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Vacation in Venice - Florida
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Jump to:
Overview,
Things To Do,
Transportation,
Climate,
Accommodations,
Cost
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Area Overview
A serenely coastal embodiment of the Southwest Florida experience, the city of Venice is a magnet for snowbirds, tourists and year-round residents.
Located at the southern end of Sarasota County, it is home to more than 20,000 people in less than 17 square miles of land. The town’s moniker comes from the fabled city in Italy and, like its European namesake, Venice has its own historical charm.
Peppering the landscape are awe-inspiring buildings and informative plaques that hearken back to the founding days of Venice. The town has admirably maintained its architectural and cultural integrity ever since the original homesteaders (mostly fishermen, locomotive engineers, boat builders and citrus farmers) began settling there in the late 1800s. The centuries-old structures in Venice still uphold the northern Italian renaissance style.
Venice is one of the few cities on the West Coast of Florida that is not separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a barrier island. Nearby are the towns of Nokomis, Laurel, Osprey, Englewood, North Port and Sarasota.
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Things to Do |
Recreation & Fitness
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Shark Teeth and Shopping
Venice is known as the “Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World” because of the millions of fossilized shark teeth that have been found along the shores. Entering its 24th year is the spring Shark’s Tooth Festival—an event in which collectors display and sell shark teeth and other prehistoric fossils. More than 100 artists from around the state sell their original work, and there is food and live entertainment.
Downtown Venice is rife with artisans, florists and food purveyors from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday along Tampa Avenue during the Venice Farmers’ Market. The strip between Nokomis and Nassau Avenues features about 40 vendors that peddle craft popsicles and handmade accessories, as well as garden-fresh produce from the city’s farms. Banyan trees cover the walkway at Venice’s Linear Park—a green space/trail with commemorative signs and benches that stretches from Nassau Street to the Gulf.
There is also the Venice Symphony for concerts, the Venice Art Center for exhibits, and community theatre opportunities at the Venice Theatre.
Food and Fishing
When it comes to dining, patrons trek to Venice for fresh seafood on the waterfront, ice cream scoops along the downtown strip and diverse ethnic dishes on the mainland. Coffee shops, gelato bars, sushi bistros, pizzerias and taverns abound, from Venice to Miami to Nokomis Avenues. Restaurant hopping in Venice is like taking a passport-free international cruise to Thailand, France, Italy and Mexico, all in one trip.
For those who prefer to catch their fare, there are
fishing opportunities at either end of Venice Avenue.
On the west end, Venice Avenue runs directly into the Gulf. East Venice Avenue dips into the freshwater of the
Myakka River. The Venice Fishing Pier is on Harbor Drive South, and pole rentals and bait sales are available to anglers. Fishing for grouper and snapper is popular most of the year. Kingfish, cobia, blackfin tuna, greater amberjack, Spanish mackerel, mahi-mahi, shark,
barracuda, tarpon, permit and little tunny can all be caught in Venice as they seasonally migrate through the local waters.
Beaches and Natural Beauty
To sweat off the feasts of freshly caught fish, Venice visitors
can partake in several outdoor activities. Snook Haven County Park has boat, canoe and kayak rentals. Golf is another popular pastime, as Venice has some of the best putting greens and courses in the area.
The Venice Area Audubon Society Rookery is one of
Venice’s little-known natural gems. Photographers and birders migrate to this small island to document the lives of nesting birds such as great blue herons, egrets, anhingas
and night herons.
Venice has paved walkways for walkers, bicyclists and roller bladers. The Venetian Waterway Park trail runs along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway, providing a majestic view of boats and dolphins in the channel. The Legacy Trail is a rails-to-trails project that links Venice
directly to Sarasota via a paved lane that weaves through ecological habitats.
Check out Caspersen Beach for shark tooth hunting,
and enjoy the pavilions and playground that are
nestled on the edge of Red Lake. The Paw Park and South
Brohard Beach offers areas for canines to romp and swim.
