Venice Beach

The first time I saw it in 1989, I fell in love with it.

I had driven south from San Francisco along Pacific Coast Highway and eventually I arrived in Santa Monica, followed immediately by Venice Beach. The rest of LA had to wait. I just wanted to see this place I had heard about. And I was not disappointed.

Unfortunately, it took me 30 years to return. In 2019, I finally set foot once again on Venice Beach and loved it even more.

Oh, I know it's not for everyone. Some people want a beach with a much more upscale environment, fewer young males and tourists, and a less unmistakably urban feel. But Venice Beach in Los Angeles is still my favorite beach of all, edging out Ocean Beach in San Francisco and even the contiguous Santa Monica State Beach. It has all the right ingredients for me personally: a liberal, bohemian atmosphere, wide expanses of sand next to stretches of grass and trees, individualistic houses and apartments, weird stores, street performers and artists, vendors selling cheap merchandise, exercise facilities (skateboarding, weightlifting, basketball) which encourage people watching, funky restaurants, a boardwalk with acceptance of everyone, frequently good weather and spectacular sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. You can run, cycle or just hang out. It's as if Washington Square Park, parts of Greenwich Village and the bicycle path along West Street in Manhattan were all expanded in size 50 times, relocated under palm trees and set in sunshine and warm temperatures along the seashore. It's not quite duplicated anywhere else and it's the most naturally "high" beach I have ever been to.

While some aspects of the beach have changed since my original visit, many things have not. For example, there are no expensive high rises (which would ruin it). The basic nature of Venice remains as it always has: super relaxed and a mash up of people doing their thing and engaging with each other while others observe them doing it. It's cool and carefree. Just dodge the cyclists, runners and skateboarders, and you will be fine, whether it's 30 years ago or now.