As you end your travels down US 17 in Punta Gorda you may notice some of the 24 beautiful murals scattered throughout the city. Behind each mural is a tale of a person or event that helped shaped the City.

For example, when the Florida Southern Railway was deciding where to end the western rail line, Punta Gorda’s Founder, Isaac Trabue persuaded the Directors to build their southern most terminal in his largely uninhabited town, of Trabue. As an inducement he gave Florida Southern half of his land for construction of a waterfront hotel.

Construction of the Punta Gorda Hotel (Mural 23) began in 1886. It opened in January 1888.

The regal hotel brought with it business and prosperity, although it was only open during the winter.

When tough financial time struck the nation in 1896, the hotel closed, reopening in 1902. The hotel closed for good in 1914 and was sold in 1924 to Barron Collier and Cornelius Vanderbilt. They renamed it the Hotel Charlotte Harbor (Mural 24) and over the next three years invested in a magnificent renovation. A floor was added as Collier’s private apartment along with A glassed-in ballroom. The hallways were narrowed to make space for private baths for each room and a sprinkler system installed. Originally, the hotel sported just 4 baths per floor. The wood structure’s exterior was stuccoed and amenities including a gigantic swimming pool and pavilion were added.

The grand re-opening was celebrated in January 1927. Collier promoted his new enterprise by giving cost-free vacations to sport celebrities and recruited both local and established golfers to foster competitions at the hotel’s 18-hole golf course east of town. In 1930, specially-constructed tennis court was added for tennis phoneme “Big Bill Tilden” and his rivals.

The Great Depression cut short the hotels success.

The Collier heirs sold the hotel to G. Floyd Alford in 1944. Subsequently, Martin Flieschman took over in 1956 and spent a great deal converting it into a health retreat. A “mineral bath” wing and shore side “cabana club” were added. He renamed it Charlotte Harbor Spa.

The hotel met a fiery end on August 14, 1959. The fire was so spectacular that it was visible from more than 25 miles.

The Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society is a 501c (3) non-profit organization. The Society depends upon the generosity of the public for funding of projects and encourage you to become a Friend of the PGHMS by visiting us @ http://puntagordamurals.com. Learn more about the murals, the mural process, and much more including an interactive “Walking/ Bicycle Guide.”

- Ron Norsell

Got crabs? The Peace River Seafood Market & Restaurant in Punta Gorda does. Lots of them. Stone crab claws in season along with whole blue crabs that turn from blue to an outrageous shade of orange when they’re steamed.

Waiter Chris Molinet serves a container of blue crabs at Peace River Seafood

Ah, to me a meal in this old cracker house turned restaurant is heaven unfolding. A bucket of steamed blue crabs arrives. Let the serious eating begin.

From the water to your plate, the seafood here is that fresh. After dinner, surrounded by blue crab shells, blissfully full and impressed with a friendly, efficient staff (they keep the crabs coming) – I realized this meal inside an off the beaten path restaurant spoke volumes for the city of Punta Gorda itself – a vibrant, energetic, off the beaten path place that hums with friendly people who care about their community plus, and this is a big plus, Punta Gorda has a full catch of delights from waterfront walks and gallery walks to serious fishing, elegant places to stay and fresh seafood.

Historic Downtown Punta Gorda has this motto: “It’s happening on the Harbor.”

Indeed it is happening on Charlotte Harbor. Devastated by Hurricane Charlie in 2004 that caused $3.2 billion worth of damage in Punta Gorda and Charlotte County, the spirit to rebuild includes the theme of connectivity.

One result: The Punta Gorda Harborwalk is a long walkable/bikable connection. It goes from the west end of Gilchrist Park next to Fishermen’s Village east about 2.3 miles and ends near a medical center.

Punta Gorda Harborwalk

What a great promenade – the Harborwalk has winding wide sidewalks, trees, benches, overlooks. On some parts you can walk your dog, other parts are a no-no. Watch for signs.

Plans are to eventually have a Ring Around the City, about 18 miles of bicycle and pedestrian trains and paths connecting Punta Gorda’s neighborhoods, parks and commercial areas. Super!

While cars whiz by overhead on two bridges (US 41 going north and south) walkers, joggers, and bikers can go under the bridges in style. For those who like a bit of uphill, there are walkways on the bridges. Left your bike at home? Not to fret. There are free canary yellow bicycle loans with three locations on this walkway – Fishermen’s Village, Four Points by Sheraton and Dockmaster’s building at Laishley Park.

