Downtown Punta Gorda Amenities

DINING
Dining in Punta Gorda is really a treat, ranked #2 in the USA Today Small Town Food Scenes 10Best list 2020. Take in the beautiful sunsets and waterfront vistas as a variety of indoor and outdoor dining options exist all within walking distance of the Conference Center. From exquisite gourmet cuisine to relaxed Florida-style fare to quick and scrumptious snacks, the historic district offers your attendees a wide array of palate pleasing creations by a number of award-winning chefs in independent locally owned and operated restaurants.

SHOPPING
From waterfront boutiques and downtown shops, shopping takes on many forms with Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. Less than a mile from downtown, Fishermen’s Village features shops and boutiques, seven restaurants, live entertainment and special events.

Meeting attendees can bring home a whimsical souvenir, an original work of art or a fabulous new outfit as a memento of this beautiful destination.Scene from Downtown Punta GordaATTRACTIONS
Situated along beautiful Charlotte Harbor, architecturally rich Punta Gorda is a "True Florida" boating town offering a genuine old Florida atmosphere with new amenities. Cobbled streets are lined with huge royal palms, restored period homes, vintage streetlights, boutiques and art galleries – an engaging setting for a state-of-the-art event and conference center. Amenities and nearly everything to see and do, from spas and eclectic shopping to nature parks, and fine dining at trendy restaurants and sidewalk bistros, are located near the historic downtown waterfront.

Punta Gorda’s waterfront location and numerous parks welcome visitors and nature enthusiasts to walk, jog, or bike along paths for possible encounters with birds of almost every feather, turtles and other local wildlife. In addition to winding trails and pathways, Laishley Park on the Peace River and Gilchrist Park on the harbor offer boating and fishing access, as well as gardens, picnicking, and tours and cruises.

Several area environmental and wildlife centers, like Babcock Ranch Eco-Tours, provide guided tours through a diverse South Florida environment. As Florida’s second-largest open-water estuary, the harbor feeds peaceful coves and bays and 200 miles of Blueway Trails ideal for paddling enthusiasts. The marina at Punta Gorda’s Fishermen’s Village provides the perfect spot to charter a fishing boat or board a tour boat for an island hop, luncheon or sunset harbor cruise. 

Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach has plenty to offer the golf enthusiast, including 4½-star ranked courses with an array of 20 challenging courses.

Opportunities for team-building, ranging from a day out on the water fishing, pleasure boating, island hopping or for a sunset sail is always a fun way to spend a full or half day, or for pre and post conference stays. There are also options for an eco-tour, kayaking, scavenger hunts, disk golf, a distillery tour, and many more options. 

ARTS & CULTURE
Art galleries, a professional symphony orchestra and theatrical productions offer artistic and cultural experiences year-round in Punta Gorda. History buffs can soak up Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach’s rich past in the town’s varied museums, including the Blanchard House Museum of African-American History & Culture and the only military/aviation museum on the Gulf Coast. Thirty (30) outdoor murals depicting the area’s social and natural history and trolley tours round out the historical offerings in Punta Gorda.