With 129 miles of sparkling waters, shimmering sunsets and over 12 miles of white sandy beaches, it’s not hard to see why Charlotte County was recently voted 'Best place to live in the South' by Money Magazine. Located halfway down Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast between Sarasota and Naples, this unspoiled slice of natural Florida is the ideal location for those wanting to get away from it all. Charlotte County is Florida’s second largest open water estuary with over 830 miles of shoreline filled with secluded coves and bays, deservedly popular because of its outdoor adventure opportunities. The estuary offers excellent fishing for tarpon, redfish and snook, attracting anglers from around the world and kayaking is also popular due to the number of picture postcard bays there are to explore. There is also shooting, hunting, hiking and horseback riding for those not keen on waterborne activities.
GOING BACK TO THE 16TH CENTURY...
The area was first opened up to settlement in May 1539, when legendary Spanish conquistador Hernando DeSoto landed in the area, making contact with a tribe of Indians, who had Juan Ortiz among their number. However, DeSoto abandoned all plans of starting a colony and sent his fleet back to Cuba. With an army of Indian prisoners and Ortiz acting as a translator, he headed off North in search of the rich Indian villages he had heard about, eventually leaving Florida in the spring of 1540. DeSoto was not the first Spanish visitor to Charlotte Harbor - Ponce de Leon explored the area in 1513 with the intention of colonizing it but during the process the colony was attacked by the native Calusa Indians and Ponce de Leon was wounded in the thigh. The wound turned septic leading to the gangrene that was to eventually take his life.
OLD WORLD CHARM...
Punta Gorda, a small town at the mouth of the Peace River, is filled with old world charm. On the 14th August 2004, the area was devastated when hurricane Charley - a category 4 storm - made landfall at Punta Gorda. Although the hurricane caused a great deal of damage, the town was quickly back on its feet and has been enhanced by the influx of new restaurants and art galleries. Large murals decorate the walls of several buildings, the town’s historic train depot is home to an antique shop and a military museum, boutique shops and restaurants line the waterfront.
WATCH THE DOLPHINS PLAY OR GO FISHING...
One of the best ways to explore the area is to head out onto the water in a canoe or kayak - gently paddling the rivers and bays puts you in the perfect position to see the varied wildlife. Watch dolphins play in the green water bays as bald eagles and ospreys circle overhead, hunting for fish. The mangroves provide shelter for three quarters of the area’s marine life - oysters attach themselves to the roots and fiddler crabs burrow in the mud. Game fish, including the tarpon, are drawn to the area by the baitfish that feed on the algae while seeking shelter beneath the mangrove roots. Fishermen are attracted to the mangroves that border deeper water where they are almost guaranteed a good catch if they can cast close enough to the roots.
ALLIGATORS, DEER-PERHAPS A PANTHER...
The Babcock Wilderness Adventure offers visitors a ninety minute guided swamp buggy tour through the Babcock Ranch and Telegraph Cypress Swamp. During this exhilarating tour you can see alligators, deer, wild turkeys, herons, hogs and for the lucky few, a Florida panther!
OR JUST CHILL OUT...
If the active life seems too much, why not kick off your shoes and let the warm sand ooze between your toes? The beaches are not overcrowded and you can find peace and tranquility whether you lounge, reading your book, or just potter around collecting shells.
