FLORIDA PLACES AND DESTINATIONS - VENICE

Venice, Florida

Nestled along Southwest Florida's Gulf coast, and one of the family of islands around Sarasota (including Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Englewood, Nokomis, North Port, and Osprey) Venice is part of what is recognized as Florida's Cultural Coast.

Dubbed the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World,” Venice Beach is a treasure trove of shells and the mysteriously exotic shark teeth which litter the shore. Visitors hire mesh metal baskets and paddle at the shore to see how many shark teeth they can find.

There is no danger of real sharks, however, as the teeth are simply fossils washed onto the shores.




The best spot for specimens is Caspersen Beach, an unspoiled, beach complete with a nature trail through saltwater marshes and tidal flats.

Venice Beach is also a Certified Blue Wave Beach. The Blue Wave Award is given by the Clean Beaches Council, a not-for-profit organization devoted to increasing public awareness and volunteer participation in beach sustainability.

But Venice is more than just a beach. It is primarily a quaint, seaside town with everything from shopping for antiques and strolling through galleries to roller blading, biking and fishing the Venice Fishing Pier at Brohard Park.

Venice Main Street with its charming shops and galleries with rotating artists-in-residence is a popular attraction, as is the Venetian Waterway Park, a beautiful five mile long linear mixed-use park of trails that lead through one of the largest, undeveloped areas around Sarasota.

For history buffs, the Venice Archives and Area Historical Collection in the historic Triangle Inn collect and preserve historical and archeological material 1867 to the present time, and the Venice Train Station,  built in 1927, and now restored it to its original condition, offers tours.


Photo: Visit Florida