Punta Gorda has a free bike loaner program

I stayed at Four Points by Sheraton and literally walked right out the front door, turned left, and there was the bike rack and the Harborwalk. Perfect.

Everyone I passed on my early morning stroll, walkers, joggers and bikers, said “Hello” or “Good morning”. What a great way to start the day. A crabber had a full bucket of crabs. Wading birds worked the shoreline. Dolphins swam in the Harbor.

breakfast at Elena's, Punta Gorda

Later I had breakfast at Elena’s, 615 Cross Street, phone (941) 575-1888, a friendly, family place with funky turquoise and purple booths. Located in the Cross Trails Shopping Center, it came recommended by locals and I can now add my two thumbs up, especially the hash browns.

Punta Gorda is the kind of place where you come across it by accident or design, take a look around, and end up staying for the next 20 years or more.

“I sailed into Charlotte Harbor 20 years ago to see my brother and stayed,” said Charles Peck, a fine artist who turned his talents to murals. He has just finished a mural of the old hotel in downtown Punta Gorda, and has others to his credit.
“We are in a transient society,” Peck said. “These murals create a sense of social continuity.”

Charles Peck, artist, with hotel mural, Punta Gorda

All murals, 22 and counting, have a historic theme and are presented by the Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society that has its office at 715 Monaco Drive, Punta Gorda, phone (941) 575-0785.

Cattle Drive down Marion Avenue mural section, Punta Gorda

In a different vein, for a look at wildlife rescue, visit Peace River Wildlife Center at 3400 West Marion Avenue, phone (941) 637-3830, inside Ponce de Leon Park.

With each new find it became obvious that Punta Gorda can’t be seen and experienced in a day or overnight, give yourself several days to soak up the vibes and the smiles.

Note: Many thanks to the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau for coordinating our trip and to the Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside for providing accommodations.

Jennifer Huber, Tourism Public Relations Manger for the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau sums it up well:
“There are lots of reasons to be here, very active in the wintertime from November to Easter. People here care about conservation. They care about each other. People have specifically chosen to live here and they bring their values with them.”

Upcoming in Punta Gorda:

Annual Christmas Light Canal Tours, Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 31, call (941) 639-0969.

Annual Peace River Lighted Boat Parade (941) 639-3720, begins at dusk on Sunday, Dec. 11, free. Location: Charlotte Harbor.

Festival of Lights, Fishermen’s Village, through Dec. 31

COMING IN JANUARY SATURDAY MORNING MAGAZINE – “Where the Trees Are . . .”

Tick tock. Tick tock. Time is up. Got your answer?

The correct answer is: Henry DeLand, the baking soda magnate from New York who wanted to build an Athens of Florida in the late 1800s.

Truth be told, Henry didn’t even want to come look at the high ground area covered with pine trees and he definitely whined about the rough trip by horseback, including crossing the St. Johns River, to get there. But his brother-in-law, who wanted to plant orange groves, insisted on the visit so Henry came along.

Surprise! He loved it. Went home to eastern New York and began drawing up city plans for the Athens of Florida. Henry returned bought property near a small village called Persimmon Hallow in 1876 with a simple alluring premise – settlers could buy land from him but if they didn’t like the area he’d buy the property back within two years. The city was incorporated as DeLand in 1882.

Growth ebbed in the face of fires and freezes and grew with exquisite buildings of brick and masonry meant to withstand fire. DeLand Academy, founded by you know who, eventually became Stetson University with buildings so beautiful in the classic tradition that they are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Volusia County Courthouse moved to DeLand in 1886. Rebuilt in 1927 it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful in Florida, surrounded for a full block by a park and walkways. Courthouse business has moved but go inside to see history exhibits, paintings by Jackson Walker and visit the courtrooms.

A piece of a mural on the old DeLand Naval Station in downtown DeLand

And the trees – old oak trees still exist because people then (1800s) are just like people today – they wanted tax breaks. In 1886 you could take 50 cents off your taxes for each oak tree planted that lived for one year. Residents planted so many trees the tax break had to be stopped because there was not enough money from taxes to pay the town marshal. But the tree legacy endures.

If Henry DeLand rode into his city today his jaw would drop. His Athens is alive and well. Downtown DeLand rocks along Woodland Boulevard and the side streets. Stores in historic brick and concrete buildings showcase art galleries, jewelers, restaurants, coffee houses, antique emporiums, the famous Muse Book Shop, the Athens Theatre, a new Florida Museum for Women Artists, a bike shop that wheels in classic bikes – the list goes on.

