Venice is a gulf coast beach town near Sarasota that was chosen as one of the Top Ten Happiest Seaside Towns by Coastal Living Magazine. Venice is a bit on the quieter, more laid back side of the Florida beach town spectrum but still draws it’s a fair share of beachgoers and Florida travelers. Many of whom come here to look for shark teeth on the beach. So many fossilized shark teeth are found in the sand here that Venice is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Hoping to score a valuable Megalodon tooth in the surf might be what this town is famous for, but there are still plenty of more great things to do in Venice, Florida.
Visit Venice Beach
Venice Beach is a wide stretch of sand on the Gulf of Mexico that’s still relatively quiet and not as touristy as many other beaches on Florida’s west coast. If you want to escape some of the big summertime crowds that you might find at more popular spots like Siesta Key Beach, this place is a pretty good alternative. The parking at Venice Beach is usually plentiful and the sand is uncrowded. Venice Beach isn’t nearly as touristy as other beach towns either, so the beachfront isn’t dominated by hotels and condos like some others.
One thing to note: the sand at Venice Beach is a just a bit more coarse and full of more seashells than some of the other Florida gulf coast beaches, so keep that in mind. Don’t forget your flip-flops or water shoes when visiting. And while you are visiting, Venice Beach is one of the best places in the world to try out one particularly unique activity.
Venice Beach Address: 101 The Esplanade N., Venice, FL 34285 Website: https://www.venicegov.com/visiting/venice-beach
Go shark tooth hunting
There are some Florida cities that are automatically associated with something else in your mind. Orlando and theme parks. Miami and nightlife. Pensacola and the Blue Angels. Key West and colorful characters. Venice and shark tooth hunting!
Venice Beach is famous for the seemingly limitless numbers of prehistoric sharks teeth that can be found in its sand. The beach attracts both tourists and locals who can almost always be found sifting through the sand looking for these little fossils. Many shark tooth seekers are hoping to score a rare and valuable find like a Great White or Megalodon tooth. You might not get that lucky, but it’s pretty easy to go home with a handful of smaller teeth once you get the hang of it.
The best spot find sharks teeth is a stretch of shelly and rocky sand about a mile south of the pier called Caspersen Beach. This spot is widely considered the best spot to look in the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, and attracts the experienced local shark tooth hunters who take this hobby pretty seriously. Grab a sifter (you can rent them at the pier if you don’t already own one) and head into the water to try your luck. By the end of the day you’re likely to go home with some new souveniers.
For more info, check out our guide to Shark Tooth Hunting at Caspersen Beach.
Caspersen Beach Address: 4100 Harbor Drive, Venice, FL 34285https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caspersen-Beach-Venice-Florida/157113367639351
Take a ride on the Venetian Waterway Park
The Venetian Waterway Park is a 9 mile scenic trail the runs parallel to both sides of the inter-coastal waterway in Venice. The trail runs from Caspersen Beach Park, past the Venice Municipal Airport and through some residential neighborhoods to downtown Venice. Take your bike out here for a ride along the water where you may see local wildlife like alligators and bobcats while riding past boats cruising on the inter-coastal. You’ll also ride through wide-open green spaces, past urban murals, and city parks. There are plenty of fitness stops along the way if you want to get off your bike to mix up your workout a bit or have a picnic under a covered shelter along the way.
Venetian Waterway Park Address: 303 East Venice Ave, Venice, FL (Main trailhead, but has multiple access point)
Go fishing at the Venice Fishing Pier
You don’t need a fishing license to try your luck at the Venice Fishing Pier, and access is absolutely free. Many piers in Florida charge a few dollar admission these days so it’s great to have one here that’s still free. The Venice Fishing Pier juts 700 feet out into the Gulf of Mexico and lets shore-bound anglers have access to deeper water where snook, sheepshead, flounder, and bluefish are often caught. Forgot your bait or need some new gear? There’s Papa’s Bait Shop at the Pier that carries live & frozen bait, tackle, and snacks.
Not a fisherman? The pier is still a perfect place for scenic views of the beach and to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico after having dinner and drinks at the best beach bar in Florida.
Venice Fishing Pier Address: 1600 Harbor Dr. S. Venice, FL 34285
Sharky’s on the Pier
Not only is Sharky’s on the Pier the only waterfront bar in Venice, but it was also awarded the title of Best Beach Bar in Florida by FloridaBeachBar.com! That’s some high praise in a state that’s literally surrounded by beach bars on three sides, from Pensacola to Key West.
Sharky’s on the Pier is a perfect place to watch a world-class gulf coast sunset after a day of fishing on the pier or collecting sharks teeth on the beach. Try the famous Grouper Wrap and share a plate of their awesome Seafood Nachos with a local craft beer. If you’re looking for something a little more upscale there is always Fins at Sharky’s, the sister restaurant right next door that specializes in seafood, steak, and sushi.
