Tigertail Beach is a unique destination and an adventure for visitors to Marco Island, a corner of…read moreFlorida surrounded by the Everglades and mangrove islands. The beach is named after a Seminole leader and what makes it so special is that it is divided by a tidal lagoon. The developed lagoon side is an important bird habitat and it has amenities like a playground and restrooms. To reach the beach side you wade through the lagoon which is about 50 yards and which allows you to reach the waters of the Gulf. If you prefer not to walk through the lagoon you can walk around the lagoon to the south to reach the beach in about 20 minutes. The main part of Tigertail Beach across from the lagoon is Sand Dollar Island or Sand Dollar Spit. The area was an off shore sandbar completely surrounded by water until the winds of Hurricane Wilma and erosion connected it to Marco Island. It is known for its incredible deposits of sand dollars, giving it the name and making it a favorite spot to find sand dollars and shells. Adjacent to the park is Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area managed by the state and it is a resting site for a variety of migratory shorebirds. Tigertail Beach is a birding hot spot during spring and fall migration. It is a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, one of the longest running programs of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The trail consists of more than 500 wildlife viewing sites across the state. Things to keep in mind, if you are going to to the beach pack what you can carry if you plan on crossing the lagoon. Most people carry their belongings overhead. Parking is ten dollars to park or a Collier County beach pass. if you like a beach adventure and nature, this may be the experience for you.

The sand here is white and like quicksand, so soft. Best time to go is early in the morning or…read moreafter 3pm otherwise impossible to find parking. You can walk through the inlet (in water - if youre under 5'8" youre going to get more than your legs wet) and then over to the beach...if you walk north, its less busy and you feel like youre on your own remote beach. Its not a deep beach so in areas near parking it can get crowded, but if youre up for a walk, its worth it!

I'm not a boat owner anymore, but I can appreciate a nice launch site when I see it…read more When my folks lived on Marco Island, they'd walk down to Caxambas Park to enjoy a coffee and watch the action at the launch. You could watch the wildlife (pelicans, seagulls, and the occasional manatee). When we visited them, we'd join the Caxambas adventure, which we enjoyed. Many years later, we did a small vacation to see the "greatest hits" of my folks' past adventures. Sadly, the site was under construction and we couldn't really get the full experience. I can't hold that against them for the repairs - it needed to be done.

It's a longer drive for me get to the southern part of Marco island 41 min by truck/trailer. I've…read moreonly used this facility 2 times it's currently closed the last time I went but many places seem to have been closed temporarily due to hurricane Ian surge wave. So don't expect to buy gas or bait here. Safer yet, call ahead before making the extra trip out. Keep in mind the channels are generally the same but the sandbars come up real quickly even if you are going slow especially on a larger boat. I was lucky enough to back out as soon as the bow glanced sand at slow speed. By the time you touch a sandbar the transom alarm will alert shortly afterwards. I believe mine was set for a 3 foot alert. The trick here to enter caxambas pass is to aim for these building in the picture then slow wake to left side keeping red markers on the starboard side. And hug slight left all the way, unless you have a shallow riding boat. 27/2022

I went to Donna Fiala water park. Minimal areas to swim. There is a section of fountains that are 3…read morefeet. A lane of a pool where you can be at 5 feet. A space of 12 feet for the diving boards, a lower and higher one. Obviously the higher diving board will create a harder impact going into the water. I got water in ears of mine twice off the diving boards. First time fizzled out, second time needed hydrogen peroxide when I got home. The ladder out of pool isn't so easy to climb. I did try both Water slides. The yellow tubed one was super fast. The blue one was open air and slower. You could feel the grooves where sections of slide were put together on your back when going down the slides. Also, you did not dispense into a pool at bottom of slide but stayed in your lane which made for an abrupt landing and not so easy to get up and out! :) kids under the height requirement could handle the blue slide! :)

