More Things to Do in Venice, Florida

Venice is a vacation and retirement community located directly on the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast of Florida. It is conveniently located 1 hour south of Tampa, 1 hour north of Ft. Myers, and 2 hours southwest of Orlando. It is a laid-back community without the hustle-and-bustle of the mega-metropolis of southeast Florida. It has white sand beaches, miles of hike & bike trails, and a gorgeous historic downtown with more than 100 shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Here are 10 fun things to do in Venice:

Sharky's on the Pier restaurant is a Venice landmark located directly on the beach. The restaurant has sweeping beach views, a tiki bar, and is adjacent to the Venice Fishing Pier. It was selected one of Florida's Top Beach Bars. The lunch and dinner menus feature plenty of fresh Gulf seafood. Live musical entertainment is offered Wednesday through Sunday evenings.

Venice offers an abundance of waterways for kayaking. Paddlers can go for miles through interconnected waters including Roberts Bay, Dona Bay, Lyons Bay and the intracoastal waterway. Paddlers can also enjoy the wide-open views on the Gulf of Mexico. Paddlers can enjoy watching a variety of wild animals including dolphins, manatees, seabirds, and tropical birds.

South Brohard Beach (aka: Dog Beach and Paws Park) is the perfect place to play with your dog. You and your best friend can frolick in the sand and waves, and your dog can run free with the many other dogs that visit this Dog Friendly Beaches Florida beach each day. There are also two fenced in areas for your dog, one for smaller dogs and one for larger dogs. The park also offers a dog-washing station so you can clean the sand from your dog's fur before you leave. Your dog will thank you for visiting!

The Venice Shark's Tooth Festival is held each April to celebrate Venice's status as the Shark's Tooth Capital of the World. Venice holds this title due to the abundance of prehistoric sharks teeth that can be found on its white sand beaches. The Festival includes tents filled with genuine shark's teeth, marine fossils and seashells. You can also find artists selling their creations, live entertainment, and delicious food and drink.

Venice maintains a glorious network of well-maintained public parks throughout the city. Some parks are best for quiet and passive activities, while others provide top-notch athletic facilities. Downtown's Hecksher Park offers tennis, basketball and shuffleboard courts. There are a number of ice cream eateries nearby to cool off after your game.

The Centennial Park Gazebo in downtown Venice is the site for outdoor musical performances throughout the year. There are parking and restroom facilities nearby. Concert goers can also get a bite to eat at one of the many nearby restaurants.

Your children or grandchildren will have a blast playing in the Intergenerational Splash Fountain at Centennial Park. Afterwards, treat them to an ice cream cone or candy from a downtown sweet shop. There are adjacent restrooms and nearby parking.

The Venice Theater at 140 West Tampa Avenue in downtown Venice is the third-largest community theater in the United States. It offers a constantly-changing schedule of live theatrical productions in various genre's that will suit nearly everyone's tastes.

The Venice Fishing Pier is arguably the best place to catch the elusive "green flash" that marks sunset. You can also see what fish are biting and, if you're lucky, watch a fisherman land a shark. Of course, just about anyplace along Venice's miles of beaches is also a good place to watch the sunset.

Venice is only a short drive from Siesta Key Beach, which was recently voted America's Best Beach due to its blindingly-white sand. While visiting Siesta Key beach, take a stroll in Siesta Key Village where you can eat a delicious meal featuring fresh Gulf seafood or catch a live band.