Depending upon your location, Spring Break dates can be any time from late February to March, or even into April. No matter when you get to take it, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is one of the best spring break destinations for families, with a wide variety of activities, events, and amazing dining experiences to delight everyone.
Our favorite spring break ideas include:
Uncrowded Beach Time
Enjoy Englewood Beach with the family. There's a nice playground for the kids, showers and restrooms close by, as well as plenty of good eats right across the street. Beach parking is $.75 an hour, payable via the free ParkMobile app. Check out our tips to get your family beach-ready and to pack a good beach bag to have the best sandy seaside day ever.
Head a bit further south to Stump Pass Beach State Park for some true serenity, sugar-like sand, and gorgeous water. Make a wish on a shell and hang it on one of the driftwood trees before you go! Parking is $3 per vehicle.
Art, Food, and Culture
Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is a singular experience featuring world-class art and fascinating flora. The kids will love the Butterfly House and feeding the koi.
The Military Heritage Museum not only displays thousands of artifacts, they also have flight and boat simulators, virtual reality expeditions, interactive exhibits, and more.
Robust Food Scene
Dining in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach can be whatever you want it to be, from an adventure in trying new and innovative cuisine to relaxing with comfort food. Many restaurants have dedicated kid’s menus, and live music abounds.
Events Happening Over Spring Break:
Catch possible future Major Leaguers at a Snowbird Baseball Classic game or three. This NCAA Division I and III Baseball Tournament showcases the very best of college baseball. If you compare the Snowbird games to Tampa Bay Ray Spring Training—held at Charlotte Sports Park, named the #1 Spring Training Facility by USA Today's 10Best—you probably won't see much difference in quality of play. Both events run from mid-February to late March.
We highly recommend heading down a bit early to experience the Annual Taste of Punta Gorda, which always happens in early March. It’s a full day of scrumptious food, live music, art and craft vendors galore, and a large kid zone with bounce houses and more.
The Sullivan Street Craft Festival happens four times a year—January, March, September, and November—and features hundreds of artisans who travel in from across the country to display their wares. It’s a don’t-miss for treasure hunters.
The Peace River National Art Festival is a juried art show featuring every medium imaginable from over 60 artists from across the nation. Be here mid-March to soak in the artistry at Laishley Park.
If cars are your art, you're in luck. The Gulf Coast Classic Car Auction (no purchase necessary!) happens every March in Punta Gorda.
If you’re into mudding and four wheeling, you likely already come down each spring for the Trucks Gone Wild Spring Break event at Redneck Mud Park!
As you can see, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is truly one of the best places to go for Spring Break. We’ll see you then!
