Nearby Attractions

Venice, Florida Tourist Attractions

Venice, Florida is a tourist destination for sandy beaches and summer sun. However, there’s much more to do than relax on the beach. Families, couples, and individuals alike can enjoy culture, science, and entertainment within mere hours of Venice. Check out the following nearby Venice, Florida tourist attractions.

South Florida Museum
Location: Bradenton
From Venice: 1 hour
Website: http://www.SouthFloridaMuseum.org

The South Florida Museum is the most prominent natural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast and offers fascinating exhibits and educational programs. Along with permanent exhibits, rotating exhibits continuously change throughout the year, so there’s always a reason to visit.

Featuring the main museum, an aquarium, and a planetarium, the South Florida Museum offers something for people of all interests. With daily presentations, the world and its incredible creatures are displayed in new and exciting ways. It’s a great family-friendly place to spend the day!

The Florida Aquarium
Location: Tampa
From Venice: 1.5 hours
Website: http://www.flaquarium.org

With experiences like the Wild Dolphin Cruise, the Penguins Backstage Pass, and Close Up Critters, The Florida Aquarium is unique. Learn alongside expert dive masters on offsite diving excursions or attend the aquarium’s summer camp for a chance to learn about animals and the universe in a fun and engaging setting.

Coming soon, the aquarium’s center for conservation will feature a sea turtle hospital, a coral ark nursery, and a shark and ray research station. It’s a great way to learn about how to protect the environment and what The Florida Aquarium is doing to help.

Lowry Park Zoo
Location: Tampa
From Venice: 1.5 hours
Website: https://zootampa.org/

From interactive exhibits to safari experiences, Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park is a step into the wild! Through wildlife encounters with rhinos, tortoises, giraffes, stingrays, and much more, visitors can get an up-close view of how these animals look, feel, and act. There is also a petting zoo full of farm friends just waiting to meet everyone! Top off all the fun with a ride in the zoo’s amusement park or cool off in the Billabong water play area.

Busch Gardens
Location: Tampa
From Venice: 1.5 hours
Website: http://www.BuschGardens.com

Busch Gardens is the parent company of several different theme parks and attractions including Adventure Island, Water Country USA, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Sesame Place. Experts in providing entertainment for the whole family, Busch Gardens in Tampa has roller coasters, shows, animal experiences, safaris, tours, dining, and shopping. From live animals to live entertainment, there’s something fills the whole day.

MOSI Tampa
Location: Tampa
From Venice: 1.5 hours
Website: http://www.MOSI.org

Hosting events, programs, and camps for kids, MOSI incorporates STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) learning into everything they do. Teachers make visits to schools, and the MOSI facility accepts large groups of students for field trips, summer camps, and more. With hands-on experience and guided lessons from seasoned educators, kids will get a glimpse into the world of STEAM and come away with valuable, real-world insights.

Florida State Fair
Location: Tampa
From Venice: 1.5 hours
Website: http://www.FloridaStateFair.com

The Florida State Fair is home to the Midway Sky Eye, the largest traveling Ferris wheel in North America. With more than 500 pieces, the entire structure weighs as much as two blue whales! In addition to this thrilling ride, the Florida State Fair highlights Florida agribusiness and offers competitive programs for the agriculture community.

The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center is a covered pavilion with bleacher or grass seating and is a premier facility for equestrian shows. The shady oak trees provide cover from sun or rain, and it’s a great place to gather the family for horse and rider entertainment.

Fantasy of Flight
Location: Polk City
From Venice: 2 hours
Website: http://www.FantasyOfFlight.com

Fantasy of Flight is a full-service, 100,000-square-foot venue offering the world’s largest collection of vintage aircraft, a museum, and private lakefront access. With a variety of themed event spaces to choose from, Fantasy of Flight offers elegant, Old Hollywood glamour, Art Deco styling, or trendy modern facilities for weddings, office parties, and more.

Salvador Dali Museum
Location: St. Petersburg
From Venice: 1 hour
Website: http://thedali.org/

Discover hundreds of Dali-inspired treasures at the Dali Museum. Exhibits and collections excite visitors who love Dali’s eclectic style, and a virtual online tour guides potential guests through a 360-degree view of the amazing experiences.

A one-day Problem Solving Boot Camp inspires students of all ages with an interactive, creative, problem-solving workshop. For those interested in Dali’s life work and those who love art in general, the Dali showcases it all.

