Summer is here in Los Angeles with kids and their parents wondering about what to do.
So let me tell you about my favorite beach, Venice Beach. Abbot Kinney, a land developer, founded Venice Beach in 1905. The area became a magnet for tourists worldwide. Arnold Schwarzenegger got discovered at Muscle Beach and modern skateboarding was born here. As you stroll along the 3-mile boardwalk, expect to see the weird and unexpected. Numerous sidewalk cafes boarder the way accompanied by Henna tattoos, boutiques and Jamaican crafts. Need medical marijuana? You came to the right place.
Here are just a few of the things you can do on the Venice Beach Boardwalk:
Fishing:
Venice Fishing Pier is 1,310 feet long with a 120 feet diameter circular end providing plenty of room for fishermen. The fishing pier offers a few innovations, too. There are double railings at the end of the pier. The bottom railing is for anglers to rest their slimy bait, while the top is for visitors to rest their arms.
Paddle Tennis:
The nine Paddle Tennis Courts are well known to top paddle tennis players. Extremely busy on weekends, you may find it easier to get a court during the weekday. This year, the Venice Beach Summer Classic Mixed Doubles Paddle Tennis Tournament will be held June 4 and 5th.
Weight Training:
Muscle Beach Venice was established in 1951. During its early days it was called “The Pen”. By the 1970s it became known as Muscle Beach because few people remembered the earlier Santa Monica location two miles north of this site near the Santa Monica Pier. The gym’s focus is on weight training, so plan on building those biceps, triceps, and quads.
Basketball:
Venice Basketball Courts is the place to shoot some hoops. The courts are renowned across the country for their high level of street ball where many NBA players developed their craft and were recruited. There are three full courts, six hoops for daytime games. The movie, “White Men Can’t Jump,” was filmed here.
Skateboarding:
The Venice Beach Skate Park is a 16,000-square-foot facility that cost $2.4 million. The skate park has four main sections: a deep pool, street terrain course, a snake run and a flow pool. The unique design brings together street and vertical skating. This permits skateboarders to flow in and out of the different styles. The deep pool provides a maximum differential of 9 feet so a skater can pick up lots of speed in a single entry/exit run. The street terrain course simulates the traditional street environment where skateboarding first evolved.
Venice Beach Gawk and Walk Tour is an app you can download to your iPhone that will give you more history and information about this exciting beach day experience. You can also keep up with upcoming events on the Venice Beach Events Calendar.
Visit Michael Thal on his website.
So let me tell you about my favorite beach, Venice Beach. Abbot Kinney, a land developer, founded Venice Beach in 1905. The area became a magnet for tourists worldwide. Arnold Schwarzenegger got discovered at Muscle Beach and modern skateboarding was born here. As you stroll along the 3-mile boardwalk, expect to see the weird and unexpected. Numerous sidewalk cafes boarder the way accompanied by Henna tattoos, boutiques and Jamaican crafts. Need medical marijuana? You came to the right place.
Here are just a few of the things you can do on the Venice Beach Boardwalk:
Fishing:
Venice Fishing Pier is 1,310 feet long with a 120 feet diameter circular end providing plenty of room for fishermen. The fishing pier offers a few innovations, too. There are double railings at the end of the pier. The bottom railing is for anglers to rest their slimy bait, while the top is for visitors to rest their arms.
Paddle Tennis:
The nine Paddle Tennis Courts are well known to top paddle tennis players. Extremely busy on weekends, you may find it easier to get a court during the weekday. This year, the Venice Beach Summer Classic Mixed Doubles Paddle Tennis Tournament will be held June 4 and 5th.
Weight Training:
Muscle Beach Venice was established in 1951. During its early days it was called “The Pen”. By the 1970s it became known as Muscle Beach because few people remembered the earlier Santa Monica location two miles north of this site near the Santa Monica Pier. The gym’s focus is on weight training, so plan on building those biceps, triceps, and quads.
Basketball:
Venice Basketball Courts is the place to shoot some hoops. The courts are renowned across the country for their high level of street ball where many NBA players developed their craft and were recruited. There are three full courts, six hoops for daytime games. The movie, “White Men Can’t Jump,” was filmed here.
Skateboarding:
The Venice Beach Skate Park is a 16,000-square-foot facility that cost $2.4 million. The skate park has four main sections: a deep pool, street terrain course, a snake run and a flow pool. The unique design brings together street and vertical skating. This permits skateboarders to flow in and out of the different styles. The deep pool provides a maximum differential of 9 feet so a skater can pick up lots of speed in a single entry/exit run. The street terrain course simulates the traditional street environment where skateboarding first evolved.
Venice Beach Gawk and Walk Tour is an app you can download to your iPhone that will give you more history and information about this exciting beach day experience. You can also keep up with upcoming events on the Venice Beach Events Calendar.
Visit Michael Thal on his website.