Amazing diversity is what makes Los Angeles one of the best destinations in the United States. For locals it means the ability to hop in the car in your own familiar neighborhood, drive a few miles, and then step out into a world completely different from the one you came from. For travelers, it means the ability to customize your experience in Los Angeles based on your interests, or maybe even your bucket list. One very unique destination within the city of Los Angeles is Venice.
Venice is one of the many Los Angeles beach cities. It is south of Santa Monica and north of Marina del Rey. Originally called "Venice of America", it was founded in 1905 by tobacco millionaire Abbot Kinney. Kinney dug miles of canals to drain the marshy land upon which he then build his dream seaside resort. By 1911, it was not unusual for Southern California’s nod to its Italian namesake to draw crowds of 150,000 tourists on the weekends. The Venice of old featured the Venice Scenic Railway, an aquarium, Racing Derby, a hot salt water plunge, gondolas, and over a mile of beautiful, gently sloping beaches.
After Kinney’s death in 1920, Venice became increasingly difficult to manage. It was proposed that Venice be annexed to Los Angeles. Lifelong Venice residents were staunchly opposed, but many Los Angeles residents moved to Venice just to sway the vote and in 1925 Venice became a part of Los Angeles. The annexation coupled with the Depression was too much for Venice to take, and by the 1950’s it was referred to as "The Slum by the Sea". In the 1960’s low rents for run-down beach bungalows attracted young counterculture artists, poets and writers. Today, that artistic counterculture influence has blossomed to make Venice one of the most vibrant and eclectic areas of Southern California and one definitely worth a piece of your vacation time.
Venice is easily accessible from the Los Angeles International Airport. It is best experienced on foot, so the best option is fly into LAX and then book an airport shuttle through Shuttle2LAX.com directly to Venice. Pack a comfortable pair of walking shoes, and your shuttle to LAX returning you back home will be your only transportation expense.
With regards to accommodations, the best way to truly experience the essence of Venice is by using Air BnB to secure your home away from home. With rates ranging from $1200 per night for a 2 bedroom ultra modern loft located just above the action on Abbott Kinney to $70 per night to stay on a 48’ yacht to $35 per night to sleep on Amber’s comfy couch in her walking street bungalow, AirBnB has something for everyone.
For daytime entertainment, you need go no further than The Boardwalk that follows the mile of Venice beachfront. Although it doesn’t have any boards, this "boardwalk" has more than enough to keep you perfectly entertained. That eclectic, hippy era from the 60’s hasn’t ended yet in Venice … you can see a two-headed turtle, get your palm read, watch street acrobatic teams or join an impromptu drum circle on the beach. For evening entertainment, all you need to do is find your way to Abbott Kinney Boulevard. Here you will find the night air energized with people, food, music and fun. Better to go with no plan and follow your fancy. Amazing restaurants and shops abound, but make sure you reserve at least one evening (or maybe EVERY evening) to taste test the endless variety of Venice’s award winning food trucks, which you will find parked all along Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
When the time comes to return home, I have no doubt that your visit to Venice will leave feeling as if you truly have experienced something absolutely unique. Welcome to Los Angeles.