Sharky's on the Pier Address: 1600 Harbor Drive South, Venice, FL 34285@sharkysvenice
@sharkysonthepier Website: www.sharkysonthepier.com
Learn to fly at Tito Gaona’s Trapeze Academy
If you’ve ever had dreams of running away and joining the circus you could get a head start on that right here. Circus folks have had roots in this part of Florida for a long time. John Ringling and his wife Mable lived in the famous Sarasota mansion, the Ca’ d’Zan, which you can visit today at the Ringling Museum. The Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus called the nearby town of Ellenton its headquarters. And even today the world-famous tightrope walker Nik Wallenda calls the Sarasota area his home.
Keeping with this West Florida Circus tradition is Tito Gaona’s Trapeze Academy where you have the unique opportunity to take a flying trapeze class! For just $45 you can take a two-hour class that teaches the basics like swinging and knee hangs before you move onto more advanced tricks like the catch & return. The academy also has classes in other aerial arts like silks and lyra, classes for kids, and even offers birthday parties.
If you had so much fun that you want to make this part of your lifestyle Tito Gaona’s Trapeze Academy even has a Trapeze Fitness Club that meets twice a week and uses the trapeze to get you a full body workout while having a lot of fun. Does your local gym offer that? Doubt it.
The Trapeze Fitness Club is $150 per month and open to new and experienced trapeze flyers. You might be ready to join that circus before you know it!
Tito Gaona's Trapeze Academy Address: 1401 Ringling Drive South, Venice, FL 34285
Visit the Clyde Butcher Gallery & Studio
Photographer Clyde Butcher has been called the “Ansel Adams of Florida” for his dramatic black and white Florida landscape photos. In Venice, you can visit one of his galleries, and the working studio where he makes his photographic magic happen.
This gallery is located in an industrial park because it is a working studio and darkroom, but it’s open Tuesday through Friday to visitors. The gallery also occasionally offers events and darkroom tours where you can meet Clyde and learn about his process.
Clyde Butcher Venice Gallery & Studio Address: 237 Warfield Ave S, Venice, FL
Snook Haven Park for some riverside BBQ and bluegrass
Snook Haven is a wild mix of a place that’s part restaurant, part music venue, and part nature park. This very uniquely Florida destination is down a dirt road, under a canopy of trees, and right smack dab on the Myakka River in Venice, Florida. Snook Haven has been called “Ol’ Florida at its Finest”.
Come for some of the best barbecue in this part of Florida while taking in some live local music from the outdoor stage. Snook Haven specializes in backwoods barbecue and bluegrass, but also has seafood and gator on the menu, because of course it does. Local craft beers are also on tap to enjoy while sitting riverside watching alligators in their natural environment.
The food and live music at Snook Haven are only part of the story though. Kayak and canoe rentals are available so you can get out and explore the Myakka River yourself to paddle among the native wildlife in the heart of old Florida. If you’re not sure kayaking in a river full of big gators is for you, hop on a pontoon boat for a tour with the Logan River Tour Company. On this tour you’ll hear about the history of the area while seeing alligators, turtles, ospreys and herons along the wild and scenic Myakka River. Snook Haven is the type of place you could plan an entire day around.
Snook Haven Address: 5000 E Venice Ave, Venice, FL 34292
Go “car shopping” at the Ideal Classic Cars Museum
The Ideal Classic Cars Museum is both a museum for rare and classic automobiles and a dealership too. Every one of the beautiful vintage vehicles on display is for sale! It’s totally free to visit and walk around to explore the showroom and even take your own photos of these cars. The cars are for sale but don’t worry about having to deal with a pushy salesman trying to put you behind the wheel of a 1967 Shelby Cobra. It’s not that kind of dealership! But it is still a lot of fun to gawk and “car shop” for these classic cars without any intention of taking one home. It’s fun to dream!
Since the Ideal Classic Cars Museum does sell the cars it has on display, no two trips here are ever quite the same. Their inventory and display are constantly changing as new cars come and go from the museum. This is a really interesting and fun place to check out whether you’re a classic car-loving gearhead, or just a curious casual looking for something to do in Venice on a hot afternoon.
Ideal Classic Cars Museum Address: 2224 S Tamiami Trail, South Venice, FL 34239
Go birding at the Venice Area Audubon Rookery
The Venice Area Audubon Rookery is a must for Florida bird nerds looking to check a lot of species off their list in one location. The rookery is famous for bird photography and free to visit from dusk till dawn every day of the year. During nesting season you’ll see a huge variety of Florida birds like Anhingas, Glossy Ibises, Green Herons, Tricolored Herons, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and Black-crowned Night-Herons building their nests and raising their young. Alligators are also a common sight in the pond that surrounds the island rookery, keeping pests like raccoons away that could disturb the bird’s eggs during nesting. Birds and alligators living harmoniously together is just about the most Florida thing ever.
Birds are the main attraction here, but not the only flying animal that draws a crowd. A popular evening event is watching hundreds of bats fly out and into the night from the bat houses that are at the rookery. Admission is free, but there is a donation box and donations are encouraged to help support the organization.
Venice Audubon Rookery Address: 4002 S Tamiami Trail via, Annex Rd, Venice, FL 34293
Do you know of any more great things to do in Venice, Florida? Tell us about them in the comments!
Venice is a great little beach town that has more to offer than shark teeth and sand, and we’d love to know about them!
