Below you will find all the SperlingViews added about this city.
| Venice is a great small town. - 10/2/2021
I've have lived in Venice for 16 years. It has a large retirement population. It is a great place to live because of low traffic, low crime rate, relaxed atmosphere, great parks such as Shamrock, Oscar Scherer, and South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve, and of course the beach. It is a great place to go birding. The legacy trail is great for biking and jogging. Venice Beach has free parking and it is a nice beach when red tide isn't present. Red tide has been becoming more common every year. The area keeps growing and real estate prices have been skyrocketing. The winter weather is fantastic. I'm a warm weather person that has no problem with summer heat and humidity. After the common afternoon summer rains, summer evenings can be very pleasant. It is a retirement community but the public schools are great. Venice High has good academics and great athletic programs. Atlanta Braves spring training is minutes away. Younger people can head north to Sarasota for better restaurants, theatre, beaches, and bars. Your airport choices include Sarasota, Tampa, St. Pete, Punta Gorda, and Ft. Myers. If you're looking for excitement, go somewhere else. If you want a quiet friendly community, you would be hard pressed to find a better place to live.
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| Hometown Feel - 5/10/2020
You gotta remember the reasons you move here. If not forced to, like having to take a job, you'll love it. But do your homework, the avg. age is 60+, so keep that in mind. It is what it is.
1. Beaches – multitudes to choose from around this area. Most are very clean and have facilities.
2. Ocean/Gulf – the water is usually beautiful, clean, and warm most of the year
3. Water sports – from boating, diving, and fishing to kayaking, paddle boarding, and jet skiing.
4. Seafood – all over, all the time, always good.
5. Humidity & Heat – My skin and hair love it! ??
6. What I consider Beautiful weather 8 months a year – Not many places in the U.S. can claim that. (If you like a drier or cooler climate, DO NOT COME NEAR FL.)
7. Friendly people
8. Cost of living – comparable to AZ and better than most any other state that's surrounded by water.
9. IF you're republican, this is a good area for you.
10. A lot of medical facilities/doctors
11. Flora and fauna – if you like green and enjoy wildlife, this is a great place
12. Great for families who need lower costs and a sense of community in which to raise children (teens don't like it, though)
What I don't like, and mostly because I am still considered MUCH younger than the average here and because I still have to find work:
1. No Jobs – it’s mostly a tourist or retirement city.
2. Criminal contractors!!!
3. Snowbirds – go the f*ck home!!! Quit using this area as your personal dumping ground for RVs every season. BUY a home or leave us alone. If you must drive, do it after rush hour. (Sorry, but this city doesn't have the means to deal with the influx each year. Sarasota county overall needs to do better!)
4. Hot/Humid 4-5 months a year (double-edged sword; I love it, I hate it)
5. Not enough good restaurants
6. Not enough good shopping (grocery, clothing, home goods, etc.)
7. REALLY OLD PEOPLE (We're not just talkin' 70ish. With the avg. being 60+, you can bet there's a lot of 80-90 year olds out here!)
8. Infrastructure - I just added this because there are so many new homes being built, plus the ball field with no additional roads or freeways. Driving is becoming ridiculous during season.
Through it all, I choose to live here and be a part of this community. The pros far outweigh the cons in my opinion. No place is perfect, so don't slam a place just because you can't go clubbing or think some parts are dirty (there's dirty in all cities). I hope people can be realistic in their reviews so others can make real choices about whether to move here.
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| What’s not to love?!?? - 3/18/2020
I love Venice! I made several visits before calling Venice home and I do not regret it one bit. The locals here are very kind. There is plenty to do (I am not of retirement age) but if it’s more excitement you want, a quick drive up to Sarasota will cure that! I enjoy the relaxing, slower pace. It’s like a breath of fresh air among the chaos of the world. If you like to golf, spend time at the beach, walking trails then Venice is great.
I recommend making a visit or two, talking with locals and exploring the area. Of course if you need advice or help I am more than happy to recommend activities or dining. If you are thinking of buying but distance and travel is a problem, especially now, working remotely with you and doing video walk throughs a of homes has become the norm and I am happy to help there as well.
Whether you want to retire or just get away from big city stress, Venice is perfect! Come on down and check it out for yourself. See you soon!
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| Not for the young, single, or environment. - 8/4/2019
I've been back in Venice for 8 weeks after being gone for 20+ years and I despise what this place has become.
As a single man in my 40s I can tell you there is nothing here. There are some marginal bars with terrible cover bands playing music my parents listen to. The restaurants here are either over priced, poor service, or both. (Not all of them) I have found a few hole in the wall places that are pretty decent. Our beautiful beaches are being destroyed by all the pollution and the people here don't seem to care. Recycling seems to be at all time low, littering seems to be at an all time. I love going to the beach and it looking like the ashtray outside a bingo parlour. I didn't even think you could smoke on the beach. This town caters to a generation that has turned our planet into it's personal trash can, has limited incomes, and is slowly dying off. I think most economist would say it's a poor plan, but venice embraces it. In with the old and keep out the new.
This city could be vibrant and full of life, but instead it chooses to let it's self age away like it's population. Sure they make improvements, but it's like Betty White getting botox. It's just try to make something appear like it's younger.
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| Charming town - 10/25/2018
We live in Sarasota, which is about 25 min. from Venice. We take short day trips to Venice once in a while. What a charming downtown(Venice Beach). It also is very quiet, and well maintained.
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| The Sun sets in Venice on the Gulf - 7/6/2018
So, you like Venice?
