Venice vacation rentals

Sitting between Sarasota to the north and Fort Myers to the south, the city of Venice occupies a peninsula on Florida’s Gulf Coast. A beach town by design, Venice is home to 14 miles of powder-soft sand — five large, distinct beaches and more than 50 parks. People come to this stretch of shoreline to spend the day soaking in the sun or to step back into the glamor of the 1920s, when the elegant tree-lined boulevards that traverse Historic Downtown Venice were first laid out.

Locals take four-legged friends down to Brohard Beach’s Paw Park to enjoy the fenced play space and 100-yard segment of dog-friendly beach, while secluded Caspersen Beach is an isolated stretch of shoreline that has been mostly left untouched. Minutes from downtown on foot, you can visit the Space Age beach pavilion on Venice Beach before grabbing a snorkel and checking out the reef that’s less than a quarter-mile offshore. A number of trails connect from the water’s edge to downtown, so it’s easy to refuel with some fresh local shrimp or grouper after a day at the beach.

The temperature stays relatively consistent all year round, but there are distinct wet and dry seasons. The months of June through September have significantly more rainfall than any other time of the year, so if you’re looking to stay dry, the spring or winter might be a good time to visit. Winter attracts visitors from colder climes in search of some sunshine and a refreshing ocean swim. Daily events, including history tours, free yoga classes, outdoor concerts, and weekly farmers’ markets, are hosted all year round in the city. One of the most famous annual events takes place in April when fossil collectors come to meet other enthusiasts and trade and sell their own collections under the Florida sun.

Hunting for prehistoric teeth

People come from all over the world to visit Venice Beach, nicknamed the “Shark Tooth Capital” because of the millions of sharks’ teeth that wash up onto the shore. If you wander along the water’s edge, scanning the sands, you’ll be able to find white and black teeth, as well as other marine fossils.

Historic Downtown Venice

Running from Centennial Park to the Venetian Waterway Park, the palm-lined streets of Historic Downtown Venice are an elegant backdrop for the city’s self-guided food tour. The district is included on the National Register of Historic Places, but the lobster rolls, Italian dishes, and tacos topped with fresh local fish that you’ll consume under the banyan trees are as fresh and contemporary as you’ll find in the Tampa Bay area.

A riverboat trip

Half an hour out of town at Myakka River State Park, riverboats head out onto the Myakka River for a glimpse of the untamed side of Venice. During the trip, you can find out about the wildlife of western Florida and observe alligators, turtles, and herons in their natural habitat (from a safe distance, of course).