Table Of Content

The Charlotte Harbor Chili Cook-Off is a must-attend event for food lovers, where you can sample delicious chili recipes from local chefs and vote for your favorite. The Port Charlotte Seafood and Music Festival is another popular event that combines mouthwatering seafood dishes with live music performances. Port Charlotte offers a range of accommodations to suit every traveler’s needs. Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort, a cozy beachfront cottage, or a budget-friendly motel, you’ll find it here. Port Charlotte offers a wide range of attractions that cater to every interest. Visit the Port Charlotte Town Center, a premier shopping destination with a variety of stores and restaurants.
Go Wild at Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
The economy in Punta Gorda is fueled by tourism and retirement communities. Many people visit to enjoy the natural beauty, outdoor activities, and the warm climate. The city also attracts retirees looking for a peaceful and relaxed lifestyle.

Fun in the sun at Port Charlotte Beach Park
Take a leisurely stroll through the park and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere as you marvel at the twinkling lights and festive displays. The experience of free-fall This family-owned operation has been diving in Southwest Florida since 2003 and are proud to be known as the strictest skydiving center in the area. The crew even captures video and photo footage of your dive and makes it available for purchase afterwards so you’ll always have a memento of your experience. The adventure of a lifetime is waiting for you just 7 miles outside of Port Charlotte. Skydive SW Florida specializes in taking first-timers out on tandem skydive trips. Small bags are permitted inside the gates but being prepared here can save you time and ensure you have the best experience possible.
North Port-Port Charlotte bus route considered - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
North Port-Port Charlotte bus route considered.
Posted: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Port Charlotte, Florida - Basic Facts
Amenities in Charlotte Harbor include local favorite restaurants, shopping of all kinds, and two beautiful waterfront parks, Bayshore Live Oak Park and Live Oak Point Park. Bayshore features an extensive walking path along the Peace River, and Live Oak Point provides access to the walkable Barron Collier and Gilchrist Bridges. Both offer fishing piers and unparalleled views of the river, the harbor, and our amazing sunsets. One of the best things about Port Charlotte is the sheer variety of parks to stroll around.
Hard Lessons: Hurricane Charley, 10 Years Later - News-Press
Hard Lessons: Hurricane Charley, 10 Years Later.
Posted: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Future plans exist to renovate the building and use it as an interpretive and educational center. Hundreds of walkers, joggers, and bicyclists make use of the trail each day for exercise and safely commuting from one end of the peninsula to the other. In the early 20th century, the railroad line was an essential way to transport minerals and goods from the interior towns to ships waiting on the coast.
Port Charlotte attracts a lot of people who are looking for a brand new start. Sprawled out over an 83.7-square-kilometer area with a population of about 60,000 residents, Port Charlotte is famous for its mellow, casual aura and charming Old Florida atmosphere. Port Charlotte has one primary expressway, I-75, which runs north to south. Port Charlotte became nationally recognized when, in August 2004, Hurricane Charley took a last minute turn and devastated the area and surrounding city of Punta Gorda. Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens logo and signature sculpture was inspired by a 50 million-year-old stone fossil of a palm frond. Scattered across the 27-acre grounds, over a dozen grand sculptures complement the ever-blooming flowering trees and many botanical wonders.
This is the only full enclosed shopping center in the region serving Englewood, Punta Gorda, North Port and Port Charlotte. There is a stage on the property where local bands often play during the weekends to entertain customers while they drink and dine. Also on the property is a historic 24 room hotel which the owners hope to someday rebuild to its former glory.
Sports and Activities
The Garden of the Five Senses can be found in the nearby city of North Port. It was the dream of a park board member to create a space that would encourage all people to use and explore the outdoors more. You could also bring a picnic blanket and spread out on the spacious lawn surrounding the spring. Currently, the buildings that housed the showers, bathrooms, and locker rooms are closed.
Attend Festivals and Events at Laishley Park
It’s the perfect place for a weekend away, a fabulous day trip, or even as a relaxing base while you explore the wider area. To help you get the most out of your time here, we’re sharing some of what we think are the best things to do in Port Charlotte, Florida. For a taste of the local arts scene, be sure to visit the Visual Arts Center across the harbor in Punta Gorda. This vibrant hub showcases the work of local artists through rotating exhibits and offers classes and workshops for those looking to unleash their creativity. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch a live performance at the Charlotte Players Theater, a community theater that puts on a variety of shows throughout the year. Captain Billy can fit groups of up to 4 people on his vessel at a time, and trips range from 4 to 8 hours depending on how long you’re willing to be out.
It is also connected to a beautiful environmental park with walking trails, a small craft boat launch, and a boardwalk. The park was built and opened in 2007, and it contains one of the first playgrounds for children with disabilities from Boundless Adventure Playgrounds. There are beautiful, environmentally friendly, paved walking trails with gardens designated by how one can experience nature. Charlotte County was established in 1921, after 34 years of the citizenry pushing to divide DeSoto County, and Punta Gorda was the new county seat. Before purchasing two lots downtown and hiring St. Petersburg architects to design the grandiose building that stands today, the Board of County Commissioners originally met in rented quarters.
The park offers a hiking trail and a fishing pier, which is excellent for families with kids who want to learn how to fish or have some family-friendly fun. Port Charlotte is a city in Southwest Florida roughly 30 miles north of Fort Myers and 40 miles south of Sarasota on the gulf coast of Florida. Nestled in Charlotte Harbor, visitors can take cruises through the harbor, play a round of mini-golf or swim in the harbor. Bicycles are available at select downtown locations, including Four Points by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites, Fishermen’s Village, and Becky’s Garden Shoppe, subject to availability. Once you have your trusty steed, explore the Punta Gorda Pathways, an 18-mile loop trail interconnecting pedestrian and bike paths throughout the city.
In addition, the park has many kinds of birds, so if you’re not sure what you’re looking at, there are maps and signs available to help you identify their species. With three different terrains, you can enjoy pine Flatwoods, salt marsh, and coastal scrub, all within close range; no trekking is required. But if birds aren’t your thing, you’ll start to notice them pretty quickly. The trails are uneven dirt trails, pockmarked by muddy patches and animal holes. With its expansive property—more than 200 acres—home to 18 holes of golfing excellence, it’s one of Southwest Florida’s top-rated courses. For golfers, few places can offer as much as Maple Leaf Golf and Country Club.
Although modern-day development is all around us, you don’t have to look far to find many of our area’s historic hidden gems. Both women told us their credit card companies believe the unauthorized charges may have been related to their parking payments. The credit card expert we spoke with today says the answer to that question is no, but digital credit card fraud is very real. Pay-by-text parking may have cost one woman nearly a thousand dollars after her credit card was hacked.
They have the freshest seafood in town, so order up some stuffed lobsters, and don’t forget to order their famous clam chowder for a hot buttered bread roll. If you find yourself on this island, it would be a shame not to visit the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum on its southern shore. Once you’re on the island, proceed to Gasparilla Island State Park to see its nature preserve and take in some of its incredible views.