For many people who want to move to Sarasota, the only place they know about is the city of Sarasota. But what if I told you that there are other cities in the area that you might fall in love with apart from Sarasota? One of these cities is Venice. Beautiful historic Venice.
Where’s Venice anyway?
Venice is a coastal city in Sarasota county. And just like all the other cities on the Suncoast, it is a small town with a population of over 24,634 people, according to the 2020 census. It is located south of the city of Sarasota, north of Englewood and northwest of north port. It used to be that Venice was a city of retirees and older people, and it still is to a certain extent. Oh, but Venice is also a vibrant city with a very nice mix of all ages and lots of young families. And it has some of the best public and private schools in the area. Plus, the nationally ranked Pine View School for the Gifted is just a few miles north.
So what are my 13 reasons you will love Venice?
1. A Historic City. Venice is a historic city. It has 12 different locations and monuments listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For a small little town, it is a pretty big deal. And it is a source of pride for the residents. If you are a history and old architecture buff, then you will have plenty to occupy you in Venice FL. Three organizations, Venice Museum and Archives, Venice Heritage Inc and Venice Area Historical Society work very hard to preserve the historical legacy of this beautiful city. Here’s a bit of its own fascinating history. Named after the Italian city of Venice, the story goes that Dr Fred Albee, an orthopaedic surgeon from NY, for whom Albee Rd is named, bought 112 acres of land from the savvy businesswoman Ms Bertha Palmer, for whom Palmer Ranch is named. Dr. Albee then hired the renowned architect John Nolen to create a master plan for the city, the first portions of which were constructed in 1925–1926. For this reason, Venice is one of the very few carefully planned cities in the United States, and the reason why it is so artistically designed and landscaped.
2. Housing Communities and Neighborhoods. Venice has a lot of beautiful neighbourhoods providing many different kinds of lifestyles. There are gated communities, non-gated ones, 55+ communities, condo-living, ocean-front condos, resort-style communities, new construction, acreage, and country living. No matter what your dream of a Florida lifestyle is, you can find it in Venice and interestingly there is plenty of golfing, waterfront living, boating and fishing to be had. It used to be that the cost of real estate was much lower than in the city of Sarasota but now the secret is out, therefore, there are no bargains to be had anymore. But there is a reason why people are moving to this little town Venice FL. It is a wonderful place to live.
3. Historic Downtown Venice. Beautiful, historic downtown Venice! One of those places that capture the charm and beauty of old Florida like no other. Two unique things you will discover about DTV are the tree-lined streets, called avenues, and the architecture. Alongside the streets are old moss-covered oak trees, tall royal palms gorgeously swaying that dance slowing in the cool breeze amply provided by the Gulf of Mexico, which is just about a mile away. In addition, there is an array of small family-owned businesses, boutiques, mom-and-pop eateries, restaurants, bars, ice cream shops, sweet treats, and a host of other services coupled with old architectural buildings, resplendent and majestic in their beauty. Venice downtown has a beautiful old city, hometown nostalgic scenery that will take your breath away!
4. Brohard Dog Beach. Do you have dogs? Would you like to take them to the beach sometime? Well, in Venice your dogs are welcome at the beach! The Brohard Beach and Paw Park is the only beach in the area that is exclusively for dogs and their owners. It is a part of Venice Beach however fenced and designed with your furry friends in mind. There are dog waste bags, showers, drinking fountains, as well as picnic tables, and benches waiting for you to have fun with your furry friends. So, the next time you want to go to the beach, don’t leave your canine family members at home. The Brohard Beach in Venice is the place for you.
5. The Intracoastal Waterway. One may ask what is the Intracoastal highway anyway? Lets me tell you, it is a long stretch of water that allows boaters to travel the east coast of America without having to go in the ocean at all. It passes right through the city of Venice and it was built in the 60s to keep American water navigation safe from coastal attacks during wartimes. But currently, in peace times the waterway is used as a boaters’ rendezvous. So if boating is part of your dream for your Florida Lifestyle, come on down!
