Which would you choose?

[cheapie]

i have a conference January 23 - 27 at the The Marco Island Marriott Resort & Spa, Marco Island, Florida. (http://www.marcoislandmarriott.com/)we have a choice of activities to do one of the days. which would you choose?


Recreation Preferences
Registrations will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited availability of some activities.

Backwater Fishing - Enjoy great scenery and great fishing on our backcountry excursion in the beautiful backwaters of the Gulf. The Captain takes you through the brackish waters of the mangrove forests looking for mangrove snapper, trout, redfish, sheepshead, and snook. The charter includes captain, crew, license, bait, tackle and coolers with ice.

Catamaran Cruise - This 2 to 2 ½ hour excursion leaves directly from the Marriott beach. It is a wonderful way to experience some of the natural beauty of scenic Marco Island. This tour, which is escorted by a U.S. Coast Guard Captain & first mate, is an unforgettable trip on the Gulf of Mexico.

Day at the Beach - Marco Island style! The Marriott staff will line up the beach with umbrellas and place lounge chairs out in a special area for our group. For you active folks, we will offer a volleyball court, footballs, frisbees, 5 kayaks, 5 water hammocks, 1 hobie wave, 1 water bike and 2 pedal boats.

Everglades Airboat Tour - Board an authentic airboat for an exhilarating ride through the backwaters of the Gulf, including mangrove tunnels and old Indian trails. The experienced airboat captains wind through the rugged 10,000 islands, revealing the hiding spots of alligators, manatee and other local inhabitants.

Golf Scramble - Play a round at the Rookery Golf Club, a magnificent 18-hole, par 72 layout. The stunning, semi-private layout features generous fairways, oversized and receptive greens, immaculate turf conditions and the option of playing from 5 tee locations.

Harley Davidson Motorcycle Tour - Take a tour around Southwestern Florida on an authentic Harley Davidson motorcycle. All riders must have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license. Proof of license endorsement and liability paperwork will be required prior to tour.

Spa Treatments - Enjoy a spa treatment right at the Marriott’s very own Spa - a luxurious resort of relaxation and tranquility. Choose from a Classic Swedish Massage (50 min.), an Intense Hydrating Facial (50 min.), a Manicure/Pedicure Combo, a Gentlemen’s Facial, or a Gentlemen’s Manicure/Pedicure Combo.

Waverunner (Jet Ski) Tour - Take an unforgettable, one-hour journey into the 10,000 islands of the Everglades with one of our professionally trained guides. Come share with us the pristine beauty of the islands as you catch glimpses of exotic birds, dolphins, manatees and other diverse wildlife native to the area. This tour leaves from the Marriott beach.

[mcs328]

I'd go for fishing or golf.

[cheapie]

the golf does sound pretty cool even tho' i'm not a huge golfer.

[Mommypooh]

I'll take the Spa Treatment.

[jstreet]

Booze cruise.

[esme]

if you want to relax i would say either the Catamaran Cruise or the Spa Treatment

otherwise ..... the Waverunner (Jet Ski) Tour sounds like fun

[cheapie]

i'm guessing the jet ski will be pretty sedate with limiters on it so you can't go fast.

and ben...the entire rest of the event will be filled with booze. ;)

[jstreet]

i'm guessing the jet ski will be pretty sedate with limiters on it so you can't go fast.

and ben...the entire rest of the event will be filled with booze. ;)Want company?? :hug:

[cheapie]

/not gay





:heh:

[Jeffbx]

Do the waverunner one - I've done that one before from Sanibel Island.

They don't limit the engines, but then again, they're not exactly the supercharged models. I bet you can get up to about 40MPH.

They take you on a tour of some of the islands, and then they cut you loose for about 20 mins out in the middle of the ocean. It was pretty fun.

[RoniMan]

where's the "beat cheapie up for being able to have nicer vacations" choice? :shrug: oh well, in that case, i'd choose the golf or the waverunner.

as for the others:
Backwater Fishing - backwater fishing is just not my thing. besides, haven't you watched csi: miami? there's alligators out there!

Catamaran Cruise - sounds like just sit and watch scenery. besides, all this talk about pirates lately....i don't know.

Day at the Beach - i live in southern cali, when can i NOT have a day at the beach?

Everglades Airboat Tour - mehhh...doesn't sound too exciting.

Golf Scramble - i'd pick this b/c i like golfing.

Harley Davidson Motorcycle Tour - since you have to have a motorcycle license to do this, it rules me out.

Spa Treatments - sounds nice...ok, maybe this would be another possible choice.

[Markel]

Marco Island in January - average temperatures:
High: 77
Low: 53
Gulf: 66

Might be cool enough to influence your decision. Freezes have been known in southern Florida, but not that often.

[cadetevon]

If you are licensed I'd do the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Tour. You know the people will be totally chill and cool to hang with. You'll get some good bike time (which is NEVER bad) as well as see some beautiful scenery.

If the spa thing is something you like, but couldn't otherwise afford, do that one. (This would be my choice).

No matter what you opt to do, you'll have fun.

[zenbooty]

The Airboat tour or the Waverunner tour. The swamps of the Everglades are unique, where everything else you can pretty much do elsewhere. Backwater fishing for the local catch would be pretty cool too, if you were into fishing. I'm not.

[cheapie]

where's the "beat cheapie up for being able to have nicer vacations" choice? :shrug: oh well, in that case, i'd choose the golf or the waverunner.

as for the others:
Backwater Fishing - backwater fishing is just not my thing. besides, haven't you watched csi: miami? there's alligators out there!

Catamaran Cruise - sounds like just sit and watch scenery. besides, all this talk about pirates lately....i don't know.

