Florida

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

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.

Sarasota Balloon Festival March 8 – 11

Birgit Laniewski Event, Family , , , , , , , ,
Balloon Festival Sarasota

Sarasota’s biggest event for the whole family!

On March 8 – 11, Sarasota will have a hot air balloon festival! The event  will take place on Lakewood Ranch, about 30 miles North of our vacation home in Venice, Villa Happy Gator and is a combination of mass balloon ascents, competition flying, static displays and tethered rides.

In addition to balloon activities the event features a large carnival, entertainment on stage, retail vendors, food vendors, an arts and crafts area plus many more activities for a family day out. Admission will be free.

More Info.

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

Drum Circle at Nokomis Beach

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Event, Family, Kids, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Drum Circle

Every Wednesday and Saturday Evening there is the traditional drum event at Nokomis Beach, a casual gathering of drummers, musicians and people from all over the world that want to have some fun.

Join this unique event, that is taking place for decades and enjoy sharing this special time with family and friends. Best is to bring a blanket and beach chairs.

The Nokomis Beach Drum Circle is taking place at 100 Casey Key Rd, Nokomis, FL 34275 – only a 20 minutes drive from our Pool Villa Happy Gator in Venice.

Read more on ospreynokomisflorida.com/events/nokomis-beach-drum-circle/.

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup

Rothenbach Park in Sarasota – only ½ hour from Venice Florida

Birgit Laniewski Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Rothenbach Park Sarasota

This beautiful community park with about five miles of paved recreational trails that are perfect for walking, jogging, or cycling is only a short 30 minutes drive away from our lovely pool vacation home Villa Happy Gator in Venice (VillaHappyGator.com).

2 playground areas are very much loved by the little ones. Runners, walkers and bikers enjoy 2 loop trails around a lake through tropical vegetation. You will see a lot of wildlife, even an alligator lives in the lake.

Rothenbach Park was built on an old county dump and is a true example of “recreational recycling”.

Address: 8650 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34241

A Paradise for Bird Lovers: Venice Area Audubon Society

Birgit Laniewski Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , ,
Venice Area Audubon Rookery

Our Rookery is a true insider tip for all bird lovers. It is freely open to all visitors from dawn to dusk every day of the year.

The Rookery island’s deep lake is small enough so that from the shaded pavilion benches you hardly need binoculars for a clear view of the birds. Tangled invasive plants have been replaced by Florida-friendly vegetation so you can easily walk around the edge of the lake and watch bird activity on all sides of the island.

During nesting months (usually beginning in December and lasting through May), daytime activity includes Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Anhingas, Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibises, Green Herons, Tricolored Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons busily building or enhancing nests, courting, incubating eggs, and raising chicks.

The Rookery is located 4002 S Tamiami Trail via, Annex Rd. Please have a look at the fantastic website of The Venice area Audubon Society: http://veniceaudubon.org/

 

Travel Tip created by Birgit in association with Vacation Soup