Englewood, Florida, a Well-Kept Secret

A Few Facts
The Englewood - Cape Haze area is about 10 square miles of paradise snuggled against the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Englewood lies at the junction of 2 counties; the north end of town is located in Sarasota County while the balance is part of Charlotte County. Whether you are looking for a great place to visit, or are contemplating a move to a nicer climate, Englewood might just be the perfect place for you.

The median age is 62 and the population density is low. Right now houses are selling for a fraction of their pre-recession price, but real estate is starting to move again, so values should go up over time. It's the ideal time to buy! With so much free time, retirees can take full advantage of the excellent golf courses, perfect sailing areas and multiple art opportunities available in this area. In fact, the Charlotte County/Englewood area was designated as one of the "10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States" by SAIL magazine and ranked "Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America" by Golf Digest. Englewood was named "Best Affordable Place in America to Retire" by NeighborhoodScout.com.

These fine facts only tell part of the story, though. Englewood is and always has been a beach town. Started as a fishing village, Englewood still maintains its love affair with the sport. There are miles of fishing spots all along Lemon Bay and the Charlotte Harbor Estuary. Whether they fish from private boats out in the Gulf, from local bridges over the intracoastal waters or on one of the four beautiful beaches, many of our residents love to catch their own dinner.

But for others, the beach is the only place to be whenever possible. Wherever you live in Englewood, you are only a few minutes from Manasota Key by car. Here we have 4 very different local beaches for all to enjoy, 2 of them with no parking costs. Whether you like to sunbathe, swim or walk the sugary sands searching for shells and fossilized sharks' teeth, the beaches are wide and inviting. They are also far less populated than the more famous beaches to the North and South of Englewood. At 200 miles from the BP disaster, Englewood's beaches suffered no ill effects from the wayward oil that plagued other areas. They remain clean, gorgeous and inviting.

For those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle, shopping is excellent, especially along Dearborn Street in the heart of Olde Englewood. The town sports dozens of interesting and varied restaurants with great menus and reasonable prices. It's a birdwatchers' paradise, and we enjoy a butterfly season and a dragonfly season, when these stunning creatures migrate through the area and settle in our yards.

Interesting People
This sun-drenched paradise is blessed with an abundance of fascinating people. Most of the residents now living here originally lived "up North." They moved here to be near the beach, the golf courses and the daily dose of golden sunshine. In general the residents are a friendly bunch, who enjoy sharing the details of how they came to settle in this area, and what they find most appealing about living here. Getting to know neighbors and making new friends is simplified by the abundance of clubs and associations available to join, and folks seem to enjoy taking time to just sit, sip a frosty drink and talk.

The Best Things About Living In Paradise
The Gulf coast area is a tropical paradise in so many ways, but my favorite aspect has to be it's constant appeal to the senses. The sights are amazing: sandy silver beaches strewn with colorful seashells and ancient shark's teeth-all free for the taking; emerald green palm trees swaying in the warm breezes, and exotic long-beaked birds buried to their knees in any stray puddle of water they find. The splendor of a sunset is somehow magnified when it's spread over the vast expanse of the Gulf of Mexico, which reflects those astonishing colors.

Sounds of the area are unique, too. What can compare to the gentle whisper of waves lapping against the shore, or the shrill cry of sandhill cranes flying home for the evening? The feel of warm sun and gritty sand on my skin are like nothing I experienced up North, and the smell of the salt-laden Gulf waters wafting on the wind as I sit on the beach fills me with a dream of peace and serenity not easily found on big city sidewalks.

Living here is like being on a permanent vacation, even as the regular activities of life continue around me. I hope I never lose the feeling of wonder and thankfulness I feel when I reflect on my good fortune to be living and working in paradise. I invite you to come to Englewood for a visit-you just might decide you never want to leave!

References:
http://www.topix.net/city/englewood-fl/2010/08/englewood-drives-charlottes-tourism-revenue
http://www.city-data.com/city/Englewood-Florida.html
http://www.charlotteharbortravel.com/