Check out Punta Gorda at www.city-data.com then go to the punta gorda/port charlotte forum. You can see what other people have asked and said about the area. I like it here but I am 64 and don't need the night life that a younger person might. Good luck wherever you end up.

@HeyThatsAlex TaZr that's quite young to be alone ... do you have other family there ? it is a beautiful place ....

Whats the "winter" like?

For the most part very nice. Temps are usually in the 60s to 80s during the day with low humidity so it doesn't feel sticky hot. The night time temp goes down into the 40s to 50s with rare nights into the upper 30s. It is the dry season so not nearly as much rain as during the summer. Most days during the fall, winter and spring until late May are sunny and beautiful. The town triples in size from November to April with snowbirds but there are many more activities going on then too.

Thanks for the reply,. Does it ever feel like you cant escape the heat being hot nearly year round? I am relocating myself to FL later this year and I am trying to decide from Punta Gorda and St Augustine.

I had lived for a year in Florida once before, a long time ago so I knew what I was getting into. I moved here in October so I had all winter to acclimate to the weather. The first summer was a little hard but this year is much easier. When I lived in Michigan I was a Yooper by nature (Upper Peninsula type) I used to run around all winter wearing a sweater unless it was subzero when I would wear a coat. The summers up there were pretty much unbearable for me. Now I can't stand the cold and for me October through May is wonderful down here. I am out and around most of the year instead of miserable because of ice, sleet, damp cold or too hot and muggy. I know don't consider the much of the year hot. When it hits 80s in the winter the humidity is so low that it doesn't feel like the 80s do up north. During the summer here most seem to do things in the morning. Yeah it gets hot but the humidity is much lower during the day. We usually get evening thunderstorms during the summer which raises the humidity at night. St Augustine will get much colder weather during the winter. Also that side of Florida tends to cost more to live. Also the humidity is higher on that side as the wind crosses the central part of the state and picks it up. Here we get the Gulf breezes which helps a lot. When I was in Florida before I was in Ft Lauderdale which got the heat and humidity of the Everglades. It's a slower paced lifestyle in Punta Gorda. It isn't a tourist destination so that helps keep things peaceful here. Crime here is mainly shoplifting and kids breaking into cars occasionally. We've had one murder in the last 12 years. Ft Myers is about a half hour to 45 minute drive if you want big name entertainment or a bit of more active nightlife. Bradenton and Sarasota about 45 minutes to an hour in the opposite direction. Orlando about two hours. Another thing about Punta Gorda is that there is a wide peninsula that blocks the entrance of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor from the open Gulf and barrier islands beyond that going down to Fort Myers also they have left the mangroves along most of the shore all of which help to protect the town from storm surges in hurricanes. The Atlantic coast doesn't have that kind of protection. Hurricane Charley was bad, devastated the town really, because the eye wall went directly over the center of town but the storm surge did not come into town. I can't tell you anything about St Augustine although I would love to visit it for its historical sites but I love living her in Punta Gorda. I have found it to be a pleasant and friendly town. For me it has also been a lot cheaper than living in southeastern Michigan. My car insurance is one third what I was paying up north. I no longer have a gas heat and hot water bill, my electric is higher during the summer but it was up north too and I no longer have the winter heat bill. My house insurance is about $300 cheaper a year even with hurricane coverage. I'm also not putting as many miles on the car as most of what I need is here of across the river in Port Charlotte so that saves there too. Punta Gorda isn't for everyone but if you want a peaceful, laid back life, then it might be the place for you.

Punta Gorda has a lot of older/retired people. Very laid back. (I've lived here all my life😄)

You obviously didn’t watch the video. It’s a sculpture in remembrance of hurricane Charlie.

You'd have no problem. People here for the most part are the live and let live type, although as you can see from two people's comments there are ignorant idiots everywhere.

Nicole Brigston - That's a bit presumptuous of you. All kinds live here with no trouble from other people. Keep in mind, they're only showing a VERY small area of P. G. - it's actually huge and most of it isn't that nice/pretty. If you want a larger, beautiful town on an actual beach, not the gator filled harbor, try Sarasota.

Jeannie McCap is wrong. The city of Punta Gorda is actually not very big at all. There is no paid parking anywhere. Most of downtown is in the few blocks between the north and south branches of Tamiami Trail (41). No fast food in town, they are located at a two block area south just off I-75. Sarasota is huge but does have a lot of culture and nightlife there.

Tlyna1952 - Guess you're not too familiar with either P.G. or Sarasota. If you're only referring to the 'city' of Punta Gorda then yes it is very small. But the geographic area is extremely large - check your map. I live across the bridge from the city of Punta Gorda and my mailing address is still Punta Gorda. As for Sarasota, I'm guessing you've never been there either. It is full of culture. I think you need to do some more research. BTW, I know Hungry Howie's is located in Punta Gorda proper, I believe that that is a fast food restaurant, I know there are others further south on 75 towards Walmart, Including a McDonald's, Denny's and IHOP.

@@dinganddoo2 Yes the area is huge and mostly wild country, I live outside of town and get to view quite a bit of wildlife. Yes I have been to Sarasota and I did mention that it had a lot of culture and nightlife. A lot of great restaurants too. Hungry Howie's is a pizza place and there are a few of them scattered around, I prefer Manatee's but MickeyD, Burger King, Wendy's, and Arby's are all outside of town. IHOP is across from the Police/Fire Department on 41 not down on fast food alley. The only Denny's I know of is up at the far end of Port Charlotte near the mall, there isn't one here.

Elizabeth Lash Sorry to hear that. We haven't had any other complaints about the music, and we have opened the video in different computers without any issues. Check your sound settings to see if that is the problem.

Elizabeth Lash Oh, come on, Lizzie - The Chang Group as well as the fine narrator put out some of the most interesting to-the-point, well-produced SW Florida community videos out there, Well done Chang Group! We're moving there next year!!!

+Elizabeth Lash u suck!! Great video