Marco Presented Many Venues to Enjoy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a very special time on Marco as the island began seeing the arrival of visitors early last week for the traditional holiday. Hotels, timeshares, residences, and restaurants began filling up early. By the time Thanksgiving arrived on Thursday you could feel the difference as we would welcome back visitors and residents who couldn’t wait to return to the familiar island paradise they’ve grown accustomed to over the years.

As in years past, this writer chose to travel around the island to some of the many wonderful spots which our residents and visitors alike seem to enjoy introducing their guests to.

Of course, my first stop as always was at the local Dunkin Donuts, where the proprietor Sal and his very efficient team worked hard to keep up with the steady flow of customers seeking their caffeine fix and a pastry or two on the holiday morning. 

One of the first places in the afternoon we stopped was the Marco Island Presbyterian Church. They had planned a Thanksgiving Day buffet for their parishioners, families and friends who had been visiting with them. Approximately 90 parishioners and their guests took advantage of the event, and you could feel the warmth of the wonderfully welcoming atmosphere within their facilities as everyone came together to share the bounty laid before them.

The next stops on my little adventure would bring me to the popular Esplanade. Here I would visit with the hard-working folks from CJ’s on the Bay and Mangos Dockside Bistro. While there I had the privilege to visit with couples from as far away as France, as well as new fulltime residents who had discovered Marco during the COVID events. As a result of their visit in 2018 they would choose to relocate their family and make Marco Island their new home.

The two couples from France as well as the newly relocated family from the east coast of Florida both commented about the welcoming and friendly atmosphere here on the island. “This is just paradise.  It is just such a pleasure to be here,” said our newfound friends from France.

Another favorite spot on the island has always been Kretch’s Restaurant, where Ellen Kretschmer would meet guests. Ellen and her husband Bruce have owned and operated the popular establishment since 1986 at its location on Bald Eagle Drive.

Tucked away in cozy spot would be local builder Alex Parker and his wife, entertaining family who were in from Michigan for the holiday and enjoying the Florida sunshine. Throughout the restaurant you would find other resident and vacationers enjoying their Thanksgiving dinners.

No residents of the island could allow visitors to their homes to come and not show off the beauty of the pristine beach we all so love.  Many would make the Marco Island Resident’s Beach a must stop when shuttling folks around the island to show them the natural beauty of what many of us have all fallen in love with since first visiting the island. During our stop at the beach, we would observe many just soaking up some sun, while others were taking advantage of the wonderful picnic areas to consume their holiday feasts under one of the many chickee huts which adorn the beautiful picnic areas.

Others would happily make their way down to the water’s edge to just sit and read a book or converse with neighbors and friends along the shoreline.

No matter how you chose to enjoy your day you were provided many options and would enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving here in paradise.