Everybody in Venice (map) spends time at the beach, but there's lots more to do than that.

Beaches

Venice is noted for its beaches—Venice Beach, Service Club Beach, Fishing Pier beach, Caspersen Beach—each of which has its virtues. Here they are.

Fishing

A very popular pastime in Venice, it's best done from the Venice Fishing Pier, North Jetty or South Jetty. More...

Hiking

Everybody likes a stroll on the beach, but Venice has lots more walking and hiking opportunities than that. Here they are.

Biking

Venice has quiet streets and bikepaths, and the Venetian Waterway Park along both banks of the Intracoastal Waterway has the best bikepaths. The Legacy Trailis the long-distance bikepath from Sarasota through Venice.

Boating

If you have your own boat, the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway provide plenty of adventure.

Parks & Gardens

The city's parks—Venezia Park, Blalock Park, Higel Marine Park, Venice Waterway Park—are oases of shade and calm. Nearby state parks—Myakka River State Park, Oscar Sherer Park—provide more adventure. More...

Art

The Venice Art Center has regular shows of surprisingly high-quality painting and sculpture by local artists. More...

Shopping

West Venice Avenue is where to find the best boutiques and small shops. The Tamiami Trail (US 41), both "Business" and "the By-pass," have the larger stores and shopping centers.

Theater & Cinema

The Venice Theatre, just off West Venice Avenue, is the city's prime theater. Franks Stadium 12 cinemas, 2111 Tamiami Trail south of Venice (tel 941-408-9237), is good for movies.

Excursions

Use your base in Venice for excursions to other cities on the Gulf Coast and central Florida: Sarasota, Tampa, even Orlando (Disney World) and Miami. More...

Circus

For many years, Venice was the winter quarters of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus has moved, but history remains. Even so, you can usually find a flying trapeze installation where you can learn the art, and the Circus Museums at the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota give you the whole story. More...

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Finding Your Way in Venice Venice Lodgings Venice Restaurants When to Visit Beaches Sharks' Teeth Parks & Gardens Venice Transportation Visitor Information