When I heard that I had family moving to Venice, Florida, my first thought was, “Where is that?”. I lived in St. Petersburg for a little bit, but Venice is not too much further south, but I had never heard of it. We visited one fall, and I was excited to explore a new place. What I found was a quiet beach town that suspiciously lacked the busyness that plagues other parts of the state. The secret is starting to get out, and I could see plenty of potential in this lovely little Florida town.

As we drove down, we mentally prepared ourselves for Tampa traffic. I have been stuck in completely stopped bummer-to-bummer situations more times than I can count, so we prepared for the worst. I was pleasantly surprised that we made it through without a single problem. We even passed the notorious malfunction junction like it was a breeze! I expected more of the same as we continued south, but once we got close to Venice, it was like we were all alone on the road. I had already started to like this town. 

We were staying with family, and the accommodations were more than I had hoped. The next morning, after breakfast, I was handed a helmet and expected to join the bike ride. I have never liked bike riding very much, but my wife loves it, so I wanted to be a good supporter and decided I would ride along too. I ended up loving it, and we rode miles around town that day. 

I heard somewhere that the best way to explore a new area is either on a bicycle or by walking. The principle is to slow down to appreciate the things that are around you, and I took in all of the sights as we rode. There were several little trails and pleasant parks we passed by and I could see the charm in this town everywhere I looked.

We eventually ended up at CoolToday Park, where the Atlanta Braves play during spring training. The place was pretty empty when we went, but I could imagine plenty of excited fans coming to get the first glimpse of the season in this gorgeous stadium. Not every city has an MLB team come to its own backyard, so this struck me as pretty special. 

Later, we visited Venice Beach, which really is the crown jewel of the town. This beautiful beach offers a relaxing retreat where you can leave the cares of the mainland behind as you soak up the sun and splash in the cool water. We took a walk and looked for shark teeth, a common find along the water’s edge. The gentle waves and soft sand are akin to many Florida beaches I have been on, and the feeling never gets old. We enjoyed the beach as the sun was setting, and there was nothing better than ending the day with a sunset on the Gulf of Mexico.

Venice, Florida, was a pleasant break from the norm for us as we visited the sunshine state again. Everything in the city seemed new and vibrant, with plenty of room to grow. I can easily see this place growing as time goes on. It is just a matter of time before people discover the gem this town really is. To try out this spot for yourself, check out this beautiful Venice Beach condo to stay right near the water. If you are looking for a good place to eat in town, then make sure to visit Snook Haven for some great BBQ.