Englewood
Two counties – Charlotte and Sarasota – claim Englewood for their own. Englewood was originally founded as a fishing village in the late 1800’s and has since grown into a prospering town where year-round and seasonal residents both tout its virtues. Englewood Beach offers an uncrowded day of rest and relaxation. Walk from the Beach across the street to enjoy dining and live entertainment at multiple establishments including the Lock ‘N Key or the White Elephant. Just south, you’ll find Blind Pass Park, a fantastic place for shelling and finding sharks’ teeth. Englewood is home to 8 golf courses, so do not forget to pack the clubs. Looking for something more exciting, you can try parasailing or rent a jetski. Give a call to Beach Road Watersports or Island Jet Ski Tours to accommodate a day of fun. Fishing in Englewood is outstanding. A tour of Lemon Bay is highly recommended. You’ll almost certainly see dolphins, manatees, and all kinds of shorebirds and wildlife. A trip to Dearborn Street offers shopping, dining and entertainment apart from the franchises and big box stores. Englewood exudes charm.
Rotonda West
Joe Klein’s vision for Rotonda was that, unlike traditional square or block communities, his would be round. He said he found it to be more congenial and neighborly and hence the rationale for the round shape. Rotonda West is a deed-restricted, planned community situated just miles from beautiful Englewood Beach. Located just about mid- way between Sarasota and Fort Myers. The community contains 8,000 home sites of which 5,000 are completed. The area is experiencing rapid growth with new housing starts all about. From custom builds by Vantage Homes and Harden Dukes to planned floor plans by Adams Homes, the options are limitless. Rotonda West residents include a mix of full time residents and those who visit during the Winter. A large snow bird population migrates in season to escape the cold. European visitors arrive traditionally in the Summer. Thirty miles of tranquil canals, lakes and ponds wind through the community and offer fishing and boating opportunities to its residents. Unbeknownst to many, Rotonda West has legal “rights, in perpetuity” to use of a segments of Don Pedro’s Gulf-front beach, plus an easement to reach it from Lemon Bay’s intracoastal waterway, where there is now docking space for small boats. Do not forget to pack the clubs as Rotonda offers 99 holes of golf amongst five different courses: The Hills. Long Marsh. The Palms. The Links and now Pinemoor. Each offers a unique and challenging experience on well maintained fairways with a light, Gulf breeze at your back. Rotonda West is rich in history.
For more information, we recommend “Rotonda: The Vision & The Reality”, authored
by Jack Alexander, copies are available for $6.00 at the Rotonda West Community
Center, 3754 Cape Haze Drive, Rotonda West 33947, (941) 697-6788.
Burnt Store Marina
Burnt Store Marina, located on the beautiful Charlotte Harbor, is a gated-golfing community. Burst Store proudly boasts of being the largest marina on Florida’s gulf coast with 500 boat slips and plenty of dry storage. The community offers single family homes, villas, high rise condos and golf course condos. Something to accommodate all tastes and price points. The panoramic views of Charlotte Harbor are breathtaking from the raised condo perspective. Charlotte Harbor has ranked by SAIL magazine in the top 10 as the best places to sail. Charlotte Harbor is the second largest estuary in the state encompassing 270 miles and it’s basin is just 10 miles for the Gulf of Mexico. Stop in a the Trading Post , Burnt Stores own convenience store, to grab some essentials. With a waterfront view at every table, Cass Cay Restaurant and Bar, is a perfect way to end your day on the water. Great food with casual and formal dining options.
Port Charlotte
Port Charlotte is perfectly positioned to offer every manner of water-borne activity. From kayaking down the Peace River or fishing for Tarpon in the Gulf of Mexico, the outdoor enthusiast in you will not be disappointed. Port Charlotte offers more than 165 miles of waterways, providing access to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico with many additional miles of natural shoreline bordering Charlotte Harbor and both the Peace and Myakka Rivers. Charlotte Sports Park is home to spring training for the Tampa Bay Rays and the summer home of the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs. An inexpensive way to enjoy time with the whole family. Tippecanoe Environmental Park in Port Charlotte offers hiking trails and wildlife viewing through 380 acres of scrub and pine flat-woods. US News & World Reports ranks Port Charlotte as one of the best places to retire based upon location, affordability and overall safety.
Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda is a vibrant, waterfront community unique in both character and history. The streets are lined with huge royal palms, tin-roofed homes with wide porches, brick roads, street lamps and resting benches. Wave hello to residents sitting on their veranda enjoying a cool drink and the lovely breeze coming from Charlotte Harbor. Punta Gorda offers many natural attractions, waterside shopping and leisurely strolls along the Harborwalk and at Fishermen’s Village. Fisherman’s Village includes gift, clothing, and specialty shops; seven restaurants; a military heritage museum; a 98-slip marina and fully furnished luxury villas. Punta Gorda Isles is a deed restricted community for those seeking a waterfront lifestyle. Most homes, with the exception of a few located on St. Andrews Golf Course, are on wide (no less than 100′) canals with access to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. The Punta Gorda Isles Canal Maintenance District is responsible for the maintenance of these 91 miles of seawall, dredging 45 miles of canals/inlets, and mangrove trimming/alteration within the district canal system. This is a huge benefit the owners in PGI in both time and expense. Whether you chose to work or retire here, Punta Gorda offers something for all.
South Gulf Cove
South Gulf Cove is a deed restricted waterfront community in Port Charlotte, Florida. More than 120 man-made canals wind through South Gulf Cove leading straight to Charlotte Harbor and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico. The 55 miles of canals are wide with an average depth of 5 feet, but that can vary + or – 1’ or more depending on the time of year and amount of rainfall. Because South Gulf Cove has a Lock System, the canal depths are not affected by tides. The South Gulf Cove Lock inside dimensions are 20’ wide by 60’ long and a remote can be purchased for $32.00. Bridge clearances vary between 8′ and 9′ 6″ depending on individual bridges. Numerous properties have sailboat access with no bridge hindering the trip to open waters. For more information about the South Gulf Cove lock system, please visit http://www.sgcyc.com/. Homes in South Gulf Cove feature contemporary architecture and range from large waterfront estates to single family homes which are perfect to accommodate the boating lifestyle. South Gulf Cove is rapidly growing but many new homesites are still available for sale. Just 15 minute drive to Englewood Beach, make South Gulf Cove a desirable, yet affordable location.
GULF COVE
The community of Gulf Cove is located in Port Charlotte along the banks of the scenic Mayakka River. This 68 mile long river flows through three counties and provides access to the Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Cove has a voluntary
property owner’s association, Property Owners of Gulf Cove, Inc. Gulf Cove has a private park and private boat ramp for use of it’s residents exclusively. Boat trailer size is limited to no more than two axles and overall length must be less than 28 ft. Gulf Cove is exclusively composed of single family homes many of which are waterfront.
EL JOBEAN
El Jobean is an unincorporated community in Charlotte County. Located off County Road 776 it sits along the banks of the Myakka River. El Jobean is a fishing village where both commercial and recreational captains launch for a day at sea. You will find people fishing from the EL Jobean fishing pier at all hours. At the foot of the bridge is the historic Bean Depot Café and Museum, which once housed the El Jobean post office. Historic relics and information are on display and admission is free. The Bean Depot offers casual dining options where one can sit at a picnic table eat, drink a beer and listen to the musical stylings of local artists. The vibe is casual.
Deep Creek
Deep Creek is a deed-restricted inland community just 10 minutes from Charlotte Harbor on the North side of the Peace River. Sandhill Boulevard divides Deep Creek into two sections, Section 20 to the north and Section 23 to the south. Each section has it’s own Property Owners Association, Board of Directors, and set of deed restrictions. Section 20 consists of single-family homes only while Section 23 hosts single family homes along with condos and villas. Deep Creek was designed so that all lots border open space called “greenbelts” which are maintained by the Homeowners Association. Many homes are on freshwater lakes or canals. For the commuter, I-75 is a short drive. Most homes in Deep Creek are 15 years old or newer and attracts retirees, snowbirds and growing families alike. Deep Creek Elementary is located within the community. Deep Creek Golf Club offers a challenging 6000 yard, Mark McCumber designed course. This is one of the best Charlotte County golf courses. This Punta Gorda golf course is uniquely designed to challenge your skill of course management, lined with endless meandering waterways and plenty of bunkers to test your sand play. This is semi-private club that is open to the public.
HARBOUR HEIGHTS
The Community of Harbour Heights, often times mistakenly searched as Harbor Heights, is bordered to the East by the beautiful ebb of the Peace River and Harbour Heights Public Park. The Park offers a community boat launch, docks, tennis & basketball courts, playground, shuffleboard, volleyball and grilling area. Perfect for a family day of fun and sun. Beautiful homes align the canals and the banks of the Peace River. Drop the boat or raise the sails for an enjoyable trip on the water. The immediate access to the Peace River, Charlotte Harbor and Gulf of Mexico, makes Harbour Heights a south out location. Great commuting location with I-75 interchange just a short drive away. The Peace River streams 106 miles, flowing into the Charlotte Harbor. Real estate in Harbour Heights ranges in price from the mid 100,000’s to million-dollar estate homes. Non-waterfront and agricultural housing options exist.