Heather

North Jetty Beach

Updated: Sep 28, 2020

A playground for kids of all ages

North Jetty Beach park is a playground for kids of all ages offering a wide variety of activities to enjoy the best of southwest Florida. North Jetty Beach is located in Nokomis on the southernmost end of Casey Key. The jetty is at the south end of the beach and borders the pass that connects the Intercoastal Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. The jetty is a pier made of large rocks with a flat, paved surface and it is a great spot for fishing, spotting dolphins and manatees, and watching watercraft coming and going. It also provides a perfect, unobstructed view of the sun setting over the gulf. Venice South Jetty is on the opposite side of the pass.

I’ve visited North Jetty beach on several occasions and sometimes the sea is calm with basically no waves with crystal clear water colored in breathtaking shades of turquoise blues. Other times the gulf is dark grayish blue rough with waves up to several feet which makes it an opportune time to surf, boogie board, and body surf. There is a single lifeguard tower on this beach and the lifeguards are on duty daily from 10:00 am to 4:45 pm.

“North Jetty Park has something for everyone. Spend the entire day at this beach playground and celebrate the end of an awesome day with a toast to the magnificent sunset. ”

As you cross over the sand dunes on the wooden walkways, you will leave the cool, dappled shade and cross over to a bright world full of sunshine, beach, and the lovely gulf waters. If you are not already smiling, you will as soon as you see this beautiful sight. At a quick glance, the sand looks white but if you look closely the sand has black specks which cause the sand to absorb the sunlight so it gets very hot particularly on sunny days in the summer. I advise wearing sandals or flip flops. As you get closer to the shoreline, the sand turns to tiny shell fragments and at the water’s edge, the ground consists of crushed shells. Since it is crushed shells instead of fine sand, the crushed shells do not compact causing the ground to be soft and squishy. There is a slight slope at the shoreline (about a 20° angle). Due to these aspects, this beach is less than ideal for walking or running. The gulf is very shallow in southwest Florida allowing the water to reach ‘bath water like’ temperatures. You can expect water temperatures in the high 80°Fs from July - September. However, if you visit in the winter, don’t expect warm water. The ocean gets cold with average lows in the 60°Fs in January - March. So-Cool (Sarasota Operations Coastal Oceans Observation Lab) in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium monitor the beaches and provide up-to-date information including flag warnings, air & water temperatures, respiratory irritation, debris, wind speed and direction, and surf type & height. To check the beach conditions or sign up for daily email alerts, go to www.visitbeaches.org. Click on email alerts and you can select the beaches you are interested in.

Parking is free and there are two gravel parking lots. Each lot has its own entrance. I have been to this beach a few times over the summer and there were always parking spots available. There are 3 beach access points and each has an outdoor shower. There is a large grassy field between the two parking lots containing a new building (built in 2013) housing the restrooms, concessions with sheltered tables, 3 outdoor showers, and a bike rack. These facilities are wheelchair accessible. There are two family restrooms in addition to the men and women restrooms.

There is a cement cornhole game and a horseshoe pit. You have to bring your own horsehoes but you can borrow ($30 cash refundable deposit) for the cornhole bean bags from the concessions (North Jetty Tap & Grill). A large colorful playground allows children to climb, slide, and swing. Along the border of the beach, there are many tall trees that provide shade for a cluster of picnic tables and charcoal grills. Scattered around the grassy area, the picnic tables have covered shelters. There is a large pavilion with many tables that may be reserved for your special occasion. There is one covered picnic table and grill that is handicap accessible located between the concessions building and playground.

On the bay side of the park at the southernmost terminus, there is a kayak launch site where you can launch your own canoe, paddleboard, or kayak. You can rent equipment at the launch site from Jetty Rentals (www.venicejetty.com or 941-525-0117). The Jetty Rentals is closed on Sunday. You can paddle to Snake Island, Cactus Island, and Bird Island. If you are afraid of snakes like me you’ll be glad to know that Snake Island is named for its shape not because the little island is filled with snakes. The launch site is located in a Manatee Zone so you might have the pleasure of encountering one of these large, sweet sea cows. You can explore farther afield to Lyons Bay, Dona Bay, and Roberts Bay. Next to the kayak launch site, you will find a piece of history…the North Jetty Fish Camp, a trolley car named The Nebraska which was converted into a concession stand and bait shop in 1946.

North Jetty Park has something for everyone. Spend the entire day at this beach playground and celebrate the end of an awesome day with a toast to the magnificent sunset.