A quick weekend getaway to Florida’s Paradise Coast satisfies!
I have fond memories of a family trip to Sanibel and Captiva Islands on the west coast of Florida, but that was about 20 years ago. The area is known for its family-friendly activities, stunning beaches and abundance of seashells. Plus it’s just a quick 1.5-hour flight from Atlanta to Southwest Florida International Airport.
In the third trimester of my second pregnancy, it occurred to me one night during a bout of insomnia that this part of Florida, also known as Paradise Coast, would make the perfect babymoon destination. I had loved the peaceful easiness of that long-ago family vacation, and replicating it for a few days of rest before my new arrival sounded like the perfect way to celebrate.
There are lots of luxury hotels to choose from in the area, but I had my eye on one from the getgo: the JW Marriott Marco Island. Originally built in 1965 as a 50- room hotel, it has grown to be one of the area’s premier accommodations, evolving through several iterations and additions. Now it stands at over 800 rooms, most with a view of the Gulf of Mexico.
We arrived at Marco Island after a meandering trip through Naples and pulled into the driveway, pleased to see that the hotel retained much of the original Balinese-inspired charm. The entrance had a grand water feature, and the two-story-high lobby gave way to sweeping views of one of the pools and the ocean beyond.
In recent years, the hotel has undergone a $320 million renovation. This included the 2019 opening of a 94-room, adults-only tower called Paradise by Sirene, the place we called home for two days. It features a separate check-in suite, dedicated staff and access to the rest of the property.
I couldn’t help but think that this would have been heaven for our 3-year-old, but we were happy to be sequestered in Paradise by Sirene and have the use of the exclusive pool, beach umbrellas and more. Everything in the tower was accessible via a digital wristband, making it effortless to travel around the property without a key or wallet.
I’m not an “at rest” kind of person on vacation, but this pregnancy had forced me to slow down, and the Marriott had enough to keep us busy without leaving the property. The only thing on the agenda was to enjoy each other’s company and the beach views, which we did happily over meals at Quinn’s on the Beach and Tesoro, the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at Paradise by Sirene, accessible to anyone on the property. (Tip: Get a sunset reservation at each, especially at Quinn’s, where the fire show starts at sundown.) There are 12 dining establishments at the property in total. Additional standouts for an adults-focused trip include 10K Alley, a state-of-the-art arcade and gastropub, and Ario, a fine-dining steakhouse.
I had a prenatal massage at the sprawling, 24,000-square-foot Spa by JW and enjoyed using the private pool there while my husband braved the cold plunge pool. We bounced between the breezy fifth floor Sirene pool and the private beach club, sipping virgin daiquiris and indulging in books we had previously abandoned. A few beach walks and lounge chair naps later, we were ready to head home.
JW MARRIOTT MARCO ISLAND BEACH RESORT
239.394.2511
jwmarco.com
@jwmarcoisland
MORE THINGS TO DO ON FLORIDA’S PARADISE COAST
~ Visit Celebration Park, a food truck park on the water. celebrationparknaples.com
~ Explore Naples Botanical Garden’s 170 acres. naplesgarden.org
~ Stroll 5th Avenue, stopping for an authentic Italian lunch at Molto and highend women’s finds at Marissa Collections. moltonaples.com • marissacollections.com
