Things to Do in Venice Beach, Florida: A Hidden Gulf Coast Gem

Venice Beach, Florida is a place my husband and I have been visiting since we first started dating. His parents have a home there, and where I first met them, making it an easy and familiar destination for us over the years. Having been born and raised in south Florida, I’m honestly surprised Venice was never on my radar, because it is a true hidden gem. Located in Sarasota County, an area that welcomes more than 2.7 million visitors each year, Venice often flies under the radar thanks to its laid-back, unassuming vibe. It doesn’t shout for attention like some of Florida’s more famous Gulf Coast beach towns such as Captiva, Marco Island, or Sanibel, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. Venice offers beautiful beaches, charming neighborhoods, and plenty to do, all without the heavy crowds or high price tags. This post is dedicated to highlighting some of the best areas to explore and things to do in and around Venice, Florida, the very reasons we find ourselves coming back year after year.

Best Beaches Near Venice, Florida

Venice, Florida offers a variety of beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, each with its own vibe. From soft white sand and family-friendly amenities to great fishing and unforgettable sunsets, you’re sure to find one that you love. Here are the best beaches to visit in and around Venice, Florida:

Siesta Key Beach

• About 30 minutes from Venice, FL
• Famous for its soft, white, powdery sand
• Ideal for families, sandcastle building, and relaxing
• Amenities include two snack shacks, playgrounds, restrooms, volleyball nets, and large parking areas
• Long walk from parking to the water

Nokomis Beach

• Offers good-quality sand and a popular snack shack
• Restrooms and food available
• Smaller beach with limited parking, best visited early

Venice Beach

• Located where Venice Avenue meets the ocean
• Smaller, quieter beach with restrooms and a snack shack
• Convenient parking and easy access
• One of the best spots in Venice, Florida to watch the sunset

North Jetty Beach

• Located between Venice and Nokomis
• Popular for fishing and dolphin sightings
• One of the best beaches in the area for shell collecting
• Coarser sand

Sharkey’s on the Pier

• Beachfront bar and restaurant
• Home to the only pier in the Venice area
• Great for fishing, socializing, and Gulf views

I’ll start by saying that our favorite beach in the area is Siesta Key Beach. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Venice, but it’s worth it every single time. The sand is the softest, whitest, most powdery sand I’ve ever seen, making it perfect for building sandcastles, digging holes, or simply laying out and relaxing. As soon as we arrive, my toddler throws herself on the sand and rolls around in it, head down and all.  Siesta Key Beach has all the amenities you could want; snack shacks that offer food and drinks, a large playground for young kids, restrooms, volleyball courts, and plenty of parking. The only downside is the walk from the parking lot to the ocean, which can be about a quarter of a mile through soft sand. Be sure to bring a beach buggy and everything you’ll need on your first trek down to the water. But if I could do it 7 months pregnant, carrying an almost 2-year-old toddler, then you will do just fine.

When we’re looking for a beach closer to Venice but still want good sand and a great snack shack, we head to Nokomis Beach, which we can reach in about half the time. You’ll find quality beach food (like their shrimp tacos!), drinks, and restrooms here as well. Parking is more limited since it’s a smaller beach than Siesta Key, but if you time your arrival right, it’s usually not an issue. This is also the beach we were able to snag a few incredible maternity/family photos at early one morning as fog engulfed the shoreline, creating a moody feel we didn’t expect to fall in love with.

The closest beach to us is Venice Beach, located where Venice Avenue meets the ocean and it’s one we love just as much. It’s a smaller beach with a more modest snack shack, but it still offers restrooms, a volleyball court and a decent amount of parking. This is our go-to spot for catching a sunset, simply because it’s quick and easy to get to and doesn’t become overly crowded. This is also a beach where we spent a few beautiful, quiet mornings at collecting a variety of shells, including conch shells the size of our hands!

Just up the road is North Jetty Beach, located between Venice and Nokomis. It is not to be confused with the South Jetty Beach, which is currently closed from past hurricane wreckage. This area is popular for fishing and is also a great place to catch glimpses of dolphins swimming by. It’s one of the better spots for shell collecting, but that also means the sand is much coarser. I spent a handful of afternoons walking the shoreline with my daughter, holding a bag or a bucket as she collected as many rocks as possible and shells she could claim – which was a lot! They made their way all the way back home to Pennsylvania where they continue to bring her joy as they find new comfort in her sand table.  

For a livelier beach experience, Sharky’s on the Pier is another fun place to check out. It’s a popular beachfront bar and restaurant and features the only pier in the area, which is another great option for fishing and enjoying views of the Gulf.

