Venice Beach FL
A Perfect Family Weekend Trip to Venice, Florida: Shark Teeth, Shell Hunting & Sweet Treats
6/22/20262 min read
If you’re looking for an easy family getaway in Florida, Venice is the perfect weekend trip! Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Venice offers beautiful beaches, a walkable downtown, delicious food, and one of the coolest kid-friendly activities — hunting for prehistoric shark teeth right on the beach.
Our family spent a weekend in Venice and packed in the perfect mix of beach adventure, good food, and exploring.
Where We Stayed: TownePlace Suites by Marriott Venice
We stayed at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Venice Beach, which was a great option for our family. The hotel was about 15 minutes from the beach, making it convenient while still being close to restaurants and essentials.
A few things we loved:
Family-friendly hotel with a pool
Nearby gas station for quick stops
Close to quick-service restaurants for easy meals
Comfortable place to come back to after a sandy beach day
After a morning at the beach, it was nice to head back, shower, cool off, and get ready for lunch and exploring.
Morning Adventure: Shark Tooth Hunting at South Brohard Park
Our first stop was South Brohard Park — one of the best spots in Venice for finding shark teeth!
A few tips:
Parking is limited, so plan to arrive early.
We got there around 8:00 AM, and it was the perfect time. We found parking easily, and the sun wasn’t too hot yet.
Bring water, sunscreen, and your beach gear.
The kids’ favorite part was using sand sifters to search through the sand for shark teeth. Don’t forget yours — they make the hunt so much easier (and way more fun)!
We also found so many beautiful shells. The kids loved walking along the beach, searching, collecting, and comparing all their finds.
Our biggest win of the morning?
We collected over 20 shark teeth!
It was such a fun activity because the kids felt like little explorers searching for hidden treasures.
Our favorite shark tooth hunting supplies:
(Insert Amazon link here)
Lunch + Ice Cream Stop
After a morning of beach treasure hunting, we headed back to the hotel for showers and then went out for lunch.
We stopped at Daiquiri Deck Venice for lunch, and it was a great family-friendly choice. They had a great seafood selection with plenty of options, making it easy for everyone to find something they liked.
Of course, no Florida beach day is complete without ice cream!
We walked around Venice Avenue and stopped at Venice Avenue Creamery. The kids loved seeing all the flavor choices — there were so many options to choose from!
There are several other Icecream shops nearby as well!
Exploring Downtown Venice
Downtown Venice was one of our favorite parts of the trip. It’s a great area to walk around after a meal, browse the shops, and enjoy the small-town Florida atmosphere.
A few tips:
Check store hours before you go.
Many shops close around 5 PM.
Some businesses may be closed on Sundays.
It’s a great place to slow down, walk around, and let the kids explore.
Final Thoughts: Is Venice Beach Worth a Family Weekend Trip?
Absolutely! Venice is an easy Florida getaway that feels like a real adventure for kids. Between finding shark teeth, collecting shells, enjoying great food, and exploring downtown, it gave us the perfect balance of relaxation and fun.
If your family loves beach days, treasure hunts, and making memories together, add Venice, Florida to your weekend getaway list!
Family Travel Tip: The best souvenirs are the ones you find yourself — and shark teeth from Venice Beach make the coolest memory to bring home.