Venice, Florida Voted the No. 2 "Happiest Seaside Town in America," Tops the list in Florida

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Jun 09, 2015, 05:26 ET

VENICE, Fla., June 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Venice, in Sarasota County on Florida's Gulf Coast, was recognized today as one of the top two "Happiest Seaside Towns in America" for 2015 by Coastal Living Magazine. Venice topped the list of Florida destinations.

"This is a well-deserved honor for Venice," said Virginia J. Haley, President of Visit Sarasota County. "Venice is a charming seaside town with a lot to offer visitors and residents alike. It was exciting to see our community and fans come together to encourage voting."

A pep rally, on-the-ground marketing efforts and an aggressive social media campaign were employed to encourage voting.

"Wow! Another wonderful accolade for our community and one that captures the spirit of our city," said John Ryan, President and CEO of the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce. "I have always felt that Venice is separated from other destinations due to our strong sense of community, charm and friendly atmosphere. Having great beaches, such as the newly re-nourished Venice Beach helps too! To have this announced during the summer months is especially wonderful as this is a great time of year to promote Venice as the place to visit."

For more information about visiting Venice in Sarasota County on Florida's Gulf Coast, go to www.visitsarasota.org.

For more information please contact Lynn Hobeck Bates at (941) 955-0991, ext. #103, or [email protected].

About Sarasota County
Located on Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, Sarasota County offers a vibrant arts and cultural scene, a diverse array of culinary experiences and a variety of opportunities to take advantage of the clear waters and the great outdoors. Sarasota County provides the quintessential, laid-back beach getaway with numerous sprawling, white-sand beaches, including Siesta Key Beach, named the top beach in America by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice™ in 2015 and "America's Best Beach" in 2011 by Stephen Leatherman, aka, Dr. Beach. Dubbed "Home of the American Circus," Sarasota County served as the headquarters for the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus for 75 years, and visitors can experience its unique circus heritage first-hand by following the circus trail or catching a performance by one of two local circus companies. For more information on visiting Sarasota County, visit www.visitsarasota.org or call (800) 522-9799.

Lynn Hobeck Bates, 941-955-0991 Ext. 103
[email protected]

SOURCE Visit Sarasota County