The entire downtown has been revitalized through a MainStreet program, now 25 years old, with enhancements that invite genteel walking. Wide sidewalks flow past planters overflowing with flowers and partnered with nearby benches. Many restaurants have outdoor seating, perfect for this fine fall weather.

Discover DeLand has a really cool list of 102 things to do in DeLand. Let’s make our own list and start with three theme walks.

You’ll want your walking shoes for three specialized walks.

The DeLand Mural Walk has 15 murals, and counting, that grace the walls of old buildings. Look for an illustrated booklet describing each mural. We found ours at the Muse Book Shop at 112 South Woodland Blvd. Janet Bollum, owner, is a fountain of information on what to do in DeLand.

Still interested in Henry? Mural No. 1 is “Henry’s Vision” at the northeast corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Woodland Blvd. A new mural, not in the booklet, is a sepia-toned historic moment called “A Conversation over Chess in 1929″ by artist Jill Cannady. It is on a wall bordering Chess Park, a walkway next to the old Courthouse that runs between two blocks.

Chess Park has chess. A lovely three-panel waterfall at one end, built in tables with chessboards and even a chessboard built into the sidewalks, are all inviting.

Bring your chess pieces. Bring a brown bag lunch. Trees shade the tables. We liked this spot a lot.

waterfall at Chess Park, DeLand

The Museum of Florida Art has a DeLand Sculpture Walk with 12 pieces positioned in downtown DeLand through 2010 and 2011. The hope is that sculptures will be purchased and remain in place. Brochures with a locator map are free and available at most downtown stores. This is an easy and fun walk.

Two sculptures caught my attention – “Peace” by Joan Baliker of Ormond Beach, a bronze done in 2003, and sits at the north entrance to Chess Park on West Indiana Avenue. “Anniversary Spiral” by Gretchen Lotz of Orlando, a bronze done in 2010 is situated in front of Mainstreet Community Bank at 204 S. Woodland Blvd. and looks like was made exactly for that spot.

The Persimmon Hallow Quest is a River Quest treasure hunt using GPS coordinates. It begins at the northwest corner of Woodland Boulevard and Rich Avenue outside Hunter’s Restaurant. Get a free brochure at West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authority at 116 West New York Avenue, off Woodland.

A suggestion that is not a formal walk or quest – wander around Stetson University campus. Beautiful landscaping and buildings plus a nice surprise – the Gillespie Museum of Minerals with its collection of 20,000 mineral, rock and fossil specimens. Hours are limited – Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult admission is $2.

All this wandering will make you hungry. We ended up at Manzano’s where their bread is flown in from New York every day. Trust me, half a sandwich is enough for two meals. They are huge. They are wonderful and the bread is so good they sell it by the loaf.

Manzano’s, 120A North Woodland Avenue, is one of three businesses located inside the old Volusia County Bank build in 1909 with massive Greek columns announcing the front entrance. Manzano’s Facebook page keeps you up on the latest hours and happenings.

Being somewhat addicted to coffee (all right, totally is a better word) we ended up at the Boston Coffee House, 109 E. New York Avenue. We were too stuffed from Manzano’s to stay for a meal but the lunch menu looked most attractive. This coffee house regularly wins the best coffee awards for West Volusia and in Florida Living magazine.

Henry rode here on a horse. You arrive by car today or is a motorcycle your thing? DeLand has Thursday Thunder Night the last Thursday or each month from 6-9 p.m. Stores stay open late. Signs direct you to motorcycle parking and a DJ will spin music.

DeLand loves a festival or two or more. The weekend before Thanksgiving, Nov. 20-21 is the DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts, each day from 10-5 in the downtown historic shopping district.

A heads up about parking in DeLand. Look closely at the times. You may be wandering around for four hours and your car is in a two-hour spot. Oops. Go onto the side street where times are longer, say three hours.

Enjoy a day in DeLand. This Saturday Morning Magazine story is the first of an ongoing series of stories on authentic Florida towns. When you go, give me your feedback!

walk in peace
Lucy

Lucy Tobias is an author, artist and photographer living in Ocala.

Each one is different. I love them all. As proof, I’d do them all again in a heartbeat. I did 80 walks and the 50 great ones made the cut.

But I always do ask the audience if they have children and grandchildren. Do you? If the answer is “yes” then open your 50 Great Walks to Chapter 30: Guided Nighttime Turtle Walk, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Vero Beach.

