Located on
the picturesque West Coast of Florida, between Sarasota and Fort Myers,
the Charlotte County area is home to clear skies, pristine waters, and
beautiful sunsets...
Christmas
lighted boat tour in Punta Gorda.
Punta Gorda -
a charming and historic waterfront community. It is the county seat and the
only incorporated city in Charlotte County. More than 100 years old, Punta
Gorda features a quaint downtown with cobblestone streets and gas street lamps,
with a 19th century Spanish charm. The city has acquired a State Historic
District status, but Punta Gorda has more than history to draw visitors and new
residents. The city's economy ranks highest in the country. The population of
Punta Gorda is approximately 12,500. The city consists of two parts, the
original historic district with its old quaint homes and shops, and the newer
subdivisions of Punta Gorda Isles, Burnt Store Isles, and Seminole Lakes.
Punta
Gorda Canal Home
Most of the
subdivisions are located on a network of deep saltwater canals, providing
sail and powerboat owners quick and easy access to Charlotte Harbor and the
Gulf of Mexico, or they are located on or near Golf courses. These are
deed-restricted communities with city water and sewers, paved streets, and
power, cable, and telephone service. The canal lots all have concrete sea walls
maintained by the city. All residential improvements are upscale and are
tightly controlled by the building commission. The vast amount of the land is
zoned single-family residence with small areas zoned for duplex or low rise
multiples.
Punta
Gorda Landscaping
There are
many shopping centers in the area, the most famous of which is Fisherman's
Village and Marina with its upscale shops and restaurants. The community is
noted as an art center in Southwest Florida. The Charlotte county Visual Arts
Center is located in Punta Gorda adjacent to Fisherman's Village. Housing
options in Punta Gorda include the waterfront homes of Punta Gorda Isles, the
exclusive community of Burnt Store Marina Country Club, and a vast selection of
newer and historic homes.
Port
Charlotte Beach Area
Port
Charlotte - a relatively new community developed in the late 1950's. It
encompasses the unincorporated area of Charlotte County and is comprised mostly
of single-family homes with a spattering of condos and town homes. The county
has an area of approximately 820 square miles and a population of approximately
135,000. Port Charlotte has a small town nature but offers the advantages of
city life nearby. (Ft. Myers is only 20 minutes to the South and Sarasota only
40 minutes North). Port Charlotte is located on the Northern side of the Peace
River and has access to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico via a series of
canals and waterways that total more than 165 miles in length.
Port
Charlotte Yacht Club
There are
miles of natural shoreline bordering the Harbor and rivers, making it an ideal
choice for waterfront living. Port Charlotte offers recreational activities
for every lifestyle, including golf courses, yacht clubs, parks, fine dining
and shopping.
A winter
day at Englewood Beach
Englewood -
Located about two-thirds of the way down Florida's west coast, Englewood links
Charlotte and Sarasota Counties. Its tropical beaches and gentle climate
inspire the description of an intimate community's atmosphere. Englewood
presents year-round cultural events, resplendent parks and recreational areas
that host an array of outdoor activities. An easy distance to cosmopolitan
communities, 40 miles south of Sarasota and 50 miles north of Fort Myers, the
Englewood area can offer it all!
Beach
combing along the Lemon Bay area's beaches offer a thrilling adventure.
Along with shells and driftwood, prehistoric shark's teeth are buried in the
sand. The "Out Islands" (Don Pedro, Palm, and Little Gasparilla) accessible
only by boat, are pristine, residential islands that remain unspoiled and
enhanced by 7 miles of tropical, sandy white beaches. On Don Pedro, Palm, and
Little Gasparilla, a leisurely pace is a must! An angler's paradise, prime
fishing is found in Lemon Bay, Stump Pass, and the Gulf of Mexico. Known for
its abundance of redfish, grouper, and snook, this area is also known as the
Tarpon Capital of the World!
Golf course front
living
Florida is a
golfer's dream and draws more golfers than any other state. The Englewood
area alone offers six golf courses and many more within a half hour's drive.
Golfers have ample courses where they can experience typical Florida play.
Naturally, the most common elements on Florida courses are water and sand.
Challenging elements include the island green and prevailing coastal winds. But
take heart, deep rough is uncommon!
Health care
facilities, which include the Englewood Community Hospital as well as area
physicians, are the finest there is to offer. Englewood prides itself in
having one of the best school systems in southwest Florida. Considered to be
one of the fastest growing areas in Florida, Englewood presents a tremendous
opportunity for business and industrial growth.
Pool view
over Lemon Bay in Englewood
Manasota Key
- A Secluded Gulf front Barrier Island community with two access bridges from
Englewood on the Mainland. This Key features Charlotte Counties best public
beaches as well as several private Gulf front estates just North of Middle
Beach. Enjoy the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast's last affordable and un-crowded
beachfront lifestyle.
