Things to Do in Venice, Nokomis and Osprey
Fossil shark teeth, a 1920s planned downtown and quiet beaches in the south county.
See top-rated activities »About Venice
Venice calls itself the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, and a walk along its beaches explains why. Fossil teeth, most of them small and black, wash out of ancient deposits offshore and collect along the waterline, especially after storms. Caspersen Beach, south of town, is the favorite spot for serious hunters, who bring long-handled sand sifters; Venice Beach and the area around the Venice Fishing Pier are easier for families. The town celebrates the hobby every April with the Venice Sharks Tooth Festival.
The town itself was planned in the 1920s by a railway union, with tree-lined boulevards and buildings in a northern Italian style. Venice Avenue, the main street, is lined with shops, cafes and galleries and is pleasant to walk in the evening. The restored 1927 train depot east of downtown is the southern starting point of the Legacy Trail, a paved path for walkers and cyclists that runs north to downtown Sarasota and east toward North Port.
North of Venice, Nokomis Beach sits on Casey Key next to North Jetty Park, where anglers fish the inlet and the sunset crowd gathers on the rocks. The rest of Casey Key is a narrow, mostly residential island with a winding road and very little public parking. In Osprey, Historic Spanish Point preserves prehistoric shell mounds, a pioneer homestead and the gardens of Chicago socialite Bertha Palmer on Little Sarasota Bay, now as a campus of Selby Gardens. Oscar Scherer State Park, nearby, protects scrub habitat for the Florida scrub-jay and has trails and a swimming lake.
Venice also makes an easy base for a quieter Gulf Coast stay. The downtown sits on an island formed by the Intracoastal Waterway, so beach hotels, condominiums and Venice Avenue are a short bike ride apart, and through traffic stays on the mainland. Anglers fish the jetties and the pier year-round, and the shallow bays behind Casey Key are popular with kayakers looking for wading birds and manatees in the warmer months.
Don’t Miss
The best-known shark tooth beach in the county, with a natural shoreline and a nature trail behind the dunes.
A long public pier at Brohard Park, fully reopened in 2025 after storm repairs, popular for fishing and sunsets.
Venice Avenue’s shops and restaurants, Centennial Park and Mediterranean-style 1920s buildings.
Neighboring Gulf beaches on Casey Key, with fishing from the jetty at Venice Inlet.
Shell middens, a pioneer homestead and Bertha Palmer’s gardens on the bay, run by Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
Scrub and pine flatwoods trails where Florida scrub-jays are often seen, plus a freshwater swimming lake.
A paved rail trail of about 30 miles linking Venice, downtown Sarasota and North Port.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Venice
Tours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Sarasota County may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Venice — FAQ
Where is the best place to find shark teeth in Venice?
Caspersen Beach is the most productive, especially early in the morning and after rough weather. Search the line of shell and gravel at the water’s edge, or rent or buy a sand sifter in town.
Can I take shark teeth home?
Yes. Fossil shark teeth found loose on Venice-area beaches can be kept. Leave live shells with animals inside on the beach.
How far is Venice from Sarasota?
About 20 miles, or 30 to 40 minutes by car on U.S. 41 or I-75. You can also bike between them on the Legacy Trail.
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