Guidebook for Port Charlotte
GREAT FOOD
Pioneer Pizza is the best. Not only do they have great pizza, all their food is amazing! All the toppings you want and it is huge! I can't say enough about this place. Sit at the bar and talk to Lahana. She is the best bartender EVER and is so entertaining. Their "backyard" is spectacular!
The food is wonderful, especially the Sushi. The view is great for sunsets, boat watching and catching the sun. The decorations are outstanding, the prices are reasonable and you can bring your dog. bicycle, boat or car.
61 locals recommend
Laishley Crab House
150 Laishley CtThe food is wonderful, especially the Sushi. The view is great for sunsets, boat watching and catching the sun. The decorations are outstanding, the prices are reasonable and you can bring your dog. bicycle, boat or car.
Wonderful Italian food at a great price. Buffet available, outside seating, fun bar. Great for families, or sitting in a quiet corner. They also have a large room for big parties. Bicycle or car
10 locals recommend
Luigi's Pizzeria & Family restaurant
3883 Tamiami TrailWonderful Italian food at a great price. Buffet available, outside seating, fun bar. Great for families, or sitting in a quiet corner. They also have a large room for big parties. Bicycle or car
Temp Closed * This is an all around restaurant with a Greek theme and plenty of Greek food. They are good and cheap for all meals but their breakfasts are outstanding. The waitresses are quick. No pets. Walk, bicycle or drive.
Olympia Restaurant
3245 Tamiami TrailTemp Closed * This is an all around restaurant with a Greek theme and plenty of Greek food. They are good and cheap for all meals but their breakfasts are outstanding. The waitresses are quick. No pets. Walk, bicycle or drive.
One of the best Sushi restaurants around. Sit at the bar for a more personal experience. Check for hours. Car or Bicycle
Ichiban Japanese Steak House
4200 Tamiami TrailOne of the best Sushi restaurants around. Sit at the bar for a more personal experience. Check for hours. Car or Bicycle
If you like Sushi this is a great place to go. The "bubble walls" behind the bar keep you staring at them as you relax with your beverage. Sea Urchin appetizer was a delicious starting point for something new to try. Everything on the menu is fresh and I have never had anything I didn't like.
14 locals recommend
Fin Sushi & Grill
24123 Peachland BlvdIf you like Sushi this is a great place to go. The "bubble walls" behind the bar keep you staring at them as you relax with your beverage. Sea Urchin appetizer was a delicious starting point for something new to try. Everything on the menu is fresh and I have never had anything I didn't like.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun place to go and people watch. The wings are great, the beer is cold and everything is reasonable priced. Sit outside with your dog and have a great salad with baked fish on top! Best salad/lunch you can get. Walk, ride the bicycle or by car.
9 locals recommend
Gatorz Bar and Grill
3816 Tamiami TrailFun place to go and people watch. The wings are great, the beer is cold and everything is reasonable priced. Sit outside with your dog and have a great salad with baked fish on top! Best salad/lunch you can get. Walk, ride the bicycle or by car.
It's been here a long time, but there is a reason for that. Good cold beer, Mexican food (reasonable) and good prices. Bands every night, good service and friendly people. Mostly locals. You have to like LOUD music if you sit outside. bicycle or car.
36 locals recommend
Dean's South of the Border
130 Tamiami TrailIt's been here a long time, but there is a reason for that. Good cold beer, Mexican food (reasonable) and good prices. Bands every night, good service and friendly people. Mostly locals. You have to like LOUD music if you sit outside. bicycle or car.
Chubby'z has been around a long time also, but this is a newer location after hurricane Charlie. They have great food (mussels are excellent) with specials most nights and are reasonably priced. While it is on a canal, you can't get here by boat unless you have a kayak and are willing to travel the distance. There is a small gator who hangs outback off the dock. Bicycle or car. Decent crowd and you can sit outside back or front. Live music most nights.
Chubby'z Sports Tavern & Grill
4109 Tamiami TrailChubby'z has been around a long time also, but this is a newer location after hurricane Charlie. They have great food (mussels are excellent) with specials most nights and are reasonably priced. While it is on a canal, you can't get here by boat unless you have a kayak and are willing to travel the distance. There is a small gator who hangs outback off the dock. Bicycle or car. Decent crowd and you can sit outside back or front. Live music most nights.
This is a very nice place to have drinks by the water. Exercising people, dog!
50 locals recommend
TT's Tiki Bar
33 Tamiami TrailThis is a very nice place to have drinks by the water. Exercising people, dog!
Everything Else
Temp Closed * MUST SEE. Unique place to go. Unusual food and a decent price. Right on the Peace River with a nature area across the street. Not fast....you come here to explore the museum/gift shop, walk the docks, sit with friends, enjoy the music, play a little piano, watch for gators and enjoy the sun with your dog. This is a bathing suit barefoot kind of place unless you want to eat inside where you have to get dressed up (putting on a shirt and shoes). Captain Kirk offers boat tours and lunch tours by boat also. Come by boat or car.
18 locals recommend
Nav-A-Gator Bar & Grill
9700 SW Riverview CirTemp Closed * MUST SEE. Unique place to go. Unusual food and a decent price. Right on the Peace River with a nature area across the street. Not fast....you come here to explore the museum/gift shop, walk the docks, sit with friends, enjoy the music, play a little piano, watch for gators and enjoy the sun with your dog. This is a bathing suit barefoot kind of place unless you want to eat inside where you have to get dressed up (putting on a shirt and shoes). Captain Kirk offers boat tours and lunch tours by boat also. Come by boat or car.
Shopping
Lots of local items for sale. Several restaurants and bars. Dog friendly. By boat or car.
191 locals recommend
Fishermens Village Resort
1200 W Retta EsplanadeLots of local items for sale. Several restaurants and bars. Dog friendly. By boat or car.
Temp Closed * Bealls is unique to Florida and is good for any type of clothing you might have forgotten. They are an outlet store so the prices are wonderful. They also have household items at good discounts. There is a U Fit gym that offers daily, monthly or yearly workout payments. Tuesday Morning is great for browsing and getting deals on luggage and household necessities and they have a good gourmet snacks.
Promenades Mall
3280 Tamiami TrailTemp Closed * Bealls is unique to Florida and is good for any type of clothing you might have forgotten. They are an outlet store so the prices are wonderful. They also have household items at good discounts. There is a U Fit gym that offers daily, monthly or yearly workout payments. Tuesday Morning is great for browsing and getting deals on luggage and household necessities and they have a good gourmet snacks.
Arcadia is for antiques ....... There are so many stores here it's impossible to visit them all in a day. This is old town Florida life and very slow.
7 locals recommend
Arcadia
Arcadia is for antiques ....... There are so many stores here it's impossible to visit them all in a day. This is old town Florida life and very slow.
Parks & Nature
CAYO COSTA State Park is a barrier island that is gorgeous! It is all natural and they keep it that way. The trek across the island is almost a mile but it is mostly covered by trees and is a beautiful walk. If you are carrying stuff, take the tram.
It's just so close and it has lots of activities to do. They hold sailing lessons through the Red Cross, rental kayaks, walk the trails and boardwalks, beach, pool, play ground, docks, boat ramp, fishing, tennis courts, Bocci courts, feed the squirrels and put your blanket on the quiet area of the beach and catch the sun.
39 locals recommend
Port Charlotte Beach Park
4500 Harbor BlvdIt's just so close and it has lots of activities to do. They hold sailing lessons through the Red Cross, rental kayaks, walk the trails and boardwalks, beach, pool, play ground, docks, boat ramp, fishing, tennis courts, Bocci courts, feed the squirrels and put your blanket on the quiet area of the beach and catch the sun.
Some people believe these springs are the fountain of youth that Ponce De Leon was searching for and people from all over the world come for it's healing powers. It is opened for swimming to the public and is about 85 degrees all year around. There have been archeologist digging the site with scuba gear for years and have found Paleo-Indian burials over 10,000 years old.
60 locals recommend
Warm Mineral Springs
Some people believe these springs are the fountain of youth that Ponce De Leon was searching for and people from all over the world come for it's healing powers. It is opened for swimming to the public and is about 85 degrees all year around. There have been archeologist digging the site with scuba gear for years and have found Paleo-Indian burials over 10,000 years old.
There are numerous city and state parks in the Pt Charlotte area, the one mentioned here is a wildlife management area. For a small fee you can fish, hunt (appropriate season), camp, hike, ride horses (if you bring your own), bicycle and enjoy the lakes. I have been told the bird watching here is outstanding. I would not swim with the gators here, they are everywhere and some of them are pretty big.
Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area
29200 Tuckers GradeThere are numerous city and state parks in the Pt Charlotte area, the one mentioned here is a wildlife management area. For a small fee you can fish, hunt (appropriate season), camp, hike, ride horses (if you bring your own), bicycle and enjoy the lakes. I have been told the bird watching here is outstanding. I would not swim with the gators here, they are everywhere and some of them are pretty big.
Entertainment & Activities
A comedy club featuring top talents from The Comedy Zone. This is a fun place to have a great Italian meal and giggle or LOL! Car
22 locals recommend
Visani Restaurant and Comedy Theater
2400 Kings HwyA comedy club featuring top talents from The Comedy Zone. This is a fun place to have a great Italian meal and giggle or LOL! Car
This is the true "Dinner and a Show." While it is a drive (about 45 minutes to get on the trail) and a little on the pricey side, it is worthwhile. Either in a twosome or a group of four, six or eight (tables seat 4) you will definitely be entertained as these great actor/comedians travel through the train in a talented skit that will keep you guessing at the end results. Did I mention that there is a 5 course meal that is excellent? The train is a scenic ride through parts of Ft. Myers and into Punta Gorda. Once you get out of the city, you will see wildlife including gator holes and various birds, possibly hogs and deer.
23 locals recommend
Murder Mystery Dinner Train
2805 Colonial BlvdThis is the true "Dinner and a Show." While it is a drive (about 45 minutes to get on the trail) and a little on the pricey side, it is worthwhile. Either in a twosome or a group of four, six or eight (tables seat 4) you will definitely be entertained as these great actor/comedians travel through the train in a talented skit that will keep you guessing at the end results. Did I mention that there is a 5 course meal that is excellent? The train is a scenic ride through parts of Ft. Myers and into Punta Gorda. Once you get out of the city, you will see wildlife including gator holes and various birds, possibly hogs and deer.
Arts & Culture
If you like cars, especially older ones, this is the place for you! Rich Treworgy has been collecting vintage cars and now has a collections of over 200 pristine cars. He also has one of the largest automotive memoribilla store anywhere. He has so many vehicles and displays he has to move from his present location to 10175 Tamiami Trl in Punta Gorda, just a few miles south of the location on this map. There is a fee to view all these wonderfully preserved icons and they have a "diner" for breakfast and lunch inside.
21 locals recommend
MUSCLE CAR CITY LLC
10175 Tamiami TrailIf you like cars, especially older ones, this is the place for you! Rich Treworgy has been collecting vintage cars and now has a collections of over 200 pristine cars. He also has one of the largest automotive memoribilla store anywhere. He has so many vehicles and displays he has to move from his present location to 10175 Tamiami Trl in Punta Gorda, just a few miles south of the location on this map. There is a fee to view all these wonderfully preserved icons and they have a "diner" for breakfast and lunch inside.