CHARLOTTE HARBOR & THE GULF ISLANDS, Fla. (June 14, 2010) – The unspoiled and uncrowded beaches of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands on Florida’s Southwest Coast are all about color, nature and privacy. Halfway between Sarasota and Fort Myers and relatively undeveloped, the area beaches are something of a rarity for South Florida. Five barrier islands, three state parks and 28 miles of beaches offer access to delightfully pristine stretches of sand, sun and surf.
The beaches of Charlotte Harbor hold a cache of natural treasures. A cornucopia of multihued shells polished to gleaming smoothness by gentle Gulf waves, diverse species of shorebirds, schools of dolphins, slow-moving sea turtles, and dunes flush with sea oats put on a show every day.
To view photographs, get vacation ideas, and find out for yourself just how pristine these beaches are, go to the Facebook page of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands, FL: http://www.facebook.com/CharlotteHarbor.
One of the best things about Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is that visitors have not just one beach from which to choose to while away a day, a weekend, or even longer, but several coastal settings that appeal to every pursuit and temperament.
While all of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands beaches welcome everyone, here are some recommendations in several favorite categories:
Romantic Beach – Englewood Beach on Manasota Key
Enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants nearby, and then watch the sun melt away into the Gulf of Mexico for a romantic evening. Daytime brings sandier pursuits as the wide shorelines of Englewood Beach are perfect for building sandcastles, bird watching, or simply strolling hand-in-hand along the Gulf. For sporting types, adjoining Chadwick Park offers volleyball and basketball courts, and plenty of fishing opportunities including seasonal catches of snook and tarpon. http://tinyurl.com/EnglewoodBeach
Family Beach - Port Charlotte Beach
Port Charlotte Beach Park boasts both harbor-side and beach-side fun. Families and athletes love its heated swimming pool, basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, bocce, horseshoe courts and playground. There are picnic shelters, a fishing pier, as well as access ramps for boating, canoeing and kayaking. For those who want to take life in the slow lane or watch a spectacular sunset, the beach has plenty of space for lounge chairs and beach blankets. http://tinyurl.com/PortCharlotteBeach
Shelling Beach – Stump Pass Beach State Park
When the tide rolls away from Stump Pass Beach on Manasota Key, there remains mixed in among the untold number of shells a plethora of fossilized shark’s teeth, attesting to the fact that the Gulf of Mexico is as ancient and mysterious as ever. Like Englewood Beach, Stump Pass Beach has plenty of wide open coastlines, not to mention nature trails for wildlife viewing and native plants such as indigo berry and bay cedar. www.floridastateparks.org/stumppass
Island Beach – Don Pedro Island State Park
Accessible only by boat, Don Pedro Island, one of Charlotte Harbor’s barrier islands and state park, is the ultimate Florida escape. There are plenty of shells and few people to compete for them! Nature reigns here, where sightings of West Indian manatees, bald eagles, and gopher tortoises moseying among the sand, sky, and water are not uncommon. Just a forty-five minute ferry ride from nearby Placida, the secluded and scenic Don Pedro Island State Park, although far removed from civilization, still boasts modern-day amenities including restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic pavilions, and barbecue grills. www.floridastateparks.org/donpedroisland
Whether a beach vacation is a romantic escape, a girlfriends’ getaway or a family reunion, a fishing vacation or a family vacation, there are lodgings to suit every taste and budget. Charlotte Harbor is helping its visitors enjoy an ECOnomical vacation at an assortment of accommodations ranging from well-known flag hotels to specialty boutique properties to a barrier island resort and private rental homes on the beach. Enticing savings range from an additional free night’s stay when booking two or more nights, to an additional two nights free when reserving a five night stay. To view these specials, visit http://www.charlotteharbortravel.com/freenight, choose your package, then call the property and request the Charlotte Harbor FREE Summer Night Bonus.
About Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands
Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state’s second largest harbor. Florida’s premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offers a pristine unspoiled beauty that has served as the backdrop for seven major feature films as well as countless memorable vacations. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands has been named to SAIL magazine’s “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States,” ranked by Golf Digest as “Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America,” and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live in the South.” Port Charlotte was named “Best Place to Retire” by MONEY magazine in September. The city of Punta Gorda was named in 2008 as one of “Top Ten Places to Retire Healthy” by U.S. News & World Report. Englewood, Fla. was named as #2 of the Top Ten emerging travel destinations in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com.
