Venice is a Haven for Outdoor Enthusiasts 
From sea to shore, the opportunities to explore and appreciate the great outdoors are endless. Charter a boat to catch a big one or drop a line off of Venice’s 700-foot long fishing pier or at the South Jetty, which extends several hundred yards into the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy the water while kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing, or parasailing.

For the avid golfer or those just seeking to improve their game, Sarasota County has plenty of golf courses to suit your needs. Downtown Venice is also well-equipped with tennis, pickleball, basketball, and shuffle board courts.

Looking for more adventure, go horseback riding at Deer Prairie Creek Preserve or watch a horse show jumping competition at the nationally recognized Fox Lea Farm. Try your hand at frisbee golf at the Disk Golf course at Wellfield Park. Next door, you can watch croquet tournaments held by the Sarasota County Croquet Club or, better yet, join in the fun on Sunday Fundays. Sports fans also can catch a spring training game at the Atlanta Braves stadium at CoolToday Park.

The Beaches of Venice
Venice, along Florida’s white-sanded Gulf Coast, offers 14 miles of some of the most magnificent beaches in the state. From people-only beaches, to beaches that accommodate dogs, to beaches on which you can hunt for shark’s teeth, Venice has it all.

Venice Beach is a favorite beach spot, as it is a short-walk from downtown. Don’t miss its iconic Space Age style beach pavilion built in 1964. Reef divers are particularly attracted to this beach because of the reef lying only a quarter mile offshore.

Caspersen Beach, pristine and secluded, is the nature lovers’ paradise. The southern two-thirds of the beach has been left in its natural state, with fresh water and salt water marshes, mangroves, and tidal flats.

Brohard Beach, near the 700-foot long Venice Fishing Pier, provides easy access to the beach. Adjacent to this beach is Service Club Park, the perfect place to have a picnic or watch the sunset, with a boardwalk adorned with covered picnic areas. At South Brohard Beach, there is a Paw Park which boasts a fenced play yard for your furry friends that leads to a wide open 100-yard section of dog beach. There are even dog showers and drinking fountains for dogs.

More beach access:
Chauncy Howard Park
Humpris Park (South Jetty)

Beach Drum Circles and Beach Yoga
Can’t get enough of the beach? Partake in the morning or sunset yoga on the beach sessions. On Sundays, about 1 1/2 hours before sunset, join the drum circle at Venice Beach or on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, join in the sunset drum circle at nearby Nokomis Beach, just north of Venice.

FOR BEACH CONDITIONS, WEATHER AND TRAVEL ALERTS CLICK HERE

The Parks of Venice
Venice is known for its 50+ parks, recreational spaces and pocket parks. From the Paw Park where your dogs can play in the Gulf of Mexico, to Centennial Park where free music plays often in the downtown gazebo, to Legacy Park where children’s imagination can run wild on the train-themed playground, there is something for everyone.

Find four off-the-beaten-path pocket parks tucked in behind downtown Venice’s beautiful neighborhoods. These hidden gems, designed by Venice’s city planner John Nolen in 1926, are open to the public. Access paths leading to them are identified with orange markers.
Pocket Parks
Nolen Greens: Granada
Nolen Greens: Harbor
Nolen Greens: Madrid
Nolen Greens: Milan

On the Island of Venice:
Brohard Park
Caspersen Beach Park 
Centennial Park (children’s play fountain, gazebo, Venice MainStreet information kiosk)
Chauncy Howard Park
Chuck Reiter Park
City Hall Park
Dr. Fred Albee Park
East Blalock Park (also known as the Cultural Campus with library, art center, community center, museum)
Fountain Park 
Graser Park 
Hecksher Park 
Heritage Park 
Higel Marine Park 
Humphris Park (South Jetty)
John Nolen Park 
Maxine Barritt Park 
Michael Biehl Park 
Monty Andrews Arboretum at West Blalock Park
Paw Park 
Ponce De Leon Park 
Prentiss French Park 
Public Golf & Driving Range
Service Club Park 
Venetian Waterway Park and Trail 
Venezia Park 
Venice Beach 
Venice Fishing Pier

Off the Island of Venice:
Bypass Park/Foxworthy Campus
Carlton Reserve 
Challenger Park 
Curry Creek Preserve
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve 
East Gate Park
Jelks Preserve 
Legacy Park
Legacy Trail
Lincer Preserve 
Marina Park and Boat Ramp
Mundy Park
Patriots Park
Pinebrook Park
Ruscelletto Park
Sentor Bob Johnson’s Landing 
Shamrock Park and Nature Center 
Skip Stasko Park 
Sleeping Turtles Preserve North 
Sleeping Turtles Preserve South 
Snook Haven Park 
South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve 
Tuscano Park Site 
Venice Area Audubon Rookery 
Venice Gardens Park 
Venice Myakka River Park
Venice Train Depot and Rollins W. Coakley Railroad Park 
Venice Urban Forest 
Wellfield Park 
Woodmere Park 

For more information, check out the City of Venice Parks Directory and Sarasota County Parks Directory.