Venice Beach, located in Seminole County in the southwestern region of Florida, draws tourists to its six acres of beaches, coral reef scuba diving, Warm Mineral Springs, and the quaint Main Street area. If you're looking for more diverse recreation or want to see some natural Florida habitat, you can head to one of Venice Beach's nearby state parks located in its own Sarasota County or in neighboring Manatee and Charlotte Counties.
Western Seminole County
In western Seminole County, on the west side of Interstate 75, Oscar Scherer State Park is located about 10 minutes from the city of Venice and provides a variety of recreational activities for visitors. You can enjoy hiking and bicycling along 15 miles of trails or go fishing, canoeing or kayaking on South Creek or swimming in Lake Osprey. Campgrounds with full facilities are available. Nature lovers will particularly enjoy sightings of the Florida scrub-jay, an endangered species that lives only in Florida.
Eastern Seminole County
East of I-75 in eastern Seminole County, Myakka River State Park is, according to Florida State Parks, one of the oldest and biggest parks in the state of Florida. Located 22 miles from Venice Beach, the park is a varied natural habitat rich in wildlife, featuring the Myakka River, a Florida Wild and Scenic River, and prairies, pinelands and wetlands. If you'd like to take in the scenic wildlife, you can walk along a boardwalk that goes over the Upper Myakka Lake and then a canopied walkway. If you're looking to get active in the water, you can enjoy canoeing and kayaking in the river and in two lakes in the park. On land, you can go hiking on prairie trails. Other activities include boating, fishing and tours of the lake on airboats. Camping is also available in fully equipped and primitive sites and even in palm-log cabins.
Charlotte State Park
Stump Pass State Park, located about a half-hour from Venice in Charlotte County, lies along the Gulf of Mexico and features an undeveloped beach. You can enjoy swimming throughout the year or you can hike along a trail through various wildlife habitats. If you like the outdoors and want to get close to Florida's wildlife, Stump Pass State Park is an ideal spot, with viewings possible of manatees, gopher tortoises and a variety of birds. Guided nature and turtle walks are also given during the summer.
Manatee County
In Manatee County, east of the city of Bradenton, located about 35 miles from Venice, Lake Manatee State Park is an ideal destination for active people, especially for those who like water sports. Lake Manatee doesn't actually offer sightings of manatees, due to a dam that separates it from the Manatee River, but you can still enjoy swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing and picnicking. There is also a campground with full facilities.
When to Go
With hot and humid summers and a temperate winter climate, Venice Beach and its surrounding state parks are suitable to visit throughout the year. Hurricane season extends from the beginning of June through the end of November, and thunderstorms take place nearly every day during the summer. If you visit Venice Beach's nearby state parks during the summer, bring protective rain gear and stay informed of tropical storm and hurricane forecasts.
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