Boca
Grande on Gasparilla Island
Boca Grande -
is a hidden paradise with a beautiful beach, fine dining, shopping, and some of
the best fishing in the world. Located on the Southwest coast of Florida on
the Grand Barrier Island called Gasparilla, it is a step back into "Old World"
Florida, a carefully preserved part of Florida's history and beauty. Boca
Grande is a retreat for tourists and fishermen. Here you can find a wealth of
unusual photographic opportunities, and the shops offer unique treasures from
around the world. Boca Grande is a quiet community that seeks to protect its
unique atmosphere and quality of life - the intangibles that make Boca Grande a
very special place.
Boca
Grande is home to several Banyan Trees
Many people
come to the beautiful Boca Grande Beach to spend the day swimming, shelling and
fishing. Tourism and fishing are the economic base on this tranquil seven
mile long island that boasts no high rises and no traffic lights, a 104 year
old lighthouse, and a street with 80 year old Banyan trees. Pristine white sand
beaches stretch the entire Gulf side of the Island, while protected waterways
weave in and around the natural mangrove shoreline along the bay side. Bordered
by Charlotte Harbor and Gasparilla Sound on the east, boaters can explore
750,000 acres of estuary - where freshwater and saltwater blend to provide
nurseries for the oceans fish species. Recreational boating and sailing are
popular pastimes, whether on your own, by tour or charter. Dolphins, white
pelicans, osprey, and manatees are only some of the unusual species you will
encounter. Seven miles of wide, pristine, sugar white sand beaches offer
shelling, swimming, and just plain relaxing. Even in the heat of summer,
cooling westerly breezes provide welcome relief.
Sunset
over Charlotte Harbor
Our village
shops are an adventure, as our merchants literally travel the world in search
of the unusual. The galleries present the works of local artists who have
captured the spirit of Boca Grande in a multitude of media. Our restaurants
each have their own unique style, featuring dishes made from the freshest local
seafood as well as international specialties. Yet, the pace is slow, and family
oriented recreation is paramount.
Landing a big tarpon at Boca
Grande Pass
Southwest
Florida has some of the best fishing in the world, and fishing is an important
part of the industry and culture of Gasparilla Island. Every spring, tarpon
fishermen head for the "Tarpon Capital of the World" to fish famous Boca Grande
Pass. Boca Grande is host to the "World's Richest Tarpon Tournament". This is
the most famous tournament of its kind, with a $100,000 purse. Local marinas
also host tarpon tournaments in season, and recreational fishermen share the
"fishing hole" with tournament anglers, all vying for the thrill of the catch.
Since tarpon are not an edible fish, catch-and-release is the operable word in
the pass during Season. Few anglers keep tarpon for mounting, and taxidermists
can make fiberglass mounts that exactly replicate the big fish you caught. Your
guide will expertly take its measurements for the taxidermist if you ask him.
Most tarpon anglers hire a fishing guide who provides the boat, equipment,
bait, knowledge and a fishing license. Experienced fishing guides are available
for tarpon, April through July, as well as for offshore and back bay fishing
year-round.
From the Gulf
of Mexico to the backwaters of Charlotte Harbor, our waters teem with plentiful
game and food fish. In addition to Tarpon Season in the spring, prime
fishing times run from August through November, when offshore fishing yields
grouper, snapper, mackerel and kingfish, and inshore fishing is excellent for
snook and redfish. Recreational fishing in Boca Grande is an exhilarating sport
all 12 months of the year! You can use your own boat, rent one, or hire one of
our many local fishing guides.
Charlotte Harbor is home to the
unique Manatee
North Port -
has the distinction of being the smallest big city in the state of Florida. It
is the fifth largest city in the state in land area but it is only 10 percent
populated. North Port is Sarasota County's smallest municipality with a
population of a little more than 27,000. Growth has been phenomenal since its
birth as a community and "the best is yet to come!" More expensive homes can be
found in Sabel Trace and Heron's Creek, gated, golf course communities, the
islands community of Duck Key, or the North Port Estates area.
One of the
world's best-known health spas, Warm Mineral Springs, is located just north of
the North Port city limits. Thousand of guests who are seeking relief from
arthritis, rheumatism and muscular problems visit annually. Bathers relate that
they experience a healing effect from the 87 degree Fahrenheit water
temperature and the heavily mineralized, warm spring waters.
Because
North Port has plenty of land left for commerce, housing and recreation, it is
not surprising that North Port has continued its healthy growth. It is
close to the beaches, the "big city life" and cultural aspects that accompany
it, but pastoral, serene rural areas and beautiful blue skies are here too.
North Port can justifiably be proud of its progressive 37-year history.
Sunset
over Charlotte Harbor from Ponce De Leon Park in Punta Gorda
Sunset - it's
the premiere thing that sets the West Coast of Florida apart from the rest of
the state. And no one knows that better than Doug & Michelle Bry of
RE/MAX Harbor Realty!
REAL ESTATE TRIVIA |
Q |
What natural consequence of home building combats global warming?
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A |
Reduction of forests has decreased the friction of the Earth's surface, causing it to spin faster, thereby cooling the air and counteracting global warming.
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More Real Estate Trivia |
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Several
great golf courses can be found throughout Charlotte and South Sarasota
Counties.
Old
World Florida style homes are prevalent on Boca Grande.
Punta Gorda, a sailor's haven.
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