By Samantha Husted
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One of the Sunshine Tours boats that can be chartered.
Sunshine Tours is a locally owned tour, sightseeing and charter company that’s been operating on Marco Island for a little over 30 years. Owner Rodger Parcelles started the company in 1984, when he was just 19 years old and has been running it ever since. Rodger, along with his dedicated and professional staff, including two sisters and two nephews, works hard to ensure that guests have an experience they won’t soon forget.
The company offers a variety of boat-related services including: fishing excursions, sightseeing, shelling and sunset and dinner cruises. Their trips, charters and cruises can accommodate individuals, families, small groups, large groups and special events such as weddings or birthdays. Each trip guarantees a unique experience. And, according to Rodger, it’s a rare day that there isn’t a dolphin or a manatee sighting. He also says that rain or shine, there’s almost always a beautiful sunset to be seen on the Marco Island Princess, their 90’ cruise boat.
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Sunshine Tours has been open and operating since 1984. PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA HUSTED
The Princess offers a few different cruise options. There’s a sightseeing cruise, a nature and history lunch cruise, and three different sunset cruises available. During the sunset dinner cruise, the Princess typically rides down the calm waters of the Marco River, past Isles of Capri and into the Collier and Smokehouse Bays. Guests will have the opportunity to see the beautiful Marco homes, osprey nests, mangrove islands and dolphins. The Princess then sails out into the Gulf of Mexico, conditions permitting, to view the beautiful coastline of Marco and, of course, the spectacular sunset.
For locals, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how beautiful Marco Island is. It seems that for many of us we just get used to it after awhile. Living on Marco can sort of feel like living in a bubble. Sometimes it’s refreshing to remove yourself from the bubble and see the island from a different, less landlocked perspective. That’s why services like Sunshine Tours are so great. It allows us to take an almost mini-vacation around our home. The dinner cruise is relaxing, fun and more importantly, it offers us a reminder of Marco’s beauty—something that is surprisingly easy to take for granted.
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Owner Rodger Parcelles and his daughter Ciera.
Sunshine Tours is open 7 AM to 7 PM daily. They have cruises and excursions to accommodate any interest. You can plan your trip by calling 239-642-5415 or visit their website at www.sunshinetoursmarcoisland.com. They are located at Rose Marina, 951 Bald Eagle Drive on Marco Island.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
