The Story of Venice Island: How Florida's "Island City" Came to Be

    Here's a fact that surprises a lot of visitors: the historic heart of Venice, Florida is an actual island. When locals talk about "the island," they mean the walkable, palm-lined stretch of downtown between the Intracoastal Waterway and Venice Beach — a place you reach by crossing one of three d

From Cattle Ranch to Boomtown: The History of Wellen Park

Today, Wellen Park is one of the fastest-selling master-planned communities in the entire country — a vibrant, growing town with a downtown built around a sparkling lake, a Major League Baseball spring-training stadium, and thousands of new homes. But not so long ago, this corner of southern Sarasot

Beyond the Beach: Venice, Florida's Best-Kept Secret

Stepping Back in Time: A Guide to Venice, Florida's Historic District Most people come to Venice, Florida for the beaches, the shark teeth, and the famously laid-back Gulf Coast pace. But tucked into the heart of the city is something far rarer: one of the most carefully planned, beautifully preserv

The Florida Tax Change Everyone Is Talking About

Florida's Proposed Homestead Exemption Changes: Why 2026 Could Be One of the Best Times to Buy or Sell By Scott Swonger, HomeSmart Florida homeowners may soon see one of the biggest property tax changes in state history. If approved by voters this November, the proposed constitutional amendment woul