Quaintly located on the southern west coast of Florida, is the colorful city of Port Charlotte. I’ve heard that Port Charlotte is just a place for the retired, but I beg to differ. The city is so lively, colorful, and there’s such a diverse selection of recreational activities, making it the perfect day visit or weekend trip!

My personal favorite is the vast array of parks and beaches in the area to visit, so this is a perfect location for nature lovers. The city is full of history and art throughout the surrounding areas. There are plenty of local boutiques and small business shops. You can even find free concerts and events in the area throughout the year. That being said, let’s jump into our favorite places to visit!

1. Tippecanoe Environmental Park

This park is not for the faint of heart. There are some really well maintained trails, but many of them are run over with maintenance vehicles which leave a rugged trail. However, it is a 380 acre preserve with a diverse array of habitats. You can find oak scrub, scrubby flatwoods, coastal hammocks, floodplain forests, salt marshes, and mangrove swamps throughout your walks. We just did a quick loop and fell in love with the park! It is on my list of places to return and further explore. I highly suggest this park for the scenery, if you’re a photographer, or just wanting to get out and stretch your legs.

2. Myakka State Forest

Myakka State Forest is a flatwood area with ample space for riverside camping, hiking + equestrian trails, fishing, and boating launches. It’s the perfect spot to launch into the Myakka River and head to the Harbor in search of dolphin sightings, to see the surrounding area, or even watch the sunset. With over 40 trails, this park also boasts plenty to do for the adventurer whether you enjoy off-road bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, or small-game hunting.

3. Myakka Tower

If you want a bird’s eye view, then you HAVE to add this canopy walk to your to-do list! It’s a quick walk, making it perfect for sight-seers and families. This canopy walkway overlooks the treetops of an oak/palm hammock and is an outdoor laboratory for research and education. This was actually the first public treetop trail in North America with it’s completion in 2000! It is suspended 25 feet above ground and extends 100 feet through the hammock canopy.

4. Gasparilla Boat Tours

The Gasparilla Boat Tours has multiple options ranging from Eco-History cruises, sunset cruises, to specialty cruises. We took a dolphin/sunset cruise overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and it was stunning! You are allowed to bring your own snacks on board and they even make a stop to snack/eat your dinner if you didn’t before the ride. The tour was so relaxing that our daughter actually fell asleep! She woke up just in time to watch the sunset. We visited Pelican Island (pictured), where hundreds of Pelicans make a pit stop. So many visited to this tiny piece of land, that it was dedicated as the first National Wildlife Refuge in the United States in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Originally created to protect egrets and other birds from extinction through plume hunting, it is now a thriving sanctuary.

*Handicap accessible, boats have ramps

5. Kayak The Harbor

I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful way to spend the day than kayaking around the Harbor. The water is gorgeous, there’s so much wildlife spotting to be had, and many parks/boat launches to make a stop for snacks/picnics. If you haven’t had the chance to kayak on Florida’s beautiful water, I highly suggest it for your next trip!

6. Blind Pass Beach

Port Charlotte is home to many beautiful beaches and nature parks, making this city a prime spot for nature lovers of all ages. One of our favorites is the Blind Pass Beach. Uniquely situated on a long stretch of island, this beach can be overlooked by travelers. There are a few popular beaches in the area, so we like to venture out a little further to the less crowded areas. My grandmother loves to come here and search for shark’s teeth along the shore.

7. Fishermen’s Village

This will be one of the more popular places to visit near Port Charlotte. Located in historic Punta Gorda, this village features a unique waterfront mall, marina, and resort. You can now find stunning vacation villa rentals, restaurants, boutique shopping, fishing charters and boat rentals, kayaks and paddle boards, eco-boat tours, harbor tours, sunset cruises, surrey bike rentals, concerts, and events are held throughout the year. All of these entertainment options make a wonderful well-rounded location!

8. Englewood Beach

As previously mentioned, there’s a multitude of beautiful beaches to explore. If you are someone who has to visit all the must-see places, then you’ll probably want to visit one of the most popular beaches in the area: Englewood Beach. It’s a beautiful location, soft sandy beaches, blue waters, and plenty of amenities! If you want to catch it at a less crowded time, be sure to arrive early or come during off-season.

Do you love visiting Port Charlotte? I would love to know your favorite thing to do in the comments!

8 Things To Do in and Around Port Charlotte Florida