Beaches North of Punta Gorda

 

Port Charlotte Beach, 4500 Harbor Blvd, Port Charlotte - Port Charlotte Beach is one of the easiest beaches to reach from Punta Gorda.  It features a small sandy sunning area alongside Charlotte Harbor as well as boat ramps, basketball and tennis courts, picnic tables and a dog park.  There is also a large swimming pool that offers aerobics, swimming lessons and open swim.

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Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island State Park, 880 Belcher Road, Boca Grande - Gasparilla Island State Park is located on the southern end of the island.  There is a public parking lot, and the larger portion of the park is located about a quarter mile south from there.  Both parks offer plenty of swimming and fishing and each has its own unique lighthouse

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Manasota Key, Englewood Beach/Chadwick Park, 2100 N. Beach Road, Englewood - An easy drive over the two bridges that span Lemon Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway, Englewood Beach/Chadwick Park is Charlotte County's main park on the Gulf of Mexico.  This beach has it all - swimming, fishing, shelling, picnic shelters, barbecue grills, birding, opportunities and wooden walkways as well as updatd playgrounds, basketball courts, beach volleyball and horseshoe pits.  Beach-goers will enjoy the newly refurbished shower and restroom facility and a recetly paved parking lot.  There is a small fee to park, with self-service parking passes sold from machines.  Just across North Beach Road you will find great restaurants, patio bars and shopping.

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Stump Pass Beach State Park, 900 Gulf Blvd., Englewood - Nature and seclusion are the words that come to mind when you think of Stump Pass Beach State Park.  It offers swimming, nature trails, birding, shelling and fishing along with winding coastal nature trails, a picnic pavilion, a canoe/kayak launch, showers and restrooms.  Stump Pass is a waterway that connects the Gulf of Mexico to Lemon Bay.  There is a small fee for parking.

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Manasota Beach Park, 8570 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood and Blind Pass Beach Park, 6725 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood - Manasota Key is split between Charlotte and Sarasota Counties.  It is known to locals as "Middle Beach" near the middle of the key.  Both beaches are easily accessible by car and includes ample parking with plenty of swimming, fishing, shelling, and birding opportunities.  Both also have updated restrooms and showers.  Boaters can take advantage of the dock on the Intracoastal Waterway at Manasota Beach, while Blind Pass has a canoe and kayak launch on its bayside.

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Island Beaches - Don Pedro Island, 8450 Placida Road, Placida and Cayo Costa State Park, 4 Nautical Miles West of Pine Island - Those with boats have an even bigger selection of public beach parks to choose from.  The Florida State Park service operates Don Pedro Island State Park, which is in Placida near Englewood, and Cayo Costa State Park, which is south of Boca Grande Pass.  Both offer swimming, boating, canoe/kayak, hiking, picnicking, snorkeling/diving, fishing and camping in small primitive cabins or tents but you have to have a boat to get to them!

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Beaches South of Punta Gorda

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You will likely find some of these beaches busier along with the traffic getting to them vs. the beaches north of Punta Gorda, however they possess their own uniqueness and are well worth exploring.

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Lynne Hall Memorial Park, 950 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers - Lynn Hall Memorial Park is located on Ft. Myers Beach, just north of the foot of Matanzas Pass Bridge, next to "Times Square" in the heart of downtown. This lively Gulf-front park is conveniently located adjacent to shopping and restaurants. It features a licensed fishing pier with bait/gift shop, shelters with grills for picnicking (available on a first come first serve basis only), outdoor freshwater rinse off showers, restrooms with changing facilities and accessible beach access.

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Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers - If you're looking for a secluded beach adventure, Lovers Key is the perfect spot. It's a favorite by the locals, and for years, it was only accessible by boat. Today, you can access the beach by boardwalk or tram, and the beach is a popular spot for shelling, swimming, picnics and sunbathing. The waters are a haven for wildlife including manatees, dolphins, marsh rabbits and bald eagles. Lovers Key also offers kayak tours as well as bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals.

 

Sanibel and Captiva Beaches

Although Sanibel and Captiva Beaches are a little further away from Punta Gorda, it's the perfect spot for a secluded, romantic evening. With clear blue water and tons of shells, both Sanibel and Captiva Beaches are worth the drive. You can walk for miles on the sandy shores, and the some of the beaches are widely known as some of the most romantic beaches due to their beautiful sunsets. Two most noteable beaches are Lighthouse Beach Park on Sanibel Island and Captiva Beach on the Island of Captiva.

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Cape Coral's Yacht Club Community Park, 5819 Driftway Parkway, Cape Coral, FL - If your family isn't up for a drive to the beach, head over to Cape Coral's Yacht Club for a dip in the water. Located on the Caloosahatchee River, the park encompasses a wide range of facilities including the public beach, fishing pier and community pool. After you've spent some time at the beach, head over to the free racquetball courts, shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, fishing pier and public boat ramp.

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