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Punta Gorda: 17 things to do in an Old Florida riverfront town

Punta Gorda offers plenty of things to do: Kayaking, biking, birding and discovering crab shacks.

This beautiful riverfront town doesn’t have a beach. Don’t let the lack of oceanfront sand stop you from experiencing the many fun things to do in Punta Gorda.

Located midway between Naples and Tampa, Punta Gorda is on the shores of the Peace River, which becomes wide and open here as it enters Charlotte Harbor. Charlotte Harbor estuary is the second largest in Florida (after Tampa Bay) and ranks 17th in the nation in size. These waters are known internationally for fishing (especially tarpon) and sailing.

Many things to do in Punta Gorda revolve around the water vistas including parks and walking/biking paths along the waterfront, historic neighborhoods with cobbled streets along the river and stately old homes. In winter, Punta Gorda’s calendar is full of festivals and its downtown buzzes with pedestrians on weekends

things to do in punta gorda punta gorda bob kyle Punta Gorda: 17 things to do in an Old Florida riverfront town
Punta Gorda may not have a beach, but it has beautiful water views on the Peace River and many marinas. (Photo: Bob Kyle)

Things to do in Punta Gorda: There’s a big variety

The town’s attractions for visitors are very diverse. It’s a good base for outdoor activities, including kayaking, biking, fishing and birding, and also offers great spots to capture the authentic Florida, from crab shacks to its historic district.

1. Peace River Botanic Gardens: Opened in fall 2017, this park is on 30 acres abutting the Peace River, with massive sculptures,  landscaped grounds and a beautiful natural setting. We were surprised how impressive these gardens are. If you’re looking for things to do in Punta Gorda, combine a visit to this garden with lunch or dinner at the nearby Peace River Seafood crab shack. The gardens were founded by Roger E. Tetrault, the late CEO of a large off-shore oil company and his wife Linda. Admission is $18 adults.

"Ostriches," by Yu Zhaoyang at Peace River Botanical Garden. (Photo: David Blasco)
“Ostriches,” by Yu Zhaoyang at Peace River Botanical Garden. (Photo: David Blasco)

2. Boat tours. The city is the perfect place to take a sight-seeing cruise on Charlotte Harbor, where you are likely to see dolphins and many kinds of birds. You also can take a longer cruise on to explore nearby beaches and islands, including Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa,a pristine barrier island with miles of beach that is home to a state park. The King Fisher Fleet operates boat tours out of the downtown marina.

3. Peace River Wildlife Center is a small wildlife rehabilitation center located in the mangroves overlooking Charlotte Harbor at Ponce de Leon Park. You can visit every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Permanently disabled pelicans, eagles, hawks, ospreys, tortoises and turtles are among its residents. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged.  Ponce Park, by the way, is also the favorite spot to watch sunsets over Charlotte Harbor.

Things to do in Punta Gorda: Punta Gorda and its two bridges over the Peace River
Things to do in Punta Gorda: The Peace River offers scenic waterfront views. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

4. Fisherman’s Village.  Near downtown you’ll find Fisherman’s Village, a waterfront open-air mall with restaurants, locally owned shops and live music. Built on a pier over the water, it is easy to spend time here dining, shopping and enjoying the views.

Things to do in Punta Gorda: Fishermans Village. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Things to do in Punta Gorda: Fishermans Village. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

Things to do in Punta Gorda: Bike trails and kayak trails

Things to do in Punta Gorda: Yellow bikes are free to borrow. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Things to do in Punta Gorda: Yellow bikes are free to borrow. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

5. Bicycling. A popular activity for bicyclists and pedestrians is touring the downtown and historic neighorhoods along the river by bike.

Cape Haze Pioneer Trail is a nine-mile trail that starts on the western side of Charlotte Harbor, off SR 771. The flat, straight paved trail takes you through pine forests and wetlands to the community of Placida, where you’ll find the Placida fishing pier.

6. Placida is the jumping off point for Gasparilla Island, where another trail beckons bicyclists. The six-mile-long Boca Grande Trail is scenic, with views of waterways, lighthouses, quaint Boca Grande’s downtown and mansions. It was Florida’s first rail-trail. In the tourist season, however, golf carts rule.  Still, if you set your expectations for scenery instead of speed, this can be a great bike trail.

While these two trails are very close and could be combined, locals do not recommend biking over the narrow toll bridge to Boca Grande.

Things to do in Punta Gorda: Kayaking through mangrove tunnel in Charlotte Harbor. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Things to do in Punta Gorda: Kayaking through mangrove tunnel in Charlotte Harbor. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

7. Saltwater kayaking and canoeing. Charlotte Harbor offers more paddling opportunities than you can exhaust unless you spend a lifetime there. The Charlotte County Blueway Trails map lists 57 trails.

Bring your kayak or arrange a tour or rent equipment from an outfitter. These include Gaea Guides, Punta Gorda Adventures and eco-tours that leave from the popular Na-A-Gator Grill on the Peace River.

I loved kayaking into Gasparilla Sound. My report here describes seeing dolphins and dozens of migrating white pelicans.

