In Florida, the early bird gets the shells! If you are looking for a weekend adventure in the Naples/Marco Island area I have the deets planned out for you. Just pack a bag, grab your people, and let’s goooooo! For us, this was a girls’ trip. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot in Naples. This was way more cost-effective than staying in Marco Island and we had the BEST dining options within walking distance. First stop? MARGARITAS for lunch! From the hotel, you can walk to Mr.Tequila for authentic Mexican food in a lovely atmosphere!
Next, you can run over to the Naples Zoo. It is only about 10 minutes from the hotel. This was such a lovely stroll. The zoo was a fan favorite for little ones too! My favorite was the boat ride around all the islands to see the monkeys and apes.
We happened to arrive on St. Patrick’s Day so green beer for dinner was a must! Ironically enough, we found Mel’s Diner. This adorable, well-seasoned diner was also within walking distance from our hotel.
The highlight and goal of this trip was shelling! We booked a shelling charter with Reel Kind, and they did not disappoint! We booked the 7 a.m. tour which meant a 5 a.m. wakeup call, but the sunrise was so worth it! Something about the quiet of the ocean when it’s still dark made for such a peaceful experience.
I can’t say enough great things about Captain Scott. He was attentive, helped us find some gorgeous shells, and, most importantly, got us to and from 10,000 islands safely! He even took extra time to help us spot dolphins, which just made my daughter’s day!
While on Marco Island, we found CJ’s on the bay which had relaxed, first-come, first-serve outdoor seating overlooking a lovely dock area. The piña colada with a rum floater and upside-down nachos were everything we needed in life after a long day on the beach!
Sunday was a chilly morning but we were able to squeeze in one more amazing diner within walking distance from our hotel named Blueberry’s! Can you tell we love to find little hole-in-the-wall diners?! The blueberry pancakes are a must-have here!
On account of the instant change in weather on Sunday morning (hello Florida), we landed at a Naples farmer’s market that had the most beautiful display of fresh-cut flowers for sale! It made our day!
It was the perfect end to a fun-filled weekend! I hope you find the time to slow life down in Naples sometime soon!
Hugs!
Melb+
Sharlene Baez
March 21, 2023 at 2:09 amSo much fun. When is our next trip!? 👀👀