Visiting Venice Beach in Venice, Florida

Florida is about the beach life. If you are a beach lover, wherever you go within the state along the coastal areas are beaches. Most beaches are blessed with being equal for the most part, that is, you are usually going to have good beach weather, some breeze, scenic settings. So, the question is about travel time. Do you want to travel 30 minutes or more to a beach that offers about the same quality as a beach within 10 minutes of your home?

Venice

Sitting just 15 minutes south of Sarasota and about one hour south of Tampa on the west coast, Venice is home to around 20,000. Over 50% of this is over 50 yrs. old since many retirees are here. It offers superb beaches. Sarasota, with a population of 60,000, offers as many beaches. Its Siesta Beach is a true "white sand" beach and usually overcrowded by noon. Sarasota is very built up and reminds one of a miniature Miami along the coast, whereas, Venice is not so much. Many escape to Venice beaches to avoid the congestion and crowded beaches.

One favorite spot is in Venice Beach. Unlike Siesta, it is not a white sand beach, but, it is a very light beige color. It offers plenty of free parking and snack bar. The beach stretches out several hundred yards wide and a half mile long. One can walk to the ever popular Venice jetty area and boat dock. Fisherman dot the long pier and it is a favorite hunting area for many birds. One can also walk to another popular beach, Sharky's. This also has a long pier extending out into the ocean. There is a popular restaurant for meals.

Venice Beach is within walking distance of many stores and seasonal rentals. The volleyball court is frequently active. Unlike the jetty or Sharky's beach, only Venice beach has posted lifeguards.

The water in May is already 77 degrees, by July, it will be 85 degrees. In December, it is 72 degrees. Like other beaches, one can wade out some 200 yards from the beach due to sandbars. Water clarity is usually very good. At times, it reminds me of Lake Tahoe in California, where one can see all the way down to the bottom in 15 feet of water. The sandy ocean floor allows one to avoid wearing water shoes for sharp rocks or coral.

Unlike the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's east coast, the west side has the Gulf of Mexico, a much more placid type sea. Much of the year, ocean waves are small and seldom crash into the shore. However, storms and wind can create local surfing with waves up to 3 feet or more. Parasailing or windsurfers come out during these times in the Venice jetty area providing some great entertainment!

Venice Beach is just one of many great local beaches that bless Venice.Check it out if you are in the area.