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A view along Chadwick park Beach
Beaches
Englewood beach is just a short drive away from the villa. This large public beach has the sugar white sand found on the best of Florida beaches. This beautiful beach has a peaceful relaxed atmosphere.The beach is never crowded. Sometimes the pelicans and herons outnumber the sunbathers! The Boardwalk at Englewood Beach provides 3 covered pavilions, areas to sit and watch the magnificent sunset, barbecue and picnic area and restrooms with changing and shower facilities.
Boca Grande is accessed by a toll bridge ($6 to cross). There you will find beautiful beaches with lots of white sand, beautiful clear water, some small dunes and a wooden dune walkover from the parking lot.Its a great place to see dolphins, tarpon, snook, and manatee. The water's edge is usually full of birds searching for food. To the far south of the island is a historical lighthouse. Opening times can be found by calling 941-964-0060
Golfing
Rotonda West has a choice of five courses within 2-10 minutes drive. The five clubs which make up the Rotonda Golf & Country Club are: Long Marsh, Palms, Hills, Pinemoor & Links.
Details can be found here:
Rotonda Golf & Country Club Website
Shopping
Supermarkets
There are several supermarkets within a 5-10 min drive (Publix, WinnDixies, Sweetbay, Wal-Mart etc). The large Walmart in Englewood is open 24hrs. Englewood Town has supermarkets, department stores and a good selection of smaller shops.
Shopping Malls
Port Charlotte Mall is 20mins drive. There you will find an excellent selection of stores including large department stores (JC Penny, Beals, Dillards etc). To check out a detailed list of stores
Prime Outlet Malls
There is a large Outlet Mall at Ellenton (about 1 hour drive).
"Visit the Gulf Coast and west Florida's largest outlet center with over 130 factory direct stores including Coach Factory, Banana Republic Factory Store, Gap Outlet, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Saks Avenue's 'Off Fifth' and Ann Taylor Factory Store! Save 25% to 65 % off suggested retail prices every day"
or if you want to visit Naples (about 2hours drive)
"Over 40 of the most important names in designer fashion, accessories and home furnishings are among the merchants at Prime Outlets - Naples. Just seven miles southeast of Naples, Florida and six miles north of Marco Island, Prime Outlets at Naples serves the region with great value on top brand-name merchandise. Collier County's only outlet center!"
If you are a fan of TK Maxx then visit TJ Maxx (same company) in nearby Venice for household and fashion bargains. Marshalls in Port Charlotte is a similar store.
Boating
There is so much to do "On the Water" ...Fish, sail or cruise the choice is yours!
Hire a boat and sail along the Inter-costal waterways having a peek at million dollar properties! Take a water taxi across to Palm Island and return just after sundown.
Try a Sunset Cruise from Lemon Bay out to the coast. Will the dolphins follow your boat?
The views of sunset are spectacular.
If you are adventurous try Stand Up Paddleboards SUP or take an eco tour.
Rotonda West area has miles of canals and waterways running through. You can hire canoes to explore the canals. You can also fish in the many canals ( a permit is required).
Parks
The Rotonda Community Park is a short walk from Dragonflies and has picnic and barbecue areas, a children's play area, tennis courts, footpaths, nature trails and playing fields. A path runs round the community area - ideal for walking or cycling.
There are several smaller parks in the vicinity for example a children's play area, shuffle board court and basketball nets at Sunnydale Park (2 mins away).
Attractions
For a fun day out visit Sunsplash Water Park at Cape Coral. You'll find a family friendly park with exciting slides (3 new slides this year), a lazy river, paddling pools, volleyball court, loungers to laze on, snack bars, changing rooms, gift shops etc.
Sunsplash is under an hours drive from Dragonflies. Maps, directions & details are in our guest handbook.
Flying
We are within easy access to three local airports : Fort Myers (1hr), Tampa (1.5hrs) and Sarasota (1hr). We are about 3 hours drive from Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Below are links to our local airports.
Car Hire
Rental Car Companies (Located at Airport)
Fort Myers
Rental counters are located on the ground level of the parking garage. Arriving passengers should proceed downstairs, exit baggage claim and walk across the street to the rental car facility.
Car Rental Companies operating at Fort Myers are: Ace/Continental , Alamo, Avis , Budget, Dollar , Enterprise , Hertz, National, Payless/Fox , Thrifty
Tampa
Rental counters are located across the walkway in the Red & Blue Baggage Claim Areas.
( Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise, Thrifty)
Sarasota
Rental cars may be obtained from eight on-site car rental companies which are conveniently located in the baggage claim wing. The cars are located in the rental car lot just a short walk across the street. (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty)
Wildlife
South West Florida is home to large & small mammals including bobcats, wild boar, raccoons, armadillos & oppossum. A bobcat has been spotted on several occasions crossing over the back plot but nobody has been quick enough to catch one on camera!
You may see a Gopher Turtle at the bottom of the garden. One lives down in the swale at the back of our property.Gopher turtles are a protected species in Florida.
They say that any stretch of water in Florida may contain an alligator or two so watch out if you are on the golf course and your ball goes near the water.
We have woodpeckers and owls among the many birds that visit our garden.
At the beach you might see dolphin and manatee. Bocca Grand is a great place to watch manatee slowly swim past the shoreline. The pelican and herons are incredibly unfazed by humans and will land very close especially if there someone nearby fishing.
