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.