We at ICI Homes are stoked about our Wellen Park venture in southwest Florida! Located in Venice, in southern Sarasota County, it’s one of the region’s top master-planned communities and ICI Homes is joining its roster of preferred builders in one of Wellen Park’s newest neighborhoods — Palmera at Wellen Park.
Some prep work is ahead before we’ll begin building new custom Florida homes here. But until them, we’ve offering some fast facts to help prospective customers learn about the community outside of Wellen Park. Read on to learn more about things to do near the city of Venice.
Where’s Wellen Park?
Answer: only a few miles west of Interstate 75’s River Road exit. U.S. Highway 41 (known on the Gulf Coast as Tamiami Trail) forms one of Wellen Park’s boundaries, meaning residents can day-trip north to Venice and Sarasota, or south to Port Charlotte and Fort Myers.
Wellen Park’s historic hometown of Venice boast an Old Florida feel, but with a lively dining scene and plenty of arts, culture and outdoor recreation activities. Venice is right on the Gulf of Mexico, boasting numerous beaches, marinas and waterside restaurants.
Go to the beach
You might not know Venice beaches are one of the world’s top locales for fossilized shark teeth. It’s a real thing here, as is the shelling. If you’re unfamiliar with Gulf beaches, you might be surprised by the conches, cockles and olives that await treasure hunters at the surf line.
But you don’t have to be a treasure hunter to enjoy Venice’s beaches. Public parks and beach accesses make basking on the white sands and splashing in sparking Gulf waters all too easy.
Venice Beach, Nokomis Beach Park and Caspersen Beach Park, with its unique rock formations, are good locations to start.
Outdoor recreation
Of course, there’s also fishing, boating and deep-sea fishing with local captains and guides. Sightseeing and sunset cruises also are popular.
Into cycling, hiking and running? The multi-purpose Legacy Trail spans Sarasota and Charlotte counties, following old railroad beds. Its wide, paved surface extends nearly 20 miles, with more on the way. The Legacy Trail also connects with other paved and non-paved trails in the region and offers comfort stations, free parking and multiple trailheads for access points.
Another go-to for enjoying the great outdoors near Wellen Park? Myakka River State Park. It’s another powerhouse for recreation thanks to 40 miles of trails.
Calling all artists
Both the Venice and Sarasota areas are known statewide for their museums, performing arts venues, and galleries and shows.
In Venice, check out the Venice Theatre, Venice Art Center, the Venice Symphony, and the Venice Institute for Performance Arts, to name only a few. A short drive north to Sarasota, enjoy The Ringling, the State Art Museum of Florida. plus the Sarasota Ballet, the Sarasota Opera and the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens — again, to name only a few.
Ready for your Wellen Park lifestyle? Talk to ICI Homes here.