Quality of Life…It Gets No Better than Charlotte County Florida

April 25th, 2006

I write this blog from aboard a cruise ship returning from a trip to the eastern Caribbean where we visited Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Antigua and St. Maarten.  This was a trip of two purposes for us, one to get some much needed rest and relaxation, the other to compare what these islands had to offer and to network with local realtors. 

Living in Punta Gorda, Florida, you would think, “Why would you want to take cruise to the Caribbean?”  Let’s just say the old adage, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,” could be one used however, I discovered, “There’s no place like home” is probably more fitting.

Sure we saw teal blue/green water and some white sandy beaches but we have that in as close proximity to where we had to take a taxi to get to them.  And yes, once getting off the cruise ship we were greeted with plenty of novelty shops and restaurants but, once you went outside these areas that were just a few streets wide and perhaps a mile long, you quickly realized you were in a small enclave surrounded by a very poor and rural environment.  Seeing very modest homes with large cisterns to capture water for everyday use and fans which for many was there only source to cool themselves from the hot Caribbean sun, I started to realize what we took for granted, but then I realized something else; all the things that I came to this area of the world to do, I had in my own backyard.

Punta Gorda and Charlotte County have a quality of life and amenities that few places in the world can offer with year round beautiful weather that allows us to boat, golf, shop or site see whenever we want, “Why go anywhere else?”  Within 30-45 minutes you can be in the Gulf of Mexico where you can be fishing for Tarpon, considered one of the worlds best fighting fish, or if a more relaxing pace is what you are looking for you can cruise or sail Charlotte Harbor which is one of Florida’s largest protected harbors.  Experience more of a natural setting as you pack a lunch and cruise up the Peace River where you can see exotic birds or spot a few alligators sunning themselves on the river banks.  If the feel of tropical islands are what you are looking for, Sanibel and Captiva Island are just a few of the charming places you can reach by car or boat.  With sandy beaches and plenty of water sports, these areas are a throw back to the days when “life’s simple pleasures” were more the norm than the exception to the rule.

If golf is your game, there are plenty of courses to choose from the public course at Deep Creek to the four star rated Riverwood.  All of the courses in the area, and there are many to choose from, offer something uniquely different depending on your skill and interest.  Stick around during the off season and you can enjoy the benefits of the summer card that enables you to play most of the areas best courses at greatly reduced greens fees.

Looking for a little excitement?  You don’t have to live in Orlando to treat your family to a fun-filled day at Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld or Epcot theme parks located only 2 ½ hours away.  Want something a little closer? Busch Gardens, another favorite fun park is located in Tampa just an hour and a half north.

With a unique historic downtown waterfront area being redeveloped, Punta Gorda is again poised for tremendous growth.  Boutique hotels, shops, restaurants, condos and marinas are planned for development, as is a new convention center that over looks Charlotte Harbor and the Peace River.  This facility will hold approximately 3000 people, and will host many great venues from private parties and weddings to business meetings and corporate events as well as a host of headline acts and concerts from well known entertainers.

If you are looking for a change in lifestyle, there are few places that can offer the variety of options for you to choose from whether your desire is to live on the water or out in the country on ranch estates.  Compared to Sarasota, Naples or Miami and the rest of Florida’s east coast, Punta Gorda and the Port Charlotte area is very affordable by comparison.

After living and working in New York, I can not think of a better place to live, work and play than Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and surrounding gulf coast area.  Sometimes it just takes getting away to realize this area is the best place to call home. 

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