Englewood, Florida

Ann and Chuck Dever Memorial Park

The sprawling Ann and Chuck Dever Memorial Park covers 320 acres of recreational land for Englewood residents and visitors to enjoy. The park includes a host of outdoor exercise facilities including hiking trails, a multi-purpose sports field, a children’s playground and splash pad, disc golf, basket-ball courts, football fields, tennis courts and a skate park. In addition you can enjoy swimming in the 8-lane, 25 yard pool and diving area. There is also a large indoor recreational area with various sports facilities, a fitness center and event rooms. The park connects to the Cedar Point Environmental Park via the Oyster Creek Waterfront trail, offering nature enthusiasts access to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Address: 6961 San Casa Dr, Englewood, FL 34224, 941-681-3760

Stump Pass Beach State Park

Stump Pass Beach State Park is a charming Florida state park in Englewood, stretching along three barrier islands within the city's Gulf of Mexico coastline. The park is known as one of Charlotte County's best fishing spots, providing opportunities for anglers to catch a variety of prize species throughout the year. A mile of gorgeous secluded beachfront is open year-round for swimming and sunbathing, providing stunning views of the pristine Gulf waters. Shelling opportunities are excellent throughout the winter months. A hiking trail at the park passes through five natural habitats, letting parkgoers spot gopher tortoises, least terns, snowy egrets, and frigatebirds. A kayak and paddleboat launch is offered on the park's east end. Ranger-led nature walks are offered throughout the winter months, along with walks for spotting turtles.

Address: 900 Gulf Blvd, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-964-0375

Manasota Key Beach

Manasota Key Beach is one of Englewood's most beautiful public beaches, originally developed and expanded for public use in the early 1960s. Today, the spacious sandy beach provides an excellent alternative to more trafficked beach areas at nearby Lido Beach and Siesta Key, flanked by gorgeous beach houses and quaint rental homes. Island visitors can stroll along the beach's beautiful Gulf of Mexico coastline and enjoy excellent opportunities for swimming, fishing, and sunbathing throughout the year. A boat launch provides opportunities for canoeing and kayaking, while sand volleyball courts are open for community-use pickup games. A lovely boardwalk makes for a picturesque site for beachfront strolling.

Address: 8570 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood, FL 34223

Englewood Beach

Englewood Beach is one of Florida's most beautiful Gulf of Mexico beaches, one of four public-access beaches located along scenic Manasota Key. The lively beach offers ample parking and beachfront space year-round despite its prime location and heavy visitorship during peak tourist seasons. Family-friendly amenities abound, including a children's playground, day-use picnic pavilions, and sand volleyball and basketball courts available for community pickup games. Spacious boardwalks make great spots for strolling and watching dolphins, manatees, and pelicans along the beach's shoreline. Water sports enthusiasts can rent WaveRunners or embark on parasailing tours offered by a number of area companies.

Address: Manasota Key, FL 34223

Blind Pass Beach

Blind Pass Beach, also commonly referred to as Middle Beach, is a romantic Sarasota County beach stretching more than 3,000 feet along the region's beautiful Gulf of Mexico coastline. The spacious 66-acre beachfront park offers both Gulf and bay water access, perfect for stretching out with family and soaking up the sun during the warmer months. A lovely nature hiking trail meanders through the park's mangrove forest, while a fishing dock provides comfortable seating for anglers. Day-use picnic sites provide spaces for enjoying lunch, while a beach house offers public restroom and shower facilities. Visitors should note that no lifeguards are staffed on duty at the beach and should plan accordingly when swimming with young or novice swimmers.

Address: 7770 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-861-5000

Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center

Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center is a gorgeous 210-acre nature park in Englewood, preserving beautiful black mangrove forest, scrubby and pine flatwood, and mangrove fringe habitats along the city's Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Park visitors can enjoy 1.7 miles of stunning Gulf shoreline, open to the public for sunbathing and day-use picnic access. A canoe and kayak launch lets visitors take directly to the waters, while an eight-mile network of nature trails showcase interpretive signage on the region's flora and fauna. Wetland boardwalks also meander throughout the park's southern end, providing hiking access for visitors with mobility concerns. Other attractions include a butterfly garden and a public-access nature center hosting educational environmental programming throughout the year.

