Esplanade Marina: Marinalife Magazine Marina Spotlight

Marina Spotlight: Esplanade Marina, Marco Island, FL Published: October 2009 in Marinalife Magazine, Fall Issue.

Esplanade Marina
Convenience, tranquility, and first-rate facilities on Florida's Gulf Coast

Tucked into protected Smokehouse Bay at the top of Florida's Marco Island, Esplanade Marina is a quick stroll from the city's main shopping district and within easy reach of sugary Gulf of Mexico beaches, but what really sets it apart, according to new dockmaster Captain Kim Kallas, is the people. "It's a community like no other I've ever known," says Kallas. "You meet people from every walk of life here, and everyone enjoys helping one another, sharing local knowledge about how to navigate that tricky passage, whom to call if you need a diver, whatever you need."

Kallas herself was captain aboard one of the first boats to dock at Esplanade when the marina opened eight years ago, and before becoming dockmaster eagerly anticipated her annual visits. It's easy to understand why. The 77-slip marina can accommodate boats up to 65 feet and is exceptionally elegant, with Mediterranean-inspired buildings, a variety of upscale shops, and several of the city's best restaurants-Tara Steak & Lobster House is justly popular for its dry-aged steaks and stellar wine list, and Guy Harvey's Grill focuses on just-caught, sustainable seafood. At the end of the day, boaters gather on the patio at CJ's on the Bay for cocktails and spectacular sunsets. Like the rest of Marco Island, the marina's vibe is refined but low-key.

Marco Island is ideally situated for transient boaters cruising along Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast, and many boaters stop at Esplanade for a few days to unwind. The marina has a lounge with complimentary WiFi, laundry rooms, ship's store, and showers, and rents smaller craft so that guests can putter over to Keewaydin Island for picnics and exceptional shelling. Other favorite activities include a tour of a remote Everglades manatee hideout through the Manatee Sightseeing Eco-Tourism Adventure Group(239-642-8818), simply relaxing at the marina, chatting with whomever walks by. "I enjoy meeting new people," says dockmaster Kallas, "and boaters cover such a wide span of personalities and backgrounds that being in this environment never gets dull. I have the perfect job."