Nokomis Public Beach — Attraction in Venice

I'm from Texas and we have soft sand where you walk barefoot on the beach. I've lived in Delray Beach and Brooksville,and my God this is the worst beach in the world for walking on. You can't go barefoot and you better wear tenny shoes. The rocks tore my leather flip flops up. I will never go back in my life. This sand isn't sand, it's damn high rocks. I hated. Plus in the ladies public restroom, a lady was the only one in there, there were 5-6 stalls and she locks the main door to go to the bathroom. She come outside when she's done with a big cart she had inside with her,but she was in the handicap which was big enough to hold it. Why in the world would anyone lock the main door to a public restroom with other stalls for other people to go to that have doors that lock. It was all her beach stuff in the cart Maybe she was stealing off the beach from people. That seemed awful weird to me,!!! The sand I what really sucks. You cannot walk barefoot at all you or wear flip flops either. I don't ever want to go back there in my life and I'm moving to Venice!!! In Texas all our Beaches are smooth real sand. The only rocks you see on the beaches here are just seashells washed ashore from the water.They are soft and you can walk barefoot all over our beaches because the sand is so soft. In fact it's so soft you can get stuck if there has been no rain because the sand gets so deep. But it's a fine soft powder. It's awesome!!!!!!! I have to say I have never seen that in a Florida beach yet. The beach at South Padre Island is gorgeous. But I live by port Arthur, and the beaches by Sabie Pass and the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston. You can set and build sandcastle s on all of them plus ride across the ferry from Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston and back if you're walking on or driving on..That is awesome.Thats the one thing. I much rather prefer Texas beaches to Florida beaches any day of...

This beach has a bit to offer for most all who visit. The beach itself is nothing special, just a typical Florida beach. Not many sharks' teeth but plenty of shells. I personally enjoy the jetty, a long stretch of rock and pavement that extends westward out into the Gulf of Mexico. You can walk all the way to the end and enjoy a nice view. Plus, the boat traffic and fishermen attract many dolphins which can be seen almost any day, especially around sunset. The downside of course is the number of people who are always there crowding around at sunset. Fortunately, these people usually clear out the moment the sun goes beyond the horizon. The beach is quite peaceful at night, with more tolerable temperatures and hardly any people save a few fishermen. The beach also features several shower stations, bathrooms, two buildings that sell drinks and food, a large playground for children, multiple pavilions and table areas for eating, as well as grills. Perfect for a family day out. If you are in Sarasota, this is the best choice for the stereotypical "day at the beach". If you're more interested in the nature aspect of the beach, and not just soaking up the sun, check out Casperson Beach in Venice. It's less developed and more 'wild' with a forest just beyond the dunes. If you're more into the party scene,...

Lesser-known Sarasota County Beach with old-Florida feel. Has a large parking area (free!) on one side of the bathrooms as well as a smaller one that has actual shady spots!! (And a sand/grass lot across the street for overflow).

Also has lifeguards (the concession stand hasn't been open for at least a year).

The sand isn't as powdery soft as its next northernmost key beaches (namely, Siesta), and it does get pretty hot in summer sun, but it boasts a nice mix of shells and fossils for hunters. Distance from parking to sand to water is relatively close (at least 3x closer than the above-mentioned Siesta) especially during the week and/or late afternoons when there's parking up close.

There are also handicapped ramps to the boardwalk / walkovers (tho no sand wheelchairs nor easy sand access for those with difficulty walking, on the sand itself).

Pandemic update: the sunset drum circles (Wed. and Sat. eves) aren't happening. And most people seem respectful of distance (tho I've only seen a few wearing masks... not sure if necessary with the strong seabreezes and distancing, anyway).

Caveat: I've only gone on weekdays and later afternoon SPECIFICALLY to avoid crowds... Happy...