The Beaches |
The Local Scene |
Anclote Key BeachesThe chain of three narrow islands about three miles out from Tarpon Springs are Florida State Parks and the gulf side have some of the best beaches you will see. And the shelling was unique. There are some brush and trees on the beaches, but mostly at the northern end. The water was calm and shallow, lapping up to the shore and it was just beautiful. All, three islands were full of people in areas, just hanging out on or near their boats, many folks in the water. There were a few long empty streches as well. he water was shallow and beautiful.
Shelling is excellent there. I found shells I hadn't seen before. |
Anclote Key BeachesThere were many folks there; families, couples, friends, etc. Many brought their camping gear and were staying the weekend. I jogged by, saying hi to the folks. Most just kind of looked at me. One family, grandparents, daughter and kids were very nice. They were from New Port Richy. Next I asked a 13-year old(?) what he was catching. "Fish" he said in a smarmy way. Gee, I wished he would have been a son of mine for a moment! But I just kept going. The few folks I spoke with were either rude or defensive, or they just looked at you. Almost all from New Port Richy. Hmm... There were some nice people out there as well, but from other places. The last person I spoke with, (he just didn't stare back through his shades as others had) was very personable and nice. He was from Chicago. Most the other folks seemed to be from New Jersy or New York. I began to like Chicago! As a place to relax, Anclote Key is great, as some of the folks who frequent there, some are very nice and some are very rude. So, make sure to park your boat carefully!
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Honeymoon St. Park BeachThe beach was beautiful, the sand clean and firm. The sun was out and the water blue and green. A great day for running. The beach had several people on it as it seems to be a favorite destination of the locals.
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Honeymoon St. Park BeachThe park is accessible by bridge and it is worth going. On the beach, there are two large parking lots with restaurants, restrooms, and stores at each location. The facilities are excellent and there is more. They have a very nice, large picnic area down the road. I had a very pleasant lunch there and even read part of a novel there it was so pleasant. If I am in the area, that's the place I would like to spend the day.
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Causeway to Honeymoon St. ParkThis causeway is loaded with things to do. And it's free! All non-motorized boats are welcome. You can drive right on the beach. There is even a place to rent sail boats and kayaks. I kayaked from there. There is plenty space for parking. And you can grill there as well. Many were laying out in the sun.
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Causeway to Honeymoon St. ParkThe folks here are friendly and all about the beach and water. The water is shallow and the beach is comfortable. You can drive right on it. Everyone was taking it easy. Some laying out, some fishing, others in kayaks. A comfortable place to spend an entire day. I think this is a favorite place for locals.
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Caladesi Island State ParkOkay. I asked a lot of people. Every one said I could't get there by walking. My maps showed the same thing. Even Google maps. I had to use a boat. So, I kayaked. It was a nice, beautiful and sunny day. But they were all wrong! Caladesi Island State Park is actually connected to Clearwater Beach. But this is nicer. Not so many people. Very nice beaches here. There are a few spots where you can hear what seems to be marbles rolling when the waves come in. It is the stones piled up at a few points along the beach. Really cool, but not sand of course. Mostly, the beach is nice, with a few rough spots.
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Caladesi Island State ParkI kayaked out there and an elderly couple had there kayaks there too. They had been in FLorida over 30 years and loved it. Especially kayaking. You don't need a license, he said, and it's fun. He offered me an extra bottle of water. I accepted. Nice folks. The beach was mostly empty when I was there. After all, it takes effort to get there! and the effort is worth it. Nature, not bottle caps.
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Clearwater BeachOn Caladesi I started seeing more and more people. People with Starbucks in their hands. Huh? Then I realized it was connected to Clearwater Beach. The beach is well-known and very nice with good soft sugar sand and very wide, a nice slope to the water and beautiful! The water is very nice!
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Clearwater BeachThe people there, on the other hand, weren't as nice on the whole. I could go into a diatribe regarding leaving one's arrogant subcultural norms at the border when you leave your area. And I could mentioned the areas where this applies,but they are already universally known. And would it help? I doubt it. The people from these areas who are civilized have adapted to the culture of their location. Having lived in a big city, Seoul, Korea, for 12 years, I know how to shout to a waitress to get service when necessary (otherwise you don't get served!), but when I leave that city for the counryside or other places, that is considered rude. I adapted. But then again, I don't think I am the center oi the universe either. And why doesn't Chicago this problem? Big city, nice folks.
