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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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Charlotte Harbor

Charlotte Harbor

Where the Peace and Myakka Rivers meet, Charlotte Harbor covers more than five square miles, with the Charlotte County Blueway Trails providing paddlers access.


Contents

  • 1 Resources
  • 2 Exploring Charlotte Harbor
  • 3 Featured Destinations
    • 3.1 Punta Gorda Linear Park
    • 3.2 Punta Gorda Harborwalk
    • 3.3 Alligator Creek Preserve
    • 3.4 Old Datsun Trail
    • 3.5 Gasparilla Island State Park
    • 3.6 Cayo Costa State Park
    • 3.7 Cape Haze Pioneer Trail
    • 3.8 Ponce De Leon Park
    • 3.9 Tippecanoe Environmental Park
  • 4 Articles
    • 4.1 The Pint-sized Ponces of Punta Gorda
    • 4.2 The Wyvern Punta Gorda

Resources

South Florida Explorers Guide book cover 50 Hikes in South Florida book cover Hikers Guide to the Sunshine State book cover

Disclosure: As authors and affiliates, we receive earnings when you buy these through our links. This helps us continue to provide public information on this website.


Exploring Charlotte Harbor

Charlotte Harbor covers more than five square miles, yet you can only walk along its shores in a handful of places. That’s thanks to the extensive mangrove forests that protect its fringes.

They are protected by public lands like Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve, and Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve.

Long home to the indigenous Calusa, this large natural harbor intrigued Spanish explorers, with Juan Ponce De Leon purportedly landing on its shores not far from modern-day Punta Gorda.

With a wonderfully walkable downtown, Punta Gorda is one of the oldest communities directly along the harborfront.

The barrier islands of Boca Grande, La Costa, and Pine Island sit where the harbor’s mingle with the Gulf of Mexico.


Featured Destinations

Punta Gorda Linear Park

Punta Gorda Linear Park

Punta Gorda Linear Park
Punta Gorda Harborwalk

Punta Gorda Harborwalk

Punta Gorda Harborwalk
Pond at Alligator Creek Preserve

Alligator Creek Preserve

Alligator Creek Preserve
Old Datsun Trail

Old Datsun Trail

Old Datsun Trail
Sea grapes Gasparilla Island

Gasparilla Island State Park

Gasparilla Island State Park
View of La Costa Island south tip

Cayo Costa State Park

Cayo Costa State Park
Cape Haze Pioneer Trail bridge

Cape Haze Pioneer Trail

Cape Haze Pioneer Trail
Ponce De Leon Park boardwalk

Ponce De Leon Park

Ponce De Leon Park
Tippecanoe Environmental Park entrance

Tippecanoe Environmental Park

Tippecanoe Environmental Park
 
More Trails More Parks Paddling Map (PDF)


Articles

Pint sized Ponce de Leon

The Pint-sized Ponces of Punta Gorda

July 20, 2018//  by Sandra Friend

Ponce de Leon, it seems, was a short fellow. In Punta Gorda, Florida, you’ll find pint-sized statues, murals, and even the Fountain of Youth to recollect his 1513 visit to Charlotte Harbor.

View of the Peace River from the top of the Wyvern Hotel

The Wyvern Punta Gorda

April 15, 2009//  by Sandra Friend

The Wyvern Hotel in downtown Punta Gorda scores big points as one of the most luxurious yet intimate hotels I’ve reviewed in Florida.


INCLUDES: Boca Grande, Cape Haze, Pine Island, Placida, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda | NEARBY: Englewood, Pine Island Sound | PART OF: Southwest Florida

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