Family

Best Beaches of SW Florida: Blind Pass Park Englewood

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , , ,
Blind Pass Englewood

Blind Pass Beach, also known as Middle Beach, is a real local secret and absolutely worth a visit. The natural beach is situated between Manasota Beach and Stump Pass Beach and offers almost 3000 feet of beautiful sandy coastline with lots of shells, the water is clear and emerald tinted. With some luck, you will find a sand dollar or a few of the famous fossil shark teeth.

Across the street on the bay side, a nice little nature trail is meandering through the mangrove forest.

There are clean restrooms with outside showers, a pavilion, picnic tables, a playground, boat ramps and a canoe launch. As with each Park in Sarasota County, parking is free!

Blind Pass Park is only a short 15 minutes drive away from our Villa Happy Gator.

More info at Sarasota County Website.

Blind Pass Park Englewood

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

Shark’s Tooth Festival 2018 – April 13-15 in Venice Florida

Birgit Laniewski Event, Family, Kids, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Shark's Tooth Festival

One of the best and biggest festivals of Venice is the annual Venice Shark’s Tooth Festival. It will be starting its 26st year in this spring.

Each year, fossil collectors from around the Southeast display and sell shark teeth and other prehistoric fossils. In addition, more than 100 artists from around Florida market their original work. Food vendors and live entertainments join the fun, along with kid-friendly events for families.

The Festival is held on the Venice Municipal Airport Festival Grounds on Airport Avenue, just a few minutes away from Villa Happy Gator.

Read more about how Venice became the Shark Tooth Capital of the World HERE.

shark-teeth collection

 

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

Best Beaches of SW Florida: Caspersen Beach Venice

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Caspersen Beach - Villa Happy Gator

Caspersen Beach is a beautiful, long sandy beach that has been left virtually untouched, in its natural state and somewhat secluded. With about 4 miles the longest beach in Sarasota County, it is the perfect place to enjoy unspoiled beauty far away from the crowds. Together with our South Venice Private Beach, Caspersen Beach is the number one spot to find the famous fossil shark teeth.

There is a nice short nature trail through a coastal hammock. The southern two thirds of beachfront were left in its natural state and offer a more secluded experience. A dune restoration system with walkovers helps preserve the shoreline. Other habitats here include freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangroves and tidal flats.

You will also find a 10 station outdoor fitness center, a couple of pavilions and a covered playground area for the kids. Restroom facilities have been updated and are modern and clean. As always on Sarasota County Beaches, parking is free.

How about spending a whole day with the family?

Caspersen Beach is a short 15 min drive away from our Villa Happy Gator.

Caspersen Beach
4100 Harbor Drive
Venice, FL 34285

Website

 

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

7th Annual Venice Book Fair and Writers Festival – March 23-24, 2018

Birgit Laniewski Event, Family, Kids, Venice Florida , , , , , , ,
Books in Venice Florida

The Venice Book Fair and Writers Festivel is a unique event for both writers and readers. Friday will be a day of presentations about writing and publishing and on Saturday writers sell and sign their books.

The Book Fair will take place from tents in Centennial Park, next to the Venice Farmers Market in downtown Venice and is FREE and open to the public. Hours are 9 am – 3 pm.

For more info such as a the agenda for the writer’s event on Friday and a list of joining authers please go to the Venice Book Fair website.

 

 

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

Water fun on catamarans – “Riding the Waves” in Englewood Florida

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , , ,
1-Riding-the-Waves-Tour

 

This is a great experience for the whole family: A guided boat tour of a very special kind. You can jet on two-seater catamarans through the magnificent coastal region, discover hidden dream beaches and meet dolphins.

Riding the Waves is a provider of small catamaran boat tours. Enjoy the freedom to steer your own boat across the water – safe, comfortable and fast. Trained guides will lead you and guide you through the wonderful nature of Southwest Florida. During the tour, which can take anywhere from 1 to 3.5 hours depending on the theme, you are connected with walkie-talkies.

The FloridaInside team tested the Coastal Cruising Eco Tour. Read the great report on blog.florida-inside.de. (Sorry, only in German)

For more information about Riding the Waves, visit ridingthewaves.net.

Riding the Waves is located about 10 miles south of your Villa Happy Gator vacation home in Venice, a good quarter of an hour away.

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

12th Annual Buchan Airport Fly-In on March 3, 2018

Birgit Laniewski Family, Kids, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Buchanan Airport Florida

This is a great opportunity to meet flying friends and fun for the whole family. Enjoy breakfast under a tent with quiche and pastry. There will also be a variety of vendors.

View vintage, experimental, homebuilt and general aviation aircraft and watch the planes take off & land!

Event starts at 9:00 am and will take place until 12:00 pm. Admission is free!

For more info please visit eventbrite.com.

Buchan Airport is located on 1390 Olde Englewood Road in Englewood, FL 34223, only a few minutes away from Villa Happy Gator in Venice, your 5-star vacation home.

 

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

Kids welcome! Families love our Vacation Home in Venice Florida

Birgit Laniewski Family, Kids, Venice Florida
Shamrock Park Venice

Kids welcome! Our Villa Happy Gator in Venice Florida is family friendly! Bring your little ones and know we provide everything for a perfect family holiday.

There is a foldable crib for infants up to 20 pounds, a bed rail, a modern highchair, toys and games, a safety fence around the pool with our much loved feature: a sunshelf! So great for toddlers to splash and paddle.

Kids love our “private beach” – our South Venice beach, a true piece of paradise and perfect for finding the world famous fossil shark teeth. You have access to this pristine beach with our beach ferry. Of course the pass to the ferry is included in the rent. We also provide beach toys, beach chairs, umbrellas, mats and cooler.

In Shamrock Park, only 10 minutes away from our Villa Happy Gator, there is a nice playground with a special toddler’s area.

Book Your Vacation in Venice Florida – Enjoy “Garden of Wonders”

Birgit Laniewski Event, Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Venice Arts Festival

Venice Florida is the perfect location for a perfect holiday: Miles of pristine beaches, close to shopping and nature parks and cozy cafés, bars and restaurants.

How about planning a stay in November and visit the Venice Chalk Festival November 9-12 with its motto “Garden of Wonders”? From start to finish, you can witness the largest gathering of renowned pavement artists perform using the road surface as a canvas to develop oversized masterpieces in chalk. (chalkfestival.org)

For your stay we recommend our Villa Happy Gator, a 5 star rated vacation home with gorgeous pool area and close to the beach, shopping and nature parks. Contact us and book your favorite time now! Still several openings in 2018.

Birgit, owner Villa Happy Gator in Venice Florida

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

Fossil Shark Teeth on Venice Florida Beaches

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Family, Kids, Venice Florida , , , , , , ,
Shark Teeth in Venice Florida

Venice Florida is the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World”. Nowhere else you will find so many of them so easily. Everything started 50 million years ago. Visit our site and learn interesting facts. Did you know that a shark can lose more than 10.000 teeth during his life? Read about the best beach for the hunt: VillaHappyGator.com.