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Indian Rocks Beach to St. Pete BeachThe complete line of beaches here has good sand and the water is excellent. Treasure Island is a very wide beach. St. Pete Beach is also sugar sand and has been a hangout of mine for some time. Water and beach are great.
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Indian Rocks Beach to St. Pete BeachThe folks along these beaches seem nice and relaxed. Many live there year round and have created some good communities. It seems the farther south you go, the younger the people get. Treasure Island, I hear, has one heck of a party on the weekends at this bar on the beach. I ate there during the day and didn't see much. But I hear some folks are moving away from the beach because of the partying. St. Pete does have some unsavory elements such as alcoholics, etc. living near the beach, but these people are easily avoided. All in all, these are good tourist communities. And the Pinellas Bus System is the best I have encountered. Friendly and helpful bus drivers, etc.
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Pass-A-GrillJust south of the Don CeSar Beach Resort Hotel is Pass-A-Grill area. The beach is beautiful and the many famillies have fun there. There is a nice outdoor restuarant there. The food is good and it's right on the beach.
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Pass-A-GrillThis is a residential and touist area. A great place to take the family for a day at the beach. You will have to pay for parking. I like this area.
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Shell IslandThis beach has good sand and not many people on the southern end and in the middle. The beach shows some erosion, but is still a very nice, semi-secluded beach. Boats are toward the northern end with many boaters enjoying the shallow water and beaches.
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Shell IslandA woinderful beach with few people. Good shelling and just good to go for a hike and relax.
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Ft. DeSoto State ParkI ran the beach after a storm and the tide was very high. Plus, the storm did take some of the sand. I am sure it is a nice beach otherwise. After the turn the beach became better. There is a dog beach there as well. Some of the beach is very narrow. They also have a fishing pier.
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Ft. DeSoto State ParkThis is another nice state park with good facilities including a store, picnic areas and a pier for fishing. Folks are nice. Things are pretty spaced out so use a car.
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Egmont KeyOnly by boat. This is a small, island. The beach is nice, not great.
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Egmont KeyA lot of history is here. There is a cobblestone road right in the middle of it with signs and pictures of what used to be. Also, sea gulls have their young there. Plus the lighthouse. It is run by three entities, but it works smoothly.
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Anna Maria IslandThis is one of my favorite places. The beaches, Holmes, Bradenton and Coquina are all nice beaches. The sand isn't sugar sand, a nice tan coloir and you can enjoy the beach. The water is shallow but soon gets deeper. Great for families. Good fishing, some surf boarding and much fun here.
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Anna Maria IslandAnna Maria is changing. It used to have a hometown atmosphere, but now money has come in and bought up a lot of the real estate. For example, a great and fun place was Ginny's and Jane E's, full of local art, coffe and bakery items. A place to relax and look, and buy! The two sisters, who owned it, sold it and now it is more like a regular store, not as fun and pricier with less local art. Bummer. That was such a nice place.
The people on the beach are nice and friendly, though. Holmes Beach is a favorite spot for many, with a restaurant and store right on the beach. However, Bradenton Beach is my favoite for that area and possibly for Florida. There is plenty of free parking and the beach is wide and has a family-type amosphere. The people are friendly. And Coquina Beach is the same. I like this area very much. |
Longboat KeyThis is one of the best beaches I have seen. The beach is wide, the sand is soft and the sea oats and other plants on the small dunes make it picturesque. The beautiful emerald color of the water on this sunny day was a pleasure to look at. There aren't many beach access points to Longboat Key Beach, but you should find one and enjoy. Not many people here.
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Longboat KeyThis is a pricey, often gated key. There is a resort at the northern end. It looks very nice. I haven't really met the folks here. Not much interaction with the locals. Nowhere to interact. St. Armond's Circle is my guess. They are tying to make it exclusive with limiting the beach access points. But they are there!
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Lido KeyThe sugar sand beach is very wide and very beautiful as it curves around this island. The water is very nice. Great beach.
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Lido KeyAbout half the folks are a little uppity. I wound't go there on a regular basis. But the park, South Lido Park, is very much worth going to. You can kayak, fish, swim or just sit. Very nice park.
