Top Instagram Worthy Spots in Southwest Florida
Located on the Gulf Coast, halfway between Sarasota and Fort Myers, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is the ideal beach vacation full of traditional Old Florida charm, exciting outdoor activities, and plenty of things to do and see. The destination provides ample photo opportunities for Instagrammable shots that will shine for years to come. Here are some amazing places in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach to experience summer and make some post-worthy memories of your own:
Instagram Worthy Spots in Southwest Florida
Blue Crabs at Peace River Seafood
Housed in a traditional Old Florida Cracker Shack, Peace River Seafood Restaurant and Market is an unassuming eatery that is a legend and a favorite among those in the know. The restaurant and adjoining market are supplied daily with freshly caught seafood from the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding waters.
Peace River Seafood’s menu offerings change frequently, at the will of the sea, but they are most well-known for their Florida Blue Crabs. With a blue shell that turns red once cooked, the All You Can Eat Blue Crab Special is a delicious meal and the perfect photo op that sells out every day the restaurant is open. Call ahead to make sure they have plenty of blue crabs available before you visit.
The Solar Panels at the Sustainable City of Babcock Ranch
With 100 housing contracts signed, and expanding daily, the sustainable community of Babcock Ranch has much to offer for visitors and locals alike. Home to the largest solar-plus-storage system in the U.S.A., this sustainable city has many ways it utilizes renewable energy to provide its residents with power. They have a massive solar panel field, a gym with workout machines that produce energy and pump it back into the system, and solar trees scattered throughout the community.
The solar trees are a great photo op and are an innovative combination of technology, functionality, and art.
The Cabana at Perch 360 – Located on the roof of The Wyvern Hotel, Perch 360
(http://www.perch360.com/) is a delightful restaurant and bar boasting beautiful views of downtown Punta Gorda and the picturesque Charlotte Harbor. Guests can enjoy refreshing cocktails and a tapas style meal as they watch the sun sink below the horizon. A farm-to-table menu allows Perch 360 to offer the highest-quality ingredients, either sourced from local vendors, or picked straight from the hotels rooftop herb garden. And with a vegan chef, who has created menu items catering to most dietary restrictions, Perch 360 is the perfect place to gather and feel welcome among friends and family.
Explore the Mangrove Tunnels of Charlotte Harbor
As Florida’s second-largest marine estuary, the Charlotte Harbor offers visitors over 200 miles of mapped-out aquatic pathways perfect for exploration. One of the best ways to explore Charlotte Harbor is with a stand-up paddleboard or kayak rental from Hooked On SUP (https://hookedonsup.com/).
Go on your own or with a guided tour, a favorite excursion is the Don Pedro Island Guided Mangrove Tunnel and Beach Paddle. Glide through a mangrove tunnel that leads into a hidden lagoon and then continue on to the remote Don Pedro Island State Park Beach. This beach is only accessible by boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard and is one of the most unspoiled and private islands in Florida.
Sift Through the Sand for Fossilized Shark Teeth
The Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach area has some of the most natural and pristine beaches in all of Florida due to the off-the-beaten-path nature of the destination. The sugar-soft sand is dotted with fossilized shark teeth, which wash up on shore from the prehistoric days. Keep your eyes open, as it is easy to find many fossilized shark teeth within the first 10 minutes of being at the beach. They are exciting to find among the shells and a perfect natural souvenir to bring home to your friends and family.
Put a Shell on a Stump Pass Shell Tree – Stump Pass Beach State Park
Stump Pass Beach is a place where locals and visitors alike can dip their toes in sugar-soft sand, splash in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy a beautiful stretch of undeveloped Florida coastline. Scattered throughout the park, you can easily spot the famous Stump Pass Shell Trees, which are old tree stumps or pieces of driftwood that have shells hanging on their branches.
There are many legends surrounding the Shell Trees, the most widely accepted being that beach-goers place shells on the tree to make a wish. Join in the fun by finding a shell, placing it on the tree and fulfil your dreams!
Island Hop with Your Own Personal Motorized Catamaran
Experience Old Florida by sea with a Riding The Waves aquatic eco-tour. Perched atop a personal motorized catamaran, guests can experience the unparalleled beauty and wonder of Florida’s Gulf Coast as they navigate the pristine waters surrounding the Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve. These eco-tours are held often and can be booked individually, with each outing allowing guests to soak in the warm sunshine and salty breeze as they explore mangrove estuaries, seagrass flats, sandy beaches, and the wildlife that call these habitats home.
Stroll and Shop at Fishermen’s Village
Located on the beautiful waters of Charlotte Harbor, this unique one-stop shop is a fun combination of waterfront restaurants, boutiques, and a full-service marina. Spend a leisurely afternoon strolling the boardwalk, admiring the waterfront view, and exploring the many unique boutique shops. Fishermen’s Village is a lively cultural hub in Punta Gorda where visitors can get lost in the plentiful offerings available through every door. Perfect for souvenir shopping, Fishermen’s Village also offers a collection of free annual events and concerts open for public enjoyment.
For those who want to extend their adventure, camping along the secluded shores of Don Pedro Island can be an unforgettable experience, offering a serene night under the stars surrounded by the sounds of nature. Alternatively, embark on a multi-day canoeing trip, exploring the diverse ecosystem of Charlotte Harbor at a leisurely pace, discovering hidden coves and pristine beaches along the way. Check out this article by William Montgomery Cerf to find out more about how to prepare for something like this. Whether for a day trip or an overnight escapade, the mangrove tunnels of Charlotte Harbor promise a remarkable journey through one of Florida’s most captivating natural wonders.
Catch a Dazzling Sunset
There are many perfect opportunities to catch a dazzling sunset in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. From one of the area beaches, private islands, or aboard a sunset cruise with King Fisher Fleet, there is no wrong way to watch the bright, golden sun dip below the Gulf of Mexico and transition the day into twilight.
Get Lost in Nature at Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
Surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery, Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is an outdoor oasis that provides one of the best places for visitors to relax, unwind, and become fully immersed in nature. A wooden pedestrian boardwalk weaves throughout the garden, and while visitors are exploring, they are encouraged to keep an eye out for the many sculptures dotted along the path.
The property spans 27 acres, 17 of which are developed with manicured shrubbery and modern art, while the other 10 acres remain as natural waterways, marshland, and heritage mangroves. Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is relatively new to the public having opened their doors in Fall 2017. It is set to become one of the largest sculpture and botanical gardens in the state of Florida.
Marvel at Old Florida Wildlife
Florida is well-known for its marine life, but for a unique Old Florida experience, take a wildlife adventure with Babcock Ranch Eco Tours. A refurbished school bus takes visitors through the working Babcock Ranch surrounded by indigenous wildlife, Florida cracker cattle, citrus groves, prairies, and improved pastures.
Babcock Ranch is beautiful and among the last undeveloped expanses of wet pine flatwoods in Southwest Florida. Plenty of wildlife can be seen from the safety of the swamp buggy including alligators, the resident Florida panther, snakes, and more.
