Discover Venice 2021-2022

Venice Beach Pavilion The pavilion is an iconic Venice landmark, along with the beach concession area and restroom facilities. It was built in 1964. The pavilion provides a place to chill after being in the hot sun. The beaches along Venice are home to a large number of sea turtle nests between the months of May and October. The pavilion has a hyperbolic paraboloid shape and, according to a historical marker, appears to defy gravity. PHOTO BY ED SCOTT Dining out? Answer is multiple choice Reel in the Captain Sharky's Platter (fried gulf shrimp, fried North Atlantic scallops and fried Gulf grouper) at Sharky's on the Pier or dine on Florida stone crab at Fins at Sharky's. Sharky's is premium "basket food" while Fin's is "a little bit more upscale" but with casual clothing, says an employee. You can put sunscreen on before dinner and take a romantic walk on the Gulf of Mexico afterward. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARKY'S Downtown Venice dining Over time, it's become a dining destination. But the pandemic did not slam the brakes because dining outdoors on West Venice Avenue already was a "thing" in Venice. From Made In Italy to Trattoria Da Mino, with Cassariano Italian Eatery in between, there are plenty of places to park your palate. PHOTO PROVIDED BY NIKKI CALLEGARI Jetty Jack's Refreshment Deck In 2021, if you want to learn about a dining establishment, log on to social media. A Tripadvisor user wrote, "Jetty Jacks was the perfect alternative (to fancy restaurants). Super friendly staff, really good food at affordable prices and free drink refills. Serenaded by a great guitar player named Mark while we ate and watched the boats go by. … Will for sure be return customers next time in Venice." Another person who posted a comment liked hearing the Gulf waves. PHOTO BY ED SCOTT Jelks Preserve A best-kept-secret in South County. Jelks Preserve offers a fishing pier, hiking trails, a pet-friendly park, picnic facilities and lots of space for watching birds and other wildlife. The preserve is bordered on the west by River Road and on the east by the Myakka River. They say that journalists can't do math, but can they count? I walked 1,108 comfortable steps between the picnic table at River Road and the one at the river. PHOTO BY ED SCOTT 2021-2022 DISCOVER VENICE 9

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