Shore Thing; Jan Lewin Goes Beachcombing on Marco Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast

IF YOU want to live in the Sunshine State, but without a whiff of "Disneyworld Florida" then the fact that you have to travel a little further to find Marco Island becomes a big plus. The island also offers the chance to join an established community, rather than a holiday-villa town, though, like any sought-after sun spot, its population seems to double at Christmas, with "Snowbirds" (Americans from cooler states) rather than Britons.

Though the glitz and Hispanic shenanigans of Miami are only a few hours drive away, and glossy upmarket Naples is just up the road, laidback Marco Island is a less demanding society player.

There is an Arts Centre, but the outdoor life is more its style. With miles of shell-covered white, sandy shores and year-round sun, attractions are more likely to be boating, fishing, golf (big time) and tennis.

An endless attraction is the lush natural environment. Birdlife draws the world’s ornithologists, and is a major amusement for beachcombers as every shape and size of wader scatters across the sand. With dolphins, gentle manatee and countless tropical fish to spot, water – one way or another – keeps residents occupied.

If they fancy a weekend trek, then the Everglades National Park is on Marco Island’s doorstep. Spanning 1.5 million acres, this massive eco system has native sawgrass prairies, mangrove forests, cypress swamps and pinelands.

Here, if you are lucky, you might spot the endangered Florida panther – the stuff of tales dating back via the Spanish explorers of La Isla de San Marco, to the native Calusa Indians who may have lived here 2,000 years ago.

Present-day Marco is barely 50 years old, but feels well established by a thriving community still putting finishing touches to its infrastructure and tidying up some early development mistakes. There is now a large marina with shops and restaurants to add to the island’s attractions.

For a holiday home, or a long-term residence, it has an appealing balance of choice and you can be sure of having plenty of UK friends to stay.

HEAVENLY HIDEAWAY Apartments have well-planned interiors with large terraces, a walk-in dressing room and an en-suite bathroom for every bedroom.

Large houses on the estate start at about Pounds 514,000.

All owners at Hideaway must be club members. A fee of roughly Pounds 5,100 entitles members to golf, tennis, 24-hour security, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, grounds maintenance, croquet, clubhouse pool and a spa and proshop.

All owners pay property taxes.

Maintenance fees, depending on your home’s size, range from about Pounds 300 to about Pounds 610.

Outside the estate, beachfront twobedroom apartments start at about Pounds 260,000.

Houses with pools outside the estate start at about Pounds 200,000, while grand waterfront homes with pools start at about Pounds 300,000 – all homes are within easy walking distance of the beach; the island measures six miles by four miles.

Regular flights run between London airports and Miami and Fort Myers.

Flights take about eight hours, prices depend on the season.

Selling agent: Tammi Vance, Re/Max Results Realty, Marco Island, Florida.

Call 001 239 389 3104, or email Tammi@tammivance.com.

(c) 2007 Evening Standard; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.