All of my guests who have visited me – Melissa, Biagio, and David-have one thing in common: they all want to se the World famous Venice Beach Boardwalk. “We have to see Venice Beach” is the universal cry of those who come to Los Angeles. People either revile it -calling it filthy, over-run by drugged out weirdos, beggars, and seedy peddlers -or they love its vibrant decadence, not to mention the stunning blue ocean it lies upon. Venice Beach is considered southern California’s number one tourist attraction.
Indeed, like Times Square, Hollywood, and other honky-tonk places, Venice Beach is a bit of a freak show, a great place for people watching, though maybe not one to linger too long in. On the west side of the “walk” are hundreds of street vendors and performers, a wild mix of oddballs – beggars offering “hugs for 25 cents” break-dancers, people who walk on broken glass, mimes, musicians, jugglers, and jesters. The Westside also offers unique arts and crafts, tacky oddities that may be totally original or mass produced. Paintings, photos, rocks of various sorts, and sculptures are among the popular offerings.
On the Eastside are the store fronts of the boardwalk. Each time I go I encounter all sorts of oddballs aggressively selling CDs, medical marijuana, and tattoos and your name on a grain of rice.
Located steps from the sand is Muscle Beach where Arnold Schwarzenegger fine-tuned his pulsating narcissism, as did “The Incredible Hulk” Lou Ferrigno.
For me, visiting Venice Beach is like eating chocolate: you know it’s not very good for you, but once in awhile you have to do it. At the very least one has a few good stories to share after getting home!
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I lived in southern California for over 20 years. I always remember the summer my niece (then 16 years old) came to visit. I got a bigger kick out of watching her reaction to Venice Beach than what was actually going on. Her eyes were popping out of her head. 🙂
I think I went to VB once. And, found that my beach was just as entertaining (I lived in Long Beach/Belmont Shores) and some of the nearby one ones, as well.
But, I do recall enjoying the view of the tourists….
Venice Beach not for me. Ha.
Hi Trish,
Thanks for sharing the wild and fun side of famous CA beaches! It’s so great to see and hear more about places some of us have never been able to get to. So as they say – speak no more & here it is . . .
Hope you continue to enjoy those very well planned out ventures!
-Lee 🙂
Venice Beach is a weird and wonderful place. Great blog, and thanks for posting sunny pictures on this overcast SoCal day!