8. For fresh-water paddling, I was thrilled to discover Shell Creek, five miles east of Punta Gorda, which deserves to be better known:  I thought it was one of the prettiest kayak trails in Florida. Here’s more about paddling on Shell Creek.

9. Another fresh-water kayaking gem lies a half hour east where the Peace River is a narrower, wildlife-filled river long popular for canoe camping. Here’s a Florida Rambler story on kayaking Peace River.

Things to do in Punta Gorda: Hiking and birding

10. Go birding. There are seven sites in Charlotte County listed in the Great Florida Birding Trail. With a little effort, you’re likely to spot rare and endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and the Florida Scrub Jay. You don’t have to work hard to see eagles, osprey plus all sorts of wading and shore birds.

Little Blue Heron in Peace River at Punta Gorda
Yellow Crowned Night Heron in Peace River at Punta Gorda

I’m not a serious birder, so I seek out scenic hikes where if I see birds, it’s a bonus to the beauty of being in nature.  Several birding sites are ideal for both avid and casual birders like me:

11. Visit the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area, 65,000 acres of flatwoods, hammocks, prairies and marshes. This is the place for red-cockaded woodpeckers, sandhill cranes and, in winter, thousands of tree and barn swallows. The property is criss-crossed with old logging roads that provide miles of hiking or fat-tire bicycling.

Babcock-Webb has a paved road good for bicyclists that runs for several miles along Webb Lake.

Babcock-Webb also offers a guided Babcock Wilderness Adventures tours, which use old school buses to traverse rough roads and splash through shallow waters to view wildlife. The tours are $24 for adults.

12. Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center’s Alligator Creek Preserve is known for its birds, which can be viewed while walking its five miles of loop trails.

13. A short but rewarding hike is a one-mile North Cape Flats Trail in the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park.  The trail ends at a wild sandy waterfront of Charlotte Harbor.

14. A little further north, Blind Pass Beach Park is known for its beach birds and for the shark’s teeth you can find in the sand. Across the street is short trail to a lagoon within Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve. There’s a boat ramp there for exploring by kayak or canoe.

Punta Gorda crab shacks and fish houses

Things to do in Punta Gorda: Bucket of blue crabs at Peace River Seafood in Punta Gorda. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)
Things to do in Punta Gorda: Bucket of blue crabs at Peace River Seafood in Punta Gorda. (Photo: Bonnie Gross)

15. Go out for fresh seafood. With the fertile waters of Charlotte Harbor, you’d expect Punta Gorda to have plenty of fresh seafood restaurants, and it does.

These include a restaurant at the end of picturesque shopping pier Fisherman’s Village and Laishley Crab House in the new city marina. Both were built to maximize outdoor seating and views.

Outside of town, there are several places in historic buildings with authentic Old Florida atmosphere.

Peace River Seafood is a exactly what you’d expect from a crab shack – the freshest seafood and a rustic 1927 Cracker cabin. I’ve written a story all about Peace River Seafood here.

More things to do in and near Punta Gorda

16. Across a causeway surrounded by Charlotte Harbor, the Old Florida island of Boca Grande is a great place to explore with quaint historic buildings, spectacular beaches and lighthouses and some good options for lunch or dinner.

things to do in punta gorda punta gorda mural bob kyle Punta Gorda: 17 things to do in an Old Florida riverfront town
Punta Gorda has 31 murals throughout town. (Photo: Bob Kyle)

17. Tour the many murals that decorate the town. The best way to learn about Punta Gorda is to wander its streets and look closely at the 31 murals that mark significant locations or events and preserve the history of the area. You’ll find a map of the murals here and information on walking tours, which are offered in the winter and spring.

Murals are being added regularly and you can keep up on the project, which is led by a nonprofit volunteer organization, on its Facebook Page.

Sunseeker, a big new resort, is bringing many more visitors to Punta Gorda

After years of construction, the giant Sunseeker resort opened in December, 2023. It’s located on the Peace River, just north of Punta Gorda’s downtown. It was developed by Allegiant Travel Company, part of Allegiant Airlines, which operates out of the Punta Gorda airport, only 10 minutes away. One benefit for visitors to Florida is that they can book the whole trip via Allegiant and skip the rental car.

The numbers tell the story of Sunseeker: It has 60,000-square-feet of meeting and conference space, 785 guestrooms, 20 restaurants and bars (including a food hall), two expansive pools, a spa and a golf course. People call it a cruise ship on land.

The beach is 25 miles away, but Sunseeker maximized the waterfront views on the Peace River, including from many guest rooms as well as from restaurants and bars, pools and the fitness center.

Rates start at $300 per night. More information is at Sunseeker, 5500 Sunseeker Way, Charlotte Harbor

Resources for planning a visit to Punta Gorda

Nearby destinations recommended by Florida Rambler:


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James Jordan

Sunday 12th of March 2023

Question, re post-Ian conditions: we run inflatable, heavy duty kayaks, but are obviously concerned about debris (trees, etc) in the water. Any trip reports on this specific topic would be appreciated, as we are going to give it a try in the last week of March 2023 to patronize as many Punta Gorda locals as possibleon a day trip. Thanks very much. James

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