Parks & Beaches

Be Enchanted by Our Good Nature!

Enjoy 5 beaches on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Englewood-Cape Haze, and more to choose from in a short drive either by car or boat! You will find the warm, salty green/blue waters of the Gulf restorative and a perfect place to start or end your vacation! The salt content will keep you afloat in tranquil waters. For those who prefer smooth, glassy waters, you should try the beach early morning. Boogie boards, noodles and beach balls are welcome (but California surfers may prefer the Atlantic).

Traveling from the North on Manasota Key….

Manasota Beach 941-861-1980

www.scgov.net for general information

 

Located at the North end of the barrier island known as Manasota Key, it is a quaint place to picnic and relax with a book. It is a larger beach with almost no sandbar. Amenities include: restrooms, boardwalk, fishing, free parking, picnic area, and a year round lifeguard. There is a boat launch across the street with it’s own parking area. There are no restaurants or shops within walking distance. Call the county to reserve a picnic shelter and grill, and for more information about the boat launch. No pets please!

Blind Pass or "Middle" Beach 941-861-1980

www.scgov.net for general information

About 3.5 miles south of Manasota Beach, this is the place for those who prefer peace and quiet rather than conveniences. A large parking area and playground is across the street, as well as a launch for canoes and kayaks. The beach is long and quiet with some shallows ideal for playing. Amenities include free parking, picnic area and restrooms. No restaurants, shops, pets or lifeguards at this location!

Chadwick Park/ Englewood Beach (941-473-1018, www.charlottecountyfl.com/parks

Another 3 to 4 miles south on Beach Road you will find the larger, more crowded beach close to restaurants, shops, scooter and boat rentals. This is a beach with energy and the laughter of children! The boardwalk and facility were re-built in 2002 complete with playground, volleyball and basketball courts. Picnic shelters with 6 tables are available for $5 an hour and a large pavilion that accommodates over 120 people is available for $10 an hour. Four smaller picnic shelters are free but go early! Parking is available at 50 cents per hour. Pay stations are available in the middle and south parking lots, and be sure to pay and place the receipt on your dash – sheriff’s deputies do patrol and ticket offenders! No pets please! But enjoy the brief walk to restaurants, convenience store and boat rentals, and spend the day!

 

Florida State Parks – Open 365 days a year!

 

Stump Pass State Park Beach 941-964-0375

www.floridastateparks.org

Combine nature walks with a day at the beach, or bring your kayak to launch into the bay. Parking is limited to 40 spaces and a $2.00 donation is requested as you enter (honor system). Nestled between Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico at 1 foot above sea level, Stump Pass Beach is for those who enjoy no crowds and the clean waters close to an inlet. No lifeguard and swimming is at your own risk – keep an eye out for currents and weather. Enjoy a mile long walk around the bay, past the inlet and back onto the gulf-side. You can enjoy the local plants and trees in a natural setting, and take a dip along the way. No pets, alcohol or picnic area. Please leave only your footprints in this special piece of paradise.

Traveling by car down Placida Road

Don Pedro Island State Recreation Area 941-964-0375

www.floridastateparks.org
The park and beach is located on the barrier island of Don Pedro. By boat you'll need to travel south of Stump Pass on the I.C.W. just past the "no-wake zone" and make a quick right at the brown State Park sign. About 20 boat slips await you at the docks. A short walk across the island takes you to a huge covered pavilion and several barbecue grills. Restrooms and showers are available. $1.00 donation is requested. For your GPS use Latitude 26.8499 Longitude 82.3048.

(photo from www.floridastateparks.org)

Gasparilla Island State Recreation Area 941-964-0375

www.floridastateparks.org
Minutes from Englewood south of the Cape Haze Peninsula cross the bridge to Gasparilla Island and travel to the southern tip of the island. Located on Boca Grande Pass, where Charlotte Harbor enters the Gulf of Mexico, this park is the home to the Boca Grande Lighthouse built in 1890. Swimming, fishing and picnicking are popular activities. Visit the town of Boca Grande at the same time and you have a superior day trip. A $1.00 donation is requested.

Cayo Costa State Park 941-964-0375 information and camping reservations.

Ferry reservations 239-283-0015

www.floridastateparks.org
This park occupies most of Cayo Costa Island located directly south of Boca Grande. Accessible only by boat, the natural features of the island are stunning. Miles of beaches, acres of pine forests, oak palm hammocks, mangrove swamps and a spectacular display of bird life welcome visitors. Overnight camping and rental cabins are available.

Local Nature Parks in our own back yard!

Lemon Bay Park 570 Bay Park Boulevard, 941-473-3065

www.parksonline.scgov.net to rent facilities, and pavilions

 

www.scgov.net for general information
Visit the butterfly garden, picnic sites and nature trails at this park located on Lemon Bay, north of Dearborn Street in Olde Englewood. Home to America Bald Eagles and a variety of local birds, this is a marvelous place to take time out of a busy vacation and relax. Classes and guided bird and butterfly walks are available. Nature walk adventures available January-April. Lemon Bay Park has more than 200 acres. A 48-acre parcel of Lemon Bay Park was acquired in 1986 as part of the $20 million county bond referendum. Today the park covers 204 acres of pine and scrubby Flatwoods along the natural bay shoreline.

 

 

Indian Mounds Park 210 Winson Avenue

 

www.charlottecountyfl.com

 

www.scgov.net for general information

 

Located on Lemon Bay, south of Dearborn Street in Olde Englewood, Indian Mounds offers a public boat ramp with parking facilities. Other amenities include a picnic pavilion, picnic tables, and a historic nature trail. Originally the site was called Paulson's Point Park. In 1971, the name of the park was changed to Indian Mound Park in accordance with endorsement from clubs and organizations in the Englewood area. When the Intracoastal Waterway came through Lemon Bay in the early 1960's, dredged soil was placed on the site to create the 10-acre park we know today. In 1973, the Englewood Rotary Club built the large picnic shelter next to the mound and the Lemon Bay Garden Club constructed the Nature trails that wander through the mound.

 

Cedar Point Environmental Center 2300 Placida Road 941-475-0769

www.checflorida.org
Located on the shores of Lemon Bay on Placida Road, this nature lover’s park has 88 acres with five marked hiking trails through Southwest Florida pine Flatwoods, oak scrub, salt flats, and the mangrove fringe of Lemon Bay. American bald eagles and gopher tortoises, as well as many endangered plants are found here. Purchased in 1992 by Charlotte County thanks to a grant from the Florida Communities Trust. In 1994, the County contracted with CHEC, Inc. to protect and manage natural resources of the land. The park was officially opened to the public in November of 1995 and immediately the guided nature walks began. In the summer of 1997 the environmental visitors' reception center was opened. It is now the place to find eco-films, hands-on eco-displays, educational lectures, nature programs, informational pamphlets, and knowledgeable staff and volunteer assistance. It's also a great place to look out over the beautiful forest and spot a gopher tortoise, bald eagle, owl, and bobcat.