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Art & culture abound

Enjoying venice’s art and culture.

Got a bit of a sunburn? Or perhaps you wonder if your sightseeing will be sidelined by one of Venice’s rare wintertime rainstorms. Wonder no more.  This is your opportunity to explore the art and culture of Venice while staying indoors.

Save some time for the Venice Art Center , where you can stroll through the latest exhibition, enjoy an evening of live blues or jazz, listen to a mid-day lecture, or even sign up for a class on watercolors, pottery, or jewelry making. Grab a bite to eat right onsite at The Art Center Caffee. 

You’ll want to be sure to check the schedule at the Venice Community Center , where your choices can range from a concert, a game of pickleball, or even free income tax help.

At the Venice Performing Arts Center you may have some trouble deciding where to begin. The Center’s 1,090 seat multi-level auditorium is home to the Venice Symphony , The Venice Concert Band , The Venice Chorale , Venice Institute for Performing Arts , and the Venice High School Performing Arts Department, among other performing groups.

Looking for theatrical entertainment? Venice Theatre isn’t just one of the largest and most active community theatres in the United States. It’s also your source for cabarets, musicals, dramas, comedies, and cutting-edge contemporary productions.

Perhaps you’d like a restorative afternoon in a quiet corner of the William H. Jervey Venice Public Library , where you can find the latest magazines, newspapers, or that best-seller you’ve been waiting to read. The Community Room often offers something interesting from local organizations. Lectures, movie screenings and musical performances combine education and entertainment. Check the library’s calendar HERE .

DOWNTOWN ART SCENE

Explore our growing art district and discover the vast trove of creatives. Find a treasure at one of our local galleries or take a memorable selfie by one of the many public artworks in the district. Explore the art projects funded by Venice Area Beautification Inc. and don’t miss the Venice MainStreet’s “Venice, Florida” mural at the corner of West Venice Avenue and Nassau Street South. Got Shark Spotting and find all ten bronze shark sculptures downtown. 

• Endangered Animal Sculptures by various artists- West Blalock Park, 401 Pensacola Road • Healing in the Enchanted Garden by Joseph Barron- Founders Walkway (in the 200 block of West Venice Avenue connecting to Miami Avenue West) • Maria sculpture- corner of West Venice Avenue and Nokomis Avenue South • Merkids by Catherine Beausoleil and art students- Centennial Park near the Intergenerational Fountain • Sharing Paradise in Venice by BJ Carson- Michael Biehl Park, 100 W. Tampa Avenue (on Venice Theatre wall) • Venice, Florida by David Lee- Nassau Street South (near corner of West Venice Avenue) • Venice Remembered by Coleen Henry- back side of Venice Gondolier Building facing Intracoastal Waterway, 200 East Venice Avenue • Murals at United States Post Office, Venice, Florida by Coleen Henry, 350 West Venice Avenue

Home » Travel Guides » United States » Florida (FL) » 15 Best Things to Do in Venice (FL)

15 Best Things to Do in Venice (FL)

A perfect example of a planned city, Venice came about in the mid-1920s and grew steadily as the 20th century progressed.

Today Venice is an official Florida MainStreet City, with beautiful architecture modeled on the Italian Venice, and streets lined with palms and live oaks. Downtown Venice combines this elegance with first-class shopping, dining, entertainment and culture.  

I haven’t even talked about the shore yet. Venice is on a truly special stretch of the Gulf Coast where the sands are laced with countless fossilized sharks’ teeth.

Bring a sifter to spots like Caspersen Beach and the main municipal beach. Come to town in April and there’s even a whole festival dedicated to these fossils.

1. Venice Beach

The main municipal beach is at the western end of Venice Avenue, fringed by low dunes with sea oats. 

This is Venice’s most convenient and most popular beach. Something I adore here is the Space Age pavilion, a Venice emblem since 1964.

You can comb these sands for sharks’ teeth, while scuba divers can explore a reef a quarter mile offshore. A nice touch is a concession stand/convenience store at the pavilion, open during the day. 

Towards sunset most nights the pavilion becomes a stage for live music. There’s also a new age vibe to this beach, with regular yoga sessions, and a weekly drum circle around sunset on Sunday evenings.

2. Downtown Venice

One of the best things going for Venice is the award-winning downtown. This flourishing district is threaded by W Venice Ave, but is spread out over quite a large area on intersecting Tamiami Trail and, Nokomis Ave and Nassau St.

The townscape is refined Mediterranean Revival architecture from the 1920s, lush palms, enormous banyans, and stately live oaks. Pedestrians and bicyclists can get around with ease, and the central Centennial Park is right here if you need a break.  

More than 100 independent businesses are thriving in this picture-perfect setting. There’s a dynamic shopping and dining scene, especially along W Venice Ave. Make sure to stop by on a Saturday morning, in time for the weekly farmers’ market. 

I also can’t get enough of downtown’s effervescent culture, at the Art Center, and the renowned Venice Theatre.

3. Venetian Waterway Park

Venice prides itself as a bicycle-friendly city, and you’ll be left in no doubt when you visit the Intracoastal Highway here. 

On both sides of this waterway are almost ten miles of paved trails. These lead you straight through downtown Venice where they connect with the Legacy Trail at the 1927 Historic Venice Train Depot. That trail continues for almost 20 miles through Sarasota County.

Back in Venice, you can use the Venetian Waterway Park to get from downtown to places like the Airport Festival Grounds, and Caspersen Beach at the southern end. Look out for wildlife on the route, from gopher tortoises to osprey and alligators.

4. Caspersen Beach

Caspersen Beach, at the south end of the Venetian Waterway Park trail, is easily one of my favorite beaches in Venice.

Heading here from downtown you could combine a visit to the beach with a ride or walk along the trail. The beach is beautiful, with a much more rugged shoreline and a more secluded location than Venice Beach. 

A long nature trail leads you through the coastal hammock behind. Meanwhile, if you’re hunting for sharks’ teeth I think Caspersen Beach should be your priority. If you bring a sifter you can often scoop them right out of the sand here.

5. Venice Museum and Archives

If you’re interested in learning more about the city’s history, take a trip to the Venice Museum and Archives. On the Cultural Campus that includes the municipal library, art center and community center, the museum building dates back to 1927.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996, this was originally the Triangle Inn.  

The main exhibit is Venice’s Inhabitants, which looks at the various people who have lived in the area, from the Tocobaga and the Calusa Native Americans to the author Walter Farley.

Given the finds that you can make on the beaches in Venice, I was particularly interested in the Fossils: Venice’s Land Before Time exhibit.

6. Historic Venice Train Depot

One of the most impressive projects when Venice was developed in the 1920s was the southern terminus for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.

In the heart of downtown Venice, this was completed in 1927, while the complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. On show are a caboose and an 85-foot retired circus car. 

Passenger service arrived in 1971, and since then about 20 miles of the old railroad have become the multi-use Legacy Trail. I appreciate how the depot is still a transport hub, served by buses run by Sarasota County Area Transit. 

The depot building is beautifully preserved, and you can join a guided tour for the inside track on its history. 

These take place on Saturdays 10:30 am to 1:00 pm year-round, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, November through April.

7. Centennial Park

With downtown Venice’s shops and restaurants all around, Centennial Park is a green oasis dotted with palms.

If you’re a family with younger children, I can bet that you’ll spend some time here on hot days. There’s an awesome interactive fountain that will keep kids entertained for at least an hour.

Elsewhere the ADA-accessible gazebo is the venue for Venice’s Friday Night Concert Series, with shows on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

In April Centennial Park also welcomes the Venice Sharks Tooth Festival, which I’ll talk about later in my list.

8. Venice Fishing Pier

Venice has had a fishing pier since 1966, although this iconic 700-foot structure has been rebuilt a few times. The most recent work took place in 2019. During that project the pier was given special light fixtures to avoid confusing sea turtles. 

One thing I think everyone should do at least once in Venice is visit the end of the pier at sunset. Inspiring a kind of hushed awe, the views will stay with you for a long time. 

The pier is pretty much unique in Florida because you don’t need to play a fee to visit. What’s more, you don’t even need a license to fish here. The current benches and fish cleaning stations were all added during the renovation a few years back.

9. South Jetty

In the 1930s a pair of jetties was built along the mouth of the Venice Inlet. On both sides you can stroll out to admire the views, and watch the sun go down. 

South Jetty is easiest to get to from downtown Venice, as you don’t need to go all the way around the bay to get here. 

Where it differs from the North Jetty is that there isn’t as much sandy coastline along the beach.

So for me the main reason to be here is for the scenery. At the base of the jetty is Humphris Park, with benches and picnic tables below a row of palms lining the inlet. 

Stay here for any amount of time and you’re likely to see a manatee or dolphin. With so many people fishing along the jetties, water birds like pelicans are always nearby.

10. North Jetty Beach

On the north side of the Venice Inlet there’s another fabulous coastal hangout in Nokomis. After parking at North Jetty Beach you can wander along the paved path tracing the inlet and running along the jetty. 

Both the inlet and jetty are lined with a whole community of people casting their fishing lines. I’ve spent plenty of time watching the boats come and go, and spotting lots of dolphins frolicking in the water.  

Further north, the beach is a great place to just relax on the sand and soak up the views. There are plenty of amenities too, making this a great place to spend the whole day, and to linger until the sun goes down.

11. Oscar Scherer State Park

Along South Creek, Oscar Scherer State Park preserves an area of hardwood hammock, scrubby flatwoods and pine flatwoods.

