Local Gulf Front
Venice FL. Attractions
Boating and fishing are superior and not unlike many such "retirement/vacation" areas in coastal Florida, the region has more than its share of magnificent World Class Golf Courses, gulf, bay and tropically scenic river front parks, and organized outdoor activities such as the numerous well attended "festivals" and outdoor orientated community "feasts" as well as numerous fully costumed parades; both via land and on water via colorfully decorated boats. There are various salt and fresh water boating vacation excursions available, and several of the areas tropical crystal clear spring fed rivers have served as backdrops for various movie/TV sets such as Tarzan, Flipper, and Sea Hunt. In fact, movie making has recently become a major local industry and it is not uncommon for several major motion picture production companies to be filming at one time in the general area. The Weather Things To Do We also recommend you extend your stay to enjoy the nearby world renown (easily accessible) man-made attractions such as Kermit Week's marvelous Fantasy of Flight Museum (w/real fighter simulators) about an hour up the road close by Lakeland, or the Orlando based Disney, Sea World, MGM, Universal Studios, and Tampa's Busch Gardens. Keep in mind, Tampa is but a hours drive North, the EAA's Lakeland Sun N Fun Museum about a 90 minute drive away, with Orlando only being a mere two hour Interstate drive or about a 35 minute (modified) Mooney ride away. No visit to our area would be complete without mentioning the well known attractions just down the coast to the South. Besides the exclusive island keys of Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva (w/its own sod airstrip), and exclusive Boca Grand, the nearby Ft. Myers area also boasts several nationally prominent attractions like the Estates/Museums of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. Click Here for accommodations in these areas.
The last 10 minutes descent into the Keys or Jimmy Buffett's very own Margaritaville (Key
West; EYW), is truly as tropical site you will never forget: The visiting boats at
anchorage seem to "float" above the water while casting distinct shadows on the
multi-colored coral reef sea bottom below. (I still look forward to it and have seen
it hundreds of times......take your camera.....cj) There is no place quite like Key
West, it is without doubt, laid back different to the max while truly being our Last
Resort.... Click
Here for more information on where to stay while in the Florida Keys.
You couldn't ask for a better airport as it boasts large 24 hr. security
and daylight hours attended IFR runways of some 5,000' in length some of which, nearly
always find themselves pointed into a prevailing breeze. The approaches are nearly perfect
but VFR is the norm with a truly IFR approach reserved for just a few minutes at a time
(usually during a shower) or just a few days a year. The runway and VASI lights are
usually on "dim" if there is no traffic and are controllable via unicom 122.7.
"After hours" visitors who need fuel and/or rental cars should make arrangements
with us prior, but the airport and it's surrounding areas are well lit and easy to find. Our facility is easy to find located on the West side of the main ramp
which lies to the North of the two active X shaped 5,000' runways (Click On
the aerial map above for more details). Or, just look for the usual gaggle of
beautiful Mooneys!
Rental Cars, Bicycles etc.: Besides the fact we are (perhaps) THE most experienced and best known Mooney
shop in the World, why take your Mooney to someplace boring for you to visit?
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Dear Fellow Mooniac,
Picturesque Gulf Front Venice is a quaint, alluring, semi-tropical fliers
paradise in a crime free portion of Southwest Florida. Venice and/or Venice Beach (as it
is sometimes called) is about ½ the way between Tampa and Ft. Myers and is one of the few
cities on Florida's entire West Coast that is not separated from the Gulf by a barrier
island or key. It (and our airport), is literally, right on the shimmering turquoise Gulf
of Mexico. While the full time population is growing beyond anyone's imagination just a
few years ago, Venice has been commonly known for its Mediterranean Architecture and
ambiance. It is close to, and thus nearly a suburb of bay front Sarasota which itself is
about a hours drive South of the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater metropolitan areas. Both
Sarasota and especially Tampa, are served by numerous major airlines.
Venice isle itself
boasts of over 3 miles of gorgeous beaches where collecting (sometimes huge) pre-historic
fossilized sharks teeth has made Venice Beach famous the world over as; "The
Sharks Tooth Capitol of The World". Few visitors leave untouched by its
enchanting charm and the readily discernible superior "Quality of Life" the area
offers. In fact, most knowledgeable lifestyle experts and various sophisticated
"where to live" studies have termed this as one of the best places to live in
all of Florida!
First off, the weather really is just about as good
as; "they say it is"! While (depending on the time of the year) we can have a
day or so of less than perfect flying/boating/beaching weather, for the most part, the
locals have been conditioned to complain about weather which would make most Northerners
to die for........ Winter flying (up North winter, that is) is usually nearly perfect and
the occasional front is usually fast moving. Our usual "winter" low is in the
50's at night with a daytime high well in the sunny 70's. Spring and Fall are actually
South Sea Island Perfect (w/no heat or AC required) day and night, with the summer
semi-tropical mid day heat being usually broken daily around 3-6 PM by our localized 15
minute tropical showers. Frankly, since I was born and raised in the Midwest, I feel the
Midwest summers are far more intense (heat and T- storm wise) than ours here in SW
Florida. It is a rare visitor who stays a few days or longer who doesn't remark about the
ideal flying or boating weather!
Besides our first class Mooney facility being one of the best
places in the world for your Mooney to visit, this is also one of the most sought after,
repeat fly-in destinations in all of North America! Our area of semi-tropical SW.
Florida is well known to be virtually ideal for all "brands" of vacationing
pilots as well. 
Mooney owners also
have the distinct advantage when visiting SW Florida in that while the fabulous tropical
Keys are a full 6-7+ hr. drive away, a fast modified Mooney* can make the gorgeous
shore hugging flight in about an hour or less. 
Local Accommodations: