VacationSoup

Best Beaches of SW Florida: Stump Pass Beach Englewood

Birgit Laniewski Beaches, Family, Kids, Nature, Sports, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , ,
Stump-Pass-Beach-1

You can fall in love with this beach. Stump Pass Beach State Park is located on Manasota Key, about 20 minutes south of your vacation home Villa Happy Gator. Plan a whole day, so that you can fully enjoy the beach and nature of this beautiful place.

The state park is very well maintained. Ample parking, restrooms, shower facilities and pavilions for barbecue are provided.

Best is to discover the park on foot. Numerous small paths and boardwalks lead to the end of the park at the southern tip of Manasota Key. The further you go from the parking lot, the less people you will meet. Pay attention to the numerous bays. You may be lucky and see manatees or a few dolphins playing offshore. From May to October, you will also find nests of sea turtles, which are always clearly marked by animal friends.

If you like, you can rent kayaks or explore the area with a stand-up paddleboard. For info go to Hookedonsup.com.

For information about the State Park, visit the official FloridaStateParks.org website.

 

Stump-Pass-Beach-EntranceV

Oscar Scherer’s 29th Annual Earth Day – April 21 – Oscar Scherer Statepark Osprey FL

Birgit Laniewski Event, Family, Kids, Nature, Venice Florida , , , , , , , , , ,
Oscar Scherer State Park

Celebrate Earth Day in the great outdoors of Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey.

Enjoy a day full of planned, fun family-oriented activities like live music, earth friendly food vendors, tram tours and kayaking. There will be a photo contest & exhibit and some guided hikes.

Oscar Scherer’s 29th Annual Earth Day will be Sat. April 21st. Free Event 10:00 – 4:00. Check back on their website for more information and beginning April 1st see 22 days with 22 ways to help the environment with a random winner each day and a top winner announced at the festival.

The park is over 1,380 acres in size, with 15 miles of nature walks and a 3 acre fresh-water lake, Lake Osprey, where you can rent canoes and kayaks as well. And there’s a playground for the kids.

Make sure to get a list of the day’s schedule and activities when you stop at the ranger booth at the entrance.

Oscar Scherer State Park
1843 S Tamiami Trail
Osprey FL 34229
941.483.5956

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