The extensive scrubby flatwoods here are really important for the vulnerable Florida scrub jay. So at this park you’ll get the chance to view the only bird endemic to Florida. Another important species here is the bald eagle, which nests in the pines in the winter months. 

For recreation, Lake Osprey is a small but beautiful water body for swimming or relaxing on the beach. You can also make your way through the park’s habitats on 15+ miles of trails, including a stretch of the Legacy Trail, so you can ride here from downtown. 

Last but not least, I’d recommend renting a canoe or kayak from near the campground. South Creek is easy to navigate, and leads through a corridor of dense vegetation brimming with wildlife, including a few gators.

12. Venice Theatre

Venice has one of the largest and most active community theater groups in the country. Established in 1950, the Venice Theatre is based at an historic former Kentucky Military Institute building downtown.

Inside there’s the 432-seat Mainstage, and the 90-seat Pinkerton Theater for smaller productions. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say there’s something happening at the Venice Theatre all the time.

Every season is packed with large-scale Broadway musicals, dramas, comedies, cabarets, or unique one-person plays.

When I was in town the Venice Theatre had just been hit badly by Hurricane Ian, but the season was going ahead as normal.

13. Venice Audubon Rookery Park

I was completely unprepared for this enclave of Florida nature, embedded in the urban landscape in the south of the city. What you see at Venice Audubon Rookery Park is an island on a pond, providing a key nesting site.

December through May, a wide array of wading birds build their nests, incubate eggs and raise their chicks here. Among the species at the rookery are snowy egrets, great egrets, great blue herons, glossy ibises, and more.

Any body of freshwater in this part of the state is going to attract alligators. But something neat about this site is that the alligators serve as security, keeping predators away from the nests. Come early in the day or in the evening for the best birdwatching.

14. Venice Performing Arts Center

In 2014 a state-of-the-art performing arts center opened at the Venice High School campus. Seating more than 1,000, this remains an exceptional place to take in some first-class entertainment.

The center is a seat for several important arts organizations, including the Venice Symphony, the Venice Chorale, and the Venice Concert Band.

There are more than 120 events at this venue every year. These range from classical concerts with nationally renowned guest artists to musicals and shows by tribute acts.  

I was in town in time for the Venice Symphony’s 50th anniversary season, and came for a memorable performance of Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique.

15. Venice Sharks Tooth Festival

If I had to choose an ideal time to be in Venice it might be mid-April. Not only is the weather close to perfect, this is when the city’s signature event takes place.

Based at Centennial Park, the Venice Sharks Tooth Festival is two days of fun, celebrating the fossilized sharks’ teeth abounding on the city’s shores.

You’ve got a mainstage with local and regional bands, food trucks for all tastes, and a zone for kids’ activities. The beach and of course Sharks’ teeth fossils are constant themes. 

Along those lines, there are fossil talks, displays of amazing fossil collections, and vendors selling impressive specimens discovered at Venice’s beaches.

15 Best Things to Do in Venice (FL):

• Venice Beach
• Downtown Venice
• Venetian Waterway Park
• Caspersen Beach
• Venice Museum and Archives
• Historic Venice Train Depot
• Centennial Park
• Venice Fishing Pier
• South Jetty
• North Jetty Beach
• Oscar Scherer State Park
• Venice Theatre
• Venice Audubon Rookery Park
• Venice Performing Arts Center
• Venice Sharks Tooth Festival

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Venice FL Travel Planner

Welcome to the NEW VeniceTravelPlanner.com ! It's now easier to read on a mobile device, with lots more photos of my favorite Florida city. Enjoy!

Venice, south of Sarasota on Florida's Gulf Coast ( map ): miles of white sand beaches dotted with fossil sharks' teeth , shops , parks , bike paths , golf courses , fishing , boating ...and stunning sunsets .

Double rainbow frames Service Club Beach , Venice FL.

Founded as a visionary planned community designed by John Nolen to promote " civic virtue " and " natural beauty ," Venice Florida ( map ) is among the most attractive and easy-living Florida cities.

Hurricane Ian roared through Southwest Florida in late September 2022, causing substantial damage. The Myakka River rose by 12 feet (3.7 meters), flooding streets and some houses near its banks. But the destruction in Venice was not nearly so severe as in communities to the south such as Fort Myers.

Visitors travel to Venice for its long white sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, its palm- and oak-lined boulevards, attractive city center, shady parks , easy lifestyle, friendliness, and of course its warm, sunny days in winter.

Venice has good restaurants , active civic and artisitic programs, and a wide variety of lodgings , including hotels, motels, B&Bs, condominiums, rental properties and seasonal or year-round homes .

In fact, Forbes magazine chose Venice as one of the USA's top 25 places to retire .

(If you're looking for Venice, Italy , click here! )

Looking for glorious sunsets ? Venice has 'em:

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Finding your way in venice, what to see & do, where to stay & dine, buying property in venice, all about those fossil sharks' teeth, good reading on the beach.

