Venice Beach
One of the LA area's more popular beaches, including the infamous Muscle Beach which the city has set up as an outdoor weightlifting gym for the local hulks. People watching along Venice Beach is something to put on your "things to do before you die" list. Think of the scene as a Bohemian-Mardis Gras-Beach Blanket Bingo-Circus. If that doesn't make any sense, well neither does Venice and that's the charm. Every summer day and every weekend, join the parade of humanity strolling amongst amazing and bizarre street performers, obscenely bulging body builders at Muscle Beach, eclectic shops and street vendors, panhandlers, and beautiful, scantily clad, people desperately seeking attention. Go ahead and stare at it all. That's the point. Walking is fine but if you like to bike there is a great path along the beach. There are many places to rent bikes. You cannot however ride them on the pedestrian street
Venice Pier
Venice Pier offers parking, fishing and access to the beach below. Just before the Pier on Washington Blvd., there are numerous restaruants for fine dining or a quick bite, and great places for an evening of drinking. Plus, there are numerous shops for all your beach needs -- from swim suits and sunglasses, to sunscreen and sweatshirts.
Yearly Events There are always exciting things happening at Venice Beach. During the Winter months, start the Holidays with the Venice Canal Holiday Boat Parade, usually the second Sunday of the month of December. Watch the small, non-motorized boats punt or row down the canals in their finest -- and funnest -- holiday decore, brilliantly lit and costumed as only Venice can. Then on January first, join the Venice Penguin Swim Club for their Annual "Chilly" Swim at noon off the beach north of Venice Blvd. and south of Windward Ave.
In Spring, celebrate the home and garden, during the month of May, with the Venice Garden & Home Tour usually the first weekend in May. This self-guided tour of local Venice homes and gardens also benefits a local Venice charity. Also in mid-May there is the Venice Annual Art Walk in the Abbot Kinney area, again benefitting a local charity.
Summer celebrates the outdoors with Venice Beach Carnevale -- usually the first weekend in June. Outdoor musical and dance performances plus lively costumed participants highlight the soul of Venice. Food, fire-spinners, belly dancers, live theatre and prizes for the best dressed. Also during the Summmer months are various bodybuilding and figure contest, including the Venice Championships Memorial Day Weekend and early September and Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach July 4th.
Fall celebrates the arts with the Venice Music Festival mid-September and the Abbot Kinney Blvd. Festival that honors arts and crafts, live music, family fun and food end of September.