Venice Island, Heated 40' Pool, Walk to Private Beach

About Venice:

Downtown Venice and its environs are connected by a vast park system,

Venetian Waterway Park, which enables walkers to circle the entire island on

foot. Venice alone contains 27 parks. The most popular downtown park,

Centennial Park gazebo hosts free concerts weekly. Every Saturday Centennial

Park is the site of a farmers market selling local produce, flowers, along

with arts and crafts. On Venice Avenue is a free public recreation center

with basketball, tennis, shuffleboard courts, and children’s playground.

Historic downtown Venice is built entirely in the Renaissance-style of the

famous Italian city for which it was named. In 1920 city planner John Nolan

designed the downtown area to be walkable and accessible. It contains only

independently owned unique boutiques, restaurants and hotels. Live music

emanates from the gazebo and street performers entertain the strollers. Horse

and buggy tours of the city are available. The Venice Cultural Center offers

concerts, plays, and lectures at discount prices. The Venice Art Center,

recently restored and enlarged, displays rotating exhibits of local and out-

of-state artists as well as art classes for children and adults.

Venice has an assortment of unusual and charming restaurants and bars, as

well as a lively night life. Phat Cats jazz bar, Venice Avenue Wine and

Coffee Shop, old fashioned traditional Soda Fountain Shop, TJ Carney's, etc.

Originally a tiny fishing village, Venice has experienced immense growth in

the past 50 years. As more developers look to Venice, the Venice Area

Historical Society has become active in preserving the city’s unique look and

controlling growth. The society is integral in preventing overbuilding and

restricting condo construction. It’s most recent accomplishment is the

restoration of the old Venice train depot, the gateway to Venice through

which the Ringling Circus trains used to travel. Now the depot hosts tours

and contains small shops.

In a state of famous beaches, Venice Beach stands out for its vast white sand

beach, vibrant shells, and -- on account of the ancient shark ”burial ground”

off its shores -- shark tooth hunting. Venice Beach also has one of the last

full-length piers on Florida’s west coast, and adjacent Sharkey's Restaurant.

Water-sport abound - swimming, boogie-boarding, skim-boarding, surfing,

fishing... Jet skis, and all variety of boats are readily available for rent.

The Bay Lady is a local boat that offers guided tours of Venice’s waterways.

Excellent golf courses are everywhere.

Sarasota and its multiplicity of attractions and entertainment possibilities

is just a short ride away. In spring 2004 Sarasota was designated by Fortune

Magazine as one of five most appealing USA cities.

Some of the many cultural attractions in nearby Sarasota include The Ringling

Museum of Art, Ca d’Zan restored Venetian estate of John Ringling, Mote

Marine Laboratory Aquarium and Research Center, Selby Botanical Gardens with

its renown collection of orchids and epiphytes, Van Wezel Performing Arts

Center, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Opera, FSU Dance, Sarasota

Ballet, as well as multiple theaters and art galleries. Of special interest

for the kids in Sarasota are G Wiz Children’s Museum, Jungle Gardens, Spanish

Point Historical Site and Indian Burial Grounds, Pelican Man’s Bird

Sanctuary, Ringling Circus Museum, Planet Fun, Sarasota Car Museum, Pirate’s

Cove, Water Park, Mote Marine Wildlife and Nature boating expeditions, and

deep sea charter cruises.