Royal palm trees swaying in subtropical breezes off Charlotte Harbor, cyclists rolling along scenic paved paths and homeowners sipping lemonade on wide verandas: life in Punta Gorda is nothing if not relaxed. Access is outstanding, the city earning #1 spot for its airport connectivity, with three nearby airports providing nonstop flights to destinations like Toronto; Washington, D.C.; Dusseldorf; and Aalborg, Denmark. Plus, two U.S. highways intersect here: a strategic location just off Interstate 75 contributes to the city’s #10 ranking overall for Product. Punta Gorda reached a notable #22 ranking in our Place category, thanks to a low crime rate (#16) and high marks for Parks and Outdoors (#17). The beloved 19-acre Punta Gorda Nature Park features plenty of wildlife viewing amid naturally occurring wetlands. The number of jobs is set to skyrocket, too: Fort Myers-based Intrepid Aerospace recently signed a letter of intent to build a $1.8-million temporary hangar—expected to become permanent—to work on commercial aircraft.