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.