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Venice Florida Area

Venice, Florida is located in Sarasota County along the beautiful blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous canals snake through the city, which earned it the name “Venice,” after its watery sister city in Italy. Just south of Sarasota and north of Port Charlotte, Venice has become known worldwide for the ancient shark teeth that wash up along its beaches. Charming, quaint, and surprisingly void of crowds, Venice is an interesting and beautiful little-known town and one of Southwest Florida’s greatest gems.

It is said that Venice was the very first planned city to have ever been built in the United States. Early planners in the 1920’s gave Venice an Italian architecture style that still lives on today in the historic district. In fact, the historic district has a revue board that ensures that any new builders must conform to an Italian renaissance style of architecture.

Many of the beautiful and stately homes in Venice mirror this Italian renaissance theme, and Mediterranean architecture can be spotted throughout the city. The population of Venice is around 20,000, and the crime rate is very low. On the Island of Venice you will find more upscale and pricier homes, but more moderate homes and condominiums can be found on the out laying areas. Venice has a number of amenities for you to explore including a charming downtown district, yacht club, community theater, library, art center, and professional dinner theater. Venice has wonderful hospitals, schools, restaurants, houses of worship, parks and a number of attractions. Venice is only a short drive from big city amenities like airports, theme parks, gigantic shopping malls, sporting events, and more. With its close proximity to I-75, Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples are all but a short drive away.

While Venice maintains its small town charm, there are still many things to do, all while avoiding the masses of larger nearby cities. The city prides itself in their many cultural and artistic festivals, parades, theatre events and of course, their nature preserves. Venice Beach also offers everything that you would expect in a beachfront town. You can enjoy swimming, shelling, shark tooth scavenging, picnics, boating, fishing and anything else you can imagine on their tranquil sandy shores. Venice is practically a dream destination come true for art lovers and boating and fishing enthusiasts. This is, in fact, one of the few towns on Florida’s west coast that has direct access to the Gulf of Mexico without having to first pass outer barrier islands, making it easy for you to enjoy the fruits of the beautiful Gulf coast.

An ideal setting for young families, retirees and winter residents alike, Venice is the perfect place for just about anyone. Whether you enjoy cultural events, high action water sports, or just taking in a beautiful Gulf sunset, Venice may be just the place for your next dream home.
 

Culture / Entertainment


Stroll through a museum of art or history. Observe wildlife and nature. Listen to a full orchestra ensemble. No matter what your distraction from the beach, the area has a multitude of activities.


Attractions



The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota - (941) 359-5700
Features European and American art, including works by Rubens, Poussin, Hals, and van Dyck. Also includes a Venetian-Gothic mansion (Ca d’zan) and circus museum.


Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
811 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota - (941) 366-5731 - Open 10 am – 5 pm daily
One of America’s Top 10 Botanical Gardens. Features 15 beautiful gardens rich in color.


G.Wiz, The Hands-On Science Museum
1001 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota - (941) 309-4949
Over 85 interactive exhibits, plus exhibits from the San Francisco’s Exploritorium.


Sarasota Classic Car Museum
5500 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota - (941) 355-6228
More than 100 automobiles, spanning over 100 years.


Museum of Asian Art
640 S. Washington Blvd., Sarasota - (941) 954-7117
An extensive collection of pieces from Asia and the renowned Yangtze River Collection.


Animal Attractions



Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota - (941) 388-2451 – Open Daily 10 am – 5 pm
Enjoy 135,000 gallon shark tank, manatee and sea turtle exhibits, two touch-pools and more.


Sarasota Jungle Gardens
3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota - (941) 355-5305 or 877-861-6547
Encounter exhibits of two- and four-legged creatures. Bird and reptile shows.


Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary
1708 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota - (941) 388-4444
Open air home and rehabilitation center to 55 different species of Florida birds.


South Florida Museum and Parker Manatee Aquarium
201 10th Street W., Bradenton - (941) 746-4131
Home of “Snooty,” the world’s most recognized manatee. View the area’s prehistoric past and mammals.


Performing Arts



Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota – Box Office: (941) 953-3368 or 800-826-9303
Broadway musicals, orchestras, stage productions, dance, theater, comedy, music and more.


Sarasota Opera House
61 No. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota - (941) 366-8450
1920’s opera house hosts everything from opera, symphony and classical ballet to popular music, comedy shows and film festivals.


Florida West Coast Symphony
709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota – Tickets: (941) 953-3434
Performing ensembles include symphony and chamber orchestras.


Sarasota Ballet of Florida
5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota - (941) 359-0099
Area's major performing arts organizations that presents cultural events.


Shopping


Explore the uniqueness of St. Armands Circle with its collection of upscale shops and specialty stores. Downtown Sarasota offers small-town Americana on Main Street, while the art galleries on Palm Avenue remind you of New York and L.A. Turn the corner onto Pineapple Avenue and you'll find fine antiques to true 1950s Florida kitsch. A little further south into Venice and you'll be standing among shops that look out onto one of the best-planned downtowns in America. If you like your shopping action packed, enjoy the variety of several indoor malls or the bargain bonanzas at the nearby outlet mall.


St. Armands Circle Shops & Restaurants
John Ringling Causeway, Sarasota - (941) 388-1554
Island shopping center with more than 130 fine shops and gourmet restaurants.