June and July are nesting season for loggerhead turtles. Starting May 15 at 8 a.m. Sebastian Inlet State Park will begin taking reservations for June walks. Be sitting by the phone. These spots go fast. July’s reservations will be taken starting June 15 at 8 a.m. The number is 772-388-2750.

Another choice: Sea World @ Vero Beach. They too start taking reservations on May 15 at 8 a.m. for June. The phone number is the same 772-388-2750.

Why this walk? Two reasons: I am often asked “What is there to do in the summer in Florida”. Here’s an answer. And, while you may or may not see a turtle laying eggs the night you go, if you do it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your evening starts late, after dark, with a movie about turtles then patrols go on the beach looking for nesting loggerheads. If they find one, you all walk down the beach to the site. (My recommendation: do not wear flip-flops).

On our nighttime walk, we went to a turtle laying eggs and stood behind her. The children were asked to come up close, get down on the sand and watch her lay eggs, something turtles have done for millions of years. I stood in the back with the adults and I’m not ashamed to say, I cried. It was beautiful, ancient, moving and solid proof that everything on Mother Earth is connected. What we do matters, like not throwing plastic bags on the beach or in the water. A turtle might eat it (looks like a jellyfish) and die of starvation as the plastic stays in their stomach.

Memorial Day weekend happens in May and the weekend is well displayed at Fort Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach. They have a World War II Event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 23 and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday May 24. Featured are military displays and memorabilia of the Allies, Axis and Home front.

Getting ready for guided Willow Pond Walk at Fort Clinch State Park

Stay and do the two walks in 50 Great Walks – Ch. 11: A Stroll Through History: The Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach Centre Street Stroll (whew! That’s a mouthful) and Ch. 12: Nature’s Classroom: Willow Pond Nature Trail, Fort Clinch State Park.

Finish up May in beautiful DeLand (Ch. 25: Painted History Walk).

On Saturday, May 30 there is a nature hike at Bicentennial Youth Park about reading skulls and bones of animals. Gregg Thompson, biologist and naturalist, will share his extensive skull collection. Cool! Call 386-668-5553.

So, now you know my confession – I cry in the face of beauty and it is not just with turtles. Want to see something beautiful? Bok Tower Gardens near Lake Wales redesigned their Web site and it is a thing of beauty, especially the photographs. Take a look at Bok Tower Gardens.

Lucy Beebe Tobias is the author of “50 Great Walks in Florida” and the Authentic Florida Expert for VISIT FLORIDA.

Lake Placid sets the bar high. When you visit you will see why. This small town in Central Florida turned quite a few old walls on brick buildings into living history murals. And people come from all points of the compass to see the murals, spend time and money visiting local shops and doing lunch.

What a concept. Art, culture, commerce, history, nature. Put them all together and sleepy downtowns can wake up, be reborn, even head for a renaissance.

Campbell, executive director of the Columbia County Tourism Development Council, worked his plan. In 2006 he piled officials into vans and headed south to Lake Placid. They loved it. A plan was developed and the plan worked.

Two years go by. The first mural is done and it is fabulous. On Thursday, March 27, 2008 a three-dimensional mural celebrating Ichetucknee Springs was completed with a few final strokes. Artist Keith Goodson stepped up and signed his name to the 86-feet-long mural painted on the side of the Kuykendall Building in downtown Lake City. Goodson worked on the mural for 48 days.

Look at these photos. This mural is drop dead awesome. The springs are so enticing, so crystal clear, you want to dive right in. It gets even better. Columbia County resident and retired County Commissioner James Montgomery donated the $18,000 cost, out of his own money, to have it painted.

Lake City Reporter Publisher Michael Leonard promises to spearhead the effort to raise funds in partnership with the City of Lake City for the next mural. This one will celebrate Lake City’s 150th anniversary coming up next year. In all, five years from now, they’d like some 20 murals downtown. Yep, they have a plan.

Lake City is on a roll and I admire their commitment. I love murals. They are big, bold and brassy. Artists got to play in a huge way on a humongous canvas. Murals celebrate natural and historical Florida. This outdoor art is accessible to all ages. Just walk downtown, no museum admission fee required.

To read more about murals in other Florida places – Palatka, Lake Placid and DeLand, see my mural story on the Visit Florida Web site.

And the next time you headed north on I 75 make a detour to Lake City. Go to Marion Avenue and Northwest Hamilton Street and check out the springs mural. It is a big WOW. Come home inspired. Develop partnerships. Get going. Paint the walls where you live . . .and people who could be your newest best friends will come to your town.