6. Venetian Waterway Park. Ever heard of Venetian Waterway Park? I will tell you about it. This is a trail built along the banks of the Intracoastal waterway. On both sides, it provides a 10-mile trail for bikers, runners and hikers. There are benches, picnic shelters and grills built along the path for your pleasure. Take in the scenic waterway views and catch glimpses of wildlife and nature as you go along the trail. If you envision your Florida lifestyle to include leisurely walks along beautiful water bodies or speed biking every day of the week, Vernice should definitely be one of the places on your list. But it gets better.
7. The Legacy Trail. The Legacy Trail is another recreational trail for biking, walking and running. It begins from Historic Venice Train Depot and runs through to downtown Sarasota, a distance of about 19 miles. By the fall of 2022, it will further connect southeast to the city of North Port, making it a total of about 30 miles. Yay! When it is all done, it will make the legacy trail one of the longest multi-use, recreational trails in the country. I can’t tell you enough how important the legacy trail is for our community. There are usually parties of walkers, runners and bikers along the route at any time of the week. The Legacy Trail and the Venetian Waterway trail connect at the Venice Train Depot. It is incredible to have both in our community.
8. Caspersen Beach. If your idea of a beach is all sand, think again. Caspersen is a rocky beach on the southern tip of Venice Beach and I tell you, it is beautiful. It is a longest beach on the sand coast and has several entry points. Seeing and hearing the sounds of the Gulf waters hitting the rocks is out of this world. To add to that, you can go on a hike in the nature preserve right across from the beach and as always, there are picnic tables and grills waiting for you to grill some wonderful meats with your family and friends but it gets better! There is also a biking path right there for you to ride your bike. If all this does not convince you to know we take bicycling seriously in Venice then this will! The City of Venice was recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community. Are you convinced? I hope so. If your dream for your Florida lifestyle includes casual rides to the beach or long-distance power rides, we’ve got the trail for you. You can go solo or join one of the many bicycle clubs all over the area. The added advantage of joining a club is the relationships you build whiles doing something you love. Impressive!
9. Venice Beach. Venice Beach offers a lot more than just your average sandy beach. It is also known as the shark tooth capital of the world because it is a great place to beach comb for prehistoric shark teeth fossils and seashells. Start your day early with a spectacular sunrise and plan to spend the whole day, because the amenities are ready-made for you to do just that! Enjoy a game of volleyball on the courts, and take a swim in the waters under the watchful eye of the lifeguards. When you get hungry, have yourself a picnic or go buy something from the concession stand. Don’t forget to catch a most magnificent sunset before you leave. Oh! make sure to join free beach yoga classes in the mornings.
10. Venice Fishing Pier. Situated in the waters on Venice Beach is the 720-foot public fishing pier that is quintessentially and uniquely Venice. It is right in the water on Venice Beach and part of the scenery. You don’t need a license to fish on the pier and it is open 24/7/365. So if fishing is your thing, you can do it all day long, all year long! You just might catch the big one of these days. There are fish-cleaning stations, benches and trash receptacles for your convenience and don’t be in a hurry to leave because an incredible sunset awaits you!
11. Sharky’s on the Pier. It is impossible to talk about Venice beach and the Pier without a mention of Sharky’s on the pier. It is a restaurant that is right there on the beach with direct access to the pier. They have a delectable menu and offer great service but you don’t have to eat at a restaurant to visit the pier.
12. Arts and Culture. When it comes to the arts, Venice holds its own quite well. Between Venice Theatre, Venice Symphony, the Venice Performing Arts Center and other smaller players, there is plenty of theatre, orchestral music, live performances and other shows to be had. There’s also a chalk festival, a shark tooth festival and a host of other festivals throughout the year.
13. Venice Farmers Market. The Sarasota-Bradenton area which is also known as the Suncoast abounds with farmers’ markets and Venice is no exception. Plan to make a trip on Saturday morning and fill up on locally grown produce, fresh vegetables, seafood, meats, baked goods, honey, some old country syrups and much, much more. Have you fallen in love?
In the nutshell, no matter what your dream of a Florida lifestyle is, you can find it in Venice and interestingly there are several benefits to be had including street avenues, architecture, historic places, beaches and waterways. Your Florida Lifestyle is as good as living in Vernice. If you seek more information about communities in the area, contact me.
Millicent Schandorf-Lartey is a realtor in Florida. She’s lived in Sarasota for more than 10 years and serves the entire Sarasota-Bradenton area. She can be reached on 941-960-3580.
