No trip to Venice is complete without visiting each of the listed attractions and unique neighborhoods that make up our city!   View and print out the Venice Checklist and map!  Enjoy!

1.  GO TO THE  BEACH: Surf, swim, body board and splash around in the Pacific Ocean. Go for a deep sand run or power walk in ankle deep water. Sunbathe & relax. Keep an eye out for dolphins. Volleyball courts also available.

2  WALK THE  VENICE BOARDWALK:   Street performers, artists, tourists locals, restaurants and bars, shops, souvenirs, and more! There is something for everyone on Venice’s world famous Oceanfront Walk.  

3.  TAKE A BIKE RIDE ALONG THE COAST.  Our oceanfront bike trail (no pedestrians allowed) stretches 17 miles from Pacific Palisades to Palos Verdes.  You can rent bikes from J’s Rental’s on Windward Ave. by the hour or day for a great rate.  And, they have surfboards, skateboards, roller skates, blades, surf and skate lesson,  and other things as well.

4.   VISIT ABBOT KINNEY BLVD.:    This trendy boulevard, named for the city’s founder, is full of hip boutiques, amazing restaurants and bars, coffee shops, art galleries,and beautiful people. 2F

5.  STROLL THE CANALS:  Many of the streets in Venice were once canals. What is left is just a fraction of once abundant waterways, which were laid out by city founder Abbot Kinney to be a miniature version of Venice, Italy. H24

6.  Watch the action of the VENICE SKATEPARK!   27,000 sq. foot park. Two bowls, snake run, rails, stairs. D5

7.  HANG OUT AT WASHINGTON SQUARE: Great restaurants, bars, shops, and people watching are the main activities in this neighborhood.   3H

8.  VENICE PIER:   Walk to the end of the pier for a breathtaking view, go fishing or watch the surfers!  5H

9.  HISTORIC WINDWARD AVE: Home of the Venice Sign, Venice’s only museum Danny’s, Venice’s oldest bar the Townhouse, Robert Graham’s Venice Torso, Venice’s famous colonnade, and murals including “Hobnobbing in Venice” and “Kinesis”. E4

10.  VISIT or PAINT THE VENICE ART WALLS:   These historic walls were originally part of the Venice Pavilion that was built in 1961. In 2000, it became legal to paint the walls and the area was renamed the Venice Graffiti Walls.   In 2007, the walls were renamed the Venice Public Art Walls or the Venice Art Walls for short..D5

11.  ENJOY ROSE AVE.: Unique restaurants, cutting edge fashion, workout studios, salons & more. 2A

12.  Check out the N. Venice Blvd. arts district Pacific Residents Theatre, SPARC and Beyond Baroque.

13.  PLAY AT VENICE RECREATION AND PARKS CENTER: Venice’s ocean front recreation is known the world over! From the iconic Muscle Beach Gym to the basketball courts, no trip to Venice is complete without a day in the park.  D5

Here is a list of our awesome park’s facilities:

• MUSCLE BEACH GYM: Outdoor gym with free weights, machines, power rack, powerlifting bumpers & more. Bodybuilder Hall of Fame also found here.   Open daily: 8am-7pm. $10 day pass. Weekly pass $50. Year pass: $190 F5
• BASKETBALL COURTS: 3 regulation & 1 stadium size court. F5
• CHILDREN’S PARK: Two play areas with swings and slides. A5 & E5
• BOXING AREA: 6 speedbag platforms, 2 heavy bag areas. G5
• GYMNASTIC AREA: Also know as the “sand pit” includes two rings set, high & low parallel bars, balance bar, horizontal bar, and 2 climbing ropes. G5
• SKATEPARK: 27,000 sq. foot park. Two bowls, snake run, rails, stairs. D5
• SKATE PLAZA: rails, mini-wave, transitions. D5
• ROLLER SKATE PLAZA: Live D.J. and dancing every weekend. D5
• HANDBALL COURTS: 4 three wall courts and 3 one wall courts. F5
• PADDLE TENNIS COURTS: 11 courts. G5

Note:  Recreation & Parks office offers: handball, basketball, boxing bag rentals free with valid I.D. Paddle tennis racquet rental $5 with valid I.D., instructors also available. Courts are first come first served. Park closed: 12am-5am 1800 Oceanfront Walk . 310.399.2775 or 310.396.6764

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14.  TAKE THE SELF GUIDED CULTURAL WALKING TOUR.  Venice’s streets are home to the work of many artists. Follow the gold stars on the map to check some of Venice’s street art, history and attractions.  Click here to view map!