This water park at Eagle Lakes is a great find! At only $1.50 - $2 for entry, it was an affordable…read moreday of family fun! You can (and in fact, you're encouraged to) bring your own snacks/drinks, but they also have a small concessions area. We packed a cooler of drinks (la croix and some harder bevvies for the adults in our group), sandwiches, and snacks, and headed to this park for the afternoon. There was a large kids pool that was at most 3 1/2 feet deep, with a bunch of squirting machines and a giant wheel that dumps water. My nephews and niece really enjoyed this one, and it was large enough that there was still room to swim around and have fun. There was also a nice ledge along the back side of the pool (away from the attractions) so you can comfortably sit! There was also a large pool (that was much colder!) with lap lanes, an area to hang/swim, and a high and low diving board. There was always a small line for the diving boards, the kids were having so much fun! On top of all that, there are 2 water slides and an infant pool. The pool areas are well-staffed with lifeguards who were on top of keeping an eye on everything, blowing the whistle to get the attention of people, making sure kids were walking not running, and keeping the area safe. There's also a good blend of chairs in the sun and picnic type tables in the shade. We had a blast here and it's a great place for a family fun day!

A great hiking trail to see wildlife. Parking is somewhat limited but no admission charge. Some…read moreparts of the trail are wide open and allow for great views of the Everglades and its inhabitants. I saw a ton of birds and a few gators. Other parts are surrounded by thick mangroves. The tower allows for great views from above.

So beautiful!! Easy walking trail with observation deck along the way. Saw a gator and lots of…read morebirds! No shade really along the trail. Take your binoculars! This was really a lovely treat to find such different terrain, wildlife from Colorado. Would definitely recommend!

This State Park does a good job of dotting the " i's " and crossing the " t's ". There's hiking…read moretrails, camping, fishing, kayaking / canoeing, a pavilion, picnic tables, kiddies playground, and some interesting historical items. Admission is $5.00 per vehicle (maximum of 8 people), or $2.00 per person (pedestrians or bicyclists). I was on my motorcycle so I fell in the top category. I rode to the boat launch area first. This was a nice place to launch a boat or kayak. It was a protected bay like area. There was a floating boat dock nearby where one could fish from. In the same area as the boat launch was the hiking trail. It was closed (the park employee at the entrance had already told me) probably because of Hurricane Ian damages? Also the picnic and playground area was in this area. here. Restrooms are on site too. The next stop I visited while in the park was the historic Bay City Walking Dredge No. 489. This feat of engineering was used in the 1920's to help build the Tamiami Trail through the Florida Everglades. From the information provided, "Built in Bay City Michigan, this walking dredge followed the drilling and blasting rigs, averaging 80 feet per 10 hour shift. Dynamite was used to blast the limestone into small enough chunks for the dredge to lift." The road was completed, finally linking Tampa to Miami in 1928, with the help of this machine. For the mechanical and engineering nerds (like me), you'll want to see and read about this. Ha! I had a good time here and recommend you check this place out. I am going with 4 stars because the hiking trail was closed and the canoe rental cabin where one could also buy drinks was closed. Hopefully these will open in the near future.

I drove in to let my dog out for a pee real quick but I saw you gotta pay for this park so I turned…read moreright around:) I'm not paying for my dogs little walk. But maybe I'll come back one day for a planned visit

Sugden Regional Park in Collier County is a very large park…read more This park is great for all ages. The 60 acre park offers many amenities such as a large lake, a beach area, paddle boats, walking paths and areas for family picnics. There is plenty of parking and public restrooms. Dogs are also permitted.

This park is absolutely gorgeous. I had not checked it out but have been curious because the water…read morein my yard is connected to the lake here and I wanted to see if I go kayaking where I'd come out. Plenty of parking, playground, beaches etc etc

Winterberry Park is an athletic park in Marco Island. Park amenities include a baseball/softball…read morefield, concession stand, open field for play, restroom, and a soccer/football field. Locals use the park to kick around a soccer ball, practicing baseball and softball, throw a football, and play cricket. This park is also the home of the Marco Island Senior Softball Players who play on the field year-round. Many of the players retired to Marco Island just for the ability to play senior softball year-round where it has an almost cult-like following from the players, their family members, and friends. I stopped by the park not for a baseball game but to look for eagles. A nest was reported a few years back on a pole in the park but I didn't see any eagles on my visit. Another great spot to try and view eagles nearby is the Marco Island Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary.

