The smooth, sandy Gulf of Mexico beaches in Venice Florida (map) are its main claim to fame and, with the pleasant climate, spectacular sunsets, and fossil sharks' teeth, are what brings many people to the "City on the Gulf."

Being on a western shore, Venice's beaches may offer some spots of shade in the morning when the sun is in the eastern sky, but by noon and in the afternoon there is little or no shade on the beaches themselves (although you may find shade in beach facilities, shelters and trees a short walk inland).

Bring a beach umbrella if you want to be assured of shade. (Inexpensive beach umbrellas are sold in many Venice stores.)

You can sun, swim and play on any beach, but only on Venice's beaches can you find fossil sharks' teeth. Yes! They're yours for the finding...depending on your luck. Where else can you get a million-year-old artifact for free? More...

Venice Beach

Venice's claim to fame, this long, smooth sand beach at the western end of West Venice Avenue starts at South Jetty and extends south for miles. More...

Service Club Beach

South of the city center near the airport, Service Club Beach is the southern extension of Venice Beach. Its claim to fame is its raised picnic shelters which provide shade in the afternoon, and excellent sunset views over the beach. More...

Fishing Pier

Venice Fishing Pier, extending across Service Club Beach and into the sea from Sharkey's restaurant, is a favorite place to watch sunsets. More...

Maxine Barritt Park

Just south of the Fishing Pier, this park has parking lots, picnic tables, a lagoon with alligators, and access to the beach.

Brohard Paw Park

Dedicated to dogs and their owners, the Paw Park south of Maxine Barritt Park has enclosures for dogs and access to the only stretch of beach on which dogs are permitted.

South Brohard Park

South of the Paw Park and north of Caspersen Beach, this less-visited stretch of the shore has parking, toilets, an outdoor shower, and access walkways to the beach.

Caspersen Beach

Southernmost of Venice's beaches, Caspersen is favored by those wanting to get away from crowds, and those searching for sharks' teeth: the tides gather them at several rock outcrops along the beach. A few palm trees provide small islands of shade in the morning. More...

Nokomis Beach

North of North Jetty, beautiful Nokomis Beach is just north of Venice, reached by Albee Road west from the Tamiami Trail (US 41). More...

Manasota Key Beach

The southern continuation of Caspersen Beach, miles to the south, is not really a "Venice" beach (being in the city of Englewood), but it's a fine, long strand with good facilities...and quite good sharks' teeth hunting possibilities.

Florida Red Tide

From time to time, some of Florida's Gulf Coast beaches are hit by Florida red tide, a concentration of toxic algae that can cause respiratory distress in humans, and poisoning in marine life. It's a natural phenomenon that's been going on for centuries, but it can affect your beach vacation. More...

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