Punta Gorda has shopping, boating and walking opportunities, a heritage fishing village, animal parks, and a palm-lined shoreline that can keep you entertained for days.
Humble wooden houses with tin roofs and retro street lights mark Punta Gorda’s iconic Fisherman’s Village. Pick up some souvenirs or a suitable tropical outfit to wear in this steaming Florida city. Enjoy the views and live music at Harpoon Harry’s, the village’s iconic seafood restaurant and bar with scenic waterfront porch. For a quieter experience, take a boat cruise or rent a kayak or boat to explore the Gulf of Mexico.
Visit the A. C. Freeman House to see a preserved example of a late Victorian-era home. Continue the history theme with a trip to the Military Heritage Museum to peruse its army memorabilia. Car enthusiasts should check out the spacious Muscle Car City Museum and follow the crowds to the Punta Gorda Speedway when a racing event is on.
If you’d rather listen to the roars of nature, visit the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary & Rehabilitation Center to see the rescued wild cats, reptiles, bears and monkeys that have found a new home in Punta Gorda. To see local species, go to the Peace River Wildlife Center to meet the rescued residents, including an albino owl, cranes, cheeky pelicans and bobcats. The wildlife center overlooks Charlotte Harbor and on Friday afternoons in winter you are invited to come sip wine and nibble on hors d’oeuvres here as you watch the sun set.
Ponce de Leon Park is a great place to be early in the morning to enjoy the children’s park, fishing pier and mangrove boardwalk trail. Laishley Park in the Punta Gorda Harbor also has a walking trail and fishing pier, along with a memorial garden and concert area. The Laishley Marina gives easy boat access to the nearby Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, one of the largest nature reserves in Florida. Bring your binoculars to spot manatees, dolphins and wading birds in the wetlands.
With such a great variety of things to see and do, Punta Gorda is a great place to stop for a few nights if you are driving from Tampa to Miami along the Tamiami Trail.
