Local Attractions
Shopping/Dining
| Golfing | Beaches | Fishing/Boating/Boat Tours
Canoe/Kayaking | Cycling/Hiking | Weather
Rotonda is a quiet safe community in a setting of canals, lakes, golf courses and greenbelts. But you do not have to go far to take advantage of the area’s diversified amenities
Englewood is the closest city where there are many shopping and dining opportunities plus ready access to beaches and other recreational activities. (http://www.sunstate.com/)
(http://www.englewoodchamber.com/visitors/parkbeach.asp)
Nearby Port Charlotte has a large indoor shopping mall plus many other shops and a huge variety of restaurants.
Sarasota, Punta Gorda and Fort Myers are all within driving distance and have large shopping malls, unique shops and outlet malls
http://www.primeoutlets.com/cntrdefault.asp?cntrid=1019
Rotonda is a golf course community with five exceptional and affordable courses within five minutes of Vista Lago (http://www.puntagordavisitor.info/Rotondagolf.html)
There are numerous others in the region (http://www.sunstate.com/englewd/golfcors.htm)
There is good map at (http://www.sun-herald.com/golf/map2.cfm)
The gulf coast has a series of easily accessible, gorgeous, uncrowded beaches from Sarasota to Fort Myers (http://www.puntagordavisitor.info/BEACHMAP.html) (http://www.bestbeaches.org/manasotakeybeaches/). All are suitable for shelling with Boca Grande being our local favourite.
The beaches of Sanibel Island near Fort Myers are world famous for their shells (http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com)
The waters off Boca Grande, only 15 minutes from Vista Lago, are renowned as the Tarpon Capital of the World (http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/cms/d/fishing_the_tarpon_capital_of_the_world.php) but there are many other species popular with local anglers (http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/cms/d/fishing_at_a_glance.php)
You can rent your own boat or take a tour (http://www.englewoodchamber.com/visitors/fishing.asp)
Grande Tours is nearby and offers boat cruises, fishing for casual anglers and kayak rentals. (http://www.grandetours.com/)
The "lack of development" in the Rotonda area has made it one of the few coastal areas in Florida where you can find roads suitable for all levels of cycling ability. The five mile paved Cape Haze Pioneer Trail is a multi-use abandoned rail line that offers excellent wildlife viewing.
The Myakka State Forest with its 13 miles of hiking trails is less than 15 minutes away. (http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/myakka.html)
The Cape Haze/Port Charlotte area is a paddler’s paradise. There are many miles of routes through quiet inlets, marine reserves and meandering rivers. (http://charlottecountyfl.com/parks/blueway.htm)
Nearby Grande Tours (http://www.grandetours.com) has kayaks for rent with easy paddling options leaving from their dock.
If you want to see “herds” of alligators in their natural habitat, the Myakka State Park is only 45 min away. (http://www.myakkariver.org/)
Florida lives up to its reputation as the sunshine state. It is indeed a tropical paradise.
Weather charts available here.