For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Charlotte Harbor Visitor’s Bureau, 18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 502, Port Charlotte, FL 33948; 941-743-1900, or call toll free at 1-800-652-6090 for a free Visitor’s Guide; or visit the Web site at www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com.
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The beaches of Charlotte Harbor hold a cache of natural treasures. A cornucopia of multihued shells polished to gleaming smoothness by gentle Gulf waves, diverse species of shorebirds, schools of dolphins, slow-moving sea turtles, and dunes flush with sea oats put on a show every day.
To view photographs, get vacation ideas, and find out for yourself just how pristine these beaches are, go to the Facebook page of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands, FL: http://www.facebook.com/CharlotteHarbor.
One of the best things about Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is that visitors have not just one beach from which to choose to while away a day, a weekend, or even longer, but several coastal settings that appeal to every pursuit and temperament.
While all of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands beaches welcome everyone, here are some recommendations in several favorite categories:
Romantic Beach – Englewood Beach on Manasota Key
Enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants nearby, and then watch the sun melt away into the Gulf of Mexico for a romantic evening. Daytime brings sandier pursuits as the wide shorelines of Englewood Beach are perfect for building sandcastles, bird watching, or simply strolling hand-in-hand along the Gulf. For sporting types, adjoining Chadwick Park offers volleyball and basketball courts, and plenty of fishing opportunities including seasonal catches of snook and tarpon. http://tinyurl.com/EnglewoodBeach
Family Beach - Port Charlotte Beach
Port Charlotte Beach Park boasts both harbor-side and beach-side fun. Families and athletes love its heated swimming pool, basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, bocce, horseshoe courts and playground. There are picnic shelters, a fishing pier, as well as access ramps for boating, canoeing and kayaking. For those who want to take life in the slow lane or watch a spectacular sunset, the beach has plenty of space for lounge chairs and beach blankets. http://tinyurl.com/PortCharlotteBeach
Shelling Beach – Stump Pass Beach State Park
When the tide rolls away from Stump Pass Beach on Manasota Key, there remains mixed in among the untold number of shells a plethora of fossilized shark’s teeth, attesting to the fact that the Gulf of Mexico is as ancient and mysterious as ever. Like Englewood Beach, Stump Pass Beach has plenty of wide open coastlines, not to mention nature trails for wildlife viewing and native plants such as indigo berry and bay cedar. www.floridastateparks.org/stumppass
Island Beach – Don Pedro Island State Park
Accessible only by boat, Don Pedro Island, one of Charlotte Harbor’s barrier islands and state park, is the ultimate Florida escape. There are plenty of shells and few people to compete for them! Nature reigns here, where sightings of West Indian manatees, bald eagles, and gopher tortoises moseying among the sand, sky, and water are not uncommon. Just a forty-five minute ferry ride from nearby Placida, the secluded and scenic Don Pedro Island State Park, although far removed from civilization, still boasts modern-day amenities including restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic pavilions, and barbecue grills. www.floridastateparks.org/donpedroisland
Whether a beach vacation is a romantic escape, a girlfriends’ getaway or a family reunion, a fishing vacation or a family vacation, there are lodgings to suit every taste and budget. Charlotte Harbor is helping its visitors enjoy an ECOnomical vacation at an assortment of accommodations ranging from well-known flag hotels to specialty boutique properties to a barrier island resort and private rental homes on the beach. Enticing savings range from an additional free night’s stay when booking two or more nights, to an additional two nights free when reserving a five night stay. To view these specials, visit http://www.charlotteharbortravel.com/freenight, choose your package, then call the property and request the Charlotte Harbor FREE Summer Night Bonus.
About Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands
Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state’s second largest harbor. Florida’s premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offers a pristine unspoiled beauty that has served as the backdrop for seven major feature films as well as countless memorable vacations. A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands has been named to SAIL magazine’s “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States,” ranked by Golf Digest as “Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America,” and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live in the South.” Port Charlotte was named “Best Place to Retire” by MONEY magazine in September. The city of Punta Gorda was named in 2008 as one of “Top Ten Places to Retire Healthy” by U.S. News & World Report. Englewood, Fla. was named as #2 of the Top Ten emerging travel destinations in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com.
For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Charlotte Harbor Visitor’s Bureau, 18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 502, Port Charlotte, FL 33948; 941-743-1900, or call toll free at 1-800-652-6090 for a free Visitor’s Guide; or visit the Web site at www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com.
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