![]() Take a self-guided walking tour of working shrimp fleet, and don't forget to buy some fresh pink shrimp right at the shrimp docks.įor dinner, SOB is a must! The Smokin Oyster Brewery serves Garlic Crab, a special combination of Dungeness crab, secret spices and butter. Dinghy over to San Carlos Island to visit the shrimp boats. Since the 1950s, Fort Myers Beach has been home to a large fleet of Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier shrimp trawlers that harvest pink gold from the Gulf of Mexico. Observe the ora and fauna native to Southwest Florida at this unique park that includes the Estero Island Historic Cottages at the park entrance. Tour the William Case House that was built atop of the shell mound and has been restored to its 1921 grandeur.Ī peaceful trail walk through an unspoiled mangrove canopy and oak hammock along the Back Bay awaits you at the Matanzas Pass Preserve. Walk inside a Calusa Indian shell mound and discover the indigenous culture that Ponce de Leon met as he searched for the Fountain of Youth. Experience its spa and resort features while secured to the floating docks adjacent to Bowditch Point on the north end of the island.Begin your tour of the island with a bit of time travel at the Mound House. Fort Myers Beach has a rich history dating back 2,000 years to the Calusa Indians.The best spot to dock on Fort Myers Beach is the Pink Shell Resort & Marina (87). For this extended weekend cruise, the distance to each destination in nautical miles is noted for both a Gulf of Mexico run and the GIWW.Įstero Island, also known as Fort Myers Beach, is a barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico that lies just south of the junction that marks the western end of the Okeechobee Waterway and the beginning of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Fortunately for boaters, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) allows for safe cruising on back bays behind the barrier islands when the weather turns. However, when a cold front passes through, the blustery northwest winds leave the waters free for experienced sailors. In the winter, on days when the winds are light, power boats rule. The Florida Gulf Coast offers both enjoyable and sometimes challenging cruising. With such a great variety of things to see and do, Punta Gorda is a great place to stop for a few nights if you are driving from Tampa to Miami along the Tamiami Trail.Boating north from Southwest Florida allows two routes to reach your destination. Bring your binoculars to spot manatees, dolphins and wading birds in the wetlands. The Laishley Marina gives easy boat access to the nearby Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, one of the largest nature reserves in Florida. Laishley Park in the Punta Gorda Harbor also has a walking trail and fishing pier, along with a memorial garden and concert area. Ponce de Leon Park is a great place to be early in the morning to enjoy the children’s park, fishing pier and mangrove boardwalk trail. The wildlife center overlooks Charlotte Harbor and on Friday afternoons in winter you are invited to come sip wine and nibble on hors d’oeuvres here as you watch the sun set. To see local species, go to the Peace River Wildlife Center to meet the rescued residents, including an albino owl, cranes, cheeky pelicans and bobcats. If you’d rather listen to the roars of nature, visit the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary & Rehabilitation Center to see the rescued wild cats, reptiles, bears and monkeys that have found a new home in Punta Gorda. Car enthusiasts should check out the spacious Muscle Car City Museum and follow the crowds to the Punta Gorda Speedway when a racing event is on. Continue the history theme with a trip to the Military Heritage Museum to peruse its army memorabilia. ![]() Freeman House to see a preserved example of a late Victorian-era home. For a quieter experience, take a boat cruise or rent a kayak or boat to explore the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy the views and live music at Harpoon Harry’s, the village’s iconic seafood restaurant and bar with scenic waterfront porch. Pick up some souvenirs or a suitable tropical outfit to wear in this steaming Florida city. Humble wooden houses with tin roofs and retro street lights mark Punta Gorda’s iconic Fisherman’s Village. Punta Gorda has shopping, boating and walking opportunities, a heritage fishing village, animal parks, and a palm-lined shoreline that can keep you entertained for days. Whether it is wildlife, history, racing, shopping, fishing or sunset dining that you love, this Gulf Coast city in Florida can deliver.
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