We took an inside route back to Marco Island. Although not part of the official ICW, this stretch of water was well marked, albeit a bit skinny in a couple of places.Because of the depth, very few cruisers come this way. We enjoyed the solitude and calmness of the waters. A beautiful morning.
We liked the marina at the Esplanade so much we didn’t even research other options. The dockmaster there (Joe) was, again, very helpful. The boaters’ lounge and showers are as nice as any we saw on this trip.
This time we ventured outside the Esplanade facility into Marco Island. A short walk brought us to Arturo’s — a wonderful Italian restaurant not too far off the beaten track. Wonderful service and good food. We saved room for a double scoop from the ice cream store at the Esplanade. Yum.
Sun sparkles on the inside waterway to Marco Island from Naples.
Lots of osprey nests along the way.