Englewood

Understand

Englewood is enclosed on three sides by the Gulf of Mexico and the larger cities of Venice and Port Charlotte, which both have more shopping and action, but the beaches aren't as nice. Englewood has the necessities including Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Publix, and Bealls. Folklore has it that in the 1920s, a candidate for mayor promised that if elected, he would guarantee to have the US 41 run through town. Venice and Port Charlotte took off instead.

Getting there

Englewood is a 30-minute drive south from Sarasota/Bradenton Regional Airport (SRQ IATA), a 60-minute drive north from Fort Myers Regional Airport (RSW IATA), and a 75 minute drive south of Tampa International Airport (TPA IATA). Englewood is accessible from I-75 from exit 191 River Rd and to a lesser extent 193 Jacaranda Blvd.

Getting around

You'll need to get a rental car from the airport as public transportation is nearly non-existent, and is impossible to use from town-to-town.

See

Popular entertainment includes the beach, restaurants, and a small shopping district located primarily along Dearborn Street.

Do

Englewood Beach 1 Stump Pass Beach State Park, 900 Gulf Blvd (south end of Manasota Key), ☏ +1 941-964-0375. 8AM to sunset. 2 Indian Mounds Park, 210 Winston Ave, ☏ +1 941-861-5000. Boat ramp and trails. (updated Aug 2020) 3 Blind Pass Beach, 6725 Manasota Key Rd, ☏ +1 941-861-5000. Canoeing and trails. (updated Aug 2020) 4 Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 W Dearborn St, ☏ +1 941-475-6756. W–Sa 7:30PM, Su 2PM. Take in a play or concert. (updated Aug 2021)

Buy

Lots of Florida trinket stores on Beach Road. Also, historic Dearborn street has galleries, shops and restaurants.

Eat

1 Cafe 776, 138 N Indiana Ave, ☏ +1 941-475-0819. Tu-Sa 11:30AM-8:30PM. Great fish and chips. Huge servings making the "plate charge" for an extra plate worth every penny. You'll still take home leftovers. (updated May 2021)

Drink & nightlife

Englewood Billiards and Brew, 622 N Indiana Ave, ☏ +1 941-474-2356. (updated May 2021)

Sleep

Englewood isn't big on hotel chains, but it offers a variety of beach resorts.

1 Sea Oats Beach Club, 1720 Gulf Blvd, ☏ +1 941-474-3611. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated Aug 2021) WannaB Inn, 985 Gulf Blvd, ☏ +1 941-474-3431, [email protected]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated May 2021)

Go next

To the northwest is Venice, Florida and, farther away, the Sarasota/Bradenton/Anna Maria Island metropolitan area. Over a causeway to the east is Port Charlotte, one of the main cities in this region of the state.