They are redoing the walkway/ the walk isn't open it will be very nice when it's finished!read more

Today we did the extra activity on our list, driving to Shell Island Road and walking the…read moreboardwalk. Rain was threatening, but we took the chance, and we enjoyed it. The walk is a half mile long through several ecosystems. Signs tell you about the areas. The walk is easy, and on a sunny day you'll want sunscreen and a hat. You can walk quickly and get your steps in going around several times. Or you can stroll looking for animals. The boardwalk is well maintained as you can see that boards are being replaced. This is a place you can bring the family, and come anytime during the waking hours. Except for about 25 yards of a sandy trail, the boardwalk is handicapped accessible.

One of Collier County's most popular parks is the Veteran's Community Park that is on land that was…read moreformerly known as the Glon Property. Shortly after Marco Island was incorporated the city spent 10 million dollars in the early 2000's to purchase one of the last plots of land in order to save it for public use rather than development. After struggling for many years on how to best move forward with the design of the park, the city finally decided in 2020 to spend 11 million dollars rebuilding the park to incorporate the elements that the community voiced wanting. The city reopened the park in December of 2022 with many improvements that included a multi-generational play area, a state-of-the-art bandshell with concert lawn, a Veterans' Memorial Garden, new restroom facilities, and a large space with new sod and landscaping for the farmer's market. I love the beautiful fountain in the veteran's memorial, the gorgeous landscaping throughout the park, the bench swings, the ping pong tables, and the unique playground equipment. The wide paved paths that wind throughout the park are ideal for exercise and bike riding. With the upgrades to the park Marco Island is now able to host a wide range of programs, events, and activities that are accessible and welcoming to people of all ages all year round. Veterans Park is the site of the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Celebration, the farmers market which is every Wednesday from November through late April, Arts and Craft fairs, and the annual Seafood and Music Festival sponsored by the island's two Rotary Clubs and the Kiwanis Club. Veteran's Community Park is a place where residents and visitors alike can enjoy outdoor activities, spend quality time with family, and reflect on the contributions of veterans. If you're on the island, it's definitely worth a visit.

Marco Island's Veterans Park is a stunning park. The park features swings, a sizable playground, a…read morewalking path alongside the park and river, the Blue Star Memorial, and an amphitheater for events and performances. Spend a couple of hours with your family or children. Public parking is plentiful. There is a farmers market on specific days of the week.

This is a serene park park under the bridge at N Collier Ave. It doesn't have its own parking lot…read morebut I found parking at the Marco Lutheran Church next to the park. This park was named in honor of Jane Hittler (September 16,1914 - January 12, 2006). Jane was known as the First Lady of Marco Island for helping to develop the city since 1967. Some of her many accomplishments and awards included renovating the Marco Island Cemetery in 1969, founded the Maro Island Youth Center in 1973, Grandmother and Chairman of YMCA in 1977, Citizen of the Year in 1984, Woman Achiever of Collier County in 1986, National Landscape Award for Beautification of Marco Island received at White House in 1988, Islander of Year in 1992, Dedication of MJ Hittler Park in 1992, and Distinguished Eagle Award, Fundraiser for development of Urgent Care Center, Volunteer in 2001. Jane was a founding member of the Marco Island Historical Society, served for 20 years on the Collier County Beautification Committee, was instrumental in funding the five parks in Marco Island, was the first leader of the Annual Prayer Breakfast, and promoted the creation of the Marco island Museum Building. Jane Hittler's dedication to Marco Island was deep and she was the driving force behind so many of the projects that made the community a better place to live. After opening in 1992, the park was redesigned in 2008 and it reopened on March 25, 2009. One of Hittler Park's best features is the beautiful view of Smokehouse Bay. There are also benches, public art, a community board, and a paved walkway. It is the perfect spot to fish or just relax as I did on a beautiful afternoon. Other than the rather unfortunate name, this park is a gem of tranquility in Marco Island.

Jane Hittler Park is a cute little spot off of Collier Boulevard where you can sit and look out at…read moreSmokehouse Bay. We visited on a recent trip to Marco Island and enjoyed taking some time to relax here. It's a very nice park, but super small. It's doesn't have alot of facilities and there's no parking or easy access if you're driving, but it's nice for a quick visit if you just want to chill out and look at the water.