Walk, people watch, shop, and be entertained on the Venice Beach Boardwalk! There is something for everyone on Venice’s world famous Oceanfront Walk. Fun for the entire family!
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ABOUT: The World famous Venice Beach Boardwalk is not to be missed. If you are visiting the Los Angeles area, you owe it to yourself to come to Southern California’s number one visitor attraction. Stretching about one a half miles along the manicured sands of the Pacific Ocean, the boardwalk is a large part of what makes Venice unique. On the west side of the “walk” are hundreds of street vendors and performers. You can see everything from break-dancing to broken glass walking. Mimes to musicians, jugglers to jesters and everything in between make up the human landscape. You can have your fortune read, get a temporary tattoo or have your name written on a grain of rice. If souvenirs is what you are after then the boardwalk is the place to go. The Westside offers unique arts and crafts, odds and ends and one of kinds only obtainable here. Paintings, photos, rocks of various sorts and sculptures are among the popular offerings. On the Eastside are the store fronts of the boardwalk. Here you will find every sort of t-shirt under the sun. From the politically motivated to sexually charged to the plain old Venice Beach t-shirt there is sure to be one for everybody. In addition, there are tattoo and piercing stores, skate and surf shops, medical marijuana dispensaries and more. You can buy sun glasses, vaporizers, beer and shoes. This is all in addition to the large selection of restaurants, juice spots and bars. In summary, packed into its one and a half mile, the boardwalk has more diversity in demographics and retail then probably anywhere else in the world. There is reason it so famous. Come and see for yourself!
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SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
The Veniceʼs boardwalk has got to be the coolest ocean front walk in the world! There are hundreds of things to do, and here a few:
- Get a tattoo! Check out the artists at Black Rose Tattoo at 1701
Oceanfront Walk. They have mad skills! From portrait to negative spacing to ultra realism these guy are the top of the craft. Black Rose Tattoo – 1701 Oceanfront Walk (424) 238 5620.
- Rent a Segway or an IO hawk! Cruise the town in style and get around quickly. Enjoy the sights on some of the new transport machines around. The Segway and the IoHawk (the original hover board developed by Tony Hawk) are super fun and a must try activity. Venice Segway Rental: 1501 Oceanfront Walk, (424) 216-0822 or (310) 399-0700.
- Rent a skateboard or skate the park! Check out Maui and Sons for the best in high performance skateboard sales, rentals and lessons! Maui and Sons: 1415 Oceanfront Walk, (310) 392 6284.
- Take a moment to enjoy a performance by one of the boardwalk performers . We have performers eating fire, walking on glass, singing, break dancing, standing on stilts while juggling very large knives, singing, playing instruments and more. As well, stop and take a moment to listen to the newest sounds and beats from one of our Local Venice Artists.
- Buy some handmade art from a real starving artist. There is a guy named Cacaguat who sets up near 17th ave. and has the some of best original paintings around. They are steeped in vibrant colors and dark Mexican folklore.
- If you are a shopper or love to browse, the Venice Boardwalk is filled with everything and anything you can imagine and more. Check out some of the best souvenirs here!
- Get a henna tattoo from the Cruz brothers @ 17th and the Boardwalk, they are the original and still the best Henna guys out there.
- Check out Eddie between Westminster and Market for a custom toe-ring. Unique, fun and personal!!
- Get your medical marijuana card, buy some weed and partake in a local tradition.
- Sit on a bench and watch the freak show roll by. You could even join the Krishna parade when they dance by. They welcome additional participants and the song they sing only has four words, so it is quite user friendly.
- Buy a t-shirt, 3 for $10 at most places. Or, we have some “made in LA” at the American Apparel store. I like the one that has a picture of the devil and the caption says: God is busy, can I help you?
- Grab a work out or pose down at the Muscle Beach Gym. It costs $10 for a day pass. They have bumper weights to rival any Olympic or Powerlifting spot around and you get all of the color of the boardwalk to enjoy between sets. Also, the pass price includes access to a heavy bag and a speed bag. Very cool place, even if at times it is overrun with bikini clad men prancing around like they are lost the 80ʼs.
- Skate or watch the action at the 27,000 sq. foot Venice Skatepark. Two bowls, snake run, rails, stairs, and more!
- Keep your eyes out for amazing Venice murals and sculptures.
- Visit or paint the Venice Art Walls!
- Read poetry at the Venice Poetry Walls
- Check out the Tour of Venice Murals on the Venice Beach Boardwalk.
- Watch, or play basketball, our court is portrayed in the film American History X.
- Play a game of paddle tennis or handball, or do some bar work or rings at Venice Beach Recreation and Parks
- Let your kids run free at the children’s park! Two play areas available.
- Looking for an outdoor patio on the Venice Beach Boardwalk? Best places to people watch, eat and drink are The Sidewalk Cafe and On The Waterfront Cafe
- Go to High Rooftop Lounge, which is on the roof of Hotel Erwin, and have a cocktail overlooking the entire boardwalk from 4 stories up.
- Drink Austrian hefeweizen at On The Waterfront Cafe – where the brew is good as the view!
- Watch live music at Venice Bistro. Doors tribute band Peace Frog plays every Sunday!
- Buy a hat or an alien sculpture at Titanic.
- Have a drink at the Townhouse -Del Monte Speakeasy! Venice’s oldest bar was once a prohibition speakeasy!
- Visit Danny’s Venice to view historical images and artifacts of Venice, the original 1906 Venice Gondola, & Rip Cronk’s “Hobnobbing in Venice” mural. An eclectic eatery offering a mix of California cuisine and comfort food favorites.
- Sport fan? Watch the games at the Sidewalk Cafe, Danny’s or On The Waterfront Cafe
- Eat and relax at James Beach, Hama Sushi, Barlo Kitchen and Cocktails
- Click here for Venice Happy hours!
- Check out this list of best places to eat and drink on the Venice Boardwalk!
PARKING: City parking lots, private lots and street parking available.
- South City Parking Lot: 2100 Ocean Front Walk. Venice, Ca 90291. (End of N. Venice Blvd.)
- North City Parking Lot: 300 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, Ca. 90291. (End of Rose Ave)
- Washington Blvd. Lot: 3100 Washington Boulevard, Venice, Ca 90291 (By the Venice Pier)
Click here for additional parking, directions & visitor’s info!
Over 111 things to do in Venice, Ca area! Check out the Venice Activities Checklist!