• The Venice Sign: When Venice of America opened for business and fun back in 1905, there was the Venice sign, glowingly strung across Windward Ave.In 2007 it was recreated. E4
• Venice Torso by Robert Graham E3
• 20’ Ceramic Sculpture by William Attaway  E5.
• 60’ V-Sculpture by Mark di Suvero. E5
• Ballerina Clown sculpture created in 1988 by Jonathan Borofsky. A3
• Binocular Building A3
• The Venice Beach House  by L.A. architect Frank Gehry.  H5
• Visit or paint at the  Venice Art Walls.  Also known as the Venice Graffiti Walls.   The Venice Art Walls are located on the sand in Venice Beach. These historic walls were originally part of the Venice Pavilion that was built in 1961. Artists with permits can paint on the walls.  E5
• Check out the Beyond Baroque Poetry Walls:!   The words of Jim Morrison of the Doors, Manazar Gamboa, Philomene Long,  Exene Cervenka of the Punk Rock band X, actor Viggo Mortensen, and others are engraved in the concrete walls of the LAPD substation and three public restrooms exterior shower walls.E5
• Check out the Tour of Venice Murals created by the Social and Public Art Resource Center

• Keep your eye out for these amazing Venice Murals!

• Arnold Schwarzenegger – mural by Jonas Never F4
• Jim Morrison -mural by Rip Cronk F4
• Venice Kinesis- mural by Rip Cronk E4
• Venice Beach House- mural by Rip Cronk D5
• Portrait of Abbot Kinney (A tribute to Venice’s founder is 50’ x 20’) – mural by Rip Cronk G4
• A Touch of Venice mural by Jonas Never. E4
• Endangered Species by Emily Winters C5.
• Look out for additional street art by Jonas Never, Jules Muck, Isabelle Alford Lago, Chase and more.

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ADDITIONAL THINGS TO DO!

1. Visit High Rooftop Lounge! Full bar atop Hotel Erwin overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Venice!  High is the premiere Venice Beach open-air rooftop lounge, where the nightly sunset is the main event.  1967 Pacific Ave. (By the Venice Sign) E4
2. Visit Danny’s Venice to view historical images and artifacts of Venice, the original 1906 Venice Gondola, & Rip Cronk’s “Hobnobbing in Venice” mural.  An eclectic eatery offering a mix of California cuisine and comfort food favorites.  E4
3. Visit the Marina for boating, fishing and a stop at Mother’s Beach, Burton Chase Park and Fishermen’s Village.  Eat at Tony P’s Dockside and Grill or Marina Grill and Bar.
4. Check out Main St. Santa Monica for a huge selection of vibrant restaurants, bars, boutiques and coffee houses.
5. Get some of the “surfer’s sashimi” at Poke Poke on the boardwalk at 19th. ave.
6. Check out the Bento Box lunch special at Hama Sushi, a Venice restaurant since 1979.
7. Eat and drink on the Sidewalk Cafe’s outdoor patio.  This is the best place to people watch on the Venice Beach Boardwalk.  1401 Ocean Front Walk.  4D
8. Venice Farmers Market every Friday from 7-11 a.m
9. Drink at the Townhouse -Del Monte Speakeasy!  Venice’s oldest bar was once a prohibition speakeasy!  52 Windward Ave. E4
10. Get a tattoo!  There are tons of tattoo shops along the Venice Boardwalk!
11. Buy some art.  Visit a local art gallery, the Venice Boardwalk, or attend the Venice Art Crawl (quarterly pop up events by the Venice Boardwalk).
12. Grab a workout at Gold’s Gym Venice.  This is the most famous bodybuilding gym in the world and was the home of some of the sport’s innovators including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno and others.
13. Visit the Venice Arts District.  Housed just east of Abbot Kinney on Venice Blvd. is Beyond Baroque (playhouse), Pacific Resident’s Theatre and the SPARC murals center.
14. Take the kids to the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.  It is a hands on, interactive, educational program aimed at teaching kids about marine life and ecosystems
15. Take a ride on the Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier for breath taking views!
16. Visit N. Venice Blvd. west of Pacific ave.  This area is home to, among other things, two outstanding art galleries as well as several great restaurants, including James’ Beach (made world famous for its fish tacos by the film I Love you, man).
17. Grab a yoga class at YAS FITNESS CENTERS and then walk down the street for a thai massage at Lamai Thai.  Now that sounds relaxing!
18. Drink a giant Patron margarita and people watch at Cabo Cantina.  They are super tasty and one is all you need!
19. Go to Nikki’s for wing night Wednesdays, watch the game, and eat the crab and tenderloin sliders or one of the other super tasty unique items on their ever evolving menu.  Woohoo!
20. Grab some coffee at the Cow’s End Cafe. This family owned gem serves up sandwiches, omelets, fresh squeezed juice and more.  And they are dog friendly!  This is also an internet cafe!  Check your emails here!
21. Work out with  Kettlebell Boxing!
22. Check out this list of activities for kids!
23. Just enjoy the view!  Click here for best views!
24. Visit an art gallery!
25. Go to the theaters!

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View or print The Venice Concierge Checklist and bring it with you on your trip to Venice!

Click here for additional things to do and see!

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