Marco Island

[cook22uk]

Alligator Alley (also known as Everglades Parkway[2]) is a section of Interstate 75 (Florida State Road 93) and Florida State Road 84 extending from Naples on the west coast of Florida to Weston on the east. First opened in 1969,[3] most of the highway traverses the Everglades.

The name was given by the American Automobile Association during planning; they believed it would be a useless road, an "alley for alligators." However, since alligators often frequent the waterways beside the road, the nickname has a somewhat literal meaning.

History
It was originally built as a toll two-lane freeway connecting the two coasts of Florida, and was later connected to Interstate 75 as an east-west continuation of the highway, which otherwise ran north and south. It is still a toll road, with automobile drivers paying $2.50 each way to use the road. Before the completion of its re-engineering, Alligator Alley was signed as State Road 84; it is now I-75 but it still has a concurrency with SR 84 until just east of US 27 . The Interstate 75 signs on Alligator Alley were not erected until 1993, and the SR 84 designation was made concurrent with the I-75 designation , I-75 and SR 84 split again in Naples . Today, Alligator Alley is only one of two sections of Interstate 75 that has a toll , The other tolled section is the Mackinac Bridge in Northern Michigan.

Between 1986 and 1992 it was widened to four lanes, with many bridges designed to let water and wildlife pass underneath. This helped to reduce the environmental impact of the highway somewhat, especially upon the severely endangered Florida Panther, as well as reducing the danger of the highway, which is notorious for high-speed accidents.


Rest Areas
Broward County Rest Areas between Exits 23 & 49
Collier County Rest Areas between Exits 49 & 80

[Cottons]

Thankyou again for all your fantastic advice! I knew I could count on this site for good info. I think you are right about the trip to the keys I didn't realise it was such a drive. The drive from Orlando to Marco will be long enough!

[atush]

there is a shopping center with outlets not far frm Marco just towards Naples.

I think it will be a long drive to KW, but Key Largo miight be doable (5 hrs to KW, 3 to Largo).

You might find a boat trip in your area? Ther is a catamaran service from Ft Myers that is 3 hours.

[michellemaxted]

There is a fantastic cinema in Marco Island, it is located in a shopping centre and is family run, with four screens. It is rather like a drive in movie - although you do sit down rather than drive in! in that you are served wine/beer, snacks, ice cream and there are tables in there to sit at if you like. Very novel! Great to visit one evening or do as we did and watch a film during the day, when the temperature was very high outside (we were there in August).

Go and visit the Hilton Hotel too, there is a good bar there and it is located right on the beach (just opposite this hotel is the shopping centre where the cinema is located plus lots of great restaurants). The Hilton also has a great swimming pool!

The public beach at Marco Island is called Tigertail and is located at one end of the island. There is a great cafe there which serves snacks, ice creams, muffins etc. Very clean. The beach is nice too, very clean and you can hire little boats, canoes, umbrellas, sunbeds etc.

The villas in the nearby Tigertail beach area are fantastic and worth a drive around the roads, lots of them back onto waterways and you can see their boats in their backyards!

In nearby Naples there is a new water park. It is very clean and very quiet and is not at all touristy more for the locals.

We all enjoyed Marco Island and would have no hesitation in returning again.[msnsmile]

[taylona]

Have a great time enjoying all the above ideas. We love Marco Island and have been visiting since the 80s when it was very quiet. Our daughters have been visiting their since they were babies and we still enjoy shelling on the beach in the late afternoon sun.[msnsmile]

[ncmurray]

I have eight nights to spare in late July, and we were thinking of staying on Marco Island.

From all that has been written here, it sounds absolutely fabulous, but the only worry I have is the drive from Tampa airport, especially after a long flight that includes one stop over.

Has anyone driven this after landing at Tampa? How long does it take, and are the directions easy?

thanks in advance

Nuala

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ncmurray
I have eight nights to spare in late July, and we were thinking of staying on Marco Island.

From all that has been written here, it sounds absolutely fabulous, but the only worry I have is the drive from Tampa airport, especially after a long flight that includes one stop over.

Has anyone driven this after landing at Tampa? How long does it take, and are the directions easy?

thanks in advance

Nuala
[/quote]

It must be getting close to 200 miles but it is straight down I75. You'll know how doable that is for you but 1 driver might get very tired after all that travelling.

I have done a similar drive after the flight and found it OK but I did know exactly where I was going. It would have been a very different story if I'd had to look for an address in the dark after travelling all day.

Your call, but I'd suggest checking into a Tampa Airport hotel (I like the Hilton there) or getting part way down I75 and stopping in a chain motel enroute when you are feeling ready for some sleep. The usual affordable chains are well situated all along that route.

[ncmurray]

Thanks for that.

I'll put it to my husband and see what he thinks.

Nuala

[Pookie]

Hi Nuala

From Tampa it is 1 hour 30 minutes to Rotonda so will take about 3 to 31/2 hours to Marco Island, depending on traffic. There are stretches of I75 around Naples where they are widening. It is a very easy route,
the other option would be 41 the business route which takes you through the towns so perhaps more interesting than the interstate but much longer as you will have traffic lights etc.

Lynne

[ncmurray]

3.5 hours is a long drive, especially after a long flight.

I'll have to have a think about that.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? We arrive in Tampa on 29th July, but our villa is occupied until 6th August, so we have eight nights to enjoy somewhere else. I didn't really want to spend a night in a hotel, but it may be the only option.

Thanks
Nuala