Venice Beach

\r The original idea of Venice being a nice place to visit for some afternoon entertainment is gone. The performers that are out there don’t compare to what they were 10 years ago. Leave before dark or else you may and will be robbed. Do not take your children there; people are smoking drugs up and down the boardwalk. The shops have gone from souvenirs specialty stores to marijuana free medical card shops and tattoo shops. This place is not family friendly, if you are a tourist you may want to visit Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach or take the drive to Malibu. Maybe if I was 13 or 14 years old I would be amused and impressed by what Venice has to offer but with the latino gangs roaming everywhere I prefer to keep my family safe at a nicer and cleaner beach. The restrooms reek of piss and pot, I’m sure that there are still some nice places to see at Venice beach but I have Lived in S. California my entire life I’m now 34 years old and wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone; not tourist or locals. Check out L.A. live, go to Rodeo Drive, or the Hollywood walk of fame. Those places are better suited to accommodate the true S. California Experience. \r more

If you are a tourist, Venice Beach is on the list of things to do and see....If you are wanting to just go to the beach, there are some really nice beaches in Cali that are better suited to beach going, but if you want to see and be seen and buy touristy stuff this is the place to go. Beware of the area and your surroundings though. more

this is some place you have to see once, i recommend going in the afternoon and leaving before dark as some area's can become a bit sketch, but its really cool to see all the vendors more

If you're from out of town all you need is about 5 minutes walking down Venice beach to know everything you need to know about Southern California. There is no telling what you will see or who you will encounter. Definitely check it out. If you're from here you already know this place is classic and all of the crazy variety it has to offer, so stop wasting time on citysearch. more

Venice Beach used to be the place where you could show up at any hour of the day or night and enjoy yourself. Not anymore....Watch out for Vagrants that at first sight look like normal people but are actually on a crime spree. They target single females or people they think they can rob, and that can be anyone.\r \r The Robbers include: groups of young women, they've robbed people, who were unsuspecting of a group of young girls. Single young men, or a group of young men, who seem like tourist but are really drhug addicts. Watch out! Dont be caught unawares. Venice is not at all what it used to be. lots of drhug addicts, lots of crime.\r \r Single women used to be able to go down to the beach at night, not any more. There are guys looking out for just this situation, and they will rob and ghang rhape you...\r \r Be cautioned , be aware. Pros: beach, ecclectic vibe, italian sausage and potatoes with soda Cons: Crime Spree on unsuspecting persons, by people you wouldnt expect either more

Venice Beach, in Venice of course, is one of the stops I drag all of the out-of-town visitors to. It's dirty and a bit bizarre, but that's its appeal. Dare not plan to eat a healthy meal here, you won't find one. And watch your wallet, not because I know first-hand but just because it feels like you should. Avoid actually buying anything, it's all cheap garbage, but enjoy the walk and people watching. This is the bottom of society, which has somehow become glamorized. Avoid the residents. They tend to be mean, strange, or otherwise too hippie-ish. But take the loved one for a few hours. It's worth the trip. Pros: Hilarious Cons: Dirty more

I love Venice Beach! It's so much when I go...u get unique entertainment and vendors, ranging from artists to musicians to massage therapists...the beach water is surprisingly clean and the beach is never too packed....the food is great and cheap....large, i mean LARGE, slice of pizza for less than a buck fifty! ice cream, nachos...every treat imaginable for a great day at the beach...the little shops are great for different tastes...there are some really cool Jamaican shops that sell cool CD's that get you out of the Bob Marley-only listening...and you can get some really cool henna tattoos!! Pros: entertainment and food more

the bike trail between washington blvd and venice blvd. is full on sand , never clean , you have to be very carefull Pros: great place Cons: bike path full of sand.. you can't ride on the bo more

The last year I lived in California, I spent alot of Sundays at Venice Beach. It was great fun every time, easy parking, lots of sun, entertainment, an overall great day. Now in Oregon, I miss Venice very much--there is no comparison. I rarely go to the coast. Pros: good parking, guaranteed sun, long, easy bike trail more

venice beach is a great place to hang out and people watch. There are so many different types of people that you normally don't see walking around the mall. Its totally fun and if you love to people watch then venice is the place for you~ Pros: pretty, fun, inexpensive clothing Cons: kind of dirty, a tad crowded, too many birds more

Definetaly a place to try if you're in the LA area. Lots of fun to sit and watch all those interesting characters that walk by you. In a matter of minutes you've seen it all. Who knows, you may run into a film or video production as I did this weekend when Paulina Rubio was there filming as I was rollerblading this fun beach. Got to come out in it to as an extra. Extra cool!!! Pros: Inexpensive, Interesting, Fun Cons: shops close too early more

Truly a place to see everything. Characters abound and the beach is beautiful. A must see for visitors. Who hasn't heard of Venice Beach? more

This is a very fun place to visit. A very eclectic group of people and cool shops. If you want to get a quick bite to eat, there's plenty of little places that are inexpensive. more

This place is the true california dream. The beach, the people, the food... I like to bring my friends here who are visting california or just want to have a great unforgettable day. I can still tell you in detail everytime i have been here.. Dont worry i wont bore you but lets just say.. i wish everyday was a day in venice.... more

This is a fun beach. Very clean. Great for just sitting back and watching people. Bring a lunch or grab a lemonade and a hotdog. Can be romantic/touristy. Pros: Clean Cons: No parking more

Venice Beach and the ""Boardwalk"" hasn't changed in 25 years. Some of the faces are different, but the lifestyle and attitude remain unchanged. The area is a colorful mixture of locals, international visitors, and people who just want to have the experience. The Boardwalk vendors and performers make the visit worthwhile by themselves, but then you throw in the cleans beach and water along with beautiful sunsets and you have a great package. If you get tired of the Venice Beach scene, Santa Monica Pier is just a relaxing walk, north along the beach. Everyone has to visit at least once in their lives. more

I love to come here when i want a total califonia beach feeling. When the people that live in ohio and alabama dream about califonia this is a dream come true. So many fun places to explore and people to see and meet. A day to always remember for sure.... more

Aside from the evening gang bangers, Venice is a beautiful place! Beautiful women everywhere! The beach is not all that clean, but the acts, vendors, artist, and great foods make it a nice Sunday trip! A must see! BEWARE o f PARKING!!!! Pros: Beautiful People, Vendors, Artist Cons: Gang Bangers more

Recently had some friends in town from the East Coast and wanted to introduce them to some places that make L.A., L.A. Venice beach is an overload of people, art and side shows that titillate all of the senses. more

I love my new neighborhood. Steps from the sand and great neighborhood restaurants and bars, it doesn't get much better. Venice is best explored by beach cruiser, but walking works almost as well. Spend hours watching people get down at the disco roller rink or find out what the pyramid on the dollar bill really means. Whether you're surfing, jogging or just people watching, you'll find plenty to do for a day...or much longer. Pros: tons to do/see Cons: too many tourists more