Downtown Venice

Downtown Venice Avenue is where you’ll find an abundance of great food, local shops, and that charming small-town feel Venice is known for. There is plenty of parking available, along with convenient public restrooms located in the main parking area, making it an easy place to spend a few hours exploring. Some of our favorite spots for breakfast include Upper Crust Café & Bakery, a cozy café with delicious pastries and unique breakfast options such as my favorite, crab cake eggs benedict (though seating is limited), and Burgundy Square Café, which is located on Miami Avenue just behind the main strip. This street feels like a hidden treasure, as it’s home to several fantastic restaurants and shops we didn’t even discover until our most recent trip. For dinner, our go-to Italian restaurant is Made in Italy, and we love ending a date night with ice cream from Venice Avenue Creamery, where you can smell their rich chocolate treats from halfway down the street.

What we love just as much as the main strip is the walking path along Venice Avenue, which sits between the beach access and the shops. Lined with large, old trees, it offers plenty of shade during hot afternoons. This past trip our toddler had the time of her life exploring every crevasse and large branch these trees had to offer. Sidewalks connect each section, and benches are scattered throughout, inviting you to sit and soak in the scenery. One of our favorite things to do is take a peaceful morning bike ride through this area, as it’s the perfect way to start the day in Venice.

If you’re lucky enough to visit during one of Venice Beach’s farmers’ markets, it’s absolutely worth making time to check it out. You’ll find a great selection of food trucks, along with local artwork, handmade goods, tasty snacks (like my favorite, roasted nuts found in a variety of flavors!) and unique home décor. It’s the perfect place to wander, support local vendors, and pick up something special to remember your trip.

Nature in the Trees

Whenever we need a break from the beach, we head inland and spend time surrounded by trees and nature. Some of our favorite non-beach nature parks near Venice, Florida include Myakka River State Park, the Carlton Reserve, Venice Myakka River Park, and Maxine Barritt Park.  

Myakka River State Park is one of the best places in the area to spot alligators and native Florida wildlife. It’s perfect for both day trips and extended stays, with camping available on-site. Activities include hiking, fishing, biking, and kayaking. Because of its vast size, it’s nearly impossible to explore the entire park in just one day, making it a great option if you have extra time to spend outdoors.

The Carlton Reserve is our go-to spot for a peaceful morning stroller walk with our toddler. Like Myakka, it offers hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing, but it feels more shaded and forested, with miles of trails and fewer water access points. It’s quiet, scenic, and ideal for slow, unrushed walks.

Venice Myakka River Park is much smaller, making it perfect for shorter outings. You can still enjoy activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, and even alligator sightings, but it’s not a park you need to plan an entire day around. We love it for easy walks when we want to get outside without committing too much time. It’s also a great place for those with rock-collecting toddlers.

Maxine Barritt Park offers the best of both worlds: nature and beach access. Located right next to Sharky’s on the Pier, it features a looped sidewalk of about a mile that circles a tree-lined lake. It’s an excellent option for stroller walks and getting your steps in. The park also has picnic tables with ocean views and a small playground with swings for children. This is one of our favorite spots on days when it’s too chilly for the beach but still perfect for being outdoors.

Marie Selby Botanical Garden

While Marie Selby Botanical Garden isn’t located directly in Venice, it’s about a 30-minute drive north to Sarasota but absolutely worth the trip. The first time my family and I visited was in March, and I was completely blown away. I consider myself somewhat of a botanical garden enthusiast, and Selby easily ranks among my top three favorite gardens I’ve ever visited.

The gardens are beautifully maintained and offer stunning views of both the ocean and downtown Sarasota. They’re home to an impressive variety of plants, making it a peaceful and inspiring place to explore. Our favorite section is the children’s treehouse area, which features a man-made waterfall, a fish-filled pond, multiple bridges to cross, and towering trees that truly take your breath away. While it’s designed with children in mind, it’s so thoughtfully and beautifully done that visitors of any age can appreciate and enjoy it. During our most recent visit, we noticed that portions of the garden were under construction. If you’re planning a trip, it’s a good idea to check the website ahead of time to see which areas are open and set your expectations accordingly.

Venice, Florida may not always make the list of Florida’s most talked-about beach destinations, but that’s exactly what makes it so special to me. From its beautiful beaches and charming downtown, to peaceful nature parks and unforgettable gardens just a short drive away, Venice offers the perfect balance of relaxation and exploration. Whether you’re visiting as a family, a couple, or simply looking to slow down and enjoy the beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Venice has a way of drawing you in. And for us, it keeps us coming back, year after year.