We got a break from the winter chill in recent days and the California sun came out in all its glory! It was perfect weather for the great outdoors so we stepped outside and went for a beach walk. We headed to the famous Venice Beach near Los Angeles which is 30 miles farther north along the Pacific coastline. The last time we visited here we brought guests from out-of-town.
Venice Beach is famous for its eclectic boardwalk, muscle beach gym, funky graffiti art, and bohemian vibe.
Finding a parking spot in Venice is usually a hassle, especially on weekends, but not today. We found ample space at the South City Parking Lot; parking fee: $10. It was a superb location - just a few strides to the boardwalk.
TWO-MILE BOARDWALK
Venice Beach has a lively boardwalk that even upstages the beach and the ocean. It is an interesting venue to watch people of all eccentricities, both local and from abroad. It draws a crowd every day of the week. There’s always a myriad of street vendors on both sides of the walkway -tattoo shops, art stands, fortune tellers, food stalls, and even street entertainers. Look at what’s on the boardwalk today:
MUSCLE BEACH GYM
Very close to the Boardwalk is an area of the beach called Muscle Beach, which houses an outdoor gymnasium right on the sand, for weightlifting. It was so named because it used to be the home of serious bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went on to win many bodybuilding contests - five times as Mr. Universe and seven times as Mr. Olympia! Most days, hard bodies and spectators alike gather around the area, but today the gym was closed. 😔
If you want to pump iron in this gym, a daily pass will cost you $10. If you’re a senior aged 60 and up, you get a 50% discount.
SKATEPARK and BIKE PATH
Located on the sand closer to the water, Venice Beach has a wide skate park with lots of skateboarding elements. It was built with rails, stairs, and ledges, and it's free to use by savvy skateboarders and beginners alike. It is so popular that at the height of the pandemic (stay-home orders were in place) when it was covered by authorities with sand to prevent skaters from going out to use it, a community of “rogue” local skateboarders went to clear the sand to take it back - using shovels!
If you want to show off your skateboarding tricks, bring your safety gear; skate for free from 9 AM to sunset.
Venice Beach also has a bike path that extends 22 miles to other beach cities. One has to be careful since it is curved in some areas and sometimes, sand gets into the bikes.
There are arrows on the path that show the direction for bikes and pedestrians, but who’s watching?
VENICE GRAFFITI WALLS
Did you know that graffiti painting in Venice is not illegal? Yes, it was legalized in 2000. See the free-standing graffiti walls and cones near the water? They are dedicated to graffiti artists, who care to display their creative streaks. Elsewhere in Los Angeles, graffiti spray painting is considered vandalism, a misdemeanor punishable by fine or community service. Anyone is welcome to paint the walls; it’s first come first served on weekends. Just bring your paint.
PRIDE LIFEGUARD TOWER
At the north end of the skate park stands a rainbow-painted Pride Flagstar Lifeguard Tower built by Venice Pride, an organization that aims to serve the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. The colorful tower was unveiled in 2017 and is popular for taking pictures. It sure attracts a lot of spectators and photographers.
And the sunset caught up with us. Time to go!
Thanks for the read!