Punta Gorda is consistently winning top awards for "the best place to retire". I'll have to say, I'm not of retirement age (42) and I really enjoy the town:
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/best-places-to-retire/articles/2008/09/18/best-healthy-places-to-retire-punta-gorda-florida

https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/news/Pages/Punta-Gorda-Featured-in-Where-to-Retire-Magazine.aspx

http://www.topretirements.com/reviews/florida/Punta%20Gorda.html...

Please make sure to double check school districts.

My family has extensive experience with the Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte county school systems. My grandmother went to many of the local schools that aren't even around anymore. My parents attended many local schools. My father went to Anna Maria Elementary school in the early 50's. My parents attended Manatee High School together and they graduated from Manatee Jr College and both went onto eventually graduate from The University...

Please be sure to verify school districts before purchasing a home.

Sarasota High Schools

High School
Riverview, Score 621, Rating A- (34233, 34231, 34241, 34238)--Aqualane Estates, Arbor Lakes, Arielle, Ashely Oaks, Ashton Glen, Ashton Pointe, Bahama Heights, Ballantrae, Bayview Acres, Baywood Colony, Bee Ridge Estates, Beneva Oaks, Beneva Pine, Beneva Ridge, Beneva Woods, Bent Tree Village, Coral Cove, Country Club of Sarasota, Deer Creek, Forest at Hi Hat Ranch,...

Sarasota County has one of the best school systems in the state of Florida. It also has Pine View School for the Gifted, which was ranked the top school in Florida and one of the top schools in the Nation. It is a public school and the requirements are that you live in Sarasota County, have an IQ of 130 or more, pass the achievement tests required and have teacher recommendations. I have one child who graduated from PV and another who attended for many years. It's a great school but it's not for...

Pine View is a very different school and it's hard for me to say if it might be a good fit for your kid. For us, it was a good fit for our oldest and not the best fit for our middle girl. Our oldest graduated from PV and our middle left in 7th grade and then did Florida Virtual School. She's moving to Chicago in a few months and doing her senior year up there. It's a very personal decision and I'd probably have to write a book here to give all the pros and cons of the school.

As far...