The Jewel of the Gulf Shore: Venice, Florida
Found on the shores of the gulf coast between Fort Myers and Tampa Bay, Venice gets its name from the scenic canals that weave through the city. The architecture and city planning were also designed to pay homage to that of its namesake city in Italy. Venice Florida touts some of the best beaches in the U.S. with over 16 miles of beachy shore line of white sands, clear waters, and amazing wildlife.
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Venice is consistently ranked within the top 5 best places to retire in the U.S. That is no surprise considering it would be hard to find a beach community with better parks, white sand beaches, wildlife, or outdoor activities. You'd also be hard-pressed to find a coastal city with more amenities considering Venice, Florida is home to over 40 different parks, 16 miles of beaches, 17 golf courses, and kayaking, biking, and boating opportunities galore, not to mention all of the amazing restaurants and places to have a bite while listening to some live music.
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WHY SHOULD I LIVE IN VENICE, FLORIDA?
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Venice is an idilic stretch of 16 miles of white sand gulf coast beaches that attracts over 20 million visitors annually. There is no shortage of things to do, people to see, homes to buy, or events to attend, so you'll never get board in Venice, Florida. Here are just a couple of the reasons Venice, Florida is such a destination for retirees, new families, and tourists alike.
Over 40 Parks and Rec Areas In Venice, Florida
Venice, Florida is well known for its array of parks. Whether you are taking your beloved pet to Paw Park to run around at the dog play station, or you are looking to stroll along Centennial Park, you have myriad options.
There are plenty of places to play with the kids as well, including the beloved Legacy Park. It includes a train-themed playground perfect for toddlers and grade school-aged children who's brains are quickly developing and soaking up new skills.
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Some of my favorite parks to enjoy include Chauncy Howard Park, City Hall Park and, East Blalock Park. There is a park in Venice, Florida to suit any of your needs. Some boast built-in barbecue pits and top-notch picnic areas, while others feature a lakes that you can actually fish in. Just be sure to look out for any crocodile signage before approaching any water, brushy, or forested areas.
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Biking Trails Galore
There are so many bike trails here that tourists travel to Venice, Florida just to experience them. If you want to join the fun but aren't sure where to start, try one of our free community bike tours.
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If you are interested in joining a tour, check out the Platinum Cycling Friendly Society of the American Cycling League. This happens every week and starts at 10:00 AM every Wednesday.
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Kayaking Enthusiast’s Dream
It is hard to find a place better than Venice, Florida when it comes to kayaking, canoeing, boating, fishing, wind surfing and myriad other water based activities. Venice, Florida is the perfect destination for kayakers. The options are endless. Tourists around the world visit Venice to go kayaking and the locals are known to indulge as well.
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Kayaking in Venice, Florida can be quite safe and easy and there are tons of opportunities to learn with lots of classes, rentals, and kayaking tours available to those who feel they need a little extra help to get started.
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The Best Beaches In Florida
Looking for some of the finest white sandy beaches in Florida? Look no further than Venice, Florida. The 16 miles of beaches along the Gulf Coast in Venice Florida include kid-friendly beaches, pet-friendly beaches, beaches with restaurants, private beaches for members of the local beach club, beaches with piers, beaches with live music, beaches great for picnicing, beaches where you can watch the perfect sunset with a drink or a meal, beaches great for wind surfing, kite surfing, paddle boarding, or even short or long board surfing when a swell is coming in. There is even a reef in Venice Beach that you can rent scuba gear to check out, and locals say that is a must see. There is a beach for every mood, family, individual, and activity when you are visiting or living in Venice, Florida.
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Plenty Of Golfing Opportunities
Retirees notoriously love to golf, and Venice loves its retirees so naturally Venice, Florida is chock full of golf courses. Florida is known as the golf capital of the world and is home to over 1,200 golf courses with 17 of those located in Venice, Florida. If you are willing to travel to the close by areas surrounding Venice, Florida another 79 golf courses will be at your disposal.
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Is Venice, FL, a good place to raise a family?
