Top 3 Beaches in Venice, Florida

Plan an escape to the sunny shores of the Gulf of Mexico while avoiding crowds at these top three beaches in Venice, Florida. It is just off the beaten path enough to invite serenity, yet still just a short drive to major attractions. Avoid spring break beer bashes and commercialized stretches of sand while searching for ocean glass and shark's teeth. Venice boasts the unofficial title of "Shark's Tooth Capital of the World" and makes every attempt to live up to the moniker. Children can wander about freely on Venice beaches and your four-legged family members can enjoy the getaway too.

1-Casperson Beach offers far more than amazing views and pristine white sand. If you are an avid shell hunter, this is the place to when vacationing in Venice. A portion of the beach is a private space reserved for guests at the artist's retreat, but there are a bevy of perfectly formed shells and shark's teeth scattered about the entire area. Ocean glass is a natural trash-to-treasure wonder which washes up onto the beach and hides among the colorful seaweed. Due to the influx of plastic bottles and non-glass items found on boats, ocean glass is quickly becoming a rare find. For hundreds of years shipwrecks and the nasty habit of littering created a dearth of broken glass in the gulf waters. The natural erosion of the glass due to the salt water causes it to become somewhat glazed and smooth. Artist bent over searching for ocean glass to use in jewelry making and sculptures are a frequent sight on Casperson Beach.

2- The North Jerry is popular with both anglers and locals seeking the best view of passing dolphins. You can walk down the lengthy ground-level pier and cast a line or gain the ultimate vantage point for taking photos of romping dolphins. Small hammer-head sharks frequent the end of the pier in search of excess bait dumped by anglers at the end of the day. If you look down closely, especially on the left side of the pier, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the darting sharks. Dolphin pods typically swim near the North Jetty around 4 p.m. When you visit the jetty, make sure to come with an appetite. A beachside hot dog stand sells "belly buster" franks which are incredibly tasty and a meal in itself.

3- Brohard Park, also commonly referred to as "Paw Beach" is a haven for vacationers traveling with pets. You dogs can run leash-free once inside the entry gates and play on the sand or swim in the water. Pet owners are very courteous and never leave any warm and squishy stuff for others to step in at Brohard Park. What began as a trial has now grown so much in popularity than a bike path and beach pavilion was built adjacent to "Paw Beach" to accommodate the crowd and provide additional parking. Do not forget to pack a water bowl, fresh water is available inside the park entrance. It is not advisable to open a bag of treats, unless you brought enough for the fifty other dogs who will run rapidly in your direction once they catch the scent.