Peaceful Day on the Peace River: History, Birds and a Super Grouper

I spent today aboard the Navigator on the Peace River learning the area's history. Had no idea about the colorful characters who shaped the area until taking the tour. The tour is operated by Capt. Louie Desguin (Tel: 941-380-6814) with Punta Gorda River Boat Tours. Capt. Louie is second generation and knows the "real" history of the area.

Departing from Laishley Park Marina, the boat cruises up the Peace River, stopping at a bird rookery then heads to the Nav-a-gator Restaurant for lunch, home of the Super Grouper Sandwich. I opted for half of the superness and was satisfied.

There's a lot of stuff going on in the Nav-a-gator, a lot, but fun. After two hours at the restaurant we headed back down the river, stopping at the site of an abandoned town called Liverpool. In the 1800s and up until the early 1900s, phosphate was dredged from the Peace River in Liverpool. It was an established community and up and left in the early 1900s when the community realized the phosphate was coming down from Bone Valley (near Bartow) and it was easier to mine it from the land than dredge it.

Interesting, huh? Learn that and more on a tour with Capt. Louie!

Enjoy the photos!

Comments

Matthew said…
Very nice photos. I really like the restaurant.