a plate anyway, so why not go someplace nice on vacation, and annoy as many people as possible. No thanks, I avoid the hotel crowds. Your mileage may vary.
 

Sea Six

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INDY - I'm curious where you're staying and for how long. If you really want to expore this area - after you take the ECO tour, rent a boat and have some fun exploring:

www.marcorivermarina.com

Send me a PM and I'll take you out on my boat for a day seeing things you won't believe! Just a caution, September is tropical storm month, so the weather may get in the way. I've taken others out on tours before, and I am happy to show people around. I always say the best way to tour Marco Island is from the water. Don't be shy - we cruise to the deserted islands around here and see things most people never get to see. Bring your camera.
 
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