Venice Beach

Overview

Venice Beach is LA's most eclectic and colorful boardwalk — a carnival of street performers, Muscle Beach bodybuilders, skaters at the famous skatepark, murals, and bohemian counterculture.

Highlights

• Ocean Front Walk: The famous boardwalk lined with artists, vendors, and performers.
• Venice Skatepark: A world-class skatepark right on the beach, featured in countless films.
• Muscle Beach: The outdoor gym where bodybuilding legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger trained.

History

Founded in 1905 by Abbot Kinney as a beach resort modeled on Venice, Italy, with actual canals. The neighborhood became a beatnik and counterculture hub in the 1960s.

Visitor Tips

• Afternoon Energy: The boardwalk is most vibrant in the afternoon.
• Canals Walk: Don't miss the actual Venice Canals residential area three blocks inland.
• Duration: 2 hours.