The community of Rotonda surrounds lakes, canals, golf courses and green belt area
ideal for walking and cycling. At its centre is the Community Park that has a children’s
playground, two tennis courts, hiking trail, picnic pavilion with charcoal grill and large
multi-purpose sports field. The Rotonda Golf & Country Club has five golf courses.
Rotonda is a great base to explore all areas of Florida, with easy access to the islands,
the Everglades, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Tampa and Central Florida. Here is just a taste of
the places to visit and things to do.
Charlotte Harbour: 20 min drive
Charlotte Harbour was recently ranked as one of "America’s Top Ten Places to Sail," in
SAIL Magazine. Located along Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast, between Sarasota and Naples,
Charlotte County was first settled by Hernando Desoto in 1536. Voted by Money Magazine
as "Best Place to Live in the South", this unique harbour with its barrier islands and
beach communities has also become a favoured vacation destination for many people.
Punta Gorda - Fisherman's Village Marina
One of our favourites, this waterfront complex is full of restaurants and shops.
You can also take boating and fishing trips from here, sailing around the exclusive harbour
residencies, spotting dolphins, sunset cruises or eco-tours on the Peace River.
Beaches:
Manasota Key and Englewood Beaches: 15 min drive. Sea oats grow along the dune
that you cross by boardwalk to the sand. There are freshwater showers, volleyball net,
basketball court, picnic tables and BBQ areas. Drive a little further south for secluded,
natural beaches at Stump Pass.
Gasparilla Island & Boca Grande: 15 min drive. Connected to the mainland by a
long causeway (toll), this island has a state recreation area with beautiful, quiet
beaches. Facilities include showers, restrooms, picnic tables and BBQs.
Port Charlotte Beach. The Beach complex offers a beach club, fishing pier,
tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a pool, a playground,
restrooms, a snack bar, boat ramps and barbecue grills.
Don Pedro Island
1 mile of white sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, only accessible by boat just south
of Stump Pass on the intra-coastal waterway. This beach has barbecue grills, restrooms
and showers. Great for shelling!
Golf
There are over 20 local golf courses to choose from.
Shopping
The Mall at Port Charlotte: J.C. Penney, Sears, Burdines, Foot Locker, a food court and
a good range of boutiques.
Factory outlets
Miromar Outlets (between Fort Myers and Naples) and Prime Outlets (Sarasota), where
you will find discounted designer and famous brand name stores like Nike, Calvin Klein,
Polo Ralph Lauren and DKNY at low prices.
Fishing Trips
The area is renowned for its sea and beach fishing and is good for Tarpon, Grouper,
Snook, Mullet and Bass. There are many fishing trips advertised locally and you can
hire tackle (details are available in the villa).
The Everglades:
approx 2 ½ hrs south on the Interstate 75.
This is a must for all nature lovers. You will enter Cypress National Reserve on
the I75, north of the Everglades. Following the signs for Everglades City you will be
spoilt for choice, with guided eco-tours on swamp buggies, safaris, bike trails,
boardwalks and air boat rides over the magnificent mangrove swamps. Abundant with
bird life, alligators and other reptiles, you may also be lucky enough to see manatee.
The beauty and vastness of this important ecosystem must be seen to be believed!
Theme Parks
Busch Gardens, Tampa: approx. 1 ½ hrs north on the I75
Orlando Theme parks: approx 3 hrs north on the I75 & I4
Disney World, Universal, Sea World
See also:
www.pureflorida.com
www.southwestfloridatravelguide.com
