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CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FLA. KAYAK & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL

January 26, 2008 on 10:58 am | In Adventure Travel, Beachbooker, Florida, Miami, Orlando, Road Trips, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Sports Travel, Spring Break, Surfing Resorts, Tennis, The Keys, The South |

Noted Wildlife Photographer James Shadle Highlights Seminar & Outdoor Expo

Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands, Fla. (Jan. 3, 2008) - Selected as a “Top 20 Event in the Southeast” for April 2008 by the Southeast Tourism Society, the 6th Annual Charlotte Harbor Kayak & Wildlife Festival, April 12, 2008, celebrates the natural beauty of the area with an outdoor festival designed for kayak and nature enthusiasts. Held at Port Charlotte Beach Park, 4500 Harbor Boulevard, Port Charlotte, Florida, the event features kayak races, guided kayak tours on one of Florida’s most pristine estuaries, free kayak demonstrations, wildlife- and kayak-related seminars and workshops, as well as food and entertainment. Internationally published, award winning nature and wildlife photographer and Florida Freshwater Wetland Master Naturalist James Shadle is scheduled as a featured speaker.

The festival features kayak races in several divisions and distances, with events designed for all ages and every level of expertise from novice to professional. Advance entry fee ranges from $20 for one race to $50 for three, when registering on or before April 1; download an entry form at www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com This year for the first time, festival races are held in association with the West Coast Florida Paddling Series.

Another major attraction for the Charlotte Harbor Kayak & Wildlife Festival is the Charlotte Harbor kayak fishing tournament, a catch, photo and release competition for paddlers only that targets nook, trout and redfish. A fishing kayak is among the winning prizes.

Visitors can find the latest equipment, gear, and technologies at the Outdoor Expo. Vendors include kayaks and kayak accessories, camping, fishing and outdoor adventure; arts & crafts, marine and boating. Nature and wildlife organizations will also be represented.

The event is hosted by the Charlotte Harbor Visitor’s Bureau in partnership with the Charlotte County Parks, Recreation &Cultural Resources Department and the Port Charlotte Kayak Club.For additional event information, tour the Visitor’s Bureau website at http://www.charlotteharbortravel.com/

The weekend gives visitors an opportunity to explore one of the country’s best venues for paddlers and nature enthusiasts. At 270 square miles, Charlotte Harbor is the second-largest aquatic preserve in Florida. It is also the home of one of only four U.S. coastal marine wilderness areas and offers nearly 200miles of kayak- and canoe-friendly Blueway Trails. Charlotte County’s Blueway Trails are heralded for their excellent backwater fishing, colorful birds, dolphin and manatee sightings, mangrove tunnels and 53 canoe and kayak trails that appeal to novice and expert paddlers alike. A detailed brochure and map rating each trail for access, difficulty and scenic value is available at the festival and from the Charlotte Harbor Visitor’s Bureau.

The 15-acre Port Charlotte Beach Park has plenty of facilities for outdoor activities, including a fishing pier, pavilions, pool, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, along with plenty of on-site parking.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE HARBOR & THE GULF ISLANDS

Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is Florida’s premier year-round eco-tourism destination. Known for its pristine beauty, the area has been featured on SAIL magazine’s list of the “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States”, ranked by Golf Digest as the “Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America”, and annually hosts the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup broadcast by ESPN.

For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Charlotte County Florida Visitor’s Bureau, 18501Murdock Circle, Suite 502, Port Charlotte, FL; 941-743-1900,or call toll free at 800-652-6090 for a free Visitor’s Guide; or visit the Web site at http://www.charlotteharbortravel.com/.