Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Punta Gorda
Hailed as where Ponce De Leon made landfall in 1513 before a Calusa arrow cut short his Conquistador career, Punta Gorda is where the Peace River broadens into Charlotte Harbor.
Its name means “Fat Point” in Spanish, and that fat point happens to have some mangrove-tangled waterfront along the harbor.
Founded in 1884, the city retains a very Victorian feel in its residential blocks west of its timeless Old Florida downtown, with a rich collection of historic homes in nearly 50 blocks.
Along the harborfront, the Harborwalk ties together a series of waterfront parks that stretch between Trabue Park and Fishermen’s Village, a distance of 2.2 miles.
With a surprisingly rich and colorful collection of original homes built between 1884 and 1930, the residential district southwest of downtown is bisected by Linear Park.
Although the Harborwalk and Linear Park bring nature to the city, vast open spaces are primarily along the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor and its tributaries.
Trails and Parks near Punta Gorda
Alligator Creek Preserve A series of loop trails radiate from Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, exploring upland habitats and wetlands where freshwater and saltwater ecosystems converge. 
Babcock Ranch Ecotour Trail At Babcock Ranch Preserve, the Ecotour Trail is a no-cost option to getting your feet wet on an exploration of wet flatwoods habitats along a pathway through the palmetto prairie.
Babcock Ranch Footprints Trail Following old forest roads, the purple-blazed loop of the Footprints Trail through the heart of Babcock Ranch, a vast prairie punctuated by cypress strands, provides a simple introduction to this often-squishy ecosystem.
Cabbage Key Nature Trail Hike the Cabbage Key Nature Trail for a step back in time on an island known for its great cheeseburgers and layers of mystery, from Calusa times to a mystery writer's family retreat.
Old Datsun Trail Where pine flatwoods and palm hammocks regain a foothold atop formerly farmed fields, the Old Datsun Trail loops what was once an agricultural school
Ponce De Leon Park A city park with dramatic sunsets over a beach on Charlotte Harbor, Ponce De Leon Park is a delight for birders and paddlers, too.
Punta Gorda Harborwalk Spanning 2.3 miles along Charlotte Harbor, the Harborwalk is a recreational gem in downtown Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda Linear Park A greenway through the heart of historic Punta Gorda, Linear Park provides an unexpected corridor of nature.
Telegraph Creek and Bob Janes Preserves An impressive array of xeric, mesic, and aquatic habits is on display along a 4 mile set of loop trails traversing Telegraph Creek and Bob Janes Preserves. Articles
The Pint-sized Ponces of Punta Gorda (7/20/2018) 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.