Unspoiled Florida, Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Islands
Perfect for nature lovers
By Phyllis Steinberg
 Most
of South Florida’s coast is dotted with hi-rise condominiums, immense hotels
that block the skyline and crowded highways. Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf
Islands are different. Located on Florida’s Southwest Gulf coast, this nature
lover’s destination is about 50 miles south of Sarasota, the nearest airport,
and 30 miles north of Fort Myers and is comprised of 28 miles of sandy beaches
and approximately 200 miles of nature trails.
In fact, 84 percent of the shoreline is protected preserve.
On a recent vacation there with my husband, I enjoyed an escape from the hustle
and bustle of typical Florida tourist attractions.
 We
stayed at the Palm Island Resort in Cape Haze in a beach villa on the Gulf of
Mexico. Our villa had a fully equipped kitchen, with dishes and utensils, a
back porch with a table and chairs and magnificent views of emerald waters,
white beaches and breathtaking sunsets.
The resort is located on a private island. We reached the
island by means of a ferry which transports about six cars at a time. Upon
arrival at the Palm Island Resort, you are issued an electric golf cart that
serves as your transportation to a myriad of activities from bird watching and
bicycling to dining and swimming.
 In
Charlotte Harbor, time stands still. We enjoyed looking through a high powered
lens and watching nesting birds, piping plovers, blue herons, white egrets and
spotted sandpipers. Our nature guide escorted us by golf cart to locations
throughout the island where we could observe the beauty of nature in its natural
habitat. Along the way we encountered several species of birds, and sea turtles
from loggerheads to leatherbacks.
This unspoiled area of Florida has magnificent beaches with
huge shells that you won’t find on many South Florida beaches.
 Charlotte
Harbor has a laid back atmosphere. We just wanted to watch the sunset and relax
in our beautiful villa, but after a few days we decided to venture off the
island and check out some area attractions. We took a swamp buggy eco-tour at
Babcock Wilderness Adventures. The guided tour lasts about 90 minutes and gave
us an interesting and pleasing glimpse of nature. The tour takes passengers
through a 90,000 acre ranch with its many eco systems and large quantity of
pine flatwoods, fresh and saltwater marshes, palm trees and swamp plants. We
also had a chance to get up close and personal with a large variety of wading
birds, alligators, historic Florida Cracker Cattle, wild turkeys and wild hogs.
 We
also decided to try a kayaking adventure. We chose the Gasparilla Sound and
Coral Creek Intracoastal Waterways. Captain Marian Schneider of Grande Tours was
our guide through the mangroves in a tandem kayak. The two and a half hour kayak
adventure provided another opportunity for us to get ups close to nature and
encounter a variety of birds, as we enjoyed the sunshine and try to keep our
kayak from getting stuck in the mangroves.
 The
area has dozens of restaurants that feature fresh caught fish. Our favorite was
the Fishery, the location for the movie “Out of Time” staring Denzel Washington.
We loved the house seafood gumbo. This delightfully funky restaurant serves up
local cuisine that is reasonably priced and memorable.
 Fisherman’s
Village, a waterfront mall, located in Punta Gorda provided us with the
opportunity to shop for souvenirs at unique stores. You won’t find chain stores
here, just individually owned shops with boutique items that are fun to explore
like the Ruby Slipper and the Laff Out Loud store. There is a beautiful view of
the Gulf of Mexico from the Captain’s Table Restaurant at Fisherman’s Village
and delicious seafood. The King Fisher Fleet also offers sailings from
Fisherman’s Village. We hopped on for an afternoon cruise and were followed by
dolphins and schools of fish during our cruise.
 Punta
Gorda also offers Gallery Walks on the third Thursday evening of the month. The
evening includes art, music, shopping and food. There is a free trolley that
takes participants around the area to shop, dine, enjoy the music and works of
art.
But the main attraction of Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf
Islands is its un-crowded roads, beautiful beaches and the opportunity to
explore nature in a relaxed setting.
Photos by Phyllis Steinberg
Palm Island Resort, 7092 Placida Road, Cape Haze,
800-824-5412,
www.palmisland.com
King Fisher Fleet, 1200 W. Retta Esplande, Punta Gorda, 941-639-0969,
www.kingfisherfleet.com
Babcock Wilderness Adventure, 1-800-500-5583,
adventure@babcockwilderness.com
Fisherman’s Village, waterfront mall,
www.fishville.com
www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com, 1-800-652-6090
Grande Tours of Placida, kayaking, 12575 Placida Road, 941-697-8825,
www.grandetours.com
Fishery Restaurant, 13000 Fishery Road, Placida, 941-697-2451
Captain’s Table, Fisherman’s Village,1200 West Retta Esplanade, Punta Gordan,
941-637-1177 |
