It is hard to argue with the tagline of this region: ‘Our best side is outside’. The area is located in Southwest Florida between Fort Myers and Tampa and is often referred to as The Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast. Water sports are incredibly popular due to the calm sea breezes as it is on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida, and with an average temperature of 27 degrees in the summer and sunny skies, it is the ideal weather for a beach vacation.
In the winter, the area enjoys an average temperature of 18 degrees, which is perfect for morning strolls and al fresco dining. This is what makes Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach a great all-year-round destination.
Englewood Beach
If you are looking for untouched, pristine beaches with perfect white sand and shimmering Gulf waters, this is the spot for you. There is a scenic 900ft boardwalk that crosses over the beach vegetation if you want to observe the shoreline from a distance. You’ll struggle to find any tourist gift shops: it’s pure Floridian sand, sun and sea.
Outdoor pursuits
One of the most breath-taking activities to take part in is an eco-kayaking tour with the likes of SUP Englewood where you can take the Don Pedro Island State Park tour and discover the flora and fauna of the region. It is about spotting the dolphins and manatees, but also about ethical paddling, so you are not disrupting their habitats.
If you head a little further south to Blind Pass Park, this is the famously where locals go shelling and discover sharks’ teeth.
Where to eat
Food options include the Lighthouse Grill, which is a great spot for lunch as you get a waterfront dining experience under a tiki hut. Dishes focus on local specialities such as a smoked fish dip served with house-made fries and a side of jalapeños. Oysters are available raw or steamed – apparently, Midwesterners who flock to the Gulf side of Florida for vacations prefer steamed oysters.
If you want somewhere close to the main part of Englewood Beach, then you should consider SandBar Tiki and Grille. They offer straightforward seafood fare along with a vibrant outdoor decking area that frequently hosts live music events. Don’t be surprised to find their salads frequently topped up with seafood like their sesame ahi tuna salad.
Punta Gorda
If Englewood Beach is all about aquatic adventures, then you’ll discover that Punta Gorda is for those interested in land pursuits. Whether you want to go alligator-spotting or feast on the freshest of local ingredients, this is the place to be.
Outdoor pursuits
Most visitors to Florida want to enjoy an alligator safari and at Babcock Ranch Eco Tours, you’ll see the reptiles, but you’re also more than likely to see majestic osprey, soft-shell turtles and wild turkeys. They have a 90-minute tour which takes place on a swamp buggy and you’ll get a scenic drive through four different ecosystems.
Other areas where you can spot wildlife include Alligator Creek Preserve, which is free of charge, and also at Peace River Wildlife Center, which is a charitable organisation that mostly rescues and rehabilitates birds along with some mammals and reptiles. Make sure you catch their adorable ambassador, Luna, the leucistic screech owl.
Finally, no visit to Punta Gorda is complete without visiting Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Garden. It might have only opened in 2017, but it already houses over 4,500 plants, trees and bamboo blended in with Florida’s natural landscape, and you’ll spot unusual varieties like the rainbow eucalyptus.
There’s also an impressive art installation space including sculptures from renowned artists include Carole Feuerman. Her hyper-realistic style has won fans the world over including the Clintons and her speciality is focusing on female swimmers. If you observe the sculptures up close, you might spot individual eyelashes or veins on the elegant legs.
Where to eat
There is no shortage of great restaurants to dine out at in Punta Gorda. Regularly regarded as one of the top five seafood restaurants in Florida, Peace River Seafood should be high on your list. If you want to go for dinner, it’ll have to be early as on a Tuesday to Thursday they close at 6.30pm. Their core business is an in-house seafood market, so it’s no surprise they open and close early.
Their local blue crabs are a must-order dish with their sweet, juicy, succulent legs. It is a hands-on affair as they offer you a mallet for you to break into the shell – expect a rustic, casual dining experience, and don’t be surprised to see crab shells all over the floor.
If you are looking for a rooftop restaurant with impeccable views, the venue to consider is Perch360 on top of the Wyvern Hotel. They offer a great selection of mimosas and bloody marys, and it is particularly popular as an aperitif hot spot when you want to enjoy the sunset.
If you are happy to travel slightly further out, there is Babcock Ranch, the first solar-powered town in America. It is literally stepping into a futuristic utopia and The Lakehouse Kitchen and Bar is the ideal spot to observe the pristine landscape.
Factbox
This coastal community surrounding the state’s second-largest harbour sits conveniently between Tampa and Naples. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have daily direct flights to Tampa.
For more information on the region, visit Pure Florida at purefl.com.
