Seasons greetings readers! Alex Stowell here. As the year winds down and the holidays approach, things can seem a bit chaotic. And if you are buying gifts, partying, or traveling, it can get expensive very quickly. All these things can end up stressing you out in a time of year that really should be about your well being, reflection, joy, and goal setting.
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So here is a list of mostly free things to do in Venice to get you outside, breathing fresh air, and taking in all the sights, sounds, and scenery that make our town by the sea the greatest in the Universe!
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- The beach is the place to be! If you sit long enough, you might catch a pod of dolphins, a seal, or a flock of pelicans ride the waves! Simply amazing!
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- Walk the Venice Pier and Santa Monica Pier for best ocean and beach views! Grab a tea, juice or smoothie from the Cow’s End Cafe.
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- Rent beach cruisers or tandem bikes, and go for a long leisure bike ride along the bike path. Rent your bikes and skates at Jay’s Rentals!
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- Watch a Venice Sunset from the beach, Venice Pier, or under the V-Structure (located at the end of Windward Ave. and the Beach) Click here for list of best locations to watch a Venice sunset!
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- Hang out at the bridge or take a stroll along the Venice Canals!
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- Take a surf or skate lesson with Maui and Sons qualified instructors!
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- Grab a free body weight workout at the Muscle Beach Sand Box. And fuel up at Muscle Beach Juice Bar!
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- Go for surf or paddle out, and enjoy the coastline view.
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- Art is everywhere in Venice! Take the Self guided Art Tour
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- Visit High Rooftop Lounge! High is the premiere Venice Beach open-air rooftop lounge, where the nightly sunset is the main event.
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- Hit up a brunch and keep it going until happy hour! View our best brunches and happy hour list!
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- View Best of Venice food and drink list here.
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- Chill out and watch the people on the Venice Boardwalk at these outdoor patios: The Sidewalk Cafe’s, Malaka Brothers, The Venice Beach Bar, and Jody Maroni’s/Poke Poke.
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- Take a ride on the Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier for breath taking views!
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- Hang out in the marina in Marina del Rey. It is beautiful and serene!
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- Grab an ice cold brew and plan the next endeavor! Simmzy’s, Surfside and Tony P’s Dockside Grill (In the Marina) are three of our favorite tap rooms!
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- Sit on a bench or at a pagoda on the Venice Boardwalk! Early mornings are best.
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- Get a room and chill! Need a Venice Stay-Cation? Check out these local hotel room deals. Up to 30% off when you mention Venice Paparazzi. Sweet!
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- If you rent a suite from Venice Breeze Suites, Hotel Erwin , Venice Beach Suites and Hotel, or The Cadillac Hotel, then you will have access to their roof top decks, the ultimate place for sunning and sunsets!
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- Be inspired at 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.
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- Dine and drink in the Marina at Tony’s Dockside and Grill! They have one of the best views of the marina.
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- Take the Free self walking tour of the Venice Public Art on Abbot Kinney Blvd and afterwards hit up Salt Air, Sunny Spot, or James Beach for mimosas and bloody Mary’s!
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- Stroll, hike or explore the Ballona Lagoon in Marina del Rey!
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- Medicate! For the best meds in the V, check out The Green Goddess.
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- Sushi is always a good call! Hama Sushi and Canal Club are both outstanding choices!
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- Click here for full relaxation list!