Day at the Beach - i live in southern cali, when can i NOT have a day at the beach?

Everglades Airboat Tour - mehhh...doesn't sound too exciting.

Golf Scramble - i'd pick this b/c i like golfing.

Harley Davidson Motorcycle Tour - since you have to have a motorcycle license to do this, it rules me out.

Spa Treatments - sounds nice...ok, maybe this would be another possible choice.


i have a motorcycle license so i'm heavily considering this.

btw, this isn't vacation man. it's WORK! :woohoo:

[Markel]

The Airboat tour or the Waverunner tour. The swamps of the Everglades are unique...
I originally thought that the airboat tour would be a good choice. However, Marco Island is really not in the everglades (a little way from the northwest corner). And if you look at the description carefully:
Everglades Airboat Tour - Board an authentic airboat for an exhilarating ride through the backwaters of the Gulf, including mangrove tunnels and old Indian trails.
It's an "Everglades Airboat" - i.e., the type of airboat used in the Everglades, taking a tour of the local backwaters (i.e., not the Everglades).

I did take a genuine Everglades airboat ride once - it was pretty neat.

[Markel]

i have a motorcycle license so i'm heavily considering this.

btw, this isn't vacation man. it's WORK! :woohoo:
Yeah, they just happened to schedule it at a resort in southern Florida in January. it's WORK PERK! :hihi:

[cheapie]

hehe. i'll be in vegas the week before....working of course! ;)

[ufcrusher]

Ok, this is simple. Either take the motorcylce trip or the fishing. Honestly, unless you are into the spa thing (which many are) that is not something many "MANLY" men would choose. (I think its more of a "metro" thing for guys to do spas...that said, massages are nice and many spa's include massages)

It sounds like you would be flats fishing, which is always fun. Unfortunately, there have been red tides in the last few years, so I dont know whether you will catch that many things. However, if its normal...you can hook a redfish. Fun fight and people like to eat em.

The beach choice puzzles me.....why would anyone chose that when they can go to the beach on their own.

The everglades boat thing -- just stupid. You arent anywhere near the glades there. 20 minutes south of our home in Florida and THATS the glades.

Waverunner - if you have never done it, its fun to take out a waverunner. However, I have a personal problem with the idea of running those things in environmentally sensitive areas...particularly around manatees.

Cat - I love sailing, but sitting on a boat doing nothing isnt sailing, its sitting.

Golf - you can golf anywhere, do something different. That said, if its a famous course, it might be worth it to brag that you played there. Although I am sure you might have to doctor your score. :hihi:

Yep...that cleared everything up now didnt it.

Edit - I forgot to say.....Vegas....Florida. When do you hit Hawaii? How about San Diego? I need a job that is all travel to nice places.

[cheapie]

dude...i was in lexington, KY yesterday. toronto last week. tulsa the week before. going to macon, GA next week. also raleigh-durham next week.

toronto and NC are bad examples but the majority of my travel is to nowhere fun.

[Mommypooh]

I still say the SPA Can I come too???

[cadetevon]

I still say the SPA Can I come too???
:stupid:

[kimchicowboy]

fishin. i can dig some of that action right now.

[chadlnc]

I'd take the motorcycle tour and try not to hold the motorcyle brand against them.

[dsuds]

btw, this isn't vacation man. it's WORK! :woohoo:

I hate you... I hate you so much!!

j/k mang. have fun. :)

[Nija]

My vote:

http://www.nijaizkewl.com/images/personal/fun/owls/buttsecks.jpg

[ShawnLee]

My vote? That I show up to Florida and tell everyone that I'm you.
"What do you mean that's not an Asian name? Don't you know I'm two-elevenths white? Sucka, don't question my heritage! My great-great-great-great-grandma came on the Mayflower!"

[cheapie]

Tobias sounds like a white name. :hihi:

[kgsilvas]

The Everglades Airboat Tour because it sounds cool and you can't do that anywhere else. The Everglades are so unique and you'd probably see some cool wildlife.

The spa treatments would come in a close second. The Spa at Marco Island is fairly famous in the spa world for their "Balinese" treatments. You could upgrade the basic Swedish to one of their specialized services. Ooooooh.

[oblongmelon]

fishing..definately..
then the spa afterwards ;)

[Markel]

The Everglades Airboat Tour because it sounds cool and you can't do that anywhere else. The Everglades are so unique and you'd probably see some cool wildlife.
Except THEY AIN'T IN THE EVERGLADES! It's an "authentic airboat" (the kind used in the Everglades) ride in a non-Everglades area. (Leave it to the marketing hype....)

By the way, I've got a used ToyYoda for sale? Anybody interested? ;)

[cheapie]

the golf was decent. beautiful course. kind of weird because it was surrounded by all of these nice houses and condos....that were empty because of the recent hurricane. creepy.

i guess the airboat was super cool. went through the everglades (took a bus to get there) and got really close to alligators and other wildlife.

sigh....it's a sucky life but someone's gotta do it.

http://www.littleboyinc.com/uploader2/files/marco_island/32Panarama.jpg

[nickel]

the golf was decent. beautiful course. kind of weird because it was surrounded by all of these nice houses and condos....that were empty because of the recent hurricane. creepy.

i guess the airboat was super cool. went through the everglades (took a bus to get there) and got really close to alligators and other wildlife.

sigh....it's a sucky life but someone's gotta do it.

http://www.littleboyinc.com/uploader2/files/marco_island/32Panarama.jpg
where's Cheapo? :P

[cheapie]

i'm the one on the left with the pants and tan shirt.:hihi: