Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda has that easygoing, waterfront charm that makes you want to…read morelinger, even if you miss the big show at sunset. I arrived too early for the evening colors, which is a bummer, but the park still delivers plenty to enjoy. There are picnic tables, shaded spots, and enough open space for families to spread out and make a day of it. The fishing crowd was out in full force, and the boat launch gives you direct access to Charlotte Harbor, which adds a nice sense of motion and purpose to the shoreline. The only real disappointment is the boardwalk. It is completely closed and visibly buckled, likely from hurricane damage, and it leaves a quiet gap where a scenic stroll should be. Even so, the park holds its own as a relaxed, functional waterfront stop with a lot of local life happening around it. [Review 1591 of 2025 - 2171 in Florida - 25141 overall]

Ponce de Leon is a nice park to visit overlooking the Charlotte Harbor. There is a sandy beach area…read morethat you can watch the sunset. There are wild animals; I saw a raccoon just hanging out and not fazed by how many people were there. There is a boat ramp, fishing pier, and picnic area. Plenty of parking too!

Non friendly and uneducated staffing. Poor choice or selection from others that are local to the…read morearea.

The guy working Saturday morning after the Fourth of July was a complete jerk. Was rude and very…read morediscourteous to all of the patrons that would come in and go.

This is a wonderful store! The staff is delightful! We loved all the choices and price ranges fit…read moreanyone! They absolutely do not try to upsell you! Which we appreciate! We got exactly what we needed and a few extra things!

Great place in the people were so friendly. It was a pleasure to go in there. Get what I needed…read more There's an overwhelming amount of stuff you wouldn't even know you needed until you walk through the store. If you haven't been there, I feel bad for you.

Do NOT come to the playground here with children…read more Aside from the non fenced shoreline with alligator warning signs on them (doubt that is a huge issue, but dont risk it) the building right next to it is filled with homeless guys generally up to no good. It is NOT SAFE. I went with my child on a walk from sun seeker and tried to pay them no mind, but one man on a bike rolled up and started snapping photos of my daughter. When we grabbed her to hide her from the camera he got verbally aggressive demanding we pose for him and "smile pretty"and kept pressing us as we covered her and kept saying no. It was creepy and so upsetting. And yes, it was 100% a guy being creepy about a child, not a misunderstanding. Im from LA and my skin is not thin, im used to homeless literally everywhere and kicking myself for letting my guard down because this the town I grew up in and it is generally safe, this area in particular has always been sketchy though so maybe its my bad for thinking things had changed from 35 years ago. We called the police afterwards and he was thankfully (apparently!) thrown in jail because he had a list of other things combined with our issue, but those are the sorts of guys hanging out there. He was buddies with all the men at that building and they outnumber you.

Cute little park right on the water in Port Charlotte. Looks like the park folks have invested in…read morethe pier and nice walkway. They also have a sort of canoe launch. I most enjoyed the views from shore of the water fowl and the long walk out on pier.

My wife and I booked a 4 hour Inshore charter with Captain Justin. From the time we met him he…read morecouldn't of been more genuine or accommodating. We spent the morning going to several spots catching everything from Red fish, Snook, Speckled Trout, Jacks, and even Catfish. He is a great guide and Captain but more important he is good person.

My wife and I recently visited Punta Gorda and had the pleasure of fishing with Justin from High…read moreTide Charters. THE DAY WAS PERFECT! Justin worked his butt off the entire time. He was very personable, professional, and knowledgeable. Bottom line, the man knows how to fish, and wants you to catch fish. My wife is a beginner when it comes to fishing, but you would never have known it with his expert guidance. He knows how to teach, a rare commodity these days, and he has plenty of patience. When the fish weren't biting, he was sharing his love and knowledge of the area. He's more than happy to answer questions about the area, not just about fishing. I've been fishing my entire life, and this was one of the most enjoyable trips I've been on. I'm sure we will charter him again on our next visit, and so should you. He's a stand up guy/guide who you can comfortably put your faith in. I think the only question he could answer was, "why do mullet jump?" Seriously though, look no further than High Tide Fishing Charters, you will not be disappointed.

There were four of us and what a fantastic time we had!!! It was GREAT we are planning on another…read morelocal cruise.

