Venice Beach

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Venice Beach

Overview: Ever thought about getting a tattoo? Okay, maybe you’re afraid of taking the plunge into such a permanent commitment. You can still scare the bejeezus out of your friends and family with a temporary henna tattoo. At Venice Beach in Los Angeles, you can get a real tattoo or a fake one just the same.

Whenever a visitor from out of state or the country comes to Los Angeles, Venice Beach is always at the top of the list to show visitors. Venice Beach has the sun and the surf. In the sun, Venice Beach also has the super shredded, legendary outdoor gym, Muscle Beach where Arnold Schwartzenegger used to pump iron. Venice Beach can be a little dizzying because it offers so many sights and activities. You can check out the iron pumping action at Muscle Beach or play paddle tennis or basketball at one of the many courts next to the gym. Or, laze around with a pizza and drink or at one of the several cafes with patios. Venice Beach abounds with colorful retail, sidewalk shops and stands as well. Along the boardwalk and off, there are some local flavor bars such as Nikki’s on Market Street.

At the center of the Venice Beach experience is the Venice Beach Boardwalk. This is where the bizarre and hilarious meet the road. You have to experience the spectacle of Venice Beach Boardwalk. The curious and adventurous flock to the boardwalk to watch gold painted robotic men turn on and move their limbs for a quarter or more, talented and not so talented street singers, dancers, the insane trinket tables, fortune tellers and just your average crazy person doing odd things to make a buck or two.

Venice Beach is located just south of Santa Monica Beach, starting around Ashland Ave and ending at Washington Blvd. Some popular streets dissecting Main St and Pacific Ave (both runs parallel to the beach) are Rose Ave, Windward Ave and Westminster. A couple of words caution come to mind about the Venice area. First, finding a parking spot can be a rather difficult feat. Most of the streets west of Main and a lot east of Main Street are permit-only spots. There are plenty of parking spaces but you will have to pay an arm and a leg at those parking lots in the Venice area.

The other word of caution is that Venice can be dangerous at night time. Don’t stroll around unlit streets. Stay on Main St or in Abbott Kinney.

Parking Cost: Windham Ave and Rose Ave both have metered parking as well as parking lots. Metered parking spots are extremely difficult to grab since the streets are so busy.

Accessibility: The Venice Beach Boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. The Venice area has more of a rough character. So are the streets and sidewalks.

Restrooms: The restrooms are wheelchair accessible but the stench and sometimes the people loitering leave a little something to be desired. Check with one of the larger restaurants to use the restrooms.

Getting There: www.metro.net, www.bigbluebus.com, www.ladottransit.com