We're vacationing in southern Florida the first two weeks of February. After a stay with friends in Sarasota, we want to rent a condo someplace on or very near the water. Both Boca Grande and Marco Island are in the running, so we need comparisons between the two. We like the beach, eating good and interesting food and nature. Some shopping is nice, but it's not a big thing for us; restaurants are more important. We're coming from bad weather in the Northwest, so the weather in either place will be an improvement. Thanks for your help!

I am going to say that Marco is beach oriented and much more built up with hotels, hi-rise condos, valet parking, etc.

Boca Grande is more laid back, totally low-rise, sort of New Englandy with palm trees, fishing oriented. Many residents use golf carts as their normal means of transportation. I would also say that Boca has many residents who are rolling in money and look like they don't have two nickels to rub together. George Bush Senior used to vacation there and may still do.

The downside of Boca Grande is that it is right at the Peace River, which many people in Florida see as the dividing line between generally warm winter weather and chancier weather. Marco is well south of there, west of Miami and the Everglades and is more likely to offer perfect weather for the period you are looking at.

If you were taking the grandchildren, I would go to Marco. The weather should be great. For yourself, no kids, it would depend on how much you like to fish and shell (the shelling is wonderful) and how laid back you are.

Agree with Ackislander completely. My parents live near Boca Grande and we go out there when I visit. Very laid back.

We're pretty laid back and are used to vacationing in Hawaii in low-rise condo developments. If we have a few good restaurants, some beaches or ocean paths for long walks, and great sunsets, we're happy. Is there good shelling both places? We snorkel in Hawaii and love it, but the shelling is virtually nonexistent there. Our son's in college, so we're years away from grandchildren. : )

I'm really not sure about long beach walks and enough restaurants in Boca Grande. Maybe tchoiniere can help. Since there is nothing between you and the Texas coast, good sunsets are pretty well guaranteed in both places.

The beach is long (and great for shelling - can find sanddollars on some parts) but I am not sure if you can walk the entire beach as some of it goes by private developments. There is also a walking path down the middle of the island that you can walk on. Just have to watch for golf carts. There is 1 restaurant on the beach (South Beach) then a handful of them on the Main Drag.

Where do you fly home from? Not sure of the logistics but maybe do 3 nights on each but thats a lot of moving around.

We fly out of Miami, and we have plenty of time to do more than one place. I think Boca Grande sounds like a good fit for us; we're looking at Naples area as the second place we go before Miami. Thanks for your info.

Good choices. Leave time to take US 41 across the Everglades from Naples to Miami.

I wondered if you went to Boca Grande and, if so, what you thought of it. My sister gave us two nights at the Gasparilla Inn as a Christmas present, so we're going down the end of April.