Charlotte County was recently voted the “Best Place to live in the South”. It provides some of the most beautiful natural settings that Florida has to offer. Charlotte Harbor includes one of the world’s largest protected marine estuaries encompassing 270 square miles with 219 miles of natural shoreline. There is a unique network of barrier islands and mangrove forests. There are 129 square miles of sparkling waters and aquatic preserves, 12 miles of soft sandy beaches, thousands of plant species, hundreds of hiking trails, an abundance of marine life, clean air, warm sunshine and an air of tranquility.