Charlotte County Tweetup Scheduled for March 9, 2012: Registration Opens at 2:00 p.m. March 2

Catch the Action of Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training

**Updated March 8, 2012: Registration for this event has closed.**

Be sure to follow #CCTweetup and #Rays on Twitter for the
March 9 Tweetup.

Want to be taken out to the ballgame? The Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau is honored to be the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays and we will host a Tweetup on Friday, March 9, 2012, to coincide with the Rays game against the Baltimore Orioles in Port Charlotte, Florida. Seating will be in a suite at Charlotte Sports Park.

Preceding the 1:05 p.m. game, enjoy a “Maddonini Chicken” lunch at River City Grill in Punta Gorda. Rays Manager Joe Maddon recently recommended the dish and restaurant through a tweet.

Space for this Tweetup is limited to eight (8) of our Twitter followers.

Babcock Wilderness Adventures Introduces New Heritage Tour

Babcock Wilderness Adventures Offers New Cypress Lodge Heritage Tour, Image Courtesy of Babcock Wilderness Adventures

Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offers many opportunities to walk on the wild side. Here’s a new way to ride on the wild side: Babcock Wilderness Adventures in Punta Gorda, Fla., is offering a new opportunity: the Cypress Lodge Heritage Tour.

World’s Shortest Parade to Launch 2012 Disabled Sailing World Championships in Florida

Scene from 2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Florida

Everyone loves a parade and this one is very special. The 2012 International Association for Disabled Sailing World Championships will launch in record-breaking fashion with the World’s Shortest Parade beginning at 11 a.m., Jan. 7, 2012 in Punta Gorda, Fla.

Participants, including 100 sailors with disabilities from 15 countries,

Southwest Florida Dining: Punta Gorda Restaurants Open Christmas 2011

The Warm Goat Appetizer at the Perfect Caper, Punta Gorda, Fla.

Fa, la, la, la, la…we’re compiling a list of Punta Gorda restaurants open Christmas Day 2011. If you know of one that will be open yet they didn’t make our list, feel free to comment. Reservations are strongly recommended as some are offering special seatings and menus.

Southwest Florida Dining: Englewood and Cape Haze-area Restaurants Open Christmas 2011

Seafood at Rum Bay Restaurant at Palm Island Resort, Florida

Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas is around the corner and although we know it’s a time to prepare your favorite dishes reminding you of Christmases past, others want to leave the cooking (and cleaning) to someone else.

Baby, It’s Not Cold Outside But WinterFest Promises Snowy Fun, Dec. 10 & 11, 2011, in Downtown Punta Gorda, Florida

Snap a Holiday Photo in SnowGobe Live!

The weather outside is certainly not frightful in Southwest Florida this time of year, it’s actually quite pleasant. But head on down to downtown Punta Gorda this weekend for WinterFest for festive fun including snow! Following is a media release about the event…

Cast Your Vote for Punta Gorda’s The Perfect Caper Chef for Best Chef in the South Award

Chef Jeanie Roland of the Perfect Caper in Punta Gorda, Fla., is Seeking 2012 James Beard Foundation Award

The Perfect Caper in downtown Punta Gorda, Fla., is the crown jewel of Southwest Florida’s dining scene. The restaurant is a two-time recipient of a Golden Spoon Award from Florida Trend magazine and the restaurant is also the first eatery in Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands to earn the recognition.

Chef Jeanie Roland is the culinary brilliance behind the restaurant and she has once again been nominated for the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the South.