Three hours from Gainesville along the Gulf coast lies the town of Venice Florida, the Shark Tooth Capital of the World.
On any given day you can find people with sifters wandering the beaches of Venice looking for prehistoric sharks teeth.
Caspersen Beach in Venice seems to be a favorite for this activity.
If you are not into digging up fossils, no worries. The soft white sands of Venice beaches beckon all types of beach-goers. Shelling is really good in Venice. I personally think it rivals Sanibel Island in that regard.
Stroll along the streets of downtown Venice, enjoying its shops and restaurants. The town regularly hosts all types of festivals, including — wait for it — the Sharks Tooth Festival every spring.
Do you like to fish? An early morning jaunt to Sharky’s Pier is a lot of fun. Sightings of sea turtles and dolphins are common. Plus the fishing’s not too bad either. Best of all, fishing from Sharky’s Pier is free.
Looking for some good food? Check out Sharky’s on the Pier — excellent seafood and fun mixed drinks, all overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. What more could you ask for?
The Venice area has strong ties to the circus, and was the winter quarters for Ringling Brothers for many years. There is even a trapeze park in Venice, part of the old circus grounds. Trapeze camps are regularly held at the park, so if that’s your thing, that is the place to be!
Venice is one of our favorite weekend trips because of its beauty and because there is so much to see and do in the area.
If you live in Gainesville, definitely put Venice on your “places to go” list.
