Today, Venice is a residential and commercial beachfront neighborhood of Los Angeles, but when it was first founded in 1905, as seaside resort-town, it was an independent city and remained so up until 1926 when it officially became part of the city of Los Angeles.

Venice is known for its unique and eclectic mix of architectures and arts; here you will find street artists, musicians, performers, fortune-tellers and more; and it has been righteously labeled as a “cultural hub known for its eccentricities”.

Venice Beach is one of the most visited areas of Venice, famous for many attractions and shops located along the Pacific Ocean. The Ocean Front Walk is a two-and-a-half-mile pedestrian-only promenade alongside the ocean; here you will find vendors, local shops and street artists performing throughout the day. Locals regularly use the basketball courts, paddle tennis courts, handball courts, and the fishing pier. Two of the most famous attractions are Muscle Beach, the open-air gym for bodybuilders, and the Skate Dancing Plaza, where people perform with their skateboards.

Los Angeles Attractions and Activities Map

 

Another famous area of Venice is the Venice Canal Historic District, here you will see the famous canals, bridges, and single-family townhouses with immaculate front-lawns. This neighborhood was planned in 1905 by the developer Abbot Kinney; he wanted to create a “Venice of America ” recreating the look & feel of Venice, Italy. In 1982, the historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You should plan to spend at least half a day visiting Venice and its many attractions; there are many tours and excursions of this area, and often you can decide to visit Venice and the adjacent Santa Monica together.