Resort offers a host of teen-friendly activities
By Michael Coleman
It’s a teen’s life, after all.
Teen-specific events and activities abound at the Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort year-round.
Nestled in the middle of Marco Island’s three-and-a-half mile crescent-shaped, white-sand beach, the resort takes full advantage of mother nature’s canvass and the Gulf of Mexico to offer teen sailing lessons, parasailing and waverunner rentals, additional water sports, sand sculpting programs and volleyball tournaments.
The resort also hosts popular teen pursuits with a twist: Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution competitions are routinely held in the evenings, under the stars, on a giant outdoor screen complete with lighted beach stage.
Additionally, teens enjoy the very latest in X-Box and Nintendo Wii gaming plus an on-site Arcade, complete with the latest games and a teen lounge with big screen TV.
Families with teens may also enjoy a two-and-a-half hour Marriott Sailing & Shelling tour into the Gulf of Mexico and 10,000 islands. It’s a great opportunity for teens to learn about history and the great outdoors. Frolicking dolphins, manatees and shelling opportunities highlight the voyage, as does an up close and personal look into the nearby Florida Everglades. Sailing aboard Marriott’s intimate, six-person catamaran, with a highly-knowledgeable captain at the helm, is truly one of the most ideal ways to experience “Paradise.”
Other resort teen pursuits include: kayaking, pedal boats, ping pong tournaments, kite flying, beach scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, face painting and hair braiding.
Additionally, teen holiday activities abound. At Thanksgiving, for instance, Turkey Bowling is a smash hit while at Christmas, sand sculpting takes center stage with guidance from world-renowned sculptor John Gowdy. The resort also erects a rock climbing wall and bounce house during Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
The resort features a high-end fitness center, two swimming pools, a pool slide, and pool-side Cabanas, complete with a television, ceiling fan, fridge, comfortable chaise lounges and VIP service The beach, meanwhile, features chairs, umbrellas and Chickee Hut rentals - complete with complimentary magazines, newspapers and bottled water. It’s yet another way for teens and their families to share quality time in “Paradise.”