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Whether you enjoy gliding down the Peace River in a kayak, going one on one with a 100-pound Tarpon in the Gulf of Mexico, munching on a hot dog while enjoying a baseball game or enjoying a romantic evening overlooking Charlotte Harbor at Fishermen’s Village, we feel certain a trip to Charlotte County will satisfy your vacation itch.

The Stadium at Charlotte Sports Park, located at 2300 El Jobean Road on State Road 776 in Port Charlotte, is operated by the Charlotte County Parks & Recreation Department. With 5,332 seats, clubhouse, baseball and softball fields and open grounds available for festivals, concerts, large shows, expositions and sporting events, the Stadium is poised to become an important outdoor venue for southwest Florida. Charlotte Sports Park connects with Tippecanoe Environmental Park and will become the entrance to walking trails, a boardwalk and a canoe launch. This linear park connection continues with the Charlotte County Fairgrounds across 776 and the future development of the Mid-County Park on O’Donnell Road.

The Charlotte County Historical Center has served the community since 1969. Its mission is to educate people of all ages about Florida and Charlotte County in a hands-on, interactive environment. Changing exhibits explore topics related to state and local history, Florida natural history and the sciences. Permanent exhibits include the Local History exhibit and the Florida Military Heritage exhibit. The Center also offers a wide range of educational and outreach programs, including speakers engagements at area clubs and schools, booths at local events and festivals, off-site exhibits, "free" days at the Center, and classes, lectures and summer programs for children and adults. Annual special events include "Florida Frontier Days," a pioneer festival held each spring, and "A Symphony of Trees", held in November/December.

Since its enthusiastic beginning over 40 years ago, the Visual Arts Center, a not-for-profit organization, has moved to bring together people interested in visual arts. The Guild has over 800 individual and family members, and, with its many professional and extremely qualified instructors, promotes greater knowledge, skills and appreciation of the visual arts through classes, programs, work-shops and exhibits for adults, high school students and children. Abundant lighting, extended cathedral ceilings and over 225 feet of exhibition space make the Visual Arts Center an ideal location for our program of year-round exhibits. Over 100 volunteers give their time and talents to the Center, promoting advocacy and widening public exposure of visual arts. The Visual Arts Center takes pleasure in inviting the public to its home at 210 Maude Street, Punta Gorda, across from Fisherman’s Village.

The Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Inc. (CHEC) is a nonprofit corporation sponsored by Charlotte County, the City of Punta Gorda, the School Board of Charlotte County, and the Peace River Audubon Society. CHEC’s mission is to provide environmental education, recreation, research and preservation management for residents and visitors in our community. Visitors to this free state preserve will encounter almost four miles of nature trails, the Caniff Visitor Building, a Discovery Museum and a screened picnic shelter. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Shop Port Charlotte Town Center, the largest enclosed mall in Charlotte County. The Mall offers shopping in fine department stores, as well as 100 exclusive specialty stores. It is home to a 16-screen cinema and a food court. Owned and operated by Simon Property Group, Port Charlotte Town Center sells Simon mall gift certificates. These gift certificates make a great gift because they’re good virtually everywhere. Simon mall gift certificates are convenient, versatile and easy to use.

The Florida Military Heritage Museum, located at Fishermen’s Village, is a nonprofit organization, created by veterans and dedicated to educating the public, especially children, about our country’s rich military heritage. A respect and understanding for the sacrifices made by those who served their country, from the beginning to the present, is supported by extensive, and ever changing, exhibits of military artifacts and memorabilia. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the Military Museum is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from noon on Sundays.

Explore the Excitement - With 65 parks and recreation facilities, there is truly something for everyone. From aerobics to walking trails, Charlotte County Parks & Recreation Department offers activities and opportunities to be happier, live longer and add more balance to your life. Charlotte County Parks & Recreation operates from Englewood to Punta Gorda, from Placida to Harbor Heights. Enjoy the many fishing piers, nature trails and picnic areas. If you prefer a more active lifestyle, try your hand at the public swimming pool or at one of the many athletic fields or fitness trails.

Special events are a Parks & Recreation specialty. Take advantage of the annual Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Carnival. Other programs include teen dances, big band dances, concerts, skating programs, community garage sales, races, tennis and fishing tournaments, children’s craft days, nature programs and many others. Watch the media or pick up event flyers at any of the recreation facilities. Six recreation facilities offer a wide variety of classes and activities for adults and children, as well as room rentals for your next family event or club meeting. Stop in for a schedule of events and classes. Instructors are invited to discuss adding their specialty to our existing classes.

