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TripAdvisor Ranks Englewood, Florida the #2 Emerging U.S. Travel Destination for 2009: Why?

This beach community on Florida’s Southwest Gulf coast sits on Lemon Bay and embraces nature with its accessibility to Blueway Trails for paddling a kayak, bird watching, fishing, and five beaches. Sea treasures in the form of fossilized shark’s teeth are found on Manasota Key at Stump Pass State Park. Golf courses are plenty, too.

Visitors to Englewood will enjoy the newly designated Lemon Bay/Myakka Trail Florida Scenic Highway. The scenic highway follows State Road 776 and features Englewood’s historical and natural points of interest. Highlights include Florida pioneer architecture in Olde Englewood Village and weekly bluegrass jam sessions at the historic El Jobean Bean Depot Café. Lemon Bay Park and the Venice Rookery are natural highlights along the trail.

Englewood’s mom and pop shops, restaurants, and lodging accommodations in the form of comfortable motels and condominiums are the heart of this Florida beach community. There’s a fun, funky feel on the town’s main drag, Dearborn Street. Plan a visit over the second Saturday of each month to participate in Saturday Night Live!, and enjoy live entertainment, festivities, and meet local artists between 6 and 9 p.m.

Englewood is reminiscent of what Florida vacations used to be with its uncrowded beaches, unpretentious attitude and endearing charm. It’s no wonder the TripAdvisor TravelCast ranked Englewood #2 in its Top Ten U.S. Emerging Destinations for 2009 list.

Englewood is located about a 90-minute drive south of Tampa and sits in western Charlotte and southern Sarasota Counties.