Address: 570 Bay Park Blvd, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-861-5000

Englewood Farmers Market

Englewood Farmers Market has been held each Thursday morning between October and May since 2011, located along Englewood's downtown Dearborn Street in the heart of the city's historic district. The market serves as the primary showcase for the region's farmers and producers, who sell seasonal produce and fresh baked goods and pantry items each week. Fresh wild-caught fish from Florida fishers is also sold, along with a wide variety of international and artisan food items. Green space vendors sell native and exotic flowers, plants, and trees, while local artisans and crafters showcase their wares at the market's artisan mart. Live music performances are showcased each week, along with food trucks and vendors offering a sample of the region's culinary scene.

Address: 349 W Dearborn St, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-445-9209

Cedar Point Environmental Park

Cedar Point Environmental Park is the premiere environmental park of Charlotte County, located along Englewood's beautiful Lemon Bay. The 115-acre peninsular park, which is operated by the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, was originally opened to the public in 1998 after six years of development. Today, visitors can enjoy guided nature walks and special event programming at the facility throughout the year. Park lands protect a wide variety of natural habitats, including nesting sites for American bald eagles. The historic Cookie House, constructed in 1931, preserves Florida's first full-time marine station and laboratory, which was moved to the peninsula in 2006. Other attractions include a visitor center selling local honey and offering exhibits on the region's flora and fauna.

Address: 2300 Placida Rd, Englewood, FL 34224, Phone: 941-475-0769

Indian Mound Park

Indian Mound Park, also known as Paulsen Point, preserves the traditional home of the ancient Manasota indigenous culture, who occupied the region between 1000 B.C. and 1350 A.D. Throughout their tenure at the site, the Manasota were known for their ceremonial burial practices and ceramics making, which was crafted in the Englewood Plain style. During the 1960s, archaeological excavations throughout the Englewood region uncovered a plethora of Manasota artifacts, including quartz arrowheads and copper beads indicating trading with indigenous groups as far away as Georgia. Today, park visitors can view preserved ceremonial mounds and indigenous artifacts at the park, which is part of the Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage. The park also provides direct access to the shores of beautiful Lemon Bay.

Address: 210 Winson Ave, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-861-5000 <

Lemon Bay Playhouse

Lemon Bay Playhouse is the premiere community theater of Englewood, originally established in April of 1987 as a nonprofit organization. The playhouse, which is housed within a renovated storefront facility in Englewood's downtown district, produces seven theatrical productions each season, including several comedies, a mystery, and a drama production. Visitors can attend performances throughout the year of renowned plays such as Play On, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Love Letters. An annual Lemon Drops Summer Camp is hosted by theater professionals, open to participants of all ages and offering a chance to appear in a final camp participant theatrical production. Reader's Theater performances also showcase staged readings of plays, serving as a platform for new works by regional and national playwrights.

Address: 96 W Dearborn St, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-475-6756

Stump Pass Marina

Stump Pass Marina is a gorgeous full-service marina in Englewood, located along the waters of the Gulf of Mexico's Intracoastal Waterway portion. The marina, which is located at Waterway exit 17A, offers boat storage and rentals, along with a full marina store selling bait and fuel for anglers looking to take to the Gulf's pristine waters for fishing. More than 300 boat slips are available in total, with two forklifts offered for water service. A full-service tiki-style restaurant serves up delicious coastal fare such as smoked salmon filets, Caribbean jerk chicken platters, and jumbo Gulf fried shrimp baskets. Clever bar bites are served up at the restaurant's bar, along with frozen tropical drinks, creative cocktails, and shaken martinis.

