Venice: The City on The Gulf
THE place for a Fun Florida Family Friendly Vacation!
The longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in Sarasota County is right here in Venice Florida! But that is not our only great beach. Paws Park is the place to bring your four legged family members; there is even doggie washing facilities so puppy won’t bring sand into your car on the way home. Right next door is the Venice Fishing Pier and Sharky’s Restaurant where you’ll delight in watching the most beautiful sunsets on earth! Just three blocks from our downtown is Venice Beach, the sharks tooth capitol of the world. Fossilized sharks teeth that is; and they are right on the beach for you to find! After that, head on over to the Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Tavern where you can rent environmentally friendly boats to cruise the intercoastal waterway and enjoy the company of our local manatees and dolphins. Wait, there is still more, you don’t want to miss out on visiting the jetties to fish, swim, surf, skim board or just relax and watch the boats go by!
Downtown Venice is a Shoppers Paradise!
You’ll find dozens of unique shops offering a wide variety of merchandise for the discriminating shopper. Miami Avenue is home to St. Mark’s Divine Consign, one of the most popular consignment shops in Sarasota County. Also on Miami Avenue, two up- scale consignment clothing stores; Full Circle Fine Consignments and Fifi’s Fine Apparel. For the perfect gift basket stop into Gulf Coast Gift Baskets; they will even pack and ship your special basket worldwide. Ubasi Cuttlery specializes in heirloom hand crafted knives and chef’s cutlery, a truly unique store! Nokomis Avenue is home to Erlenbach Studio where you’ll discover one of a kind jewelry pieces and Collector’s Gallery which specializes in local artists and custom framing. Puttin’ on the Ritz…Island Style will pamper you with a full range of salon services. In the Venice Center Mall on Tampa Avenue you’ll be able to indulge in fine olive oils at the Olive Grove, search out the perfect casual cotton clothing at La Casa or relax with an espresso while you take in the unique art on offer at the O Gallery. Venice avenue is the longest shopping street in town and hosts shops carrying everything from designer frames and sunglasses at Serenity Eyewear boutique to colorful shopping bags made from recycled plastic at the Green Room to holiday ornaments for every occasion at Erika’s Holiday Dreams and Memories. Bathing suits and resort wear at the Sunbug or Patchingtons, gold treasures at Kerri’s Jewelry & Gems and Joyful Expressions a Christian book shop are all in the one hundred block. Whole bean coffee, chocolates and gifts fill Venice Wine & Coffee, fun retro gifts, cards and books at Nifty Nic Nacs or imported kitchen items at the Table Top start the two hundred block. Keep going on Venice Avenue, you’ll find all kinds of beach inspired gifts and sharks teeth at Sea Pleasures and Treasures and the Green Parrot Gift Shop while Scarlet Macaw and St Marco Boutique have been dressing Venetians for years. Shoes, shoes, shoes for all foot types are waiting for you at B&B Bootery or Dick’s Shoes. Sirene will temp you with candles and decorative items inspired by the ocean’s mermaids. Shrode Jewelry has been a family run business for generations! Seaside Chic offers home furnishings, gifts and accessories for that seaside chic lifestyle. Wild Orchid’s hand dyed silks are just right for the warm Florida weather. Don’t forget Captain’s Landing its every guy’s favorite downtown shop! At Mrs. Candlewick’s you’ll be able to find unique gifts and treasures for yourself! The Paper Pad is Venice’s most loved stationary store!
You don’t have to leave downtown Venice to dine around the world!
Morning coffee and muffins are the most popular dish at Bella Luna Café. Bushido Sushi has been called the best in the county! Everyone loves the casual atmosphere and evening entertainment at TJ Carney’s Irish Pub. Cassariano’s owners, Luca and Antonio bring authentic northern Italian dining to Venice. Dream Café specializes in true Polish cuisine while across the street, Café Venice offers relaxed delectable continental dining. At La Petite Jardin indulge your taste for quiche, soups, salads and croissants. Upper Crust Café And Bakery tempts one with world class scones, cookies and even High Tea. Althea’s on Miami Avenue has one of the largest menus in town so you’ll have plenty to choose from for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Café Mangiafico’s Sicilian dishes have been passed down from generation to generation. Back Eddy Bistro is fine dining at Venice’s best and not to be missed for Sunday brunch! The Soda Fountain on Venice Avenue is one of country’s few remaining original soda fountains still operating. So, sit at the counter and order up your favorite malted, milkshake or even banana split, you will not be disappointed! The Tap and Cork is the perfect place to relax over a glass of wine or if ice cream is your pleasure, Bresler’s Ice Cream & Yogurt Shop is not to be missed and for that after dinner fudge treat, Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream can’t be beat!
