Venice, Florida, ‘The City on the Gulf’, is a snowbird’s dream summer getaway. Straddling the Intracoastal Waterway from Roberts Bay and the Venice Inlet to the North all the way to Alligator Creek to the South, most of Venice floats undisturbed on an island. It enjoys the bustle of a seaside resort, with its own airport, local symphony, golf communities and copious nightlife, yet much of it is reminiscent of ‘Old Florida’.
Most of its beaches are accessible to all and they offer free parking. This ‘Shark Tooth Capital of the World’ is a brilliant destination for family holidays, with children exploring the vast stretches of fine sand for marine fossils, mostly shells. The municipal beach is a Certified Blue Wave and the 2008 Best Restored Beach Award winner, and is one of over 30 parks in Venice. Pets can go wild on the beach at Paw Park, tennis and basketball players can enjoy the courts at Hecksher Park and Pinebrook Park, while the rest of the family can go on a kayak or canoe adventure at Higel Park or Venice Myakka River Park.
Humphris Park on the South Jetty is a good place to view the sunset while having a peaceful picnic. Children flock to Centennial Park for a splash in the interactive fountain. The Venice Fishing Pier at Brohard Park attracts swarms of fishing enthusiasts, as well as those wishing to use the sand volleyball courts, the picnic shelters, the golf course, the pavilion or the restaurant. Bikers, joggers and walkers have access to the 5 miles of trails at the Waterway Park, which communicates with the Legacy Trail for a further 18 miles of uninterrupted trails.
For an incursion into the rich history of the city and its neighboring communities of Osprey, Laurel and Nokomis, head down to the Venice Museum and Archives with the children. Local fossils are on display alongside temporary special exhibits. Having delighted the residents for four decades, the Venice Symphony gives a charming rendition of Carmina Burana and various performances at the new Venice Performing Arts Center.
Sought-after luxury waterfront properties abound in Venice. With these estates lining the gulf shore, the canals and the lakes beyond the I75, you will be spoiled for choice. Various other types of properties bring investors to this city: Tuscan-style estates in the golf communities adjacent to the Venice Golf and Country Club nature reserve, Mediterranean-style town houses, and contemporary and practical resort-style condominiums by the beach.
