Walking L.A. #4, Venice Beach: Old World Italy Meets Funky Beach Culture, 3 miles.

Confession—this hike had nothing to do with the beach, little to do with history, and a LOT to do with window shopping along ultra-hip Abbot Kinney Blvd. Barbara and I began with a stroll along the Howland Canal and the Grand Canal, part of the extensive network of canals Abbot Kinney built on his marshland in 1904, that remains one of the coolest, elite, residential areas in L.A. We arrived so early that the only residents up and quacking on this clear and gorgeous Sunday morning, were the paddling of ducks who live along the canals. Sufficiently serene, we left the canals and moseyed up South Venice Boulevard to Abbot Kinney for our walk along the 3/4 mile stretch of shops, restaurants, chic couture stores, vintage clothing shops, and beach culture hangouts. One of the only remnants of the street's century+ past is the faded Irv's Market sign and Carnation ad on an old building housing a...Bazar? (spelling, people!)


Barbara and I estimate about $5,000 in fantasy spending saved because none of the shops were open, but we had a GREAT time daydreaming. A neighborhood so creative that even the garbage bins are artsy!