42 | SOUTHWEST FLORIDA • NEWCOMERS GUIDE TO PARADISE
3400 Ponce de Leon Pkwy.
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Ponce de Leon Park
prwildlife.org | 941-637-3830
Come Meet Our
ANIMALS!
Show Your Support
and Shop Our Online Store
prwcstore.org
TOUR OUR WILDLIFE CENTER
Nearly 100 Native Florida Wildlife
Species on Educational Display!
Open daily for tours 11:00-4:00
adno=3898092-1
Suncoast beaches
offer fun, relaxation
It's just a short drive from anyplace in
Southwest Florida to a beautiful beach. The
easiest Gulf of Mexico beaches to access
are Manasota Key, which offers miles of
uncluttered shoreline, and four public parks
that allow very different beach-going expe-
riences and are easy to access by car. Just
a short drive to the south are the beautiful
beaches of Boca Grande and Gasparilla
Island State Park. If you have access to a
boat, your choice of beaches increases, as
you can visit Don Pedro Island State Park,
Little Gasparilla Island, Cayo Costa State
Park and more.
MANASOTA KEY
ENGLEWOOD BEACH/CHADWICK PARK
2100 N. Beach Road, Englewood
This large beach is Charlotte County's
main park on the Gulf of Mexico. It's an easy
drive over two bridges that span beautiful
Lemon Bay and the Intracoastal Water-
way. Englewood Beach features swimming,
fi shing, shelling, picnic shelters, barbecue
grills, birding opportunities and wooden
walkways. There are also updated play-
grounds, basketball courts, beach volleyball
and horseshoe pits. There's a newly refur-
bished shower and restroom facility and a
recently paved parking lot. There is a small
fee to park, and self-service parking passes
sold from machines.
This popular public beach is also across
North Beach Road from several great
FILE PHOTO
Mornings are a great time to visit one of Englewood's
many beaches.
Area Beaches
METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
