Punta Gorda (Florida)

Punta Gorda is a city in Southwest Florida. After being devastated by a hurricane in 2004, the city has rebounded by building a new marina the Harborwalk, Linear Park and various trails throughout the city for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. == Get in == === By plane === 1 Punta Gorda Airport (Florida) (PGD IATA Charlotte County Airport). Served by Allegiant Air. 2 Sarasota-Bradenton Airport (SRQ IATA). Served by six airlines with service to 11 destinations. Air Canada serves Toronto from Sarasota. (updated Mar 2026) 3 Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW IATA) (Fort Myers). The nearest full-service airport. (updated Mar 2026) === By car === Punta Gorda is located at the intersection of Interstate 75 and US Route 17, about 58 miles (93 km) south of Sarasota, 33 miles (53 km) north of Fort Myers, and 92 miles (148 km) south of Winter Haven. == Get around == == See == There are lots of historic sites. 1 A. C. Freeman House (Gilchrist House), 311 W Retta Esplanade. Albert Gilchrist owned the property until 1903, who went on to serve as the governor of Florida, but sold it to Augustus Freeman who developed the property and was important locally as a politician. Due to the importance of the owners of the property and its Queen Anne architectural style, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The house has been moved twice, once before its addition to the register, and again twenty years later following Hurricane Charley. (updated Aug 2021) 2 Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. 8AM to sunset. Composed of islands and land that surrounds Charlotte Harbor. The park can be accessed from Punta Gorda, Cape Coral, Cape Haze, El Jobean, Rotonda and Little Pine Island. The main offices are approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of US 41/Tamiami Trail, in Punta Gorda. The park provides vast areas of unspoiled scenery and vital habitat for many varieties of wildlife. The upland areas of the park are accessible at pedestrian walk-throughs available in each section of the park. The park also manages more than 80 miles (130 km) of Charlotte Harbor shoreline. Most of it is shallow water fringed by mangroves. These areas provide amazing opportunities to view wading birds, manatees, dolphins and other wildlife. It is best accessed by kayak or canoe. 3 Military Heritage Museum, 900 West Marion Ave (across the street from Pittman Park and the Harborwalk), ☏ +1 941 575-9002. Tu–Sa 10AM–4PM. (updated Aug 2021) 4 Vietnam Wall, 100 Nesbit St (Laishley Park), ☏ +1 941 268-4245. (updated Aug 2021) == Do == == Buy == 1 Fishermen's Village, 1200 W Retta Esplanade, ☏ +1 800 639-0020. M–Sa 10AM–6PM, Su noon–6PM. (updated Aug 2021) == Eat == 1 Harborwalk Scoops & Bites, 150 Laishley Ct #1111. 11AM–9PM. Delicious, homemade ice cream. They serve scoops, milkshakes, shave ice, and coffee at Laishley Park Marina, with a nice view of boats and the bay. (updated Aug 2021) 2 Laishley Crab House, 150 Laishley Ct, ☏ +1 941 205-5566. Su–Th 11AM–9PM, F–Sa 11AM–10PM. (updated Aug 2021) == Drink == 1 The Ice House Pub, 408 Tamiami Trail N, ☏ +1 941-575-0866, IceHousePub@comcast.net. M-Sa 11AM-2AM, Su noon-11PM. English-style pub with many beers on tap and even more in bottles. (updated Mar 2016) == Sleep == 1 Four Points by Sheraton Harborside, 33 Tamiami Tr, ☏ +1 941 637-6770. Some of the rooms offer harbor or marina views. There is a tiki bar and live music program. (updated Aug 2021) 2 Springhill Suites Harborside, 101 Harborside Ave (junction of Harborside Ave and Tamiami Tr), ☏ +1 941 347-4224. (updated Aug 2021) == Go next == Across the bay to Port Charlotte South to Cape Coral