Venice, California is a beautiful coastal neighbor, just minutes from Los Angeles Airport. The beachside community has a quirky modern yet old-school charm that’s hard to find in other neighborhoods around LA. If you’re looking for something fun and COVID safe for individual travelers or couples to do, we recommend checking out these 5 spots!
1. Venice Beach:
Whether you are keen on surfing, a swim or just lounging on the sand, Venice Beach is for many the main attraction in Venice. The beaches are wide and spread out so you can safely socially distant from others too, making Venice Beach a great way to spend some time in sun next to the ocean.
If you want to surf or check out the surfers, find a spot between the breakwater rocks and the Venice Pier at Washington. Sunset is a particularly great way to end a day as the golden rays often transform in the clouds into a landscape of oranges, reds, purples and blues.
2. Venice Murals and Street Art:
Venice Beach has a long history of Bohemian artists and artwork. Venice Beach’s Murals and Street Art are testament to this tradition. Nowadays you can check out some of the latest murals between Venice Boardwalk and Ocean Ave. Some of the highlights include multi-story displays of Venice’s founder Abbot Kinney or the original “muscle beach”-er Arnold Schwarzenegger. One personal favorite is Venice Kinesis, a modern interpretation of the original, Italian Renaissance painting, ‘The birth of Venus.’
Where to start? The easiest way to discovery the murals is from the famous Venice Sign at Pacific Ave & Windward Ave. From there it’s a short walk to many great murals. A great place to end is at the Venice public art walls.
3. Venice Bike Path (Marvin Braude Bike Trail)
Whether you prefer a bike, rollers or just a walk, Venice Bike Path is a great way to get some exercise and check out the sites. Stretching from Santa Monica and Palisades in the north to Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes in the south, the Venice Bike Path (also known as Marvin Braude Bike Trail) is 22 miles total to explore and adventure along.
Need wheels? Bikes and other wheeled fun can be rented along the Venice Boardwalk or on Washington St.
4. Self-Guided Venice Walking Tour
While its reputation stands large, Venice itself is a pretty small place. It’s total area is a mere 3.1 square miles (8 km2) with a two-and-a-half-mile (4 km) pedestrian promenade along the ocean called Ocean Front Walk or Venice Boardwalk. This makes it a great place for a walking tour.
Need a map? While a bit dated, Visit Venice has a great walking tour map to get you start on your exploration here!
5. Canoe Ride or Tour around the Venice Canals
What better way to experience and enjoy Venice than to visit its namesake, the Venice Canals. Built in 1905 by Abbot Kinney, canals showcase one of the few remaining elements of what was once one of the biggest entertainment districts in the world and the largest tram park on the west coast. Between Santa Monica and Venice, multiple piers used to compete for attendance with dancing halls, variety shows and some of the best rollercoaster of the era. Nowadays most of these attractions have disappeared and even many of the canals were filled in. Fortunately history has granted us the remaining canals between Washington and Venice Boulevard. Grab a paddle and check out the local houses, ducks and waterways in the Venice Canals. A great time best experienced on a boat at sunset.
Need a boat or want a tour? Canal Pals Venice offers safe, socially distant guided tour on the Venice Canals