The Florida Guide
Venice, FL
A relaxed Sarasota County beach town planned in the 1920s, known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World for its fossil-rich beaches.
163 places This weekend in Southwest Florida
Today in Venice
- Thursday Mostly Cloudy 77°
- Thursday Night Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers 67°
- Friday Partly Sunny 72°
Forecast: National Weather Service
Tides
- Low 8:24 AM -0.1 ft
Predictions: NOAA CO-OPS
Venice is a small city in southern Sarasota County, in Southwest Florida, known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Visitors come to comb the beaches for fossil teeth, stroll the Mediterranean-style downtown and enjoy a quieter pace than Sarasota to the north.
Where is Venice?
Venice sits on the Gulf about 20 miles south of Sarasota. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is about 40 minutes north via I-75 or U.S. 41. The downtown and beaches are on Venice Island, separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway and reached by several short bridges. Venice Avenue is the main east-west street.
Things to do in Venice
Shark tooth hunting is the local pastime. Fossilized teeth from prehistoric sharks wash up along the shore, and you can find them by eye near the waterline or with a sifter. Venice Beach, at the end of Venice Avenue, is the town’s main public beach. Brohard Park has the 700-foot Venice Fishing Pier, open free to the public with no fishing license needed. Caspersen Beach, farther south, is the classic shark tooth spot, but storm damage closed its parking, so walk or bike in from Brohard Park or the Venetian Waterway Park trail.
Downtown Venice was planned in the 1920s by John Nolen, and its palm-lined streets, historic buildings and the Venice Theatre make for an easy afternoon. The city was also once the winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The paved Legacy Trail links Venice to Sarasota through Oscar Scherer State Park. Each April the Venice Sharks Tooth Festival celebrates the town’s fossil fame.
When to visit Venice
Winter and early spring are the busiest months, with mild, dry weather. Parking at Brohard Park fills on weekends. Shark tooth hunting is often best after storms and at low tide. Summer is hot and quiet, with afternoon thunderstorms.
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