Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim

22nd Annual Freedom Swim Participants Cross the Peace River with Foam Noodles, Inflatable Rafts and Patriotic Colors, Charlotte Harbor, Fla., July 4, 2013

Florida Fun

They Came, They Swam, They Bobbled Across the Peace River for Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim

“Swim along the bridge!” Michael P. Haymans, co-founder of the Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim yelled out from the Gilchrist Bridge to patriotic swimmers in the Peace River. There was supposed to be a talk to swimmers somewhere around Noon before the start of the swim. As Michael explained, his uncle blew the bullhorn to get everyone’s attention to listen to instructions but a few thought it was the start of the swim and so they were off.

Featured Florida Fun Solo Travel

Southwest Florida’s Quirkiest 4th of July Event is the Annual Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim

C’mon, go ahead and celebrate independence this year during Southwest Florida’s quirkiest event, the 22nd Annual Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim across the Peace River. By far, this is my favorite Charlotte County event and ranks in my top five of fun Florida events. What started out 22 years ago as a few friends celebrating Independence […]

Florida Fun

Happy Independence Day 2012!

Happy Independence Day! Hope you’re enjoying the spirit of America today. To celebrate the holiday I headed down to Southwest Florida’s Charlotte Harbor to wish participants of the 21st Annual Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim across the Peace River well.

Florida Fun Snapshots

Wordless Wednesday: 20th Annual Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim in Punta Gorda, Florida

Twenty years ago a few friends decided to swim across the Peace River in Southwest Florida to celebrate Independence Day. They heard the activity was a rite of passage for local high school kids and called it the Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim. Today, it’s evolved into something affectionately describe as a gloriously unorganized blobblefest where […]

Florida Fun Snapshots

Wordless Wednesday: Charlotte Harbor Sailing

Over the weekend I enjoyed the 2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta here in Charlotte County, Fla. I had the opportunity to get out on the water on Friday and met some of the sailboats coming off the water Saturday. If you didn’t know, Charlotte Harbor has been included as one of the top 10 places to […]

Solo with Others

2010 Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim

Neither rain nor gray skies kept hundreds of patriotic swimmers away from the 19th Annual Charlotte Harbor Freedom Swim today. They swam with colorful foam noodles, inner tubes shaped like turtles, swimming fins, and homemade floating devices contraptions. Organizer Michael Haymans shouted out instructions around 8:55 a.m. including asking the crowd whether they were up […]