Like your beach with a little bite? On the beaches in Venice, the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, you can find the toothy bits everywhere you look — in the surf, at the tide line and buried in the sand.
Caspersen Beach is an exceptionally good location to find these sharp souvenirs..
The black teeth dotting the shore date back to prehistoric times, when sharks patrolled the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf’s currents carry these ancient choppers into the calm waters off Venice’s beaches, where they settle near the surf line for sharp-eyed fossil hunters to find.
Enjoy a walk along Caspersen’s nature trail through a coastal hammock. The southern two-thirds of beachfront were left in its natural state and offer a more secluded experience. Other habitats here include freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangroves and tidal flats.
Amenities at Caspersen Beach Park include canoe/kayak launch, fishing pier, grills, outdoor fitness equipment, a playground, restrooms, rinse station, shelter/pavilion and an unpaved trail.
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If you go: 6 a.m.-midnight; 4100 Harbor Drive, Venice; 941-861-5000; visitsarasota.com/parks/caspersen-beach-park
More for beach bums
Clearwater Beach: There’s a reason this beach takes home World’s Best Beach honors year after year. 112 S. Osceola Avenue, Clearwater; myclearwater.com/visitors/beaches
Fort De Soto Park: Find over 7 miles of waterfront, which includes almost three miles of white sandy beach. 3500 Pinellas Bayway S. in Tierra Verde; 727-582-2100; pinellascounty.org