When people plan their trip to Los Angeles you will probably find Venice Beach on their list. It’s definitely one of the places you have to see when you’re in LA because it has such a special vibe. I usually compare it to the Camden Lock Market in London because the vibe is very similar. If you’ve been there you know what I’m talking about. There’s street art, shops where you can find the craziest clothes and souvenirs, street artists etc.
Venice Beach is also famous for the so-called Muscle Beach – an outdoor gym that contributed to the success of bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can see bodybuilders there every day who workout and enjoy the attention of the people walking by.
In Venice Beach you will also find restaurants and cafes overlooking the wide sandy beach and the ocean. A perfect place for lunch or coffee. You will see street artists, breakdancers and skaters there as well as people who sunbathe on one of the most famous beaches in Los Angeles (next to Santa Monica Beach).
Besides Venice Beach, however, there is a real insider tip that is only a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Venice Beach…the Venice Canals.
The Venice Canals have been built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney (the Abbot Kinney Boulevard – Venice’s most popular street for shopping and dining – was named after him). He wanted to recreate the Italian city Venice and bring a bit of Europe and the Italian charm to America. Along the canals, there are several walking paths that are connected with small bridges.
You might remember one of those bridges because one scene of the movie “Valentine’s Day” with Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx and many other famous actors has been filmed there.
Also worth seeing are the houses that line the canals. Each of them has its own design and charm. Most of the houses in this exclusive residential area cost more than $ 2 million. You can feel the peace and quiet there and you are only a few minutes away from the lively Venice Beach.
If you are in Los Angeles and visit Venice Beach be sure to take a detour to the Venice Canals and have lunch at one of the trendy restaurants on Abbot Kinney Blvd.
xx
Alissa
