Our Annual Trip To Marco Island, FL

You are likely aware that my girls make a three-week trip to our timeshare in Marco and I rarely go because I don’t like to go where it’s hot after just getting thru a long hot Tennessee summer, but this year I decided to go so Bev wouldn’t have to make that long drive.  So, after saying good-bye to Cindy and the very disappointed pups, we got on the road at a foggy 5am.  We came down US-411 to near Cartersville, GA then I-75 where the traffic was light to Atlanta then pretty heavy until the Florida Turnpike peeled off in Wildwood.  They have been widening I-75 for as long as I can remember but they should have made it four or five lanes rather than just three.  As it turns out, I’m more relaxed behind the wheel than as a passenger (maybe it’s a control issue) so I did the driving and 12½ hours and 800 miles later we pulled into The Charter Club Of Marco Beach.  Listening to a book helped the time pass quicker.  While Bev doesn’t like spending a night in a hotel, I think it’s time to start making this a two-day trip.  

We got in at sunset and had this view from the balcony.

Then we settled in front of the TV to watch the last part of West Virginia’s football loss to Baylor then watched all of Tennessee’s disappointing loss to Georgia.

You know I’m a fan of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and on Sunday we went to lunch at LeeBe Fish which I would definitely categorize as a dive.  

Upon entering, you pick up one of the menus laying on a shelf, then you place your order at the window opening into the kitchen to a Hispanic guy who barely spoke or understood English and had trouble understanding our order. 

After ordering, you grab your canned or bottled drinks from a cooler and go find a table either in or outside, neither of which were in great shape. 

I had a combo of grilled shrimp and mahi mahi with slaw.  They were tasty but the fish was too done for me and in spite of telling the guy at least twice that Bev and Pat wanted a fried shrimp basket they came grilled (confirming the language issue) although when they brought the fried ones they were very good.  They advertise the second best fish sandwich in Florida and Rhett said it was very good but Beth’s tuna was cooked completely thru when she ordered rare.  After eating, we were expected to bus our own tables.  I hadn’t been there in years and I’m confident it has different ownership as everything was much better and the fresh fish case used to be larger to sell the fish that they caught themselves.

We should have realized a problem when we noticed there was only a couple of other diners while the Smith House next door was packed.  No need to go back.

That evening, it was another pretty sunset.

Photos can be slightly enlarged by clicking on them and the blue words are links.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

11/16/24 event date