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Siesta Key BeachJust after I jogged this beach, it was voted the best beach in America. And I agree. This is a beautiful beach in every respect. The powdery sand is cool to the feet. The beach is one of the widest I have seen and the beach continues for three and a half miles, which includes Crescent Beach. It was so nice, after I jogged it, I spent the day there.
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Siesta Key BeachThere are many people on the beach. Joggers, walker, swimmers, sun worshipers, etc. There are many nice people there. It is a big, busy beach with a place for you.
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Beaches Between Siesta Key Beach and Nokomis Beach.You can actually hop over the wall at the south end of Siesta Key Beach and go to a small beach next to it. After that there are a few rocks and then the beach continues for a about a quarter mile. Then you run into an area of built up rocks. I walked over halfway and then saw a road and decided to take it. It was in a very gated community. Very pretty too. Anyway, the beach is narrow but nice. Some spots I had to jog through water for a while. Then the beach widens to Turtle Beach. After that the beach narrows somewhat all the way to Nokomis Beach which I think is seven miles away from Siesta Key Beach. The beach along here is very nice. The houses are even nicer!
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Folks Between Siesta Key Beach and Nokomis Beach.I really don't know. The ones on the beach were very nice. Some don't know how to take a guy jogging with tennis shoes and a pack, but that's to be expected. This is an upper-crust bunch, clearly.
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Nokomis BeachThis is a beautiful wide beach with plenty of sharks teeth. The wave come in kind of hard and kids can't go too far out usually, but the beach is excellent for sunbathing, etc. On Saturday nights the beach has a drum ceremony. Very fun to watch. There are many shells in the sand, but not enough to cause one not to lie on the beach, as many do.
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Nokomis BeachThe area of Nokomis is between Venice and Sarasota. It seems to be a nice, unpretentious area. Folks around there and on the beach seem nice. And I think housing is less expensive than Sarasota and Venice. I like the place. At the end near the jetty there is a great little place to fish, swim and kayak. They have a little place that sells brats, etc., and beer. Towards the jetty there are benches and people bring their own chairs to enjoy the sun, water and people. Closer to the chow shack many locals sit and chat. some are nice folks and some aren't. The more later in the day the more there are of the 'aren'ts"
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Venice Beach and VicinityVenice beach is a beautiful beach with a deep and wide area of white sand. Toward the south it narrows and there are some rocks to go around. this beach runs into the Caspersen Beach Park which is kept as a nature preserve park. The beach is narrow for the gulf side but the sand is soft and comfortable. Many folks come to relax here and to find shark's teeth.
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Venice and VicinityThis is a town that likes itself and wants to keep it just the way it is. And this is a good thing. The town, with its subdued tones and retired folks should close up when the sun goes down. Except for the Pineapple which just opened this year. There is good dancing and fun there. The folks in Venice are upscale and some of them think they are off the scale. There are nice folks here, but it is a boring town. After one has spent a few days enjoying the local restaurants like Althea's and Sharky's on the Pier, there is nothing left but to sit on the beach, sip a glass of wine and watch the sun go down.
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Manasota Pass to Stump Pass Beach State ParkThe beaches along this beautiful barrier island are almost devoid of people except where the beach parks are. The beach itself is slightly narrow with good sand. The slope looks comfortable. The water has that gentle gulf wave action,. Very nice.
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Manasota Pass to Stump Pass Beach State ParkThe beach area is quiet with nice homes along the way. Very nice homes! The folks along the way are friendly. People fishing, families, and others who love the beach enjoy finding shells and sharks teeth here. Manasota Pass is a county park which has withstood the park urbanization (county calls it an upgrade) of Sarasota County. So the parks doesn't have parking meters, but does have a shower and restrooms, etc. This is one of my favorite parks due to the beach, the people and the simplicity of the area.
Stump Pass Beach State Park is a wonder little gem in the crown of Florida's state parks. Small, but beautiful and the beaches here are not that busy. The folks who run the park are mainly retirees working part-time. This group is knowledgeable and friendly. The town nearby seems nice as well. In fact, when you go by Englewood, be sure to take a stroll down Dearborn St. The shops, coffee shop and other places along the street are friendly and fun. The benches along the street have quotes at each end. Fun to read! I spent more than one afternoon here. |
Palm Island BeachesThe beaches here are phenomenal! White sand as usual. The northern part is open and empty then narrows down to a regular beach size strip of sand. The water is Gulf water at its finest.