We celebrated our 61st anniversary on the sunset cruise! Our Captain Glenn, Vince and Penny were…read morevery friendly, announced our anniversary and they gave us a nice card. We saw so many dolphins and really enjoyed seeing the excitement of the children on board. The cruise was relaxing with the Jimmy Buffet theme and the sunset was beautiful. Jim and Carolyn McConnell

Gilchrist Park has a way of feeling alive even on a cool winter morning. I arrived around 9am on a…read moreSunday expecting a quiet start, but the place was already humming with tennis players, dog walkers, and people easing into the day along the Harborwalk. The breeze off the water made everything feel crisp and unhurried. The public restrooms were open, clean, and very welcome after my morning coffee, which is not something you can take for granted in a waterfront park. Parking is probably tight when there is an event, but on this visit it was easy enough to slip into a spot and enjoy the shoreline without any stress. The view of the bridges was especially lovely, stretching across the wide river with a kind of quiet confidence. From here you really appreciate how much engineering went into building and maintaining them, and how gracefully they connect the two sides of the harbor. The seagulls added their own bit of drama. They were unusually active, circling and calling, and once they noticed I was eating a sandwich they fell into formation behind me like a feathery escort. It was a little unnerving to feel so closely monitored, as if I had wandered into a Hitchcock audition. [Review 1589 of 2025 - 2170 in Florida - 25139 overall]

This 11 acre park is named for Governor Albert Gilchrist, a real estate broker, surveyor, and…read morepolitical leader and one of the founding fathers of the City. Gilchrist grew up in Georgia and came to Punta Gorda as surveyor. Governor Gilchrist first served on the City Council, then in the State Legislature before becoming the 20th Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913. Upon his death, Governor Gilchrist established a $5,000 endowment to the City for the provision of ice cream to all the children of Punta Gorda on Halloween. This tradition still continues today with the help of community sponsors. The park is located at 400 W. Retta Esplanade in historic Punta Gorda, Gilchrist Park runs along the waterfront between the downtown and Fishermen's Village. In the the park you get a view of Charlotte Harbor. Park amenities include a large pirate themed playground, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, fishing pier (closed), gazebo, picnic pavilions, and open green space. In the center of the park along the water there is a large statue of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon memorializing when he came ashore as the first European in this area in the 16th century. The statue was donated by the Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors,an organization "dedicated to the preservation of the Spanish heritage of Charlotte County and Florida." The statue was dedicated on March 27, 2005. Weddings, craft shows and concerts are some of the events held in the park. Also located within the park is the Bayfront Center operated by the YMCA of Charlotte County. This facility hosts YMCA programs including a sailing center. The YMCA rents this waterfront facility.

At dawn we drift where the still reeds sigh, Silver line…read morekissing a blushing sky. Egrets stitch light through the cypress air, Herons pause--like thoughts we share. An alligator glides, old moon on the tide, Ancient eyes watching love pass by. Cast after cast, the world slows its breath-- Hooked not on fish, but the hush of this depth. Hand in hand where the water remembers, We fall in love with the day's soft embers.

We got to see an alligator in the pond swim around. Worth the quick trip just for this!read more

The boat was nice and the fish were biting but then he yelled at me and tried to fight my 11 year…read moreold son.

Brock Horner is a trash human being. A danger on the waters to other boaters when he's being…read morereckless. He hates being called out then targets the people who are alone while he's with friends to make himself look good. Avoid this guy at all cost. Go with someone who is not going to put you and yours at risk of being hurt or worse because he has problems controlling his emotions and boards others boats while being a threat to them. This guy is going to get himself killed or his guest when he boards the wrong boat.

What a fun and great day fishing with Leighton. He is very knowledgeable about the fish and area…read moreand helpful with casting instructions. We will be going out with him again! Highly recommend.

Captain Leighton turned what could have been a complete washout of a day into a great experience…read morefor my family. We got chased inshore by some storms, but regrouped and ended up fishing the pass with good success. In addition to his skills as a guide Leighton had a lot of great local knowledge of the area and kept both the kids and adults entertained. We will be booking with Krewe Chief Charters the next time we come down to Boca Grande.