Address: 260 Maryland Ave, Englewood, FL 34224, Phone: 941-697-2206

Myakka State Forest

Myakka State Forest stretches for 2.5 miles along the beautiful Myakka River, which has been designated as an Outstanding Florida Water body for its pristine waters and unique ecosystems. The forest, which is jointly managed by the state of Florida and the Florida Forest Service, is a prime spot for bird and wildlife watching in the Englewood region, home to a wide variety of gorgeous wading bird species. More than 40 miles of nature trails meander throughout the forest, showcasing mesic flatwood populated with beautiful slash and longleaf pine trees. Visitor recreational opportunities include a canoe launch, bicycle and equestrian trails, and a pet-friendly park area for enjoying the natural scenery with well-behaved four-legged friends.

Address: 2000 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-460-1333

The Englewood Area Historical Museum

The Englewood Area Historical Museum was originally opened to the public in 2015, showcasing the rich cultural and social history of the Charlotte County area. The museum, which moved to its current location at the historic Lampp House in 2018, is overseen by the Southwest Historical Organization of Resources and Education along with the Friends of the Englewood Archives. Visitors can explore one of the city's oldest historic houses and view exhibits and artifacts connected to the region's indigenous, pioneer-era, and 20th-century history. An historic old timers' tour is offered by museum docents throughout the week, elaborating on the city's past, present, and future. At the museum's gift shop, visitors can purchase books by local authors or pioneer crafting kits for young history buffs.

Address: 604 W Perry St, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-208-5942

Farlow's On The Water

Farlow's On The Water is an award-winning Gulf waterfront restaurant in Englewood, originally opened in 2003 by namesake owners Laurie and Keith Farlow.

Address: 2080 S McCall Rd, Englewood, FL 34224, Phone: 941-474-5343

Howard's Restaurant

Howard's Restaurant is a family-operated homestyle restaurant in Englewood, owned by brothers-in-law Ken White and Bryan Domian.

Address: 70 N Indiana Ave, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-473-0171

Vino Loco Gourmet

Vino Loco Gourmet has been voted as Englewood's best wine restaurant, located within the heart of beautiful historic Old Englewood Village. The restaurant, which is helmed by restaurateur Joyce Colmar, has been acclaimed in national publications such as Coastal Living and Harbor Style for its high-quality wine and tapas selections. Diners can pair more than 350 fine international wine varieties with their choice of gourmet tapas offerings, ranging from hummus or charcuterie boards to Spanish-style delicacies such as shrimp chueca, bocadilla serrano, and albondigas. Many wine offerings are affordable for diners on all budgets, offering chances to sample the best of the world's wine offerings at reasonable prices. Takeout wines are also available from the restaurant's wine cooler, which can special order wines for pickup with advance notice.

Address: 420 W Dearborn St., Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-473-8466

Mango Bistro

Mango Bistro is an award-winning restaurant in Englewood helmed by restaurateurs Ricardo Ruggiero and Marie Laforge, originally opened to the public in 2008. The restaurant strives to emphasize environmental responsibility in all of its operations, minimizing plastic waste and recycling as much restaurant waste as possible, making it a great choice for diners looking to minimize their carbon footprint. Delectable global fare blends French and Brazilian cuisine influences, infusing unique European and modern American twists. At breakfast, diners can choose from a variety of creative paninis and crepes, paired with a full menu of coffee shop fare. At dinner, gourmet burritos are available in flavors ranging from chipotle shrimp to Thai chicken. Each Friday and Saturday evening, the restaurant hosts live world music performances, including bossa nova, flamenco, and rumba music sessions.

Address: 301 W Dearborn St, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-681-3500

Nicola's Italian Kitchen

Nicola's Italian Kitchen has been voted as Englewood's best Italian restaurant for more than 25 years running, opened by Italian immigrants Nicola and Tina de Fazio, who moved to the United States in the mid-1960s. The restaurant, which was originally opened to the public in 1965 in Connecticut, moved to its current Englewood location in 1990 after the couple's relocation to Florida. Today, it serves up high-quality classic Italian entrees at lunch and dinner, all prepared from scratch according to family recipes. House specialties include eggplant parmesan, baked stuffed manicotti, chicken marsala, and frutti di mare. Excellent pasta dishes are also served up throughout the day, ranging from homestyle spaghetti puttanesca to classic meat and ricotta lasagna.

