Venice Florida Shopping – Venice Ave Shops

While in Florida we took advantage of the nice weather and hit the shops on Venice Ave which is on the Island in downtown Venice.

 

Venice Florida Shopping – Venice Ave Shops

First a few questions I have gotten about the Venice area. 

What is Venice Florida like?

This is a beach city where the average age of year-round residents is 65. It' just south of Tampa and makes a cheaper place to stay and still take in the Sarasota and Tampa areas. 

What is Venice Florida known for?

Venice is known as the shark tooth capital of the world. Megladon teeth have been found in swimming distance of the shore over the last year and the beaches always have massive amounts of sharks teeth especially after a storm. 

Venice Avenue is known as the outdoor shopping area with the Italian Renaissance buildings and Mediterranean-style shops lined with the massive palm trees down the street. 

Let's take in a bit more of all that Venice Ave has to offer! 

These shops include the streets to the right and left of Venice Ave as well, Miami Ave and Tampa Ave. They have all sorts of events on all 3 streets the biggest being their Christmas Lights and events. 

There are several parking lots but on-street parking is always easier to find on either Miami or Tampa ave and then walk over via many of the walkways like this one that was dedicated to the Doctors of the city. 

 

The plaque line the walkway between Miami and Venice Ave between the shops. They tell the stories of the earlier Doctors of the area back when Florida was still very much a wild untamed land this far south. 

 

If people-watching is your thing then these streets are set up for it! 

This a covered outdoor dining area on Miami Ave. You can enjoy the fresh air and people watch but still stay out of the harsh Florida sun. 

Heading over to the main area of Venice Ave the first this you will see is the street is lined with massive palm trees. 

They really use these trees for their Christmas lights and decor it's a sight to see! 

 

Related: 11 of the Absolute Best Places to View Manatees in Florida

Many of the shops have a beachy theme that carries all the way outside like with this one. 

You probably know from our visit to Weeki Wachee and seeing the Mermaids there that my girls LOVe mermaids. Venice Ave has plenty of them and they love hunting and trying to spot as many as possible. 

I also spotted several of the shops with fair trade signs like this one in them. 

Related: How to Enjoy the SouthWest Florida Weather

Make sure you even just window shop! There are so many unique items many of them hand made like my Dad's Candle and bath and body shop on Venice Avenue, Smoky Mountain Handmade Candles. You can get candles, bath and body products, and essentials oils here. All items are handmade over in Englewood Florida at their shop there. 

 

Another great handmade item I found was this soda pop top purse!

 

They have quite a few restaurants that allow you to eat outdoors as well. In fact, when we walked to the shops we ate at one of these restaurants. We chose to eat indoors because it was a bit colder. Ristorante San Marco was amazing and highly recommended.

Another must stop at on the street is the Venice Creamery. We have made many a nighttime ice cream run here! Not only do they have great ice cream but you MUST try their chocolate covered key lime pie… on a stick!

One more super cute item I found after walking my meal and dessert off was this fish light! 

 

Have you done some Venice Florida Shopping at the  Venice Ave Shops? I'd love to hear what goodies you found in the comment below!