6 Best Sights in Venice, The Tampa Bay Area

This is a good beach for nature lovers and a great spot if you are looking for a tranquil stretch of beach. The park contains about 60 acres of Gulf-to-bay land. If you're up for a hike, check out the short nature trail on-site, and keep an eye out for the Hermitage House, one of the oldest structures in the area. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Sarasota County's largest park is known for its fossil finds. Amenities: playground; showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

This beach is popular with teenagers, although beachgoers of all ages frequent it. Though it attracts crowds, it's easy to find your own patch of beach. Parking can be tough on busy weekends. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; swimming.

Consisting of both Gulf and Intracoastal Waterway frontage, this beach is best reached on foot from Caspersen Beach. By road, it's a lot less direct. Features include a boardwalk, boat launch, and picnic shelters. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

This beach is on the island just north of Venice Beach, across the pass near North Jetty Park. It's frequented more by sunbathing retirees than young partiers. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

At the south end of Casey Key, this beach is a favorite for family outings and fishermen. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.