Seniors Find a Paradise on the Gulf

It’s Florida, not Italy and this Venice is noted for its large snowbird population, kind of like Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun in Arizona. This Venice is located in Sarasota County and has a population of just over 20,000.

Ever see someone with a shark’s tooth necklace around their neck? Perhaps, just perhaps it came from Venice, the “Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World”. It hosts the Shark’s Tooth Festival in April each year to celebrate the abundance of fossilized shark’s teeth that can be found on its coastal shores, especially on Venice Municipal Beach.

Hunting for shark teeth sounds fun to me. The teeth may be black, brown, or gray, depending on the minerals in the soil in which they have been buried. They range in size from one eighth inch to three inches, and on rare occasions even larger. And get this, an average Tiger shark can produce as many as 24,000 teeth in something like ten years.

Seniors Enjoy White Sand Gulf Coast

Just south of Sarasota along Florida’s white-sanded Gulf Coast, Venice offers 14 miles of beaches from Casey Key to Manasota Key and plenty of recreational activities that includes swimming, sunbathing, fishing and boating. Venice is home to Stephen King and several other notables.

Venice has lots to offer senior visitors. The 700-foot long Fishing Pier at Brohard Park is a major attraction. There is a 10-mile long, 10-foot wide linear trail for walkers, joggers and bikers. TripAdvisor’s #1 attraction is the Venice Theatre. Make plans early to take in a show because they are constantly sold out of performances.

Caspersen Beach runs a close second for visitor popularity. It is a prime seashell-collecting spot with nature trails, canoeing and kayaking through coastal mangroves. Flanked by the Gulf of Mexico and northern Lemon Bay, Caspersen is 177 acres of cabbage palms, sea grapes and sea oats.

Senior visitors will discover free parking, picnic areas with two pavilions, a canopied playground, a paved and shelled walking/hiking/biking paths, restrooms, canoe/kayak launch and fitness park. 

 Seniors Flock To Warm Community

The local Chamber notes that Venice is a warm, friendly community. Whether seniors like shopping in the unique stores of the downtown Venice Main Street district or prefer golfing, boating, fishing, or just laying on the beach, the five community area of Osprey, Laurel, Nokomis, Venice and South Venice has it all.

They further note that you can experience the charm and splendor of Venice that has enchanted visitors for over a hundred years. “Just a short drive away from Florida’s themed attractions and cultural hot spots, Venice showcases the small town ambiance of Old Florida where shop owners know you by name and Friday nights mean hometown football games.”

Check out their Top 10 List of Things to Do in Venice and enjoy your visit -jeb