The Cultural Center of Venice is not to be missed!
Venice Art Center, open Monday through Saturday this community art center is open to the public and rotates their exhibits on a monthly basis.Triangle Inn houses the history of Venice, complete with photographs and original city maps. The Triangle Inn is open Wednesdays and Fridays but if you are there another time, just walk up the stairs and knock on the door. It’s a friendly place and they welcome visitors! Venice Library is a relaxing oasis; take a breather, peruse a magazine or go online to read your emails.Venice Arboretum is not to be missed. A lovely walk through this park is a highlight of Venice. Everything is labeled so you’ll get to know our native shrubs and trees.Venice Community Center is a hotbed of evening entertainment; cabaret singers, ballroom dancing and even swing bands are scheduled throughout the year.The highlight of any trip to Venice will be taking in a show at the Venice Theatre. The third largest community theatre in the United States has two stages that offer community theatre at its best every month of the year!
History is alive in downtown Venice!
Take the historic walking tour of downtown, the Downtowners give out a historic walking book free of charge! The 1920’s Historic El Patio hotel is still operating and Mrs. Miles, who celebrated her 100th birthday last year is still the owner/manager! Even if you stay at the Ambassador Suits, Venice Beach Villas, The Horse and Chaise Inn or the Hampton Inn, stop up and take a tour of the hotel, it is really not to be missed!
Venice is Entertaining!
The second and fourth Friday evening of every month Venice MainStreet, Inc. put on free concerts at the Centennial Park Gazebo for 8-10pm. From October through May, don’t miss the Third Thursday strolls with music and entertainment on the downtown avenues from 5:30 until 8pm.The first weekends in March and November Venice MainStreet, Inc. hosts two of the top rated art festival in the United States while January, June and September are the months for downtown Craft Fairs.The first Thursday of December the downtown comes alive for the Annual Christmas Walk. Music, entertainment and of course, bring your camera to snap photos with Santa!
THE place for a Fun Florida Family Friendly Vacation!
The longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in Sarasota County is right here in Venice Florida! But that is not our only great beach. Paws Park is the place to bring your four legged family members; there is even doggie washing facilities so puppy won’t bring sand into your car on the way home. Right next door is the Venice Fishing Pier and Sharky’s Restaurant where you’ll delight in watching the most beautiful sunsets on earth! Just three blocks from our downtown is Venice Beach, the sharks tooth capitol of the world. Fossilized sharks teeth that is; and they are right on the beach for you to find! After that, head on over to the Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Tavern where you can rent environmentally friendly boats to cruise the intercoastal waterway and enjoy the company of our local manatees and dolphins. Wait, there is still more, you don’t want to miss out on visiting the jetties to fish, swim, surf, skim board or just relax and watch the boats go by!
Downtown Venice is a Shoppers Paradise!
You’ll find dozens of unique shops offering a wide variety of merchandise for the discriminating shopper. Miami Avenue is home to St. Mark’s Divine Consign, one of the most popular consignment shops in Sarasota County. Also on Miami Avenue, two up- scale consignment clothing stores; Full Circle Fine Consignments and Fifi’s Fine Apparel. For the perfect gift basket stop into Gulf Coast Gift Baskets; they will even pack and ship your special basket worldwide. Ubasi Cuttlery specializes in heirloom hand crafted knives and chef’s cutlery, a truly unique store! Nokomis Avenue is home to Erlenbach Studio where you’ll discover one of a kind jewelry pieces and Collector’s Gallery which specializes in local artists and custom framing. Puttin’ on the Ritz…Island Style will pamper you with a full range of salon services. In the Venice Center Mall on Tampa Avenue you’ll be able to indulge in fine olive oils at the Olive Grove, search out the perfect casual cotton clothing at La Casa or relax with an espresso while you take in the unique art on offer at the O Gallery. Venice avenue is the longest shopping street in town and hosts shops carrying everything from designer frames and sunglasses at Serenity Eyewear boutique to colorful shopping bags made from recycled plastic at the Green Room to holiday ornaments for every occasion at Erika’s Holiday Dreams and Memories. Bathing suits and resort wear at the Sunbug or Patchingtons, gold treasures at Kerri’s Jewelry & Gems and Joyful Expressions a Christian book shop are all in the one hundred block. Whole bean coffee, chocolates and gifts fill Venice Wine & Coffee, fun retro gifts, cards and books at Nifty Nic Nacs or imported kitchen items at the Table Top start the two hundred block. Keep going on Venice Avenue, you’ll find all kinds of beach inspired gifts and sharks teeth at Sea Pleasures and Treasures and the Green Parrot Gift Shop while Scarlet Macaw and St Marco Boutique have been dressing Venetians for years. Shoes, shoes, shoes for all foot types are waiting for you at B&B Bootery or Dick’s Shoes. Sirene will temp you with candles and decorative items inspired by the ocean’s mermaids. Shrode Jewelry has been a family run business for generations! Seaside Chic offers home furnishings, gifts and accessories for that seaside chic lifestyle. Wild Orchid’s hand dyed silks are just right for the warm Florida weather. Don’t forget Captain’s Landing its every guy’s favorite downtown shop! At Mrs. Candlewick’s you’ll be able to find unique gifts and treasures for yourself! The Paper Pad is Venice’s most loved stationary store!
