Best Healthy Places to Retire: Punta Gorda, Florida

Punta Gorda is Nice, but Port Charlotte on the other hand...

Punta Gorda is really nice but it's neighbor, Port Charlotte is a run-down hell hole. If you live in Punta Gorda, chances are you do most of your shopping and dining in Port Charlotte.

If you don't mind having to drive thru crappy Port Charlotte to do your shopping and eating-out, no big deal.

Come on Port Charlotte people, clean your hell holes up!

of FL @ Jan 18, 2009 18:45:56 PM

Punta Gorda rebuilds

We came here by sailboat from Annapolis 20 years ago and quickly dubbed Punta Gorda "Chesapeake Bay South." Although Hurricane Charley put a great big dent in our lives, it brought the citizenry together in many totally unexpected ways. The small town atmosphere was enhanced as hundreds of people banded together under the aptly named Team Punta Gorda in a charette to outline our hopes and goals for a new town.

The rebuilding efforts have have progressed to the point that new commercial buildings, a new civic gathering place, a new marina and public park, plus new hotels, night spots and street plantings are changing and brightening the landscape for the better. There is lots more coming, and soon.

Charley slowed the onslaught of immigrants from Naples who were seeking to regain the Old-Florida-feel of their increasingly unaffordable and crowded waterfront community and the national decline in real estate values have combined to make our waterfront property strikingly affordable once again. That reason alone should prompt any boater who can afford to flee the frozen north to put Punta Gorda at the top of his list right now -- before we are rediscovered again. Towns on the water that have both historic character and a home for your boat behind your house -- with fast & easy acces to open water -- are few and far between. It is highly unlikely prices will ever be this low again.

Don't just think waterfront and boats, however. The number of interest groups to be found here, people banding together to enjoy their favorite activities, spans the entire gamut of a major city. If you are alive at all you will find welcoming clubs galore and meet new friends who share your interests. Public gatherings are frequent, with mini-block parties, farmers' markets, music in the parks, holiday festivities, and Third Thursday street walks in downtown all combining to give Punta Gordans a sense of community and a sense of belonging. Escape (in an hour)for a day or a night to the busyness and bright lights of Sarasota, Fort Myers or Naples and you are gonna love coming back home to Punta Gorda!

Al Rogers of FL @ Nov 01, 2008 13:11:39 PM

CAPT. RON CLARK - PUNTA GORDA

I'VE LIVED IN BEAUTIFUL PUNTA GORDA FOR 22 YEARS AFTER MOVING FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO (GO BUCKEYES) AND BOATING MOST OF MY LIFE ON THE GREAT LAKES. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS PARADISE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A BOATER, WHICH IS MY SPECIALTY.

LET ME SHOW YOU PUNTA GORDA AND MY HOME MARINA, BURNT STORE MARINA. THIS IS THE LARGEST DEEP WATER DIRECT ACCESS SAILBOAT AND POWERBOAT MARINA ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA, COMPLETE WITH RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING, 27 HOLES OF GOLF AND A FANTASTIC YACHT CLUB ALL IN A SECURE GATED COMMUNITY! THE PRICES ARE RIGHT TOO. NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!

RON CLARK

BROKER/MANAGER

ALLISON JAMES ESTATES & HOMES

BURNT STORE OFFICE

941-286-5797 CELL

CAPTRONCLARK@YAHOO.COM

CAPT. RON CLARK of FL @ Oct 27, 2008 09:49:05 AM

Middle aged, single, and love it here

I am 42 and moved to Punta Gorda 10 years ago and love it here. There are things to do, we have a singles sailing club, multiple other sailing clubs, one of which I sailed to the Bahamas with, nice clubs down town and Ft. Myers and Sarasota are within an hour. You can still buy a nice home with sailboat dockage for around $300,000 if you look around, and it will go up. I think it is still the best deal out there. (OK, I do have a home on the market since I have three now, so take it with a grain of salt).

Randy

rfrog@hotmail.com

Randall fragoules of FL @ Oct 26, 2008 20:22:34 PM

PUNTA GORDA FOR A HEALTHY RETIREMENT

HI MY NAME IS BARBARA COLLINS, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO FIND THIS BEAUTIFUL TREASURE, "PUNTA GORDA" 13 YEARS AGO AND NOW I CAN HELP YOU FIND YOUR DREAM HOME OR CONDO SINCE I AM A REALTOR IN THIS PARADISE. JUST CALL ME AT THE NUMBER BELOW AND SAY "HI"

941-268-0505

ALLISON JAMES ESTATES & HOMES

BARBARA J. COLLINS of FL @ Oct 10, 2008 13:09:33 PM

PUNTA GORDA REAL ESTATE

MY TEAM AND I SELL PUNTA GORDA REAL ESTATE. WE ARE YOUR BEST SOURCE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND WE WILL FIND THE HOME OR INVESTMENT OF YOUR DREAMS! POWER/SAIL BOATING EXPERTS.

CAPT. RON CLARK

&

LINDA DUTCHER

ALLISON JAMES R.E.

RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INVESTMENT PROPERTY BROKER

941-286-5797

CAPT. RON CLARK of FL @ Oct 09, 2008 23:35:47 PM

Great small town feel

Having lived in Florida for 14 years, 5 years in Fort Myers, 5 years in Naples, and now 4 years in Punta Gorda, we are really glad we moved here. It is very affordable and it is a great town for any size family.

Coming from a small town in Northern Michigan, it has much of the same small town feel, where people know each other and are very friendly. You cannot beat the historic district against Charlotte Harbor.

There is also extensive new development downtown that has been underway after Hurricane Charley, with a new Sheraton, and new boutique hotel called Wyvern.

If you haven't been here you owe it to yourself to visit. Thanks for the great article.

C. Mellon of FL @ Oct 09, 2008 16:50:04 PM

Second Home In Punta Gorda

It took us a year to find this quiet town... we live in the suburbs in Ohio and absolutely love Punta Gorda! It is quiet and beautiful, with enough options for eating out and entertainment.

Options abound for beaches, watersports, golfing, etc. very close by.

We bought and cannot wait to live there permanently.

Donna & Mark of OH @ Oct 03, 2008 15:06:29 PM