Weekend in Venice

Sunset dinner at Crow's Nest Restaurant, Tavern & Marina (1968 Tarpon Center Drive), Venice’s classic waterfront table with gulf-facing marina views and a 4.3-star rating across more than 2,500 reviews. Order the local catch as the sun drops over the water.

Drive over to the Venice Performing Arts Center (1 Indian Avenue) for A Ghoulish Gathering, The Venice Symphony’s Friday night concert at 7:30 PM, a playful kickoff to the spooky season.

A late walk down West Venice Avenue, where the historic downtown lights and the Gulf breeze make the short drive home feel like part of the night out.

The Venice Farmers Market runs every Saturday, 8 AM-1 PM on the west side of Venice City Hall (401 West Venice Avenue): produce, seafood, baked goods, artisan crafts, and live music. October is when the market shifts to its fall and winter hours.

Grab coffee and a pastry from a downtown cafe and wander the boutiques along Venice Avenue as the morning warms up.

Head to the water: Venice Beach is a short drive from the market, with the retro sail pavilion and the long fishing pier waiting for the afternoon.

Afternoon at Venice Beach (101 The Esplanade South): sift the dark grit line where the waves turn over for fossilized shark teeth, the reason this stretch is the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Free parking at the pavilion lot and lifeguards on duty daily.

Walk the long wooden Venice Fishing Pier, where anglers, pelicans, and sunset watchers share the rail at the Gulf’s edge.

Happy hour at Sharky's on the Pier (1600 Harbor Drive South), the beachfront tiki bar at the pier’s base with live music steps from the sand.

Brunch at Blu' Island Bistro (625 South Tamiami Trail), a 4.6-star favorite for its island-style decor and generous plates a few minutes from downtown.

A slow walk through the Venice Historic District: century-old homes shaded by oaks and the quiet streets that make Venice feel like a small town that time forgot.

Last stop: the Venice Train Depot on East Venice Avenue, a restored 1927 train station that tells the story of the town’s founding, before heading home.