You don’t have to leave downtown Venice to dine around the world!
Morning coffee and muffins are the most popular dish at Bella Luna Café. Bushido Sushi has been called the best in the county! Everyone loves the casual atmosphere and evening entertainment at TJ Carney’s Irish Pub. Cassariano’s owners, Luca and Antonio bring authentic northern Italian dining to Venice. Dream Café specializes in true Polish cuisine while across the street, Café Venice offers relaxed delectable continental dining. At La Petite Jardin indulge your taste for quiche, soups, salads and croissants. Upper Crust Café And Bakery tempts one with world class scones, cookies and even High Tea. Althea’s on Miami Avenue has one of the largest menus in town so you’ll have plenty to choose from for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Café Mangiafico’s Sicilian dishes have been passed down from generation to generation. Back Eddy Bistro is fine dining at Venice’s best and not to be missed for Sunday brunch! The Soda Fountain on Venice Avenue is one of country’s few remaining original soda fountains still operating. So, sit at the counter and order up your favorite malted, milkshake or even banana split, you will not be disappointed! The Tap and Cork is the perfect place to relax over a glass of wine or if ice cream is your pleasure, Bresler’s Ice Cream & Yogurt Shop is not to be missed and for that after dinner fudge treat, Kilwin’s Chocolates and Ice Cream can’t be beat!
The Cultural Center of Venice is not to be missed!
Venice Art Center, open Monday through Saturday this community art center is open to the public and rotates their exhibits on a monthly basis.Triangle Inn houses the history of Venice, complete with photographs and original city maps. The Triangle Inn is open Wednesdays and Fridays but if you are there another time, just walk up the stairs and knock on the door. It’s a friendly place and they welcome visitors! Venice Library is a relaxing oasis; take a breather, peruse a magazine or go online to read your emails.Venice Arboretum is not to be missed. A lovely walk through this park is a highlight of Venice. Everything is labeled so you’ll get to know our native shrubs and trees.Venice Community Center is a hotbed of evening entertainment; cabaret singers, ballroom dancing and even swing bands are scheduled throughout the year.The highlight of any trip to Venice will be taking in a show at the Venice Theatre. The third largest community theatre in the United States has two stages that offer community theatre at its best every month of the year!
History is alive in downtown Venice!
Take the historic walking tour of downtown, the Downtowners give out a historic walking book free of charge! The 1920’s Historic El Patio hotel is still operating and Mrs. Miles, who celebrated her 100th birthday last year is still the owner/manager! Even if you stay at the Ambassador Suits, Venice Beach Villas, The Horse and Chaise Inn or the Hampton Inn, stop up and take a tour of the hotel, it is really not to be missed!
Venice is Entertaining!
The second and fourth Friday evening of every month Venice MainStreet, Inc. put on free concerts at the Centennial Park Gazebo for 8-10pm. From October through May, don’t miss the Third Thursday strolls with music and entertainment on the downtown avenues from 5:30 until 8pm.The first weekends in March and November Venice MainStreet, Inc. hosts two of the top rated art festival in the United States while January, June and September are the months for downtown Craft Fairs.The first Thursday of December the downtown comes alive for the Annual Christmas Walk. Music, entertainment and of course, bring your camera to snap photos with Santa!
