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LIVE LIKE A LOCAL: What To Do in Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda FL

Florida hosts tons of fun for families and visitors to check out across the state, and Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda are no exception. We’re going to highlight a wide array of things to see, from Wildlife Rehab Center’s for animal lovers, a popular dinner show that hosts a variety of comedians, a couple of oddities, and much more!

For those that love the outdoors, we’ve got you covered with our selection of must-see rivers & parks, and even baseball fans will love Port Charlotte in particular.

Without further ado, let’s get into what YOU should do in Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda!

Peace River Wildlife Center – A Cause Worth Supporting

3400 Ponce de Leon Pkwy, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Peace River Wildlife Center should be on the top of your list if you love nature or animals. They have a variety of owls, stoic eagles, curious pelicans and vultures, turtles, and other critters for you and your family to learn about. PRWC serves as a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and education center for all visitors and locals of Punta Gorda, and has been in operation since 1985. They place the utmost care in maintaining a safe and loving environment for the animals and have a great track record of releasing animals back into the wild in good health!

If you’d like to further support their efforts, you can help feed the 120 animal residents and other fauna that come through the facility via their Symbolic Adoption service.

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Find out more about how you can support PRWC and find their hours!

Get more info here »

Visani Italian Steakhouse & Comedy Theater – Wine, Dine, and Laugh!

2400 Kings Hwy, Port Charlotte, FL 33980

Visani is a great spot to end your day off with their delicious Italian dishes & a wide array of comedians they host during their dinner shows. The opulent castle-style building was built over 20 years ago, carries some of the finest cuisine you can find in town, and has hosted comedians such as Chris Tuker, Mike Epps, Steve White, and plenty of other familiar faces.

We’ll highlight a few popular dishes you must try below!

The exquisite Blackened Caesar Salad with your choice of salmon, shrimp, or chicken is sure to cover all bases. We recommend you try the chicken.
Feeling famished? The Clams Venetian is sure to fill you up, as it comes with 1LB of neck clams coated in delicious olive oil and dashed with fresh garlic, diced tomatoes & parsley, all atop a nice linguine pasta.
If seafood isn’t your style, then why not roll with the Skirt Steak Chimichurri? This juicy 10oz skirt steak and flavorful chimichurri pesto is paired with rice, veggies, and black beans. The marinade of mojo citrus joins together with the pesto for a sensational dish!
Save room for dessert because they have homemade Italian Cinnamon Rolls, freshly made Zeppole dusted with sugar, and much more!

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See their menu, and check out their lineup of upcoming comedians!

Find more info here »

Charlotte Sports Park – Baseball, Spring Training, and Family Fun!

2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Baseball fans, this one’s for you! Charlotte Sports Park is one of Port Charlotte’s top attractions and serves as the Spring Training Home of the Tampa Bay Rays. This 82-acre park is a fantastic stop for locals, tourists, sports families, and visitors looking to enjoy America’s favorite pastime in a laidback Southwest Florida setting. The stadium features approximately 7,500 seats, a 360-degree fan-friendly pedestrian concourse, outfield berms, a children’s play area, an outfield bar, hospitality areas, and multiple practice fields.

Another neat bonus? The park connects to Tippecanoe Environmental Park, which features walking trails, a boardwalk, a canoe/kayak launch, and birding opportunities. That means you can catch a game, take a walk, and make a full day out of the area if you plan it right!

Find out more about your next trip to the ballgame!

Check it out here »

Bert’s Black Widow Harley-Davidson – A Massive Motorcycle Destination!

224 El Jobean Rd, Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Even if you’re not in the market for a motorcycle, Bert’s Black Widow Harley-Davidson is a surprisingly cool stop to check out in Port Charlotte. This isn’t just a small bike shop tucked away on the side of the road; it’s a huge destination sitting on ten acres right next to the Charlotte County Sports Complex and across from the County Fairgrounds on State Road 776.

Their 30,000 square foot dealership includes a 15,000 square foot showroom filled with new Harley-Davidson motorcycles, pre-owned bikes, MotorClothes apparel, parts, and accessories. The other 15,000 square feet houses their service department with Harley-Davidson Certified Technicians.

We’re sure you’ll walk away with a new appreciation for motorcycles, and maybe you’ll even ride away to experience more of Florida on your new chopper!

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Experience a slice of Florida motorcycle culture!

See more here »

Military Heritage Museum – Honor & History for a Great Trip

900 West Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

With July 4th having just passed, Military Heritage Museum feels like an especially fitting stop for anyone visiting Punta Gorda. This museum gives guests a meaningful way to reflect on American history, learn about military service, and better appreciate the stories of the men and women who served our country.

This isn’t a small one-room display either. The museum uses more than 20,000 artifacts, veteran museum guides, flight simulators, graphics, live performance, and audio/visual elements throughout its 17,000 square foot facility to create an engaging experience for visitors. All these exhibits combine to create an experience tailored for history buffs, families, and everyone in between to walk away with a reverent respect for those who have served.

General admission includes access to the first-floor galleries and exhibits, second-floor Flight Ops Simulator Room, Virtual Reality Experience, Smokeless Laser Gun Range, Training Center presentations, documentaries, and more exhibit areas.

Whether you’re planning a family outing or simply looking for one of Punta Gorda’s most meaningful attractions, Military Heritage Museum should absolutely be on your list!

Plan your visit to Military Heritage Museum!

Check for more information here »

Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda: Hidden Gems, History, and Local Fun

Port Charlotte’s more than just a place to kick back and relax; it’s home to tens of thousands of hardworking residents who pour their hearts into creating the best experiences one can find in Florida. When you explore and stay in Port Charlotte, you get first-hand experience of the community and culture of this city.

These unique destinations within Charlotte County display just a snippet of what one can expect to see in two of Florida’s overlooked towns. Be blessed, and we hope you’ll expand your horizons and seek out more to do in our lovely state.

Manasota Movers: Making Moves Fun Since 2009!

No matter where you move, Manasota Movers is there to help you in all kinds of ways! We take the stress away & handle all the heavy lifting so you can start planning your Port Charlotte dining itinerary as quickly as possible. We can pack, move, and even provide helpful tips about where you should go next in Port Charlotte, as we showcased today!

Get started on your moving journey here »