Like most sought after Gulf Coast communities Venice people have a lot of outdoor activities available within reach of it's many communities and neighborhoods. Well, the beaches of course where you can discover ancient sharks teeth, warm water swims, go fishing, boating and naturally enjoy exceptionally beautiful sunsets for starters. However, we are not all beach people and others prefer to Golf, play tennis, pickle-ball, or even table tennis. The Downtown on Venice Island is quaint and Historic in character with many great restaurants and stores. Active cycling enthusiasts abound with access to the Legacy Trail for safe riding, and running. The best thing is that Venice has little traffic compared to the larger cities like Tampa or Sarasota. So do I like Venice? Well, NO, I Love it!
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| RETIREREES ONLY PLEASE - 1/4/2018
We moved to Venice 4 years ago at age 55, well below the average age here. This is a retirement, not an employment area. Typical 2 bedroom houses, no yards, no sidewalks, few parks, etc. It's warm so we don't have to crowd into the mall to walk. But there isn't much more to do than walk, play golf, watch TV, or socialize at the Walmart. It's no wonder the kids that live here are such trouble. Utilities are cheap compared to Chicago, but you can't find a good steak except at a good restaurant. Excitement here is Orlando with the grandkids, or Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa. The only excitement in Venice is trying to prevent an accident because these people don't look, can't see or hear, and think the law here is the same as New York city. July 15th to October 1st is torrential rains and unbearable humidity. We spent 20 years traveling the USA with a heavy concentration on Florida and we kept coming back to Venice, so we moved here. There are good and bad things everywhere. Retirement is good unless you're on a fixed income and can't afford to get out in the summer, or if spending months watching TV is your thing. But if you want to stay inside, stay up north, the harsh winters are shorter than the harsh summers. If you move to Venice get used to our speed. We move at 75 years old.
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| Venice Ratings - 8/5/2016
Venice should be rated as one of the top ten places to live and retire in the entire country...It is simply beautiful if you live near the beaches..The weather is of the best in the county...Please start rating Venice...
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| Cost of Living vs. Wage does not Balance! - 2/6/2016
A word to the wise...if you're planning on moving to the Venice, South Venice, or Englewood area, be aware, rental prices are through the roof, but... the hourly wage is not. On average a administrative/office position may pay between the rate of $10 - 12.00 per hour and most times, it's not a full 40 hour work week. And, those jobs are scarce. Housing is through the roof. Monthly rentals for a two bedroom, 1 1/2 to 2 bathroom house are now renting for over $1200.00 per month (and you're lucky to find 1,000 sq.ft). And, if you want any amenities, such as a pool, fenced yard, garage it's going to cost you well over $1600.00 + per month and most likely you'll pay for the cost of maintaining the pool and your own yard care. And, let's not forget, if you have a PET, most times, they are not welcome. And, if you're fortunate enough to find a landlord or rental company who does welcome your beloved pet, you'll be paying a "non refundable" outrageous pet fee. Rental costs have increased at least 20% in the last year alone. And, if you're a family with children, keep this in mind also, Venice is not all "kid friendly". Unless, you're in to spending 1200.00 or more on YMCA memberships where you also have to pay for classes too. Now, there are some good schools, I'll give Venice that, but overall, if you're looking for a inexpensive place to call home where you're be paid at least $14-16.00+ per hour, it's not Venice. And, the hot topic you're going to hear most about is the Traffic. It can become brutal from the months of November until May. And, be forewarned, don't get caught blaming that on to the Snowbirds who migrate here for a few months a year to get away from the Cold North. (median age 69) Which of course is part of the reason wages are Low and rents are High. Many occupants are temporary, they are retired and they have two or more homes. They've made their money and now it's time to just sit back and relax. Of course, if you're in the younger demographic and you need a job which pays well and a nice home which is affordable to live in while raising your kids, Venice is Beautiful,the Beaches are Gorgeous, the Weather is Fantastic and it does get HOT, but again, be forewarned, it can be tough to find a balance for career minded individuals with families to get started and reside full time. Especially if you're accustomed to earning 40 - 60+ thousand per year or more. If so, you may want to reconsider moving to Venice Florida.
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| crime - 8/19/2010
i have lived in venice all my life raised two kids thru FSU and have never experienced any crime especially the travis guy who say kids are kidnapped also Venice in my opinion is one of the best, secure and quietist places to live in the florida area. We have noticed no depreciation in our palace house in over 29 years it gone five fold in value.
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| realestate value.. - 10/18/2009
A lot of people including me have seen the value of our homes decline at almost60% , my home at one time was valued at $240,000 for my 3br. 2bth,1800 sq. ft. home, now i have a short sale going on and cannot even get offers of $119,000. there are q
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| Cost of Living - 12/1/2008
It's hard looking for a job and to start one.
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| Another Day in Paradise - 6/16/2008
Venice is a great place to retire. Big enough to provide the health care that is so important to Seniors. Rich in the arts. Great restaurants. Wonderful weather. Play golf 365 days a year. Venice is known as "The City on the Gulf" Those of us living here don't just say hello to each other. Our greeting is "Another Day in Paradise.
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| crime - 11/16/2007
venice is a very safe place to live. i dont even have to lock my car in parking lots, but i do anyway. i have lived here for 30 years and i cant remember anything of any murders or rape in that time although it has happened. we have retired people here and ther not going to bother anybody. the high school is a safe school for students to go. parents dont have to worry to much. if you like alot of excitement this is not the place to be.....
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| Venice is fun for the family - 3/20/2006
There are beautiful beaches for the kids, a great downtown for the adults, and it has great weather for everyone.
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| Small upscale retirement community on the Gulf Of - 10/3/2005
Venice is a charming town located on the Gulf of Mexico. It has a wonderful Main Street with shops and dining. The average age of the population is over 60 years of age. Almost crime free you can feel very safe moving about.
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