The South Jetty reels in surfers when the waves are
substantial. North Jetty Park has a walkable jetty for
fishing and watching sunsets. Venice and Nokomis Beaches
are both gathering hubs; the latter even hosts a drum
circle.
Whether the adventure is inland or beachside, it will likely be a vibrant one in Venice.
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Cultural Activities
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Venice Art Center
390 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice
941-485-7136
www.veniceartcenter.com
The Venice Art Center is the oldest and largest community art center on Florida’s cultural coast. The Venice Art Center features
venues for display of art and culture, as well as year-round classes, workshops, and demonstrations for adults and children in virtually every visual art medium. The Art Center also offers summer art camps for children. The Venice Art Center’s in-house cafe has become a popular spot for visitors who want exceptional
food in a beautiful environment.
Venice Theatre
140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice
941-488-1115
www.venicestage.com
The award-winning Venice Theatre is the third largest community
theatre in the country! Two performance spaces – the 432-seat MainStage and the intimate 90-seat Pinkerton – are busy year round with musicals, comedies, classic and contemporary drama,
family productions and nationally-recognized concert and
comedy acts.
In addition to live entertainment, Venice Theatre also brings
performances to schools and community groups and offers
classes and camps for students of all ages.
Venice Symphony
941-207-8822
www.thevenicesymphony.org
The Venice Symphony offers our community a variety of Pops & Classical concerts as well as unique music education programs
for youth and adults. In its 41st year, the orchestra of 75
professional musicians performs as a Resident Artist
Organization at the Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice, FL 34285, under the direction of Maestro Ken
Bowermeister. The Concert Previews, Summer Music Camp, Symphony in the Schools, and adult music education programs are ever popular!
Venice Museum & Archives
351 S. Nassau St., Venice
941-486-2487
www.venicemuseum.org
www.facebook.com/veniceflarchives
The Venice Museum & Archives preserves the heritage of Venice and the surrounding area with a collection of more than 21,000 photos, artifacts, published materials and archives. Exhibitions and programs are designed to engage a diverse audience by providing a foundation for understanding the area’s history and how it impacts the community today and in the future.
The museum features both permanent and changing exhibits. Permanent exhibits include, Digging Up Discoveries: Southwest Florida Fossils, displaying more than 365 fossils from the Burgess collection; and Dr. Fred H. Albee: A New Beginning for Nokomis and Venice, tells the story of a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon who recruited city planner John Nolen to design the city of Venice. In addition to its changing and permanent exhibits, the museum provides public access to the collection database, and assists with information requests.
Built in 1927, the museum’s structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a beautiful example of Venice’s Northern Italian style architecture.
Hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10 am to 4 pm; and the first and third Saturdays, October through April, from 11 am to 3 pm. Admission is free. Donations are
appreciated.
Venice Community Center
326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice
941-861-1380
www.scgov.net/vcc
The Venice Community Center (VCC) is a beautiful, 45,000 sq. ft. facility. It is home to a 10,000 sq. ft. ballroom that seats up to 1,200 guests. The ballrom has a large stage with professional
-grade theatrical lighting. There is also a state-of-the-art sound booth for professional production technicians. VCC has
several other rooms available for smaller gatherings such as meetings, classes or parties. The Community Center boasts a
commercial grade kitchen perfect for catering needs. The VCC hosts
several concerts, dances, lectures, health and business expos, craft,
antique, quilt, and orchid shows, exercise classes and much more throughout the year.
Venice Area Historical Society
P.O. Box 955, Venice, FL 34284
(941) 412-0151
www.VeniceHistory.com
The Venice Area Historical Society meets at Village On The Isle at 7pm, Oct. through May on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Meetings
are free and open to the public. The Society does public outreach about the rich history of the Venice, Nokomis, Laurel and Osprey
areas and works toward historic preservation by providing a speakers’ bureau, working with a historic plaque program, maintaining a lecture series, working with an educational
program for the schools and giving tours of the restored
Historic Railroad Depot and caboose, located at 303 E. Venice Ave.
Winter tour hours (Nov.-April) are Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 am-3pm, Sat. 10am-1pm. Summer tour hours are Sat. only from 10am-1pm. For further information or for special tours or events, call
412-0151 and leave a message or call 485-0157.
Historic Spanish Point
337 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey
941-966-5214
www.historicspanishpoint.org
Historic Spanish Point is a fascinating 30-acre museum overlooking beautiful Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey, Sarasota County, Florida. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site preserves and interprets 5,000 years of history. It is fully
accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Visitors go inside a prehistoric shell mound to experience an archaeology exhibition about this region’s earliest inhabitants. Florida’s pioneer life is shared through a homestead house built in 1901, a citrus packing house, a charming chapel, and a pioneer cemetery. Historic Spanish Point also features formal gardens and lawns created in the early 1900s by Mrs. Potter Palmer as part of her winter estate. An active boatyard and maritime heritage
program features the Magic, a reproduction of a 1906 motor launch. Nature Trails allow visitors to explore Florida’s native plant communities. A dazzling Butterfly Garden boasts blooms year-round. Bring a picnic lunch and dine under the graceful branches of a hundred year old Southern Magnolia.
The Visitors Center in the restored Osprey School, features a
Museum Store, an Orientation Theatre, Meeting Rooms and a large Exhibit Gallery. Historic Spanish Point is open Monday thru Saturday 9am - 5pm and Sunday 12pm - 5pm. Guided tours are offered daily and general admission is charged. Visit the website, or call for current tour times and rates.
Venice Performing Arts Center
1 Indian Ave., Venice
941-480-3191
www.veniceperformingartscenter.com
Venice Performing Arts Center (VPAC) is Venice’s new premier performing arts center dedicated to arts and education. The 1,100 seat, state-of-the-art theatre is located on the Venice High School campus and offers programming that supports not only the students, but the community as well. Patrons and visitors to VPAC can experience a variety of exciting events such as: Film, Theatre, Touring Performances, the Venice Symphony, Venice Concert Band, Exsultate Chorale, as well as art exhibits and lecture series. VPAC also offers an internship program and volunteer opportunities.
This beautiful center was made possible through a partnership between the City of Venice and the Sarasota County School Board. Please visit the website for more information on current and upcoming events and opportunities. VPAC - where arts and education meet.
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Attractions
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Transportation |
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Climate |
Monthly Temperatures / Rainfall
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Low
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Avg
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High
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Rain |
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January
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49.8
F°
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62.4
F°
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74.9
F°
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3.2
"
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February
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50.9
F°
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64.0
F°
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77.1
F°
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2.9
"
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March
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55.1
F°
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68.4
F°
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81.7
F°
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3.5
"
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April
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58.4
F°
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72.0
F°
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85.7
F°
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2.2
"
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May
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63.9
F°
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77.5
F°
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91.1
F°
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3.1
"
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June
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69.5
F°
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81.0
F°
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92.5
F°
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9.1
"
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July
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71.3
F°
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82.2
F°
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93.0
F°
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9.7
"
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August
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72.2
F°
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82.6
F°
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93.0
F°
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9.5
"
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September
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71.5
F°
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81.5
F°
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91.6
F°
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8.1
"
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October
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65.1
F°
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76.2
F°
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87.2
F°
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3.2
"
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November
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58.1
F°
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69.8
F°
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81.4
F°
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2.3
"
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December
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52.2
F°
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64.3
F°
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76.3
F°
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2.3
"
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Best Time To Go:
Winter and fall.
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Spring temperatures are mild with averages in the low 70's and highs in the mid 80's. Nights are cool with lows in the upper 50's. Summer temperatures are warm with averages in the low 80's and highs in the low 90's. Nights are mild with lows in the low 70's. Fall temperatures are warm with averages in the mid 70's and highs in the mid 80's. Nights are cool with lows in the mid 60's. Winter temperatures are cool with averages in the low 60's and highs in the mid 70's. Nights are cool with lows in the low 50's.
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Accommodations |
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Costs |
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Additional Information
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Visitor Information
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Overview,
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Climate,
Accommodations,
Cost
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