The Charlotte Harbor and Gulf Islands area on Florida’s Gulf Coast offers visitors the small town charm of nine coastal communities plus a variety of marine adventures centered on the state’s second largest harbor.
Often bypassed for Tampa to the north and Naples to the south, the Charlotte Harbor area is far from a metropolitan concrete jungle. Instead it’s the perfect place for families and friends seeking a retreat to a destination heavy on pristine beaches and peaceful pine forests.
The harbor is embraced by 830 miles of shoreline, 84 percent of which is protected from development. The harbor’s Blueway Trail System includes 200 miles of kayak trails. Outfitter Grande Tours down Coral Creek then around the mangrove islands and shores of Charlotte Harbor.
Swimming, beachcombing, fishing, sunset harbor cruises with King Fisher Fleet and other boating opportunities in the Charlotte Harbor area are plentiful. In addition there’s golf, hiking and trail rides plus family friendly attractions such as Muscle Car City.
It’s no wonder the area has been named by “SAIL” magazine’ as one of the “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States,” and ranked by Golf Digest as “Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America.”
When it comes to fishing the harbor serves as a nutrient-rich estuary, plus there’s the Peace and Myakka Rivers and Lemon Bay. The area is home to 256 species of fish including tarpon, snapper, snook, spotted sea trout, yellowtail, cobia, redfish, pompano, barracuda and king mackerel.
Nature lovers will enjoy the area’s 70 parks and preserves. One fun way to access the local terrain is at Babcock Ranch Preserve, which is known for its popular swamp-buggy tours and other wilderness activities. Don't miss the buggy tour where you'll see not only cows, but also sand hill cranes, herons, bald eagles and woodpeckers.
In addition to such eco-tourism adventures, the Charlotte Harbor area has a wide variety of entertainment options. Art fans will be pleased the works of 300 artists in residence. Fisherman’s Village, located right on the harbor, is great for shopping, dining and nightlife.
Relatively new to the area is Rick Treworgy's Muscle Car City near Punta Gorda. The museum focuses on “muscle cars” of the mid-1960s to early 1970s, but it showcases 200 automobiles highlighting eras back to the 1920s. Adults, teens and children are wowed by the the Pontiac GTOs, Chevy Corvettes, Oldsmobile Cutlass 442s, Chevelles, Camaros and revved-up Impalas on display.
Fortunately for visitors there are plenty of excellent resorts and hotels in the area that often run specials to lure families and friends to the destination.
Where to Stay in Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Islands
Palm Island Resort, for example, has its own two-mile-long beach and offers family friendly activities such as eco-tours, pirate encounters, fishing and kayaking. The resort is only accessible only by a regularly scheduled ferry or a boat. Visitors can enjoy both a pristine Gulf beach and kayaking or boating in mangrove-lined coves. Like the other barrier islands in the Charlotte Harbor area Palm Island is perfect for beachcombers looking for shells and sharks’ teeth.
Four Points By Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside is a new high-rise hotel with 106 rooms and Charlotte Harbor water views. While moderately priced, it boasts a marina.
The new Wyvern Hotel in Punta Gorda is a upscale boutique hotel designed for guests with discerning tastes. The roof-top pool and bar are just two of its many draws.
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