Resources
Resources for exploring the area
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Exploring Venice
Thanks to the Intracoastal Waterway, Venice is on an island and has a broad beachfront right at the end of Venice Avenue. Trails parallel the Intracoastal along a greenway called Venetian Waterway Park.
Both the commercial and residential districts on the island have a 1920s vibe, with heavy tree canopy and planned green spaces, including an arboretum. It is a very walkable community.
Venice is also a favorite of cyclists thanks to both the Venetian Waterway Park and the Legacy Trail, which stretches north to Sarasota from the historic train depot.
The Legacy Trail follows the route which the Ringling Brothers circus trains took to bring the circus to Venice each winter.
Beyond the suburbia that stretches east of the island, a string of natural lands protect much of the waterfront of the Myakka River in the region.
Nearly all of these conservation properties have trail systems, with Myakka River State Forest having the largest at more than 40 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
Trails and Parks near Venice
Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park A popular recreation destination for local residents, Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park also encompasses significant uplands along Oyster Creek.
Big Slough Preserve Adjoining Carlton Reserve, Myakka River State Park, and Walton Reserve, Big Slough Preserve provides a vast space for wildlife to roam north of North Port.
Carlton Reserve Less than a dozen miles from downtown Venice, the vast expanse of T. Mabry Carlton Reserve provides regional drinking water and a massive refuge for wildlife. 
Carlton Reserve Hiking Trails Explore open prairies, wetlands, and pine flatwoods on a series of nested loop trails within the vast expanse of Carlton Reserve north of Venice.
Caspersen Beach Park The southernmost beach in Venice, Caspersen Beach is best known for its bounty of fossil shark's teeth, which people scoop and stoop to dig out of the sand.
Cedar Point Environmental Park Where Oyster Creek flows into Lemon Bay, Cedar Point Environmental Park protects a spectrum of coastal habitats along a wildlife-rich peninsula ready for exploration on foot. 
Curry Creek Preserve East Amid expanding suburbia in Venice, this 71-acre island of botanical delights circled by a 1.6 mile loop buffers wildflower-rich longleaf pine flatwoods along a mangrove-lined stream.
Deer Creek Prairie Preserve Part of a complex of public lands protecting the Myakka River and its tributaries, Deer Creek Prairie Preserve blankets over 7,300 acres between Venice and North Port. 
Duisberg Nature Trail On Manasota Key at Blind Pass, south of Venice, the Fred Duisberg Nature Trail is a gentle meander on boardwalks through a mangrove forest along Lemon Bay to a scenic overlook.
Gordon Smith Memorial Trail A short and scenic loop trail on easy terrain, the Gordon Smith Memorial Trail showcases mesic flatwoods, a predominant ecosystem in Myakka State Forest.
Historic Spanish Point A prominent peninsula in Little Sarasota Bay at Osprey, Historic Spanish Point fascinates with its layer cake of Florida’s past, both human and floral.
Jelks Preserve Offering scenic views of wild shores along the Myakka River, this hike at Jelks Preserve makes a big loop along the trail system to immerse you in a variety of habitats.
Lake Osprey Trail Central to trailhead access at Oscar Scherer State Park, the Lake Osprey Trail is an accessible loop around artesian-fed waters behind the nature center.
Legacy Trail North Port Connector Connecting the Legacy Trail in Venice to North Port, this 5.6 mile linear trail with parking at both ends provides a stellar destination for nature walks along a paved path. 
Lemon Bay Park Explore the edges of Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve in this Sarasota County Park with more than 4 miles of trails - including accessible trails - winding through coastal habitats.
Lester Finley Trail A gentle barrier-free nature trail, the Lester Finley Trail along South Creek is an excellent starting point to explore natural habitats within Oscar Scherer State Park. 
Manasota Scrub Preserve A Sarasota County preserve established for the Florida scrub-jay, Manasota Scrub Preserve has a 1.5 mile loop in 145 acres of scrubby flatwoods.
Myakka State Forest Along the southwestern Gulf Coast of Florida, Myakka State Forest offers an extensive trail network along the Myakka River basin, with tent camping under the stars.
Myakka State Forest North Loop Winding across open prairies of palmettos, the North Loop Trail at Myakka State Forest offers views of pine flatwoods and glimpses of the Myakka River.
Myakka State Forest South Loop Circling vast prairies amid pine flatwoods and depression marshes, the South Loop in Myakka State Forest provides a sense of perspective along the Myakka River basin. 
Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park Along a 2.1 mile loop largely under a lush canopy of live oaks and cabbage palms, circle a deeply eroded basin holding sinuous Myakkahatchee Creek, also known as Big Slough. 
Oscar Scherer Green Trail At the southern edge of Oscar Scherer State Park, this sandy loop meanders across scrubby flatwoods and along the shaded banks of South Creek. 
Oscar Scherer State Park A stronghold for Florida scrub-jays north of Venice, Oscar Scherer State Park is an important island of biodiversity in an increasingly overdeveloped region. 
Oscar Scherer Yellow Trail On this 4.8 mile loop through expansive scrub and flatwoods, discover hidden streams, ancient trees, and great birding at Big Lake.
Oyster Creek Environmental Park Along the northern shore of a mangrove-lined creek, Oyster Creek Environmental Park offers gentle hiking trails with interpretive stops beneath old-growth slash pines.
Pinelands Reserve Near the outskirts of Venice, a county preserve presents an easy loop trail meandering through South Florida pine flatwoods habitat.
Red Bug Slough Preserve Walk beneath a mature live oak canopy along the rim of a protected waterway within the heart of residential Sarasota.
Scherer Thaxton Preserve A system of multiuse trails traverses increasingly wild environments, circling an artificial lake to enter pine flatwoods habitat extending into adjacent Oscar Scherer State Park.
Shamrock Park The southern terminus for a greenway spanning from Sarasota to Venice, Shamock Park is a draw for birders with its resident Florida scrub-jays.
Sleeping Turtles Preserve North Named for a feature on old navigational maps, Sleeping Turtles Preserve North provides great views of the Myakka River from its bluffs. 
Sleeping Turtles Preserve South Where subdivisions now occupy a formerly sleepy rural corner of Venice, Sleeping Turtles Preserve South provides a haven for wildlife along the Myakka River floodplain. 
South Creek Nature Trail Delight in scenic views and lush vegetation along this well-worn footpath along the bluffs of South Creek at Oscar Scherer State Park.
Stump Pass Beach State Park At the south tip of Manasota Key, Stump Pass Beach State Park sits at just the right angle to collect seashells like a scoop, so early risers have great shelling
The Legacy Trail Connecting Venice and Sarasota, one of Florida's finest paved trails provides a corridor for biking and hiking along a historic railroad line.
Venetian Waterway Park Featuring concrete paths on both sides of the Venetian Waterway, this linear trail system provides breezy waterfront views along the length of Venice.