Sorry I didn't answer your questions sooner and I never saw your other post or I would have responded. We love Marlins! The view is great, you are right over the water and can see surfers, swimmers, boats ect. Ron Jon's is a huge surf shop. My kids get t-shirts, sweatshirts, keychains, stickers ect. I got a can cooler and a decal for my car window. Its a neat store to visit and you won't see your t-shirt( probably) on another person which is what my family likes. Its a good place to get little gifts for their friends. We went swimming right at the public beach by the Pier and then just changed in our van. There are showers underneath the Pier to rinse off the sand. We have stayed at the Holiday Inn years ago and the beach and pool there were wonderful but I keep hearing how awful it is now.