Whether you're waiting to catch a glimpse of a Florida scrub jay or seeking shady solitude beneath the branches of a live oak, there are plenty of places to find a calming respite in Charlotte County. Check out this list of five peaceful parks and preserves that are worth adding to your Punta Gorda/Englewood Beaches "must-visit list."
1. Oyster Creek Regional Park
This environmental sanctuary along Oyster Creek in Englewood provides both a peaceful atmosphere and exciting photographic possibilities. Keep your eyes peeled for gopher tortoises and perching osprey and bald eagles. You may even luck into a scrub jay sighting. The boardwalk crossing Oyster Creek is an excellent vantage point to view the large variety of birds that use the creek, including wading species such as the wood stork, white ibis, roseate spoonbill, little blue heron, reddish egret, snowy egret, limpkins, and tricolored heron.
2, Audubon-Pennington Nature Park
Take a meditative walk around a ¾ mile loop trail that guides you underneath canopies of live oaks, red maples, Florida elms, and cypress -- just don't forget to bring your binoculars. Audubon-Pennington, located in Port Charlotte, is known as a "birding hotspot" given the fact that more than 80 different species of birds have been observed in this park. Guided tours can be arranged by writing to the Peace River Audubon Society at least two weeks in advance of your visit.
3. Prairie Creek Preserve
Known as a secluded hiking, birding, and paddling destination in Punta Gorda, Prairie Creek Preserve has a diverse number of habitats that range from scrub, scrubby flatwoods, palmetto prairies, pine flatwoods, and marshes. You'll have the opportunity to spot an array of Florida wildlife, such as the endangered scrub jay, downy woodpecker, gopher tortoise, bobcat, and white-tailed deer. As an added perk, the preserve has a sand launching area for canoes and kayaks as part of the Charlotte County Blueway Trails system.
4. Tippecanoe Environmental Park
Tippecanoe's main entrance may be somewhat tucked away behind the Charlotte Sports Park off of El Jobean Road in Port Charlotte, but that's part of the park's charm. Well-maintained and ADA Accessible boardwalks provide hikers with the chance to observe bird life out in the mangrove communities and marshes, but one of the main highlights is the hike to the top of Mount Tippecanoe for a particularly scenic view of the Myakka River and Charlotte Harbor.
5. Allapatchee Shores Park
Situated on the South Fork of Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda, Allapatchee Shores is primarily known for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing; a place to escape the crowds and decompress on the water. If you don’t have a canoe or kayak, you can fish from the pier or dock for snook, juvenile tarpon, and largemouth bass.
Now that you know about a few more peaceful parks in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, it's time to pack up your binoculars, insect repellent, walking shoes, sunscreen, and a fishing rod. There's no such word as "stress" when you're spending time at one of these must-visit spots.
