Just a quick trip report, particularly for Keith and NeoPatrick who offered suggestions for my trip to Marco Island last week. We found, and duly photographed, the Ochopee post office. (I can't believe that someone actually mans that post office 6 1/2 hours a day. It must be like being broiled alive most of the year.)
We continued on down the road to Clyde Butcher's gallery. The large format photographs were very impressive, but for the benefit of future travelers I'd like to note that the gallery is about 15 miles EAST of Ochopee, not west. (There's a park service building or location called "Oasis" and it's a couple of miles east of that.)
We tried twice to get in to Palm Cottage: the first time it was closed for the annual gala and the second time it was Sunday when, apparently, it is always closed. We're going back in February and will try to see it then because it looks like it would be fun to tour.
We tried for the 10th Street antique shops when we couldn't get in to the Palm Cottage on Sunday and found that those stores are all also closed on Sunday.

However, the peak and absolute '10' of our trip was the Rod and Gun Club in Everglades City. Whooda thunk it, just by the looks of it driving by. Thank you, Patrick! We loved it. What atmosphere. Reminded me of Garrison Keillor's "the town that time forgot." We sat out on the back porch, had fantastic grilled shrimp salads served by a waitress who's been to the rodeo a few times, and watched the passing boat traffic. We can't wait to go back. What a find!
Never did make it to the Ortiz Ave. flea market or Edison House. The weather was about 80 and perfect every day. It was too hard to get in the car and drive when we could lounge about. Now we've got things we can plan on doing when we return in February.
Muchas gracias for the tips.

So glad about the Rod and Gun Club. I have to admit I haven't been there for years now (although I doubt if it has changed a bit) so I get a little worried recommending it. And some people just don't "get" it. I remember someone here complaining about the "musty" smell. Duh. Yea. And someone else saying it needs a major coat of paint and redecorating. Ouch!

Sorry about the Sunday issue. Yea. Not much happens here on Sundays.

And oh, you tourists! We've all been bitching about the 80 degree weather. Glad someone appreciates it.

Anyone who bitches about 80 degree weather in December should be force-marched onto a plane, to debark into 10 degree weather followed by driving an hour in 8 inches of unplowed snow. That'd show'em. Bunch of ingrates.

The only thing worse than people complaining about it being 80 is being in the NorthEast trapped in a blizzard when your parents call you from their Swimming Pool during the 80 degree weather in FL.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. I'm heading to FL in a week.

gailw, Keith, NeoPatrick:
When were your original questions posted? My wife and I will be traveling thru Marco Island in late January. I'd like to go back and look at some of the ideas and suggestions that were bounced back and forth previously for Marco Island.

I have also posted a question 12/13/07 seeking advice on "Deep sea fishing near Marco Island"

Many Thanks!
CosmoP

Cosmo, just click on gailw's name in her first post above and you'll find questions titled "Marco Island next week".

I saw your question about deep sea fishing, but I had no help.

Gail,

Thanks so much for the report. I will keep Rod and Gun Club in mind, though I probably won't get that far south this weekend.

Keith

The Rod and Gun Club is in fact fantastic, as is all of Everglades City. Other places I like to eat are a combination fish shop/fish fry place (first right after the bridge, about a block down) where you can sit on the deck eating fried fish and -- with luch -- watching manatees. There is also a craft store/cafe in Chokoluskee that had a brief selection of interesting food (good potato salad).

The little museum in Everglades City is definitely worth a visit, since the local history is so interesting, not least the mass arrest on drug charges of most of the male population of the town. Apparently some agreed to do the time for the crime while others took care of their families, since they were all pretty equally guilty.

It is this kind of stuff that I LOVE in Florida.

No visit to Marco Island will be complete unless you hear Myles Loud entertain at Porky's Last Stand on Thursdays(8-11:30p.m.) No cover charge, and he's better than an expensive Las Vegas show!

I kind of dropped out of Fodor's for most of December and missed the several messages posted after my return. We'll be back in Marco in February and will definitely take our friend/hostess to the Rod & Gun Club (she had a lot of trouble picturing anything other than a redneck dive -- I can't wait to see her face) and will certainly take up Ackislander's suggestions. I have been to the craft shop/cafe mentioned but when we went there in December it was closed for about a month, to reopen in ??Jan/February. It did have good food, better than you'd expect in the circumstances and was pretty offbeat (my fave).
I like the story about the criminal prosecution of Everglades City's male population, hope to ferret out the details when we're there. Might have missed the museum but for Fodor's -- thanks again!