Life 2.0You Can’t Do This in Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Indianapolis: 13 Fun Things to Do in Venice, FL
Picture a February afternoon. In Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Indianapolis, you are scraping ice off the windshield. In Venice, Florida, you are deciding between a beach walk, a paddle with the dolphins or a round of pickleball before watching the sun sink into the Gulf.
I moved from Indiana to Florida because, after working all week, there was never anything fun or interesting to do. Having the greenest lawn on my street wasn’t fulfilling.
There’s a difference between standard of living and quality of life. I didn’t want to just earn a living. I wanted to live first, then make a living.
In Venice, the weekend starts the minute you walk outside.
I have lived next to Casey Key for most of my life, and these are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy Venice. Every one of them happens outdoors, and most of them happen all year long.
13 Things You Can’t Do in Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Indianapolis
🦈 Hunt for Fossil Shark Teeth
Venice calls itself the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, and it earns the title. Walk the shoreline near the Venice Fishing Pier and Caspersen Beach, look along the tide line for small, shiny black triangles, and you’ll go home with a pocketful of fossils that are millions of years old. Read my Shark Tooth guide.
🛶 Paddle With the Dolphins
Launch a kayak into calm backwaters, mangrove tunnels and the Intracoastal, and don’t be surprised when a dolphin surfaces beside you. Kayak Krazy: where to rent, launch and paddle.
🌅 Watch the Sun Go Down Over the Gulf
Our beaches face west, so every clear evening ends with a show. Locals bring a chair, applaud the sunset and head to dinner. The best sunset spots.
🟢 Catch the Green Flash
On a clear evening with a flat horizon, the last sliver of sun can flash green for a second. Sunset regulars keep score. How to see the green flash.
🧺 Have a Beach Picnic
Pack a cooler, grab takeout from a downtown favorite and spread a blanket on the sand. The perfect beach picnic: what to pack.
🏰 Build a Sandcastle
The name of my team isn’t an accident. Wet sand, a bucket and a little patience is all it takes. Step-by-step sandcastle guide.
🐚 Go Shelling
An early-morning walk after a breezy night turns up shells of every shape and color. Shelling on the Gulf Coast.
🐕 Take Your Dog to the Beach
Brohard Paw Park gives your dog a Gulf beach of its own, sandy paws and all. A Beach for Your Dog.
🦅 Spot Eagles, Dolphins and More
I took this photo of a bald eagle cruising the surf for breakfast off Casey Key. Dolphins, ospreys, pelicans and herons are everyday neighbors here. Sarasota County wildlife guide.
🚲 Ride the Trails
Bikes and e-bikes are everywhere, twelve months a year, from beach paths to the Legacy Trail. Cycling in Venice.
🏓 Play Pickleball
Public courts, clubs and community play make it easy to find a game and a new group of friends. Venice pickleball.
🎾 Play Tennis Outdoors All Year
No indoor bubble needed. Clubs, public courts and tennis neighborhoods keep the game going in January. Venice tennis.
🎃 Enjoy October, the Locals’ Favorite Month
The heat breaks, the crowds haven’t arrived and the Gulf is still warm. Ask any local: this is the sweet spot. October in Venice.
Ready to Trade the Snow Shovel for Sunsets?
If you are picturing your life here, start with the lifestyle, then find the neighborhood that fits it. I can help with both, from beach-close condos to golf communities and newer neighborhoods in Wellen Park and Nokomis.
Bill Garrison & The Sandcastle Group · RE/MAX Palm Realty · Venice, FL
