Caspersen Beach

Just south of the Venice city limit, accessible from U.S. 41, is a large park and beach area with nature trails, a playground, a canoe launch, group picnic areas and an extensive boardwalk along the Gulf side. The beach itself is a very narrow strip known for its fossilized sharks' teeth, which are harder to find since beach renourishment has dumped sand onto the beach. There are several parking areas, so it pays to keep scouting around if the lot looks full. Nature trails wind through saw palmetto, sea grapes, palms and mangroves along the Venetian Waterway. The Gulf-side boardwalk offers great views over the foliage to the water, where pods of dolphins lazily swim.