Venice, Florida is consistently listed as the #2 best place to retire in the state of Florida but the beautiful beaches, plethora of outdoor and wellness activities, wide array of wildlife, and top notch amenities including farmers markets, shopping, dining, and entertainment have been drawing many young families to settle into Venice, Florida to raise their families. The schools are excellent and the list of activities available to your ever changing family are endless.
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WHAT IS IN VENICE, FLORIDA?
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There is something for everyone in Venice, Florida. Here are some of the fan favorites that Venice, Florida has to boast.
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Venice Beach
The namesake beach of Venice, Florida is of course Venice Beach, and it is a fan favorite. It is just a hop, skip, and a jump from downtown Venice and is one of the top reasons to visit Venice, Florida.
The beauty of Venice Beach in Venice, Florida is unmatched. It touts fine, soft white sands that rival any other beach located in Florida, but you don't need to worry about huge crowds in the same way you would in Key West or Miami Beach. The view of the city from the beach is a beautiful, welcome site and only adds to the beauty of the sunset and ambiance. Its close proximity to downtown Venice allows you to have a day at the beach then stroll over to check out the many cafes and restaurants where you can find a bite and place to relax after, or during, a long day at the beach.
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The Gulf of Mexico has such warm water that you are able to comfortably swim or wade any time of year. The clean, clear, peaceful water is great for playing and relaxing alike.
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Downtown Venice
Downtown Venice is loaded with shops, cafes, local businesses, and amazing historic wide streets and original architecture dating back to the early 20th century, which is quite historic for the gulf shore of Florida. Downtown Venice, Florida pays homage to its namesake city in Italy and shares many qualities with the famous Italian destination including their famous canals, renaissance style architecture, and grand boulevards.
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Venetian Waterway Park
The Venetian Waterway Park runs along the Intracoastal Waterway which separates the coast from the mainland and moves from downtown Venice all the way to Caspersen Beach in the south of the city. It runs for miles and allows you to check out many of Venice, Florida's waterways in addition to the main Intracoastal Waterway. There's lots of wildlife and natural landscapes to take in as you stroll along the waterways and you might even catch a glimpse of some alligators swimming in the waterways as well. ​
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Caspersen Beach
Caspersen Beach is the perfect beach for those who want a more rugged landscape to take in while they are resting on soft sands and playing in the warm waters of the gulf coast. This beach has gorgeous views and is a great place to snap some photos along the rocks, trees, and tall grasses. This beach is at the end of the Venetian Waterway Walking Trail and offers Venice, Florida beachgoers some variety from the flat white sand beaches you'll find at Venice Beach.
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Venice Museum and Archives
In Downtown Venice, Florida in a building erected in 1927 you'll find the Venice Museum and Archives where you can learn all about Venice, Florida and the surrounding areas. This building is included in the National Register of Historic Places and if a great visit for history buffs or anyone who is interested in checking out some captivating old photos, exhibits, or would like to learn a bit about the Beautiful City of Venice, Florida.
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Historic Venice Train Depot
Another great spot to learn about local history is the Historic Venice Train Depot located in Downtown Venice along with the Venice Museum and many of the other historical buildings erected in 1927. This train station is no longer in operation but it still contains some old train cars, hosts historical tours, and is a generally beautiful sight to see.
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Centennial Park
This beautiful park filled with fountains, picnic tables, walkways to stroll along, and even a gazebo to catch some shade under was created and dedicated to the City of Venice, Florida to commemorate its 100th birthday. This park also includes a Veteran Memorial and various attractions commemorating conflicts where U.S. Vets were called to action.
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Venice Fishing Pier
The Venice Fishing Pier is the perfect place to take a stroll, check out some beautiful views, or even cast a line and catch some fish. It is located right next to Brohard Park which is Venice, Florida's only dog-friendly beach. Brohard Park has beautiful white sands, a long beach, and the signature warm waters that make gulf beaches so desirable. Bring you dog and let them meet new friends, play in the sand, and doggy paddle in the beautiful clear, warm waters of the gulf shore.
You can easily spend all day at the beach, watch the sunset from the pier, then find a place to grab a bite at one of the few restaurants near by while eating outside with your furry-friend before heading home after a great day at the pier and beach.
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