Venice Beach Boardwalk
Venice, CA
Free; paid parking
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.5(2,641 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Worth knowing before you bring kids: reviewers describe homeless encampments, open drug use and open smoking along the boardwalk, and one urges caution with children. Others find it clean and friendly, with a skate park, basketball courts and performers. Food options on the boardwalk are thin.
Famous oceanfront boardwalk with street performers, the skate park, Muscle Beach, and bike paths. The boardwalk dates to 1905 and now draws an estimated 28,000-30,000 visitors a day, making it one of the most-visited attractions in Southern California. Muscle Beach, the outdoor gym that's operated here continuously since the 1950s, helped launch bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and is considered the birthplace of outdoor gym culture.
Good for
- Ages 0–2
- Ages 10+
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Beach pavillion in, 517 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291, USA
Map
Tides today
Next low tide
2:56 PM
0.1 ft
Next high tide
8:26 AM
5.9 ft
Predictions from NOAA · Santa Monica station
What visitors say
- Paul Torres★★★★★
The Venice Beach Boardwalk was easily one of the coolest parts of my trip to California. There’s always something going on it seems. From the many souvenir shops to Muscle Beach, the skate park, restaurants, and amazing views of the Pacific. It has this unique Venice vibe that you really have to experience for yourself. I really enjoyed checking out the metal figures from a store called Titanic and watching the sun rise and set along the beach. As a huge Dead Island 2 fan, being there felt extra special. Walking around the real Venice Beach and seeing the places that inspired the game’s Venice Beach map was honestly surreal. Staying at AIR Venice made the trip even better. I could walk outside and instantly be in the middle of everything. Having the beach and boardwalk right outside was super convenient.
3 weeks ago
- Gisélle Bisson★★★★★
It’s touristy, a freak show, quintessential California dream, artsy, tacky, edgy, a bit intense, weird and beautiful. It has cleaned up a lot with better landscaping and more police. This would be a great place to have tea or drinks or go dancing on one of the waterfront, restaurants, and look at the view and watch the scene roll by, or rent a bike and ride to Santa Monica.
2 months ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
Nearby places
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Eat nearby in Venice
- Taqueria ChihuahuaMexican & Tacos · $
- OspiPizza & Italian · $$