Guidebook for Venice
Sightseeing
This is where you will board the electric Pontoon Ferry to the Manasota Beach boardwalk and access to Manasota Beach. Limited family passes are sold each season. Pass included.
24 locals recommend
South Venice Beach Ferry
4800 Lemon Bay DrThis is where you will board the electric Pontoon Ferry to the Manasota Beach boardwalk and access to Manasota Beach. Limited family passes are sold each season. Pass included.
Tennis courts, basket ball courts, and jump on the Venetian Waterway path to stroll or ride bicycles to connect to the paved Venice Legacy Bike trail (17 miles) into Venice on the old railroad bed
46 locals recommend
Shamrock Park & Nature Center
3900 Shamrock DrTennis courts, basket ball courts, and jump on the Venetian Waterway path to stroll or ride bicycles to connect to the paved Venice Legacy Bike trail (17 miles) into Venice on the old railroad bed
Casey Key Road
Casey Key RoadA beautiful drive of pristine homes and beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico.
Another beautiful drive, an old "Canopied treed road" along the ocean, beautiful homes, brings you out to the Englewood Beach on one end and Manasota Beach House at the other end.
Manasota Key Road
Manasota Key RoadAnother beautiful drive, an old "Canopied treed road" along the ocean, beautiful homes, brings you out to the Englewood Beach on one end and Manasota Beach House at the other end.
A quiet beach for moonlit drives, and just to enjoy the quieter stretch of beach
74 locals recommend
Blind Pass Beach
6725 Manasota Key RdA quiet beach for moonlit drives, and just to enjoy the quieter stretch of beach
Nice day beach trip to secluded pristine beach and small museum light house. Toll road over bridge and small fee to use park. Water is very clear-saw our first manatees here 10 feet off shore.
29 locals recommend
Gasparilla Island State Park
880 Belcher RdNice day beach trip to secluded pristine beach and small museum light house. Toll road over bridge and small fee to use park. Water is very clear-saw our first manatees here 10 feet off shore.
Sunrise to sunset, hiking camping, paddling, horseback riding, fishing, birdwatching, 13 miles of bicycle trails. ADA access dogs must be on a leash.
24 locals recommend
Myakka State Forest
2000 S River RdSunrise to sunset, hiking camping, paddling, horseback riding, fishing, birdwatching, 13 miles of bicycle trails. ADA access dogs must be on a leash.
Drinks & Nightlife
A flip flop, casual laid back restaurant on the water. Great lunches after a day at the beach, then a drive along Casey Key road along the ocean. There also is a Tiki Thatched Bar overlooking the bay.
66 locals recommend
Casey Key Fish House
801 Blackburn Point RdA flip flop, casual laid back restaurant on the water. Great lunches after a day at the beach, then a drive along Casey Key road along the ocean. There also is a Tiki Thatched Bar overlooking the bay.
One of our favorite places on the water to dine for a fine meal. Reservations recommended. Down stairs menu has many specials for more casual eating.
67 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant & Marina
1968 Tarpon Center DrOne of our favorite places on the water to dine for a fine meal. Reservations recommended. Down stairs menu has many specials for more casual eating.
Casual or fine dining. Open air to the ocean view. Beach and fishing pier day or night. A must see place to start off your vacation.
252 locals recommend
Sharky’s On The Pier
1600 Harbor Dr SCasual or fine dining. Open air to the ocean view. Beach and fishing pier day or night. A must see place to start off your vacation.
Food Scene
We enjoy this restaurant, nice happy hour and Wednesday's special recipe Bang Bang Shrimp. Food and service have been excellent.
30 locals recommend
Bonefish Grill
8101 Cooper Creek BlvdWe enjoy this restaurant, nice happy hour and Wednesday's special recipe Bang Bang Shrimp. Food and service have been excellent.
Surprisingly unique breakfast and lunch food, great award winning chef exterior a little deceiving now a regular for us. We haven't tried the dinner yet, heard it was great.
28 locals recommend
Blu' Island Bistro
625 S Tamiami TrailSurprisingly unique breakfast and lunch food, great award winning chef exterior a little deceiving now a regular for us. We haven't tried the dinner yet, heard it was great.
Tiny drive through with hundreds of variations of the hot dog, vegan to meat lover.
8 locals recommend
Mad Dogs Hot Dogs
2059 S Tamiami TrailTiny drive through with hundreds of variations of the hot dog, vegan to meat lover.
Entertainment & Activities
Always soft serve ice-cream using oranges from their own groves, unique flavors like lime, pineapple and of course chocolate and vanilla. Visit during the Citrus season to ship home oranges and more!
15 locals recommend
Nokomis Groves Ice Cream Stand
111 Albee Farm Rd SAlways soft serve ice-cream using oranges from their own groves, unique flavors like lime, pineapple and of course chocolate and vanilla. Visit during the Citrus season to ship home oranges and more!
A nice day trip to view the manatee viewing center, hundreds of manatees and science center, bring your camera.
183 locals recommend
Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman RdA nice day trip to view the manatee viewing center, hundreds of manatees and science center, bring your camera.
A nice day trip to a unique beach titled one of the most beautiful in the country. Sand is white and cool on your feet. Water is quite shallow-nice for children. Get there early for a parking spot.
798 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
A nice day trip to a unique beach titled one of the most beautiful in the country. Sand is white and cool on your feet. Water is quite shallow-nice for children. Get there early for a parking spot.
A quiet cute beach, often has a drum circle certain nights of the week, music, dancing. Showers and changing rooms.
9 locals recommend
Nokomis
A quiet cute beach, often has a drum circle certain nights of the week, music, dancing. Showers and changing rooms.
Get your bicycles for the Legacy Bike trail. Hot topped, cooling shaded stopping areas, very flat and 17 miles long. Get started early in the morning or on a cooler day-great for the family.
9 locals recommend
Legacy Trail (Sarasota to Venice Rail-Trail)
Legacy TrailGet your bicycles for the Legacy Bike trail. Hot topped, cooling shaded stopping areas, very flat and 17 miles long. Get started early in the morning or on a cooler day-great for the family.
Essentials
Great market, deli and fresh breads, get there early for sampling, not your average grocery store! Great tourist warehouse next door, furniture and reasonable gifts.
53 locals recommend
Detwiler's Farm Market
1250 US-41 BYPGreat market, deli and fresh breads, get there early for sampling, not your average grocery store! Great tourist warehouse next door, furniture and reasonable gifts.
Everything Else
A nice quiet beach, lots of prehistoric sharks teeth have been found there.
138 locals recommend
Caspersen Beach
Harbor DrA nice quiet beach, lots of prehistoric sharks teeth have been found there.
Golfing close to the ocean, beaching and Sharkeys on the Venice Pier. A win for the whole family.
15 locals recommend
Lake Venice Golf Club
1801 Harbor Dr SGolfing close to the ocean, beaching and Sharkeys on the Venice Pier. A win for the whole family.
Great for a night out at the movies, just across 41 two minutes down the road.
20 locals recommend
B&B Theatres Venice Galleria Stadium 11
2111 S Tamiami TrailGreat for a night out at the movies, just across 41 two minutes down the road.
Venice Regional Bayfront Health
540 The RialtoVenice 24 hour Emergency room and Hospital.