My last visit to Venice Beach was in the early morning during the month of August and it was already alive with energy. I followed my GPS which took me to the North City Parking Lot on Rose Blvd where I paid $9 because I was there before 9 am. It costs $15 after that in the summer but is less during the off-season. If you go early enough, you can usually find street parking but any later is a challenge.
Watch my YouTube video walking tour on the boardwalk
Most of the shops hadn’t opened yet but the street vendors were starting to set up and clean their spaces while surfers, dog walkers, joggers, and others enjoyed the cool morning sun.
Take a 3 Hour Bike Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach HERE
The shady side of beach life in L.A.
Venice Beach is also a popular location for homeless encampments so you have to keep your eyes open for suspicious characters who may have spent the night drinking or taking drugs. They come to the beaches especially in summer because it’s cooler and more comfortable than in the Valley or other areas of L.A. Their presence is a part of life that Angelenos have to contend with at least for now.
I compare Venice Beach to Hollywood Blvd in a way because it has a similar carnival-type atmosphere that isn’t for everyone. This is especially true on weekends when the Boardwalk is filled with street performers, vendors, and other interesting characters. Personally, I think that’s what gives Venice Beach its unique charm.
It’s not like the utopian Barbie Beach that was depicted in the movie, which used Venice Beach as a location. Instead, it’s edgy and creative with bright colors and plenty of urban art.
Venice Beach is an acquired taste
People come here from all walks of life and from all corners of the world to enjoy its expansive white sand beach, recreation, and fun.
Venice Beach is not only a place to shop and people-watch. It’s where you can connect with nature, with the Pacific Ocean stretching out before you, and the soft sand between your toes.
You will also find inspiration, with the vibrant colors and bold patterns of the street art that lines the walls and alleys.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare . . .
The Hari Krishna Festival of India, which is an annual event, was setting up on the beach while I was there. You may remember the Hari Krishnas who used to accost people at airports and on Hollywood Blvd during the late 1970s selling flowers. They have been in Venice Beach ever since then and always put on an amazing event with a free vegetarian feast.
Stay fit or be a daredevil
The Muscle Beach Outdoor Gym originated in the 1930s and used to be located near the Santa Monica Pier. A new and more modern version was built in Venice in 1989. It’s a favorite hangout for muscle men and bodybuilders.
If you are into exercise, you can also play paddle tennis and basketball on the courts provided or other sports like volleyball on the beach.
The Venice Beach Skate Park is a public venue where daredevils of all ages turn somersaults in the air on their skateboards. It’s free to the public. The skate park opened in 2009, has hosted numerous competitions, and has been featured in numerous TV shows and films. It cost 3.5 million dollars, is 16,000 square feet, and is said to be the most expensive in the world.
Did you know that Venice Beach is where skateboarding was invented in the 1970s?
Shop, drink, and eat
Abbot Kinney Boulevard is named after Venice Beach’s founder Abbot Kinney who built the Venice Canals. It is a mecca for shoppers and offers boutiques, bars, and fine dining.
Not far away are the Venice Canals, which is also a lovely place to walk if you are nearby.
Venice Beach is approximately 3 miles of coastline between the Venice Pier to the border of Santa Monica.
It’s a place that’s hard to describe, but easy to fall in love with. The area is a blend of the old and the new, the bohemian and the hipster, the natural and the urban. It’s a place where you can be yourself, and where you can find a little bit of everything.
To walk on the Venice Boardwalk, you may want to start at the iconic Venice Sign at Windward Ave and Main Street.
1501 Main St #205, Venice, CA 90291
Thanks for that tour. It was all very interesting.