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Palm Island CommunitiesTo the northern end there is a community of expensive homes. I believe there is a gate but one can just walk through. The houses are very nice. And there are vacation condos as well. Very nice vacation condos. I have a picture of one of the homes. The flora here was beautiful. The folks are nice on this island. From the north to the south. Only way to get there is by ferry and this might keep some of the tourist away. Which is a good thing! It seems that many folks from Tampa have a home or cottage here. In the middle of the island there are old and quaint cottages, some showing the effects of an eroding beach. I would recommend taking a walk along here. The southern end has a state park, Don Pedro State Park and then the southern tip has a few homes. This is a treasure of a place.
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Boca Grande BeachThere is a beautiful arc along this beach. The sand is perfect and the water inviting. The beaches are clean and look well dressed with palm trees along the way. The sand was firm under foot and the waves were small today. The beach seems uniformly deep enough for family outings as well as for the fishermen along the shore.
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Boca Grande FolksThe folks I met along the beach were very nice and pleasant. Everyone I met was nice from the family with little kids to the fisherman standing along the shore waiting for the next bite. This was a constant all down the island to the lighthouse at the end. Some kids were getting ready to go spear fishing at the state park, but the park ranger saw them and reminded them that spear fishing is not allowed there. The kids left. The pier towards the end of the beach and the bar next to it seemed like a fun place to visit if I had more time.
And the island has a nice little town to it. When I was biking back to the van, the folks were coming and going to the local restaurant or to the shops near the water. They seemed like nice folks even though they were too far away to chat with. Later, after mentioning this to a few different individuals, they mildly disagreed saying that the folks on Boca Grande were rather stand-offish. I am not sure about that but since a few mentioned it I thought I ought to let you know. Guess you have have to go see for yourself. The causeway to the island costs money and the signs are all over the place telling you not to stop, not to fish, not to sneeze and not to stay! Really, there were more signs here than gas signs on I-75 in Georgia. All telling you what not to do. I took some pictures of the signs it was so much. |
Coya Costa BeachAccessible only by boat, this state park island has beautiful beaches and plenty of fishing. The sand is a little too soft for me in some spots. I did have to wade through some water at the little cape. It wasn’t that deep along the route I chose. There was a guy snorkeling there and some folks fishing on the other side to where I waded. There were some trees down along the water toward the southern end and I had to wade some. The shelling was good.
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Coya Costa Beach FolksThe Cayo Costa State Park is just of Pine Island. This island is like going back to the panhandle of Florida. There are two towns on the island that I noticed: Bokeelia at the northern end and St.James City at the southern end. I loved that place and stayed there an extra day. The folks there are laid back and southern in their subculture. This was a surprise due to its location with Ft.Myers at one end and Naples at the other. The folks here like it just the way it is. Country.
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North Captiva Island Beach
This island, too, is only accessible by boat. This semi-private island has very nice beaches with some trees down along the way. But it is passable. It is a beautiful and almost desolate Gulf beach. But I feel sure that on the weekends many boaters go there for outings. About a third down from the northern part of the island, a naturalist group has set up shop. So, there is about a 50-yard swath of nudity you might come across. |
North Captiva Island Beach Folks
The folks on the island are at the northern end. They are well-heeled, many with kids, and they have their own airstrip as well. The local restaurant, Barnacle Billy’s was busy when I was there. It is pricy, but so is land on the island. The homes aren’t ornate or extravagant, but they are very nice in a very open but exclusive piece of land. I enjoyed it. Of course, I didn’t advertise that I wasn’t part of the island either |
Captiva Island Beach
The beaches here are just as nice as the other beaches along the Gulf Coast. This expensive piece of real estate has the beaches re-nourished when needed. And the beaches are nice. Because of the re-nourishment Some of the sand is soft. That makes for a more interesting jog. The shelling was good. |
Captiva Island Folks
This island is home to many people and has very nice restaurants and a good deli along with a nite place or two. The main emphasis that permeates this island can be summed up in one word, “relaxation”. Like no island I have been on before, everyone here seems relaxed. My neighbors at the Jensen’s come here every year. When asked why they both said to relax. |
Sanibel IslandThe beach was nice and shelling was good. People kept telling that wait till I get to Sanibel. Well, I am here and it is okay, but not too impressed. It is an island with sand.
