I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time thn going to Venice Beach. Named after the canals of Venice, Italy, Venice Beach boasts their own canals. A few blocks from the beach is a small neighborhood that has canals instead of roads going past their houses. Sidewalks are built alongside of the canals so that anyone can stroll down this beautiful area.

Venice Beach is set up to encourage activity. Bike paths are built running down the shore for bikers, joggers, or anyone on wheels. Other side walks are built closer to the houses so that anyone walking can enjoy the unusual architecture of the houses built here. It seems that homeowners try to out-do each other by not only building their dream house, but the more unusual the better. Several are all glass but my two favorites were done in a Buddhist/Asian style and the other was a tree house.

If you continue to walk south on the path, you’ll end up in Marina Del Ray (our beaches are on top of one another), but if you head north, towards Santa Monica, you’ll hit the shops. Past the houses is a series of shops that sell the usual souvenirs including sarongs, sunglasses, and incense. Bring cash because most of these shops don’t take credit cards. Street acts are also abundant here. Around this area, the famous Muscle Beach can be found. Stop for a few moments to watch oversized men bench press your body weight several times over.

On a section of the beach is a skate park that is covered in graffiti. Usually the graffiti in LA detracts from the area, but some how it adds to the natural beauty of the area. Walls, trash cans, rock, and even palm trees are covered in color.

Near the skate park there is a breaker. During low tide you can walk out to it and take beautiful picture of the ocean and the water breaking on the rocks without getting wet.

The ocean itself is wonderful. Lifeguard stands are everywhere. The coast guard is also patrolling the water and security driving up and down the beach.

This beach is a lot of fun! Its a great place to play and to work on that tan. The sand is clean but like all sand gets hot. It can get crowded but its not that bad. I recommend going towards evening which almost guarantees less people. There are restrooms and showers available. Parking lots are located along the beach for a nominal fee. Shops are abundant in this area and offer great souvenirs to take home. Sometimes there can be pesky street vendors so watch out.

Well I kinda ran out of room on my last review and I had some more pictures I really wanted to share on Venice Beach.

Venice Beach really was a neat place and you can be there all day and not even realize it. Times flies so fast when you are out here and you don't even realize it.

Also, I mentioned in the other review that the end of Venice Beach runs into Santa Monica Beach. If you get done or bored with Venice, you walk or ride right on over to Santa Monica Beach and enjoy the activities it has to offer.

We did not make it all the way to the activities so I do not know much about what it has to offer, but I do know they ave a theme park right on the beach, and from a distance it is pretty cool to see.

Well I hope that I did not overwhelm you with too much information, its just that Venice Beach has so much to offer and I could not tell you about with out hitting on the things that I did.

Have a great time and enjoy and variety of exerince and entertainment. 

I think this beach is a true example of what Southern California is all about.

Venice Beach is one of the most popual beaches in Southern California,known for its liberality, muscles, and beauty. This beach strand is the most eclectic and unique, with its own style.

Let me just start with saying that when My husband and I went on this vacation I was 6 months pregant. I walked around this place for close to 2 hours and could not believe how great I felt. Do, however, make sure you use sun screen because you will get the sun.

Venice Beach is similar to many beaches in that it had a boardwalk and then the beach was on the other side, what makes this beach just a bit diffrent is its style. It is very liberal and you can expect to see many things. There are people walking around with matresses and clothes and all their belongings, living right there on the beach, several starving artists, whether musical, drawing, or painting. So many of then have stands or just there work laying on the ground that you can buy, of course the musicans just play and have a case opened for you to drop money in. There are many shops, mostly souvenir and gift shops with stuff that has Venice Beach on it (which I could not help but to buy), but there are also your typical swim and surf shops and other just casual shopping. Pretty much anything you could imagine, they had. There are also many places to eat, from the nice and fancy to just a hotdog and fries on a dirty table. But once again, there is so much to choose from. They have Mexcian, seafood, pizza, burgers, and many other things I have never even heard of.

Venice Beach is also well know for its muscles and working out, with two major gyms right on the the beach. It's the home of the first Gold's Gym, and also home of the famous Muscle Beach. You can see many tanned men and women working out right before your eyes.

Venice beach has a huge skate park decorated with graffiti and lots of skaters. Being from a small conservative town in Texas this was very unique and interseting to see. Of course there are other things to do like volleyball, swim, and stroll the beach, the beach almost looks vacant when you see the people walking up and down the strand, but there are people out there, and they do have life gaurds.

The beach also has places along it where you can rent bikes, rollerblades, surf boards, boogie boards, and many other things.

At the end of Venice beach is the begining of Santa Monica Beach, which is the home of a theme park right on the beach. (You have probably see this on many movies and shows.)

Next time you are in Los Angeles come to Venice Beach. You are sure to find something that fits your taste, and be prepared for a long day.

This is one of the coolest places I have ever been! It's like a 5-mile party! Besides being the most beautiful beach I have ever seen, there are some of the coolest people there. You will see everything from a man in a Lord of the Rings costume to a homeless guy claiming to be "the biggest wino." It is so much fun! You can rent bikes to cruise around on, or you can rollerblade or skateboard. It has been used in movies like crazy. If you have ever heard of Muscle Beach, you can see it (and the totally hot guys) for yourself! It truly is the most awesome beach experience you will ever see!