Address: 8647, 4343 S Access Rd, Englewood, FL 34224, Phone: 941-474-6195

Catania's Winery

Catania's Winery is one of West Central Florida's premiere wineries, located near Englewood's Gulf of Mexico coastline. The high-quality winery, which is owned and operated by John and Margherita Catania, opened to the public in 2011. Today, it crafts full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc varietals, which are produced on site at the company's Englewood winery facility. Tastings are offered Wednesday through Saturday afternoons or by appointment for guests ages 21 and older, detailing the winemaking process. Winery visitors can also purchase fine imported Italian olive oils and a wide array of winemaking and coffeemaking products, including items for at-home wine production.

Address: 524 Paul Morris Dr # B, Englewood, FL 34223, Phone: 941-475-7553

Englewood Beach Waterfest

The Englewood Beach Waterfest is a marine racing extravaganza which takes place in November each year. At the heart of the Waterfest is the thrilling 2-day off-shore power boat racing, which is a world championship event. When you are not watching the power boats at play you can visit the Family Conservation Center exhibits to learn everything you every wanted to know about marine creatures great and small. When hunger strikes you can head to one of the many local restaurants represented in the Food Court. Visitors are also invited to the Block Party on the Friday before the races – here you will be able to admire the boats while you enjoy live music, food and drinks.

Address: Englewood Beach Waterfest, Englewood Beach, FL 34224, 941-473-9795

Lemon Bay-Myakka Trail Scenic Byway

Whether you just have a few hours or a few days, exploring the LLemon Bay-Myakka Trail Scenic Byway should be a must on your Englewood itinerary. The byway wends its way along some of the most scenic areas of the south west Florida coastline, showcasing Old Florida to perfection. You can start in the Englewood Historic District and make your way slowly to the Myakka State Forest (for wonderful hiking, cycling and horseback riding). If you have more time at your disposal, the wonderful beaches of barrier islands like Boca Grande, Manasota Key and Gasparilla Island beckon – break your journey to enjoy swimming, kayaking and boating.

Address: Lemon Bay/Myakka Trail Scenic Byway, Englewood, FL 3422e, 941-460-9100

The Lighthouse Grill at Stump Pass

The Lighthouse Grill at Stump Pass is perfectly positioned overlooking Englewood’s Intracoastal Waterway. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and diners are treated to fantastic views of Lemon Bay while they order and dine. There is an extensive list of delicious cocktails, beers, wines and soft drinks to choose from. The food is all freshly prepared using mostly local ingredients – a few of the most popular items on the menu include their crab cakes, fresh grouper, seared Ahi tuna and the chef’s famous Grilled Reuben. They also serve up some delicious smoked BBQ ribs from their “Smoke on the Water” menu selection.

Address: 260 Maryland Avenue, Englewood, FL 34224, 941-828-1368

Oyster Creek Golf Club

Scenically nestled within a gated residential golf estate, the 18-hole Oyster Creek Golf Club welcomes visitors to come and enjoy a great round of golf. This is a medium length course which has been carefully designed to offer an enjoyable yet challenging round for players of all abilities. The course includes 12 par 3 holes which will thoroughly test the accuracy of your short game. Other facilities include a Pro Shop where you can hire clubs if required. You can enjoy a drink and meal at the snack bar, and practice your putting at the putting green before you tee off.

Address: 6651 Oriole Blvd, Englewood, FL 34224, 941-475-0334

Lemon Bay Historical Society - Green Street Church

The Lemon Bay Historical Society - Green Street Church was responsible for the mammoth task of moving the historic Green Street Church to a new home in 2018 when the property lease expired on its Green Street location. The entire building, which dates back to 1928, was carefully prized off the ground and loaded on a flat-bed truck to move to its new home adjacent to the historic Englewood cemetery. The Historical Society also preserves and showcases several other historic buildings in Englewood – visitors are invited to download a walking/driving map from their website and set off to learn about the early days in Englewood. A few of the historic highlights of the town include Buchan’s Landing, the Elizabeth Bryant Gallery and Lemon Bay Playhouse in Dearborn Street.