Red Barn Flea Market Plaza
1707 1st Street East, Bradenton - (941) 747-3794
Over 450 inside booths and 200 outside booths with a variety of restaurants and snack bars. Free admission.


Prime Outlets - Ellenton
5461 Factory Shops Blvd. (I-75 to Exit 224), Ellenton - (941) 888-260-7608
130 manufacturers’ outlets and factory-direct stores offer top quality at bargain prices.


De Soto Square Mall
303 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton - (941) 747-5868


Sarasota Outlet Center
8303 Cooper Creek Blvd, Bradenton - (941) 359-8303


Centre Shops of Longboat Key
5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Sarasota - (941) 387-3135


Westfield Shoppingtown Southgate
3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota - (941) 955-0900


Westfield Shoppingtown Sarasota
8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota - (941) 922 9609


Venice Village Shoppes
4115 Tamiami Trail S, Venice - (941) 493-2800


Recreation


Relax and enjoy the area’s gulf coast beaches. Paddle through lush tropical forests. Make a tee time, or if you prefer, make time for tea.


Beaches



Siesta Beach
Beach Road, Siesta Key - (941) 861-9830


Venice Beach
Venice Avenue, Venice - (941) 861-9830
Shelling, shopping, picnicking and volleyball.


Nokomis Beach
Albee Road, Casey Key - (941) 861-9830
Two boat ramps, concessions, dune walkovers, lifeguards, fishing, volleyball, picnic tables, free parking.


North Jetty Park
Casey Key - (941) 483-9830
Swimming, fishing, boating and canoeing, horseshoes, volleyball, lifeguards, concession.


Parks



Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Opsrey - (941) 483-5956
Camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, picnicking and more.


Myakka River State Park
13207 S.R. 72, Sarasota - (941) 361-6511
Fishing, canoeing, boating, biking trails, horseback riding trails, 39 miles of hiking trails, camping, picnicking and ranger-guided tours.


Historic Spanish Point
337 N. Tamiami Trail, Opsrey - (941) 966-5214
30-acres and more than 5,000 years of history. Tours of pioneer dwellings, nature trails, formal gardens.


Stadiums



Ed Smith Stadium
12th Street and Tuttle Ave., Sarasota - (941) 954-4101
Cincinnati Reds spring training, minor league games by the Sarasota Red Sox from April to August.


McKechnie Field
1611 Ninth Street W., Bradenton - (941) 747-3031
Pittsburgh Pirates spring training.


Transportation


Sarasota County provides public transportation, in addition to the convenience of three international airports.


Sarasota County Area Transit
5303 Pinkney Avenue - (941) 861-1234 (5:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday – Saturday)
Sarasota County Area Transit provides quality, reliable, cost effective public transportation services for the benefit of residents and visitors of Sarasota County to ensure personal mobility and enhance their quality of life.


Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
6000 Airport Circle - (941) 359-2770
The airlines at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport serve the people of Sarasota and Manatee counties and adjacent areas. SRQ, which is the official FAA Airport Designation for the airport, is geographically located on the West coast of Florida just south of Tampa Bay. It is located approximately 30 miles from Sarasota National.


Tampa International Airport (TPA)
5503 West Spruce Street - (813) 870-8700
Tampa International Airport is located approximately 80 miles away from Sarasota National.


Southwest Florida International Airport (SWFIA)
11000 Terminal Access Road - (239) 590-4800
Southwest Florida International Airport is located approximately 70 miles away from Sarasota National.


Medical Facilities

Venice Regional Medical Center
540 The Rialto, Venice - (941) 485-7711
Venice Regional Medical Center is a 312-bed regional healthcare system that provides a comprehensive array of healthcare services to the greater Venice area and beyond. Always striving to meet the area’s growing healthcare needs, the system has steadily expanded to include a number of facilities offering fully integrated health services. Located on US 41, just south of Venice Avenue.


Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota - (941) 917-9000 or 800-764-8255
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, an 845-bed regional medical center, is the second-largest public hospital in Florida. It is a full-service facility, providing cardiovascular care, acute stroke intervention and rehabilitation, cancer care, Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, obstetrics, inpatient pediatric services, outpatient services, and nursing care. Located on US 41, close to downtown Sarasota.


Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
5731 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota - (941) 342-1100
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota is licensed for 168 general acute card beds. Accredited by the JCAHO, Doctors Hospital offers services including cardiac catheterization, cardiac rehabilitation, endoscopy, 24-hour emergency, diagnostic imaging, inpatient and outpatient surgery, orthopedics, oncology, urology, neurology, physical rehabilitation, pulmonary, rehabilitation, woulnd management, senior programs and fitness, and physician referral. Located on Bee Ridge Road and Cattlemen Road, near Exit 207 off 1-75.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
8330 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Bradenton - (941) 782-2100 Emergency Dept: 941-782-2200
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is a new 120-bed acute care hospital. It’s advanced medical services include emergency care, critical care, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and women’s services. Located on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, near Exit 213 off I-75.


Schools

District: Sarasota South County
    Taylor Ranch Elementary    Elementary    941-486-2000
    Venice High    High School    941-488-6726
    Venice Middle    Middle School    941-486-2100


Local Utilities

The following utilities serve this community.

    Comcast     Cable     800-266-2278
    Florida Light and Power     Electricity     941-917-0708
    Verizon     Telephone     941-483-8000
    Sarasota County     Water     941-861-6790