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Come learn about our unique Venice history. There’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a history buff or into ghost stories, we’ve got a tour for you. If you’re interested in arranging something different or a group tour, contact us to arrange a private tour. Reservations are required for all tours. Tours take place rain or shine.

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Venice Area Chamber of Commerce

• 597 Tamiami Trl. S. Venice, FL 34285
• (941) 488-2236

FREE ADMISSION TO MUSEUM

Open Monday – Wednesday 10am-4pm & 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month, October – April, 11am -3pm 351 Nassau Street South, Venice, FL 34285 (941) 486-2487 | [email protected]

The mission of the Venice Museum & Archives (VMA) is to collect, preserve, and interpret historical and prehistorical material relating to the city of Venice and its neighboring communities.

VMA has a collection of 30,000+ photographs, archives, objects, and publications pertaining to area history and is housed in the historic 1927 Triangle Inn building. The museum engages the public in local history through changing and permanent exhibits , tours of the Triangle Inn, walking tours of downtown historic and architectural sites , special events, newsletters, social media , as well as onsite and offsite educational outreach programs to youth and adults. Additional services offered also include assisting the public with research requests and assisting with image request orders. The museum’s gift shop offers books, DVDs and other merchandise pertaining to local history available for purchase.

COLLECTIONS

Get involved.

 SPECIAL EXHIBIT  2/5/24 – 1/15/25

COLLECTIONS NEWS  Now in the Archives

We are happy to announce another important addition to its permanent collection: 22 WWII-era letters from soldier John O. McCarty written from the Venice Army Air Base (V.A.A.B.) between March 1944 – August 1944.

Speaking of the V.A.A.B., McCarty writes: “Food is good – we eat from the regular plates, using our own silverware. Barracks are comfortable, if rough – and the men all seem to be pretty good fellows, also if rough. Very sandy terrain and flat and windy, but we’re situated right on the Gulf of Mexico and there’s a nice beach nearby where I’m told it’s good swimming if you watch out for the sharks!”

His letters will be preserved at the Julia Cousin Laning and Dale Laning Archives & Research Center for future generations of those who want a first-person account of life in Venice during the WWII era.

A big thank you to our friend’s group, Venice Heritage Inc. , for acquiring these letters and adding to the preservation of the City’s history.

FOLLOW OUR PAGE FOR MORE NEWS UPDATES Like & Comment

SEASONAL EXHIBIT  10/9/23 – 7/31/24

Available in our gift shop!  The fabric is  100% cotton and  custom designed by a California artist, and depicts 8 lost buildings, shark teeth, hibiscus flowers and the Nolen plan.  Mens sizes M-3x and Womens S-2x. Unsure of sizing? Just bring in a shirt that fits and compare, or see size chart. Venice Museum Gift Shop is open MTW from 10am-4pm, or buy online at  https://www.veniceheritage.org/shop/ .

ALSO AVAILABLE TO MATCH YOUR SHIRT

The City of Venice (COV) is the parent organization of the VMA. Museum staff are COV employees under the Division of Historical Resources. The Venice City Council is the governing authority for the VMA with legal and fiduciary responsibility for the museum and for approving museum policy and its annual budget.

Institutional History Organized through the Friends of the Venice Library, on May 10, 1974, the first Historical Committee meeting in Venice, Florida was held. The Historical Collection was established in 1975 by the committee and was originally stored in a closet at the downtown Venice Library branch. In 1976 the name Venice Area Historical Collection was adopted for the collection. The City of Venice established the Venice Historical Committee in 1982. By ordinance in 1987, the City of Venice created the Venice Historical Commission and the position of Director of Historical Resources, a volunteer position at that time. The city’s Planning Department provided technical and clerical support for both the commission and the director. The jurisdiction of the commission for the “Venice area” was defined as being from Blackburn Road in Osprey South to Manasota Key.

A Custody Agreement was signed in 1988 between the Friends of the Library and the City of Venice for the COV to “maintain custody of all pieces forming a part of the historical collection owned by the Friends of the Library pertaining to the City of Venice and its history.” In July 1991 the Venice Area Historical Collection was moved to a storage space on the first floor of the newly renovated City Hall in downtown Venice. That same year, the name of the collection was officially changed to the Venice Archives and Area Historical Collection (VAAHC).

The collection was moved in September 1996 to the restored and renovated historic 1927 building known as the Triangle Inn. The name of the Venice Archives and Area Historical Collection was changed to the Venice Museum & Archives in 2012. The 30,000+ items within the collection are housed at the Julia Cousins Laning and Dale Laning Archives & Research Center and are available upon request to view.

Contact the Julia Cousins Laning and Dale Laning Archives & Research Center for appointment. (941) 882-7229 or [email protected]