Things to do in Venice Florida
Venice is a city in Sarasota County, located on the Southwest Coast of Florida about 70 miles south of Tampa International Airport and 60 miles north of Ft. Myers International Airport.
Our Home Port is Venice, Florida, a city located on the southwest coast of Florida in Sarasota County.
Venice Area Things to Do
Main Street Venice
Downtown offers quaint shops and restaurants.
St. Armand's Circle
Sarasota's Posh shopping district full of chic boutiques, art galleries, sidewalk cafes and specialty restaurants.
Nightlife
Most social activities are centered around Sarasota's cultural scene. Nightlife offerings include intimate clubs and bars along Hill View street; cafe's along St. Armand's Circle in downtown Sarasota; McCurdy's Comedy Club; The Van Wezel Performing Arts Center; and numerous restaurants along the coast. Nightlife in Venice is limited to a few local bars and a few restaurants that offer live music.
Sharky's on the Pier
1600 Harbor Dr. S.Nightly entertainment Wednesday - Sunday
Venice Theater
140 Tampa Ave. Downtown Venice. Website
Boca Grande/Gasparilla Island State Park (30 miles S. of Venice)
941-964-0375 Gasparilla Island State Park website. The centerpiece of Gasparilla is the restored Boca Grande Lighthouse built in 1890. Activities include swimming, snorkeling, fishing, shelling and nature study. There are two picnic areas. Located on the south end of Gasparilla Island on the Boca Grande Causeway (toll road) at CR 775 and Placida.
Myakka River State Park (25 miles N.E. of Venice)
941-361-6511 Myakka River State Park website. One of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing from a boardwalk or a canopy walkway. The park's river and two lakes provide opportunities for boating, freshwater fishing, canoeing and kayaking. There are also hiking trails, scenic lake tours on airboats and camping. Located 9 miles east of Sarasota on SR 72.
Sarasota
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (20 miles N. of Venice)
941-359-5700. Ringling website. Located in a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established in 1927as the legacy of Jogn Ringling and his wife, Mable. Recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida, the Museum of Art offers 21 galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian Art, American paintings and contemporary art. The Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing hosts a variety of traveling exhibitions throughout the year. The estate also features the Ca`d'Zan ("House of John"), a waterfront mansion that was restored in 2002; two Circus Museums featuring artifacts chronicling the history of the circus; plus a rose garden and landscaped ground overlooking Sarasota Bay. Located at 5401 Bay Shore Road in Sarasota.
Mote Aquarium Marine Learning Center (20 miles N. of Venice)
The Mote Aquarium offers visitors the opportunity to explore the secrets of the sea with touch pools, shark, dolphin, manatee and sea turtle exhibits and more than 100 other species of marine life. Viewable working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits showcase the research of Mote Marine Laboratory. Located at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota. Mote.org
Sarasota Orchestra (20 miles N. of Venice)
Celebrating its 60th year in 2009, the symphony changed its name this year from Florida West Coast Symphony to Sarasota Orchestra. www.sarasota orchestra.org
Sarasota Ballet (20 miles N. of Venice)
Van Wezel Performing Arts Center (20 miles N. of Venice)
Set along Sarasota's beautiful bayfront, the landmark Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been entertaining audiences with a variety of music, dance, theater and comedy for more than 35 years. Website
Big Cat Habitat (20 miles N. of Venice)
Kay Rosaire’s Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary - Animal rescue operation. Help keep this organization going and visit the sanctuary at 7101 Palmer Blvd. Sarasota 941-371-6377. www.bigcathabitat.org.
Lipizzan Stallions (22 miles N.E. of Venice)
Herrmanns’ Royal Lipizzan Stallions are descendants of those bred for the Hapsburg Royal Family of Austria, and directly descend from the few saved during World War II by Col. Ottomar Herrmann Jr. and his father under the protection of U.S. Gen. George S. Patton. You’ll see amazing leaps and complicated maneuvers by these strong and talented horses, including Capriole, in which the horse soars high in the air and strikes out with its hind legs. Shows during winter months on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 32755 Singletary Road, Myakka City, about 20 miles from Sarasota. 941-322-1501. www.hlipizzans.com.
Arcadia (50 miles east of Venice)
Rural area known for great antique shops, Rodeo, Farms - located about an hour east of Sarasota.
Ft. Myers Beach (80 miles S.W. of Venice)
White powdery sand beach with plenty of coastline. Public access to the beach and parking is very limited along the main drag which is filled with Hotels, Motels, Inns, Stores, Restaurants, Bars and Gift Shops. Located about an hour drive from Venice south on I-75 and then West about half an hour. Worth the drive. Check out the Shell Factory before or after the beach.
Sanibel Island (90 miles S.W. of Venice)
Exclusive, high end resort area. Must pay a toll to get on the island. Beaches are full of shells. Beautiful views all over the island. Limited public access and parking areas. Get there early.
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