Punta Gorda Home Town -- 5 Places to Take Visitors

My home town of Punta Gorda (Fat Point), Florida is a peninsula jutting out into Charlotte Harbor right off the Gulf of Mexico.  It's semi-tropical location delivers a warm, idyllic climate in the Fall and Winter months and a very tolerable one over the summer.  Surrounded by water, the town is a boating and fishing mecca, which has drawn people from all over since the 1800s -- Theodore Roosevelt, e.g.,  was one of its more well-known visitors.   Then in the 1900s, a land developer carved miles of canals into a good portion of what is now the city of Punta Gorda forming Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles where beautiful homes are nestled along canal fronts all with access to the harbor and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico creating a retirement paradise.

During my incredibly delightful years here I have introduced countless visitors and potential residents to this seductive place -- a kind of tropical Venice that has been developed just enough to provide desirable amenities including an eclectic assortment of  good to great restaurants and nice shops without losing it's small-town, old-time-Florida charm.

Where do I take visitors -- five places -- tough one!  For a tiny place, there are many choices, and it does much depend on the personal interests of the guest ..but here goes.

Fishermen's Village has been one of the area's major tourist draws for over 30 years.   I undoubtedly will take visitors here for some shopping and a stop at either Harpoon Harry's (the more low-down bar/restaurant at the end of this large old fishing pier) or the Captain's Table a more elegant upstairs restaurant and lounge with awesome views of the Peace River.  The Village with it's 40 some shops, 7 restaurants, and full-service marina and resort units attracts visitors by land and by boat.  And because Punta Gorda is about the water, I will frequently accompany guests out for a sunset or sightseeing cruise on the King Fisher, or if time permits a tri  to Cabbage Key for their cheeseburger in paradise (Jimmy Buffett allegedly wrote the song here).

Babcock Wilderness Adventures is an awesome jaunt in old rickety vehicle converted to get tourists through several Florida eco-systems.  Just when you thought the Florida wilderness had disappeared, here it is in all it's magnificence.   At one point you're moving through a cattle ranch with longhorn cows coming right up to your buggy,  at another you're passing  through a beautiful fresh water marsh, then suddenly you're in the wilds -- an everglades environment, crashing through swamp land full of alligators, tropical birds and amazing trees and plants.

Harborwalk is a relatively new creation of the City --- a walkway that extends for miles along the Peace River in Punta Gorda where you can stroll, ride bikes (available for rent at several locations) stop and have a picnic at one of the parks aligning the river.  On Thursday nights musicians gather at the gazebo along the harbor and take turns playing tunes from old.  Along the walk there are two waterside restaurants where you can enjoy drinks or a meal at an outside bar or table.

The Downtown and Historic Districts are the core of what constitutes the original city of Punta Gorda.   It's  fun to just walk along the main streets of this area and gaze at the old Victorian and cottage homes with their lush gardens, many from the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Close by is the historic, recently refurbished downtown. Here there are many art galleries and shops, restaurants and bars where you can enjoy tapas, stop for a glass of wine at an outside bar or a casual or elegant dinner.

The Visual Arts Center is a hub for local artists with new exhibits appearing every few months.  You can wander through and watch artists at work, browse the three galleries and gift shop. And if you stay long enough, you could take one of the classes offered for every level of artist.

This is a short tour through my home town of wonderful waterfront parks and restaurants, cultural venues, a heavenly climate and proximity to the best beaches and all the good things  Southwest Florida has to offer.


by Theresa Murtha

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