Venice Beach
Venice Beach is a short walk from downtown at the west end of Venice Avenue. The Pilot House on Venice Beach has bites and baskets you can eat in the shade of the pavilion. Those looking for activity will find volleyball nets and, of course, the Venice sport of shark-tooth hunting. Divers can swim a quarter of a mile offshore to explore a man-made reef. 401 W. Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285.
Service Club Park
Adjacent to Brohard Beach, Service Club Park offers playground equipment, boardwalks and covered picnic areas. But be on the lookout. The rare but friendly Florida scrub jay might decide to join you for lunch while a gopher tortoise makes his rounds nearby. 1190 Harbor Dr. South, Venice FL 34285.
Venice Pier
A favorite place for fishing and viewing sunsets is the Venice Pier, seaward of Sharky’s on the Pier and Fins at Sharky’s restaurants. Visitors may walk along the 740-foot structure over the gulf waters. 1600 Harbor Dr., Venice, FL 34285
Nokomis Beach
Nokomis Beach is the oldest public beach in Sarasota County. This family-oriented park at the end of Albee Road is known for fishing. It has a boat ramp and kayak launch from which to explore the Intracoastal Waterway, Lyon’s Bay and Turner’s Island. For a bit of local color, be sure to catch the Drum Circle on Wednesdays and Saturdays, beginning two hours before sunset. 901 Casey Key Rd., Nokomis, FL 34275.
North Jetty
At the south end of Casey Key is the jetty, a man-made structure creating a water passage between the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway. The North Jetty Beach is popular for fishing, sunbathing, hearing occasional impromptu live music, enjoying a snack at the Shark’s Tooth Concession, and of course, watching the many types of watercrafts cruise by. 1100 Casey Key Rd., Nokomis, FL 34275.
South Jetty
On the other side of the canal, but accessed from the island of Venice, is the South Jetty, a paved walkway out into the Gulf waters where fishermen excite onlookers with their catch of the day. Go just before sunset for the best opportunity to spot dolphins and manatees. Earlier in the day, enjoy snacks at the concession, and a chance to hear live music.
Oscar Scherer State Park
This wilderness and camping spot, off U.S. 41 in Osprey, welcomes pets that are leashed, supervised and well behaved.
Paw Park at Brohard Beach
Paw Park is one of the few places where dogs can run free along the water’s edge or even go in for a dip. In addition, enclosed areas offer separate playgrounds for large and small dogs, with water and bathing facilities for your furry friends. People come from around the nation so their water-loving pups can play at this park. Venice welcomes its canine visitors. Here are other places your pets might enjoy with you.
Venetian Waterway Park
This walking and biking trail is 10 miles on both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway. It connects to the 20-mile Legacy Trail going north from Venice. Dogs on leashes are welcome, but keep in mind the pavement can get too hot for their paws at times. Parts of the trails are in natural settings where you may spot Florida scrub jays, gopher tortoises, alligators, coyotes and bob cats.
World Famous Rookery
An overlooked gem in the Venice Area, that even some residents don’t know about, is the Venice Area Audubon Rookery.
Tucked away behind the county administration building, less than a quarter mile off Tamiami Trail, a small, unassuming, man-made pond hosts a world-renowned rookery.
During January, February and March, many bird species utilize the small island within the pond as a nesting and breeding ground. Predominant are Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Anhingas, Snowy Egrets, Cormorants, White Ibises, and Black-Crowned Night Herons. Other species that have frequented the Rookery are Common Moorhens, Pied-billed Grebes, Wood Storks, Red-Winged Blackbirds, and even Whistling Ducks.
The 25’x50’ island covered in pepper trees, is surrounded by a small lake with a resident alligator who keeps predators such as raccoons at bay. With this sentry, the Rookery becomes an ideal, protected setting for the birds to raise and nurture their families.
Professional photographers, as well as amateurs, gather in the early morning hours and at dusk to capture images of the roosting birds. Cleared areas and well-worn paths allow easy access for those who have discovered this natural treasure. The Venice Area Audubon Rookery is located off of Tamiami Trail S., just north of Jacaranda Blvd. Turn onto Annex Road, between the Florida State Highway Patrol building and the R.L. Anderson Sarasota County Administration Building. 4002 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. veniceaudubon.org/rookery