When you care to venture out, the city of Venice has much to unveil. With some of the most pristine beaches in Florida located within minutes, the sun lover, shell collector and nature enthusiast will all find endless activities to pursue. For those who prefer sightseeing of a different kind, some of the world’s finest shopping is available closely by on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota and at the Sarasota Outlet Center.

For the sports enthusiast, the Sarasota Sports Complex, home of Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds’ spring training, is just up the road. For regular season baseball action, the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays home games are easily accessible. For football fans, the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a short jaunt away. Or, catch the cool action of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

For more refined activities, there are several cultural centers within close proximity to Venetian Golf & River Club. For the theatre buff, both the Barbara B. Mann Auditorium in Ft. Myers and the Van Wezel Center for the Performing Arts in Sarasota offer the best of Broadway and concert series. And, The Ringling Museum of Art houses one of the world’s most important collections of 17th century Baroque paintings. For the amateur botanist, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota feature a spectacular butterfly garden and a majestic Banyan grove. When you want to live life a little on the edge, some of the best theme parks in the country are just a few short hours away, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens.