Outdoor Activities and Nature Tours in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, Florida

The Perfect Place to Put the "Tour" in "Tourist!"

A tour, according to various dictionaries, is “a journey for pleasure, often involving a series of stops and ending at the starting point,” while a tourist is “one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture.”

Pleasure being the common word, if yours is exploring the outdoors, wildlife watching, and recovering with amazing food, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is the place for you!
 

Trail Mix

Instead of nuts and chocolate and seeds, our brand of trail mix consists of bike trails, walking and hiking paths, paddling corridors, and even horseback riding routes (BYOH).

Come for the nature and wildlife, stay for the peace and quiet and the fresh air and sunshine. You can still bring your snacks, but we recommend following the old adage, "Leave nothing but prints, take nothing but pictures."

Biking

Biking is the perfect way to explore, with many bike trails and places to ride all across the area.

The city of Punta Gorda even offers free bicycle loaners, so you won't be stuck if you don't bring your own wheels.

If you prefer a nice walk—with or without your pup—most trails are multi-use and leashed-dog friendly.

Parks Galore

Along with almost 70 parks in the area, there are three state parks within Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach providing amazing scenery and wildlife as well as great hiking experiences.

Explore four miles of trails at Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center - Alligator Creek in the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park for true peace and quiet.

Get out on the water with a great SUP tour launched from the land side of Don Pedro Island State Park, which is open for paddling, fishing, trail walking, and willdlife viewing, though the island itself remains closed.

Located at the south end of Manasota Key, with access to Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, both Englewood Beach and Stump Pass Beach State Park are easy to get to. You’ll see plenty of sea birds, the renowned lucky “shell trees,” and maybe even some parasailers out on the gulf. The view of Stump Pass from the southern point of the park is not to be missed. Note: the paviliion is not currently available but there are portable restrooms onsite.

Blueways

We love that our waterways also qualify as trails. Visit our Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP page to find all kinds of water experiences and view and download the Blueway Trails Guide (PDF) to get started experiencing this beautiful area by watercraft. You can either book a tour with an expert or rent your own boat, board, or jet ski.
 

Birding and Local Wildlife

Birding is big in the area, with seven sections of the Great Florida Birding Trail—a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites throughout the State of Florida—in our area.

There is also a plethora of local wildlife to enjoy, from birds and bats to manatees and other sea creatures to land animals like tortoises, panthers, and so much more. 

Cedar Point Environmental Park is a great place to see bald eagles and migrating waterfowl, while Tippecanoe Environmental Park in Port Charlotte is home to a vast array of native wildlife.

If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the Florida Scrub-Jay at one of these spots, or in the Prairie Creek Preserve. This endangered species is the only bird unique to Florida. 
 

All of the Above

The Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area is a one-stop spot for hiking, biking, scenic driving, birding and wildlife viewing, camping, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding (BYOH).

Follow a well-worn trail through four different eco systems in comfort with Babcock Ranch Eco-Tours. Your guide will be funny, the views will be gorgeous, and the food, if you eat at the onsite Gator Shack, will be tasty!

Head over to Peace River Charters for airboating, an amazing wildlife experience, and horseback riding (horse provided).

Check out some of the adventures other visitors have posted, on our trails and everywhere else, to inspire your own: