Venice

Venice is a beach district in Los Angeles that stretches along the Pacific coastline and features a wide pedestrian boardwalk lined with palm trees and low-rise buildings. Behind the beachfront lie narrow alleys with shops, cafés, and residences, while the canals a few blocks inland form small waterways crossed by pedestrian bridges.

Tobacco magnate Abbot Kinney founded the district in the early twentieth century as an independent beach resort with Italian-inspired canals and gondola rides. After economic difficulties, it became part of Los Angeles and transformed over the decades from an amusement destination to an artists' enclave and eventually into an expensive residential area.

The district's canals wind through quiet residential streets where ducks swim between bridges and locals stroll along narrow footpaths. The beach itself serves as an open stage for basketball players, street artists, and musicians who showcase their skills daily.

The boardwalk is best visited in the morning or late afternoon when crowds are lighter and the sun is less intense. The canal neighborhoods are easily accessible on foot or by bicycle and offer a quieter alternative to the busy beach area.

The public skate park attracts skaters from around the world who practice tricks in the curved concrete bowls while being watched by onlookers. Some of the older canal houses still preserve original architectural details from the founding era and are protected as historic structures.

Location: Los Angeles

Inception: 1905

Shares border with: Mar Vista, Santa Monica

Website: http://laparks.org/venice

GPS coordinates: 33.99083,-118.45917

Latest update: December 4, 2025 14:20