Nice sunset at Venice beach FL.; Shutterstock ID 1572707140; your: Claire Naylor; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: Florida POI

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Venice Beach

Top choice in Southwest Gulf Coast


Where W Venice Ave dead-ends you'll find a covered beach pavilion with restrooms and a snack bar. Further south beyond the pier is Casperson Beach.

Yoga at Venice Beach 

There's free yoga on the sand near the beach pavilion at 8am and 7pm daily. Sessions are open to all and no reservations are needed. 

Finding shark teeth

This area is a top spot for fossil hunters, who often bring specialized sifting gear to search for valuable finds. Shark teeth wash up by the millions; all one needs is some patience and a keen eye. An hour or two of looking can net dozens of little teeth, some in excellent condition, others eroded by the waves. Sea turtles also nest here, and shorebird watching is excellent.

Where to eat near Venice Beach

Sharky's on the Pier is the social hub of Venice Beach. There are also a couple of cocktail bars and pubs surrounding Centennial Park in the city's center.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Southwest Gulf Coast attractions

1. Venice Train Depot

1.23 MILES

Built in 1927 the historic Venice Train Depot was the last stop on the line for the Seaboard Air Line Railway that extended south from Tampa to Sarasota…

2. Venice Pier

1.89 MILES

Off Harbor Dr 1.5 miles south of W Venice Ave, this long, wide beach with a huge parking lot is the most popular, especially for sunset. The adjacent pier…

3. Nokomis Beach

1.89 MILES

North of Venice on Casey Key, Nokomis is yet another attractive, low-key beach. Its 'minimalist'-style beach pavilion is an intriguing architectural…

4. Caspersen Beach

3.14 MILES

One-and-a-half miles south of Venice Pier along Harbor Dr, Caspersen is famous for the fossilized prehistoric sharks' teeth that wash up. Most teeth are…

5. Oscar Scherer State Park

4.95 MILES

This 1381-acre state park has 15 miles of sandy off-road tracks, lake swimming and a handy campsite ($33 per tent) midway along the Legacy Trail.

6. Osprey Junction Trailhead

6.75 MILES

A 10-acre, dog-friendly park at the east end of Bay St in Osprey that serves as an end point to the 20-mile cycling route, the Legacy Trail. There are…

7. Historic Spanish Point

7.28 MILES

Explore layers of history at this environmental and archaeological site, which covers a 30-acre peninsula jutting out into Little Sarasota Bay. Covered in…

8. Siesta Key

12.72 MILES

At 8 miles long, Siesta Key is the area's most popular beach hangout, with a family-friendly village and a public beach of pure quartz sand so fine it's…