ABOUT VENICE ISLAND Venice is located in Southwest Florida, about ten miles south of Sarasota along the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico. Recently featured in Coastal Living magazine as the "Mediterranean Mayberry," Venice Island offers a friendliness level and relaxed lifestyle beyond compare. Downtown Venice is actually an island surrounded by the Intracoastal Waterway to the west and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Surrounded by pristine snow-white beaches and a picturesque palm tree-lined town center, Venice has been named one of the best cities to retire in the United States. Visitors from all over travel to Venice to explore the spectacular bays and beaches and charming, historic town center. BACK IN TIME Venice was founded by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in 1926. The BLE hired renowned city planner, John Nolan, to plan the city of Venice. A famous landscape architect, Prentiss French, was also appointed to create the appealing open spaces in the city. The Northern Italian Renaissance architectural theme was chosen and a town of grace and beauty began to grow along the golden sands and blue-green waters. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE There are many opportunities to relax with fourteen miles of Gulf of Mexico beachfront, five major public beaches, fine shelling, fossilized sharks' tooth hunting, sunning, swimming, boating, fishing, and more than a dozen public parks. New to the City of Venice, the Venetian Waterway Park offers miles of paved and beautifully landscaped sidewalk trails along the Intracoastal Waterway. Nature lovers also can enjoy birdwatching at Oscar Scherer State Park or go canoeing down the Myakka River. Other recreational activities include more than a dozen golf courses and eight municipal tennis courts lighted for night play. Local arts include a community theater, art center, opera and theater guilds, symphony orchestra, and two outstanding libraries. Venice's historic district is filled with gorgeous Mediterranean Revival and Northern Italian architecture, charming gift shops, boutiques, antique stores, and many restaurants and coffee houses. CLOSE TO EVERYTHING This perfect location is close to numerous Florida "hot spots." We are about a 15-45 minute drive to Sarasota attractions including: Asolo Center for the Performing Arts, Crowley Museum & Nature Center, Mote Marine Aquarium, Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Selby Botanical Gardens and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center. About an hour drive north, you can enjoy popular Tampa favorites including The Florida Aquarium, Adventure Island, Busch Gardens, Museum of Science and Industry and Salvador Dali Museum. We are approximately an hour and a half to Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios. Make Venice Island your home away from home! LINKS Venice Information: www.everythingvenice.com Venice Chamber of Commerce: www.venicechamber.com State of Florida Travel Planning: www.flausa.com/ National Weather Service: www.nws.noaa.gov Directions: www.mapquest.com YMCA: www.veniceymca.com Venice Public Tennis Courts: www.venice-fla.com/tennis.htm Area Golf Courses: www.quickbase.com/db/77qczs3p?a=q+qid=7 3 Championship Golf Courses: www.golfinvenice.com Venice Little Theater: www.venicestage.com Venice Gondolier Sun www.venicegondolier.com Sharky's on the Pier www.sharkysonthepier.com The Crow's Nest www.CrowsNest-Venice.com Southwest Airlines www.southwest.com