Location
Venice has always been known as a hangout for the creative and the artistic. In the 1950s and 60s, Venice became a center for the Beat generation. Today it is a vibrant area of Southern California well known for its artists, street performers and funky atmosphere. It is almost like virtual carnival running year round with free admission.
Venice is as much about sand & surf as it is about restaurants and people watching. If you want to avoid sand in your shoes, take a walk along the famous Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half-mile pedestrian promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, skaters, artists and vendors not to mention shopping.
Before consolidated with Los Angeles Venice was a seaside resort town and a separate city until 1926.
Santa Monica, Venice and much of the west side is accessible only by bus. Santa Monica's Blue Bus 3 runs frequently along Lincoln Blvd (a street which is sometimes referred to as 'Route 1'), connects easily to the Culver City Bus 1 directly to Venice Beach and also goes directly into Santa Monica.
Free. General food, drinks and clothes costs.