"Venice, but in California" Top 5 Page for this destination Venice by giampiero6

Venice Travel Guide: 189 reviews and 336 photos

Developer Abbott Kinney has a dream of turning his piece of southern California into a kind of Venice of the Southwest. Canals were dredged and homes built, and the name of the Italian city bestowed upon this place. Not much remains of that vision, except of a few square blocks of canals. What does remain is incredibly picturesque and lovely. You won't believe you're in the middle huge sprawling LA and only a few steps from skanky weird-o-ville Venice.

Besides the canals, Venice is full of stuff to do. The beach full of Muscle heads, roller disco nuts, graffiti guys, nut jobs, bums, drunks, exhibitionists is where tourist seem to stroll and see the 'wildlife.' It's an interesting freak show. There are also a couple of good surf breaks near the Venice pier and infront of Muscle Beach an area called 1st. jetty.

Venice has lots of cool spots to hang out and a surprisingly great set of restaurants and antique shops (pop culture stuff too) located mostly on Abbot Kinney street. Check it out it's cool!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Lovely and Casual and Fun
Cons:A little seedy around the edges on the beach
In a nutshell:Beautiful, Weird, Fun, Great!

Intro Updated Jul 21, 2011
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Reviews (8)

Venice Beach Boardwalk is a Dump! Tourist Traps (1)

This is probably the nicest and most scenic picture you'll see of the Venice Boardwalk. For some reason, it is a major... more travel advice

Venice Farmer's Market Shopping (1)

The Venice Farmer's Market takes place on Saturday in the parking lots between Main and Pacific roughly at Ashland. It's... more travel advice

My Buddy, Frank the Surfing German - Venice

Surf Venice Pier and 1st. Jetty Sports & Outdoors (1)

If you are a surf accionado, Venice Beach actually offers some decent surfing near the Pier where Washington Blvd hits... more travel advice

Axe Azhay, Whatever Restaurants (4)

AXE is an elegant, meditative, organicky but not hippy dippy spot on Abbot Kinney that opened about 1 year ago. The food... more travel advice

Things to Do (1)
Venice Canals

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Travelogues (1)

Written Jan 13, 2003

8 photos

The Venice Canals

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Comments (34)

sunsea Dec 10, 2010 at 1:58 AM Report Abuse

I just love Venice! Great tips about LA. Greetings from cold, white Stockholm!
giampiero6 May 19, 2010 at 12:00 PM Report Abuse

Yes, here is what we say in Venice, California: " Schèi e osèi, fin chè ghe nè, ciapèi"
Kajron May 19, 2010 at 11:52 AM Report Abuse

They must speak VEnetian Language now!
travelgourmet Jan 26, 2010 at 11:41 AM Report Abuse

Ciao G. One of our friends recently leased out a 3 story condo over the boardwalk stores. To see the dump below and the money spent on the condos above is very weird. Primitivo looks like a great tapas bar. Great photo of the canal. L
JessieLang Aug 12, 2009 at 10:00 PM Report Abuse

I think I'd still rather go to the one in Italy!
Redang Jun 8, 2009 at 9:44 AM Report Abuse

Hi Giampiero, pleased meeting you in Portugal; greetings from Madrid!
Basaic Jan 29, 2009 at 4:13 PM Report Abuse

All I bought at the boardwalk was postcards.
Pawtuxet Dec 12, 2008 at 7:03 AM Report Abuse

First time I've visited a page on Venice. I LOVE the canals! Absolutely gorgeous.
monina_c Dec 2, 2008 at 5:58 PM Report Abuse

happy birthday!
rozehill Oct 31, 2008 at 12:56 PM Report Abuse

It was amazing to see these pretty wee canals in the such an area of LA and your a right the area is quiet. That boardwalk was a little crappy and 30 mins was enough!