Named one of the “Happiest Seaside Towns in America” by Coastal Living in 2015, Venice is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets. Leading visitors straight to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean-influenced city welcomes you with a charming main street that is lined with boutique shops, restaurants, and 1920s-style homes.
With shady lanes, manicured boulevards and 14 miles of white sand beaches that stretch from Casey Key to Manasota Key, it’s easy to see why this area is a family favorite. You’ll find plenty of recreational opportunities to indulge in on a warm sunny day, such as swimming, sunbathing and boating, but the area is actually famous for one activity you won’t find anywhere else in Florida.
A former fishing and farming community, Venice is now known as the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.” Located just south of Sarasota, this picturesque vacation destination is where families go on an adventure to not only play in the idyllic surf but go on an exciting hunt for prehistoric shark teeth.
On any given day, visitors can be seen with rakes and shovels, sifting the sand for treasures that date to a prehistoric era when 52-foot sharks prowled the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
How is it possible to find fossil sharks’ teeth on the beaches of Venice that date back millions of years? Well, there are 370 varieties of sharks with several parallel rows of teeth that fall out and are replaced by a new row growing behind it as fast as a week or two. What this means is that a single shark can produce as many as 25,000 teeth in its lifetime.
While Venice is home to a long list of notable beaches, if you’re set on taking home a shark tooth souvenir, you’re best bet is to head to the rock outcrops along the 177-acre Caspersen Park Beach on the south side of the city. The breaking of the waves here gathers the sharks’ teeth in concentrated areas, making them easier to find.
When you’ve had your fill of shark tooth hunting in Venice, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to fill your itinerary. You can also spend your day shopping in the downtown area, fishing off the Venice Pier, or taking a scenic bike ride around the Venetian Waterway Trail. Wrap up your day with a plate of fresh seafood at the famous Sharky’s on the Pier Restaurant, which you’ll find pairs perfectly with one of Venice’s notably spectacular sunsets.