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Sanibel Island FolksI really didn't meet too many except for the folks at the barge (actually a custom pontoon boat I think). They we positive and active in what they were doing. I hope the rest of the island is like that.
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Bunche BeachThis is an out-of-the-way beach but it is well worth going to. It's part of a reserve or something. The areas is beautiful and without houses, etc. If you kayak over north to the top half of beach and take a stroll you will truly enjoy this place.
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Bunche Beach FolksThese are your basic redneck fishermen, couples and families and wilderness lovers. And that is saying a lot since there really aren't too many people there. Everyone is nice and I really had a good time there. So, grab your cooler, grab your fishing pole and give it a try. Relaxing.
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Ft. Myers BeachThis is a beautiful, white sand beach. The sand is firm and the water is a little cloudy due to a couple of rivers running into it. The waves were calm the day I jogged it and not that many folks were on the beach. The beach widens nicely at the southern end.
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Ft. Myers Beach FolksWell, there are two halves to this community. The northern half is the party crowd. Evidently from what I hear they party every day. The beach has many signs here telling folks not to bring coolers in that area. A lot of bars on the beach. I met some young people one night and they were happy and mindless. I talked to a park ranger who knows the crowd and she filled me in on this part of the beach. Homeless here as well.
The southern part is completely different and is great for families. I really like the southern part. The community here is laid back as far as I can tell with some young and some old. |
Lovers Key State Park and areaThe beaches at this park are wonderful. Many people use this area. It curves around the island
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Lovers Key State Park and area FolksThis park is located between Ft. Myers and Bonita Springs. The folks here are friendly and there is much to do. Plus there is a dog beach as well. The park has a marina across the road and it is always busy. In fact it is packed on weekends with boat trailers. The amenities at the park are very nice with a shop, shuttle to the beach and more.
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Bonita and Bearfoot BeachThe beaches were full of people the day I was there. Memorial Day. The beaches are very nice.
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Bonita and Bearfoot Beach FolksThe folks in these communities, especially Bonita Springs, are more laid back and down to earth than their neighbors south. I talked to several people from this area and they all liked it.
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Naples BeachesThe beach is very nice. Wide in spots and the grade is gentle. The access points are limited and expect to pay for parking. The beach is long and beautiful.
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Naples FolksI have written about the folks in Naples in my journal and since that time I have heard from many people from many places in Florida. Naples is way too uppity! Exclusive and Haughty. Everything costs and they would rather not have visitors as far as I can tell. The beach isn't worth the hassle of finding parking and putting up with the locals.
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Keywaydin BeachesThis is a remote beach and very beautiful. About nine miles long with white sand. I enjoyed this place. Shelling is good and boats come here on the weekends I believe. Lots of forest along the coast.
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Keywaydin FolksPeople? Not many! The few at the northern end are in exclusive resorts or homes. Towards the south there are some homes inland and well spaced apart. There is also a large crocodile living there I have been told. Also, at the southern tip is a wide and fun beach with lots of people (they scatter when it rains!). Fishing, sunning, and other fun stoff. Just a kayak away from Marco Island.
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Marco Island BeachesThe beaches of Marco Island can be divided into three sections. The Park, I think it is called Hideaway Park in the access for this beach. The northern part turns east and has two parts; a peninsula out into the water and the regular strip of beach. The second section goes along the east and is a nice strip of beach. Below that is a wide beach in front of a row of tall hotels and condos. Access here is limited as well. The beach is beautiful. You can have a busy beach with all the folks sunning and having fun or you can be the only person on the beach in the northern part. I really like these beaches.
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Marco Island FolksI have written about these folks and what I wrote is accurate based on the folks I have chatted with. But there are other folks on that island as well and most of these have been there for 20 years or more. These are nice people. Kind people who love Marco Island. Some didn't want it to become a city a few years back, rightly thinking that this would add more layers of government and costs which means higher taxes and no noticeable benefits. I would not like to live there as Capri Isle is right next to it and has the nice folks without the uppity ones. But I like the folks I met on Marco Island.
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