Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

During our stay in Punta Gorda, we took a day trip to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, located in southwest Florida just north of Naples. The sanctuary was established by the National Audubon Society to protect one of the largest remaining stands of bald cypress and pond cypress in North America from extensive logging that was ongoing throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s. A 2-mile long boardwalk provides access to pine flatwoods, wet prairie, stands of cypress and marsh ecosystems within the sanctuary. In 2017 some parts of the boardwalk were damaged by bald cypress trees knocked over by Hurricane Irma. Most of the damage was repaired, but several small sections have remained permanently closed.

The sanctuary is a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding trail, a 2,000 mile long collection of more than 500 locations in the state of Florida where bird habitats are protected. We saw several species of birds during our hike through the swamp, including colorful pink roseate spoonbills, wood storks (an endangered species), herons, egrets, and cormorants. Besides the many birds sightings, we came across turtles, alligators, and a snake. I felt like we experienced an authentic visit among the denizens of the Florida swamps, and were lucky enough to come away with these great photos

Punta Gorda, Florida

In January 2019 we moved from Daytona Beach, to Punta Gorda, Florida. The name Punta Gorda means “Fat Point, which refers to a point of land that juts into Charlotte Harbor, an estuary off the Gulf of Mexico. We had no particular reason to stop here, other than it being a logical point between Daytona Beach and Miami, and it gave us a reason to explore parts of Florida we had not been to before. This historic small town is nestled in beautiful Charlotte Harbor, one of the largest natural harbors in the United States. Centrally located between Sarasota North and Fort Myers to the South, a comfortable drive to Tampa, Orlando, and Miami, Punta Gorda has become one of Florida’s favorite vacation locales. Although we didn’t see it, Punta Gorda was the scene of massive destruction after Charley, a Category 4 hurricane, came through in August 2004.

We took advantage of the plentiful sunshine to get outdoors as much as possible during our stay, with visits to a wildlife center, the downtown area, the harbor, and an environmental center. We saw plenty of alligators, birds, turtles, flowers, and enjoyed the natural environment that defines this part of the state. Here are some pictures the various attractions that caught our eye during our visits about town.