Travel Tips

Even if you aren’t yet a boat owner or did not have the opportunity to bring your boat on vacation, this shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the refreshing sight of boats setting sail on the Gulf of Mexico. While you can catch a great view of the boats from the beach, the North and South jetties are an even better location that offers a close up view of boats sailing in and out of the Gulf of Mexico to the Intracoastal Waterway. The North Jetty Beach has a great jetty rock wall to climb out onto and watch the boats sail through the waterway. It is located further north in Venice at the southern tip of Casey Key at the very end of Nokomis Beach. If you don’t want to risk climbing over the rocks, there are lots of comfortable places to kick back and enjoy the boats on the nearby picnic tables and benches. If you are on the south side of Venice, near Venice Beach, venture up to the South Jetty for a good view of the boats sailing through. The South Jetty area, otherwise known as Humphris Park, is located at the very end of Tarpon Center Drive near Roberts Bay. Tarpon Center Drive begins near Venice Public Beach and will lead you as far North as you can go on the Southern end of Venice Beach. Here you will find the South Jetties. This is a great place to bring the kids for a view of the boats, since there are restrooms, concession stands and lots of benches and picnic tables.

Just stop along Roberts Bay while driving through and you will find plenty of opportunities to stop and see boats coming back and leaving the Gulf of Mexico into and out of the Intracoastal Waterway. Most of Roberts Bay connects the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway. Many of the potential boat watching sights in this area are turning into property development sites, but there are still some great places to park the car along Bayshore Drive to catch a few boats sailing through.

A few other good places to catch the boats passing in and out of the Intracoastal Waterway are the Venice Avenue Bridge on the North end of the Venetian Waterway Park or the Circus Bridge, right in the middle of the Waterway Park. As you are strolling by for a walk or a bicycle ride, take some time to enjoy the view of passersby below.