Bok Tower Gardens
Location: Lake Wales
From Venice: 2 hours
Website: http://www.BokTower.org

Bok Tower Gardens is home to the Singing Tower, a 205-foot art deco-style structure that houses the Carillon bells. Bells range in size from sixteen pounds to twelve tons and serenade the grounds twice a day. The properties are the work of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and offer exceptional opportunities for relaxation and enrichment.

Pinewood Estates is a 20-room Mediterranean-style mansion, offering tours of its enchanting history. Bok Tower Gardens is also home to numerous trails, an expansive historical library, and a visitor center.

Walt Disney World
Location: Orlando
From Venice: 3 hours
Website: http://www.Disney.com

Everyone in the world knows Disney. Mickey Mouse, princesses, and the famous theme parks have captured hearts for generations. Walt Disney World in Orlando is a popular family destination offering all-inclusive packages, family events, and numerous theme parks.

Character experiences captivate children with their costumed interactions, spas relax Mom, various sports, and recreational activities keep Dad busy, and the rides and attractions are fun for the entire family.

SeaWorld
Location: Orlando
From Venice: 3 hours
Website: http://www.SeaWorld.com

SeaWorld’s environmental and community activists keep the organization involved in the preservation of biomarine wildlife and are experts in the health and continued care of the animals in their facility. SeaWorld offers inspiring views into the behavior and interaction these animals have with each other, and for the general observer, they provide hours of entertainment. Exhibits, shows, and rides make this massive aquarium a theme park worthy of visiting again and again.

Universal Studios
Location: Orlando
From Venice: 3 hours
Website: http://www.UniversalStudios.com

Ranked the #1 theme park in the world by TripAdvisor, Universal Studios Orlando is home to a wealth of things to do. With over 51 attractions from movie-themed experiences to rides, Universal Studios is an exciting adventure.

Ride the Hogwarts Express from Kings Cross Station to Hogsmeade to experience the thrill of walking across Platform 9 ¾ and see favorite characters from the movies. Enjoy character interactions, action-packed 4D movie showings, shop, and eat the way through this glorious movie studio come to life.

Gatorland
Location: Orlando
From Venice: 3 hours
Website: http://www.Gatorland.com

Gatorland houses thousands of alligators and crocodiles in this affordable park full of family fun. Four rare leucistic ‘white’ alligators also live here. Enjoy the free-flight aviary with trails guiding visitors through the natural habitat of many different species of birds, some close enough to talk to. Speak, and they might speak back!

Animal shows, the petting zoo, natural alligator breeding marshes, and a thrilling zip line will entice more adventurous patrons.

Kennedy Space Center
Location: Cape Canaveral
From Venice: 3.5 hours
Website: http://www.KennedySpaceCenter.com

The Final Frontier engages ‘kids’ of all ages at the Kennedy Space Center with a heroes and legends exhibit, showcasing the brave astronauts and the famous engineers behind various missions into space.

Journey to Mars educates on what is happening with NASA today and fascinates audiences with the concept of exploring the red planet. With interactive games and simulators, visitors can test their space knowledge and learn about Mars, asteroids, and the moon.

Selby Botanical Gardens
Location: Sarasota
From Venice: 45 minutes
Website: https://selby.org/

Explore this tropical rainforest with breathtaking flowers collected by research and conservation scientists. Eye-popping colors and designs live around every corner with unique species of blooms, insect-catching pitchers, and spiny trunks. Each season presents an entirely different experience because of the seasonality of different flowers.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Location: Sarasota
From Venice: 45 minutes
Website: http://www.SarasotaJungleGardens.com

Established in 1939, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is an exotic paradise of bird interactions, including a chance to feed the flamingos. Beautiful butterfly gardens intrigue visitors, playgrounds keep the kids entertained, and the koi pond provides a relaxing spot to drink in the serene swimming fish.

Serenity continues for spiritual seekers in the Gardens of Christ featuring miniature dioramas, hand-carved and dedicated to enhancing this Holy Land experience.

Ringling Museum of Art
Location: Sarasota
From Venice:45 minutes
Website: http://www.Ringling.org

The Ringling Brothers are famous for their traveling circuses featuring incredible animals, funny clowns, and daring stunts. However, the Ringling Museum of Art showcases the most prominent collection of art and cultural artifacts in the United States. As John Ringling traveled the world in search of acts for ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ he amassed quite a collection of intriguing art, all of which is on display today.

All these activities provide an experience beyond compare for anyone looking for a bit of adventure, entertainment, or learning. Within a day’s drive from Venice, they complement any Venice vacation plans.

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