Tringali Recreation Center is located at Tringali Park in Englewood and offers many classes including ballroom dancing, aerobics, oils and watercolors and tae kwon do and is home to a youth hockey league. There is a gymnasium, fitness center, room rentals, tennis courts and a playground. Activities for youth include a weekly in-line skating program, teen dances and day camp during the summer and other school breaks.

Port Charlotte Beach Recreation Center is located in Port Charlotte Beach Park overlooking serene Charlotte Harbor. This facility offers classes and is utilized by many community organizations and individuals for meetings, dances, parties and wedding receptions. The public swimming pool and public breach are located here. Picnic shelters are available for rent. There are tennis courts, boat ramp, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pit, bocce ball courts, playground, and an outdoor basketball court. Parking is 25 cents per hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week or $25.00 for a yearly parking pass (good from October 1 through September 30).

Harold Avenue Recreation Center is located at Harold Avenue Park in Port Charlotte and is home to a youth basketball league, teen dances, table tennis, badminton and indoor volleyball. This facility has a gymnasium, tennis courts, playground, ballfields and meeting rooms for rent. Harold Avenue Park is another popular site for day camp during the summer and other extended school breaks.

The Carmalita Recreation Center is located at the Carmalita Park in Punta Gorda. It offers Trimnastics and Dog Obedience classes and is available for wedding receptions and meetings.

The Charlotte County Memorial Auditorium & Civic Center, overlooking the Peace River, is the site for many types of entertainment such as concerts, big band dances, theatre shows, expos and sporting matches, as well as society events and private parties. With a professional proscenium stage, a caterer’s kitchen and a seating capacity of 2230, this multi-use facility offers flexibility to meet the needs of your fundraiser, parties and conferences.

The Stadium and grounds at Charlotte Sports Park is available for festivals, concerts, large shows, expositions and sporting events. Featuring a 5,000+ seat stadium, baseball and softball fields, clubhouse, and open grounds, Charlotte Sports Park is poised to become an important venue of Southwest Florida.

The Cultural Center of Charlotte County enriches the lives of residents and visitors, both young and old, with its nationally recognized programs in education, recreation, fitness and social activities. Facing Aaron is a 418-seat theater to the north, a branch of the Port Charlotte Public Library to the south, and between them is the Learning Place, a continuing education school.

Education at the Learning Place ranges from quilting to Shakespeare, dance to computers, art history to Florida fishing, applied arts and crafts to language. The Learning Place operates all year long and offers both day and evening classes. Over 140 classes are offered each six-week term, and there is a variety of hands-on four week term computer classes. The instructors are exceptional, and prices are a bargain.

Recreation activities happen throughout our campus, including in the comfortable theater. They offer everything from professional traveling shows to community productions by local arts groups. The Theater is also home of the Cul-Cen Productions, their own volunteer group of thespians who put on sellout shows every winter. Other recreational activities include informal concerts, monthly dinner theaters, organized games, including bingo, and a wide variety of hobby groups.

Fitness activities vary widely at the Cultural Center, and include four weekly ballroom dances open to the public, exercise classes, several dance classes, and the new state-of-the-art Fitness Center, in cooperation with Bon Secours-Saint Joseph Hospital. The Center is also home to many support groups, providing health education and encouragement.

Service may be last in this description, but not least in importance at the Cultural Center. From the Board of Trustees to the 750 people who serve as patrons, this is truly a volunteer-owned-and-operated organization. The paid staff has fewer than 30 individuals.

For your shopping needs they have: the Book Store, selling used books and magazines; the Gift Shop, for unique items made by their own Happy Helpers; the Country Store, with quaint shop collectibles; and Trash & Treasure, which sells better ladies apparel in the boutique, plus used clothing, household furniture and wares. Breakfast and lunch are served six days a week and there's noontime dinner on Sunday in the Cul-Cen Cafe, which also has full catering services.

The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that leases the buildings from the County Government.

For travelers approaching Punta Gorda on the Albert W. Gilchrist Bridge from the north, the most imposing building on the waterfront is the Charlotte County Memorial Auditorium & Civic Center. This multipurpose facility, located on the Peace River, is operated by Charlotte County Parks and Recreation Department.

The Auditorium offers a professional proscenium stage, caterer’s kitchen and a maximum seating capacity of 2230. It is equipped to handle a wide variety of activities including conventions, performing arts, arts and crafts shows, antique and trade shows, professional and non-professional theater, charity balls and professional boxing. The Auditorium offers a compact concept in convention; close by are two motels and a shopping plaza.

The Charlotte County Family YMCA is a non-profit community service organization that serves people of all ages in and around Charlotte County. Financial assistance is available in membership and programs for those in financial need. The Charlotte County YMCA currently operates four branches, plus additional programs using community facilities throughout the County.

The Franz Ross Park branch on Quesada Avenue in Port Charlotte is a 24,221 square foot facility that includes a youth/family activity center, child watch room, complete fitness center with cardiovascular equipment, selecterized weight machines and free weight equipment, a wood surface group exercise room, open exercise room, indoor swimming pool, male and female locker rooms, steam rooms and an outdoor spa. A variety of programs for all ages are available in fitness, swimming, youth and adult sports.

In conjunction with Edison Community College in Punta Gorda, the YMCA operates a full facility fitness center showcasing machine, free weight and cardiovascular equipment, an indoor four lane running track, group exercise room and locker rooms. Outdoor facilities include tennis, basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts.

The Port Charlotte site includes a steam room, while the Punta Gorda site has an indoor track and outdoor volleyball, basketball and racquetball courts. Members have access to both facilities.

The Edgewater Childcare Services Branch is located at 22425 Edgewater in Charlotte Harbor and provides onsite licensed quality care for infants and pre-school age children by certified adults. School-age child care sites are operated in cooperation with the Charlotte County School District at nine sites with a variety of activities under the supervision of trained, qualified staff. Summer day camp and teen camp is also available.

In partnership with the City of Punta Gorda, the YMCA operates the City of Punta Gorda’s "Bay Front Center," 750 West Retta Esplanade in Punta Gorda, at the west end of Gilchrist Park. Programs such as social bridge, duplicate bridge, woodcarving, crafts, aerobic and fitness classes, seminars and dancing are offered, as well as a variety of youth and special interest programs. This facility, at the junction of Peace River and Charlotte Harbor, features a complete kitchen, a beautiful view and is available for wedding receptions, anniversary parties, club meetings, dances and dinners. The mission of the Charlotte County Family YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Visitors/guests are welcome. Volunteers are encouraged to share your special skills and talents.

Englewood Beach - located at 2100 North Beach Road, Englewood, FL has 16 acres with amenities: Pavilion, Boardwalk, BBQ Grills, Picnic Shelters, Playground, Restrooms, Volleyball Courts, and Fishing.

Port Charlotte Beach Park - located at 4500 Harbor Boulevard has, in addition to the beach, the following amenities: BBQ Grills, Basketball, Boat Ramps, Bocci, Fishing Pier, Horseshoes, Picnic Shelters, Playground, Room Rentals, Reacreation Building, Restrooms, Heated Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, Volleyball Courts, Canoe/Kayak access, Concession Stan

Stump Pass Beach State Park - located on the southernmost end of Manasota Key, 900 Gulf Boulevard, Englewood, FL has the following amenities: Sunbathing, Shelling, Fishing, Outdoor Showers, Restrooms, Weather Shelter.

Don Pedro Island State Park is a barrier island park with approximately 1 mile of white sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico that is accessible only by boat. Boat docks are located on the bay side via a channel from the Intercoastal Waterway at green marker #35. Amenities include: Pavilion, Tables, Grills, Outdoor Showers, Restrooms, Sunbathing, Fishing.

Charlotte County has an abundance of parks, recreation facilities, nature preserves, harbor cruises, ball parks, art galleries, golf courses, tennis courts, theaters, historic sites, marinas, shopping centers, and restaurants to fulfill all of your vacation plans. There is something here for everyone.

The Charlotte County Memorial Auditorium/Civic Center presents their Performing Arts Series annually from November through March with familiar names and new talents. Fishermen's Village offers entertainment and events.

The Charlotte Players Theater Group presents five plays annually at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County Theater, October through June and other special programs as announced. Charlotte County Family YMCA offers a large variety of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual programs. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County offers a wide variety of shows, activities and resources. The Charlotte County Historical Center, located at 22959 Bayshore Road, Port Charlotte is open daily Monday through Friday, 10-5 and Saturday and Sunday, 10- 3. Admission is free, donations are appreciated. The Charlotte Performing Arts Center on Carmalita Street in Punta Gorda is a new, impressive center featuring a Steinway concert Grand piano. A variety of performances are scheduled for the enjoyment of all audiences.