Venice Area Description and History: Venice is one of the few cities on Florida's West Coast without a barrier island. The soft white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico form the western boundary of Venice. Fourteen miles (22.5 km) of beaches from Casey Key to Manasota Key offer unparalleled recreational opportunities including: swimming, sunbathing, fishing and boating. Shelling is also a favorite pastime, and fossilized sharks teeth can be found in abundance by sifting through the sand. Golfers enjoy excellent courses in the greater Venice area.
Venice is a Florida Main Street City; northern Italian architecture and beautifully landscaped boulevards that date back to the original city plans of 1925 grace its downtown. A historical treasure, Venice was originally called 'Horse and Chaise,' suggested by a tree formation along the coast. The settlement was named Venice after the canal city in Italy in 1888. Venice is a pleasant getaway for the vacationer who wants to relax and enjoy the Florida sunshine.
Things To Do in Venice: Take a walk along the miles of golden, sandy, uncrowded beach to search for shells or fossilized shark’s teeth. Venice is known as the 'Shark's Tooth Capital of the World.' Sunbathe, swim, or fish in the surf.
Enjoy golfing at any one of the seven public golf courses located within the Venice area. At nearby Fisherman’s Wharf, you can rent scuba & snorkel gear. You may also try catching that big one at the Venice public 750-foot long fishing pier.
Stroll along Venice Avenue in the historic downtown area of Venice Island that is very much alive with exciting activities, shopping, and dining. Browse the many quaint specialty shops. Play tennis or basketball at the municipal courts located just beyond the downtown area. Take in a Broadway play or musical at the Venice Little Theater. The activities are endless!
All shopping, restaurants, supermarkets, golf, tennis, charter-fishing, pier-fishing, water sports, theater, and the Venice area hospital are within a 5 minute drive.
Venice Area Restaurants and Regional Attractions: There are many area restaurants with several of them having an oceanfront or waterfront view. These include: Sharky's on the Pier (a must - Sunday night is “Reggae Night” featuring a live Calypso Band), Marker 4 Oyster Bar which has a Friday night fish fry, and The Crows Nest Marina Restaurant. For those landlubbers, try Luna Ristorante (great Italian fare), Ntinos Pizzeria and Restaurant (inexpensive and plentiful), Saltwater Café (superb seafood), Goldrush Barbeque (great baby back ribs), and MI Pueblo Mexican Restaurant (muy bueno Mexican food and Mariachis too).
Regional attractions include: Sarasota Kennel Club Dog Racing, Ringling Brothers Circus and Art Museums, the Mote Marine Aquarium and Laboratory, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, The Gulfcoast Wonder and Imagination Zone, and the Museum of Cars and Music which are all located in Sarasota only 30 minutes north of Venice. Fort Myers is 1 hour south; Tampa and Busch Gardens are 1.5 hours north.
Golf:
* Bird Bay Executive Golf Course
602 Bird Bay Dr W, Venice, FL 34292
semi-private, 18 hole, 2423 yds, Par 56
* Capri Isles Golf Club
849 Capri Isles Blvd., Venice, FL 34292
semi-private, 18 hole, 6472 yds, Par 72
* Jacaranda West Country Club
601Jacaranda Blvd., Venice, FL 34293
private, 18 hole, 6589 yds, Par 72
* Lake Venice Golf Club - First/Second Course
S Harbor Dr, Venice, FL 34284
public 27 hole, 6629 yds, Par 72
Second/Third Course
S Harbor Dr Venice, FL 34284
public, 27 hole, 6345 yds, Par 72
Third/First Course
S Harbor Dr, Venice, FL 34284
27 hole, 6330 yds, Par 72
* Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club
* Hatchett Creek / Meadows Course
575 Center Rd, Venice, FL 34292
semi-private, 27 hole, 7049 yds, Par 72
* Meadows / Preserve Course
575 Center Rd, Venice, FL 34292
semi-private, 27 hole, 7192 yds, Par 72
* Preserve / Hatchett Creek Course
575 Center Rd, Venice, FL 34292
semi-private, 27 hole, 7009 yds, Par 72
* Plantation Golf & Country Club
The Bobcat Course
500 Rockley Blvd, Venice, FL 34293
private, 36 hole, 6840 yds, Par 72.
Other Activities:
Go shelling or search for prehistoric fossilized shark teeth on the beach - Venice is know as The Shark Tooth Capital of the World.
