Venice Beach

NOTE: There is a very bad homeless tent problem along the boardwalk recently (2021). 

Venice Beach is where all the crazies that California is famous for hang out. The muscle men who care about nothing more than the size of their pecs hang out at Muscle Beach, which is an area full of workout equipment right on the beach. The free spirits sell their tie-dye shirts, incense, and beaded jewelry along Ocean Front Walk, the street that fronts the beach. It's fun to walk along and find all manner of things to buy and people to watch. There are jugglers, musicians, magicians, and people with the wildest hairdos, tattoos, and hats. Once when we were there we saw a not-that-young guy lift 800 pounds. It was astounding!
Graffiti artists come here to freely spray paint without reprimand. The smell is awful, but only within a few feet. There is a skate park on the beach, and all kinds of funnies hang out there too, showing off their latest move- women in skimpy bikinis and rollerskates, men in skimpy bikinis too! There are many different sports courts where the buff hang out to play basketball, volleyball, and handball.
Lately there have been a LOT of homeless people, drug addicts, and sketchy types hanging out on Ocean Front Walk, so it's not quite as fun as it was in the past.
The beach, an extension of Santa Monica Beach, has lovely pale gold sand that extends far until it meets the crashing waves. Sunsets here are great. Wooden boardwalks extend out from the bike path making it easier to walk the long distance across the sand to the shore.
The bike path, which runs along the sand all the way from Will Rogers State Beach in the north to Torrance Beach in the south for 20 miles, passes through Venice Beach and is wonderful to ride along. You can rent bikes along the path at Santa Monica Beach and ride for a few minutes to Venice Beach. The cold salt air and sun feels so good as you ride along. There are plenty of happy people who join you on the path.
There is a playground in the sand at the edge of the beach at Venice Beach near the skate park. A toddler structure, big kids playground, and two regular swings provide a place for kids to burn off energy.
It's not safe to walk around Venice at night alone, so be careful.
For a night-time promenade with street performers and great musicians, check out 3rd Street Promenade in nearby Santa Monica, a pretty, pedestrian-only area with many sidewalk cafes. It is lovely at night when the trees are lit up.

Directions

Exit the 405 Freeway westbound at Venice Blvd. Park at the end of Venice or Washington Blvds, or in the parking lots along Speedway. To find the parking lot at the end of Venice Blvd, use this address: 2098 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291. Parking costs around $9.

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