Englewood is a huge town. It starts at River Road if you are coming from the East and continues west to the Gulf. It is just south of South Venice. You will find lifestyles of the rich and famous along Manasota Key and Beach Road, old Florida style homes with large lots and lots of new communities. By OLD Florida I mean 1970s and later. You won’t find too many earlier homes in this area. There are 55+ communities for boaters, and also for RVers. Definitely something for everyone. Englewood is so large that part of it is in Sarasota County and the other part is in Charlotte County. 776 is the road that runs through it and it has several names. Indiana, Englewood, McCall…..you get the picture.
I am absolutely in love with Englewood. From BeachWalk and Boca Royale with it’s older section and the new construction built by Neal to the 55+ communities of Park Forest and Bay Heights bayfront condominium, I have found or sold the perfect properties for people that love the Manasota Key area. BeachWalk will have upwards of 16oo homesites when finished and will be a destination itself with natural gas cooking. They are still selling new builds, and they send me a list of quick move-in homes regularly. The community has pools, pickleball, a clubhouse, activity center with gym, a restaurant and a cafe. I love how close this place is to Manasota Beach Road and Manasota Key. Plus, in the other direction you are in Venice in minutes and eventually Manasota Beach Road will connect with the Wellen Park area, CoolToday Park and the new downtown. So, I see lots of future biking destinations. From the old timey neighborhoods to the beachfront to canal facing properties, to the ranch life, Englewood has it all, with less traffic than most of Sarasota. If you asked me what I love the most about Englewood, it is probably the downtown area. Dearborn Street and the farmer’s market are a destination. On Dearborn, there are great shops, boutiques, a yoga studio, art galleries, a thrift store, shoes, kids stuff and more. For food and fun, you will find a blues bar called Englewood’s on Dearborn with amazing nationally known musicians and wonderful locals, Mango Bistro, Blue Pineapple, Bobarino’s Pizza , and a new Mexican restaurant. Surrounding Dearborn street are charming neighborhoods with older Florida homes with larger lots and beautiful mature trees. Everything leads to the breathtaking Lemon Bay. Hidden all around the area are parks for walkers, kayakers, bike riders, artist’s workshops, secret gardens and almost secret restaurants to hide out at while enjoying live music and lunch. I don’t miss a chance to grab a cold brew from my favorite coffee shop on Dearborn. There are two, The Dearborn Coffeehouse and Bakery and Culture Coffee. Culture has local artwork, live music and an OPEN MIKE night on Fridays. Pioneer Park hosts many community events at the stage where you can bring your own chair and enjoy. I don’t even have to say how much I love Manasota Key, the beach bars like the White Elephant, The Waverly, Sandbar, Lock n Key and Magnolias on the Bay and the gorgeous beaches. But, I will show you when you get here. For now, enjoy my photos. I try to post on my Facebook page every time I get near the beach. Artist Acres is just a small part of a very large community. It was once an artist colony. I am including this neighborhood to just give you a peak inside. You can ask me about any community in the town from Sarasota to Charlotte County.