COMMUNITY GUIDE 2019 | 19
sparkling blue waters and spectacular sunset views year round. This
beach offers many amenities including a 900 foot boardwalk with
three covered lookouts, restroom facilities, showers, water stations,
volleyball court, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, playground area,
food vendors available on site, four small shelters with picnic table
and grill, and three large pavilions, all of which contain picnic tables
and charcoal grills.
FARMERS’ MARKETS, Downtown Punta Gorda, between W.
Olympia Ave. and Herald Ct., on Saturdays from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm,
(941) 391-4856, and in the History Park, 501 Shreve Street, Punta
Gorda, on Sundays from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 941.380.6814. Englewood
Farmers Market - Every Thursday from October thru May from 9
am - 2 pm.
FISHERMEN’S VILLAGE - Waterfront Restaurants, Boutiques,
Resort & Marina – Punta Gorda - located on Charlotte Harbor,
Fishermen’s Village has become the quintessential stay and play
destination in Punta Gorda! With breathtaking views of Charlotte
Harbor, visitors can take advantage of spacious, comfortable resort
accommodations in a vacation villa, featuring pool, BBQ and
shuffleboard court. Exploring the Village, you’ll enjoy a plethora of
boutique and specialty shopping, mouthwatering, waterfront dining
establishments and an array of recreational activities including
Military Museum, boat and kayak rentals, fishing charters, out island
adventures and nightly sunset cruises! The Village is home to a fullservice
Marina offering permanent and transient dockage and award
winning customer service. Special events and live entertainment year
round. Open Daily. 1 800 639-0020, 941639-8721. email: kathyb@
fishville.com website: www.fishville.com.
FLORIDA TRACKS & TRAILS, located 14 miles east of
Interstate 75 on Bermont Road in Punta Gorda, is a 1,000 acre
multi-theme outdoor and adventure park offering a huge concert
and live entertainment venue, along with outdoor recreational
activities, including motocross tracks, miles of off-road trails,
paintball, a recreation lake and beach, RV/Tent camping and more.
Open Friday evenings through Sunday, Florida Tracks and Trails
is a family-friendly destination offering activities for all ages and
even rents everything you need to ride or play paintball. www.
floridatracksandtrails.com.
THE A. C. FREEMAN HOUSE is a historic house located at 311
West Retta Esplanade in Punta Gorda and is home to the Charlotte
County Chamber of Commerce’s Punta Gorda office. It was added
to the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 1987, deemed
significant for reflecting Queen Anne style architecture, asserted to
be rare in South Florida, and for association with businessman and
politician Augustus C. Freeman. 941-639-2222.
GASPARILLA BOAT TOURS: “Seas” the day by experiencing
some of the most pristine beaches, sandbars and wildlife in
Southwest Florida. For more information call 833-786-8687 or visit
www.gasparillaboattours.com
WILLIAM R. GAINES JR. VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK-
Located on a small peninsula jutting out into Charlotte Harbor,
this 40 acre park is a public and private project designed to become
a destination where multiple generations can be outdoors together.
It has an extended fitness trail, observation tower, childrens
playground and a family pavilion. Located at 20499 Edgewater Dr.,
Port Charlotte.
GONE COUNTRY MOTOR SPORTS PARK is Florida’s Largest
Off Road Park, Swamp Buggys, ATVs, Trucks and Jeeps, 4 wheeling,
Airboat Races, mile of riding trails, and Jeep Obstacle Course, with
800 acres, including 3 mud holes, mud track, drive thru buggy/ATV
wash, plenty of parking, restrooms, camping areas (no pets allowed).
Open Event Weekends Only. 44570 Bermont Rd. (CR-74), Punta
Gorda, 239-209-3773. www.redneckmudpark.com, www.facebook.
com/redneckmudpark.
J & J SHOOTERS PARADISE Indoor Range is a start-of-the
art facility with a well-lit, air quality, safe environment with bullet
resistant steel partitions between 9 lanes. 941-979-5008 www.
myshootersparadise.com
KING FISHER FLEET in Fishermen’s Village, Punta Gorda,
offers daily sightseeing cruises, dolphins, eco-tours, sunset cruises,
full day, half day, Charlotte Harbor, Peace River, Cabbage Key, Cayo
Costa, as well as fishing charters. Visit www.kingfisherfleet.com or
call (941) 639-0969.
MASTER GARDENER TOURS: Take a walk on the wild
side with the Master, no charge. For information, call the Master
Gardeners at (941) 764-4340 or visit http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu
THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM recently moved to a
new location: 900 W. Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda, just a few steps
away from Fishermen’s Village. The Museum now has over 17,000 sq
ft of exhibit and activity areas. On the first level, take a walk-through
history through three unique galleries; from the Revolutionary War
through modern conflicts. Visit the Hall of Hero’s gallery and its
special Medal of Honor exhibit. On the second level become part of
history, through simulations and virtual reality including aircraft,
tank, and naval simulators. Be sure to visit the War Room, Library
and the 247-seat Gulf theater. For more information, call 941-575-
9002 or go to www.freedomisntfree.org.
MUSCLE CAR CITY, Rick Treworgy’s Muscle Car City, 10175
Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda (941-575-5959), features over 200 GM
automobiles from 1914 to present day. Over three quarters of the
museum are muscle cars of the 50s 60s and 70s. The museum also
includes a 50’s themed diner, memorabilia store, and speed shop.
Visit their website at http://www.musclecarcityllc.com.
NAV-A-GATOR GRILL/DESOTO MARINA, Daily Boat Trips
& Airboat Rides, Lake Suzy. For more information call 941- 625-
4407or visit www.nav-a-gator.com
OCTAGON WILDLIFE SANCTURARY, a non-profit
organization, provides a healthy recovery and living environment for
abandoned and abused exotic zoo type animals. Bring your family,
a camera, even a picnic lunch and enjoy a safe, up-close experience
with the many different species such as bears, tigers, even monkeys.
We’re open to the public Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at 41660 Horseshoe Road, Punta Gorda, 33982-7767. For directions
and admission fee, please visit www. octagonwildlife.org or call
(239)-543-1130.
PEACE RIVER BOTANICAL & SCULPTURE GARDENS,
abutting the Peace River, this 27-acre waterfront oasis will encompass
the diversity of five ecosystems including marshlands, wetlands,
mangroves, uplands, a tidal basin and an island amphitheater.
Flowering trees and plants will bloom throughout the year. More
than 15,000 sq. ft. of boardwalks and docks are planned to provide
optimum viewing of the park’s massive sculptures. For more
information call 941-621-8299 or visit www.peacerivergardens.org
PEACE RIVER AIRBOAT TOURS: Located on the beautiful
Peace River in Arcadia, Florida, where we offer Peace River Airboat
Tours, Private Charters and Swamp Buggy rides to the public. For
more information call 863-444-0693 or visit www.peacerivercharters.
com
PEACE RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER, a nonprofit organization
dedicated to the care, protection and preservation of native wildlife, is
located in Ponce deLeon Park in Punta Gorda. Mammals, birds and
reptiles that have been orphaned, displaced or injured are brought
to the Center. Most of the “patients” are rehabilitated and released
back into the natural habitat. You’re encouraged to visit the wildlife
center, see the animals and browse through the gift shop any day, 11
/www.fishville.com
/floridatracksandtrails.com
/www.gasparillaboattours.com
/www.redneckmudpark.com
/myshootersparadise.com
/www.kingfisherfleet.com
/charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu
/www.freedomisntfree.org
/www.musclecarcityllc.com
/www.nav-a-gator.com
/octagonwildlife.org
/www.peacerivergardens.org
/www.peacerivercharters.com
