According to Google, a tour is “a journey for pleasure in which several different places are visited,” while a tourist is “a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.”
Pleasure being the common word, if yours is exploring the outdoors, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is the right place for you!
Trail Mix
Instead of nuts and chocolate and seeds, our brand of trail mix is made of biking, walking and hiking, paddling, birding, and even horseback riding paths. 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 get around, 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.
Visit our Biking page for a good overview. Most trails are multi-use if you prefer a nice walk.
State Parks
The three state parks in Charlotte County all provide amazing scenery and wildlife as well as great hiking experiences.
Find yourself at Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park and the Stump Pass Beach State Park. The Don Pedro Island State Park landside is open, while the island of Don Pedro remains closed for the time being.
Blueways
We love that our trails are not limited to land: waterways also qualify. 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.
Birding
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.
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).
