Venice Florida

Where to Eat in Venice: “Flapjacks Cafe” serves Breakfast and Lunch

Birgit Laniewski Family, Kids, Restaurants, Venice Florida , , , , , , , ,
Flapjacks Cafe Venice

Flapjacks Cafe is a favorite place for locals and visitors alike to meet and eat. Enjoy wonderful breakfast and lunch comfort food combined with excellent service.

Enter Flapjacks and find families sharing a meal, snowbirds laughing it up, locals joining  day in and day out to enjoy friendly conversation and good food, young adults on a breakfast date, business lunches stopping in for a breather, breakfast clubs trying new places, and multi- generational reunions catching up over some tasty treats.

Flapjacks Cafe is family owned and operated. For opening hours and menus please go to their webiste flapjackscafevenice.com.

 

Flapjacks Cafe Venice 2 Flapjacks Cafe Venice 3

 

Our Ferry to our South Venice Private Beach – Let us take you on a tour!

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Family, Kids, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , , , ,
Beach Ferry - YouTube Video

One of the best things about living in South Venice Florida is the acces to our Ferry to the Beach. It will take only a few minutes and you arrive in paradise. Miles of pristine beaches offer unspoilt nature. Far away from crowds, our South Venice Beach offers the ultimate beach experience.

Stay with us and the family pass for the Beach Ferry is free for you. Book your dream vacation today.

If you are interested in the history of our Beach Ferry, please reade more HERE.

Best Beaches of SW Florida: South Venice “Private Beach”

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , , , ,
South Venice Private Beach

Important Notice
Since the Association changed the rules for the Ferry Pass, we are sorry that we no longer are able to provide a pass for our guests (01.01.2021).

Come and visit our true piece of paradise! 3 miles of pristine beaches, natural landscape, and quiet surroundings are waiting for you to explore. Take a walk along the beach shoreline, look for some shells or find some of the world famous fossil shark teeth. Refresh yourself in the clear blue ocean, maybe do some snorkeling or paddling or simply relax at the beach and enjoy the calming atmosphere of this unspoilt piece of nature.

It is a fantastic feeling. Once you walk across the boardwalk from the ferry dock to the “private beach”, you are in a different world.

Read more about our “Private Beach” here.

006-Private Beach South Venice

Where to Eat in Venice: “Made in Italy” – Restaurant & Martini Bar

Birgit Laniewski Family, Restaurants, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Made in Italy Venice FL

Are you a lover of the authentic Italian cuisine? “Made in Italy” is the right place for you!

This  little Italian restaurant & martini bar is only serving the freshest ingredients. Guests enjoy homemade pastas & bread, wood burning pizza oven & delicious handcrafted cocktails.

The magnificent food and the excellent service truly deserve a 5 star rating. Be sure to reserve a table as “Made in Italy” is very popular. For a view of their menu go to their website madeinitaly-venice.com.

Made in Italy is located on 117 W Venice Ave Venice, Florida.

 

Made in Italy Venice FL

The Best Hiking Trails around Venice: Jelks Preserve

Birgit Laniewski Family, Kids, Nature, Sports, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Jelks Preserve Venice

This 614 acre preserve is bordering the wild and scenic Myakka River. While exploring the network of trails, you can see diverse natural communities including hammocks, pine flatwoods and seasonal wetlands and can observe gopher tortoises, swallowtail butterflies, songbirds and wildflowers.

Some trails meander through canopied hammocks, others are open and sunny. At three different locations there is a connection to the river. More than 8 miles of trails are provided and marked.

This beautiful nature preserve is only minutes away from our Villa Happy Gator on 2300 N River Road, Venice, FL 34292.

 

EGGSTRAVAGANZA Easter Egg Hunt in Venice – March 31 2018

Birgit Laniewski Event, Family, Kids, Venice Florida , , , , , , , ,
Eggstravaganza Venice 2018

For Easter fun with the whole family, head to Eggstravaganza in downtown Venice on March 31. Beginning is at 9:30 a.m.

Centennial Park in historic Downtown Venice is the place to be for free Easter egg hunts divided by age group, along with entertainment and photo options with the Easter Bunny himself, who will make a guest appearance to entertain the children.

Be sure to bring your basket for gathering!

This free annual event is presented by the Venice Lion’s Club and Venice MainStreet.
Get directions here.

 

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