Venice Beach, California: Changing, but Not for the Better

When I was living in the Los Angeles area 30-some odd years ago, Venice Beach was once of my favorite stops. I just adored all the colorful characters milling about and hawking their wares. The esplanade was lined with all manner of artistic goods, and street performers were rampant. Pulling up to Venice Beach was like entering a never-ending party. For people-watchers, this was the place to be. The atmosphere was dynamic. Body builders flocked to Golds Gym on the beach; jugglers and musicians were everywhere. It was awesome.

Thirty years later you can still feel the echos of Venice Beach in its prime, but things have changed. Gone, for the most part, are the upper scale shops lining the beach selling high-end to-die-for swim suits and surf boards. They have been replaced with your every-day tourist schlock shops. I love those shops, but you can find them on any beach in the world pretty much. Venice was special because they used to lean more towards exclusive boutiques amidst the clutter. No more.

I mean, if it is touristy stuff you want, then go ahead and buy your hoodie here. These tourist crap shops are indeed cheaper than the stores at Hermosa Beach or Redondo Beach. Do comparison shop here though as I bought a Venice Beach Frisbee in one shop for 12USD and then saw it a bit later in another shop for 8.00. Another thing I like to pick up on my travels are little pocket ash trays. Yes,I am an evil smoker... but I hate seeing butts on the ground as much as non-smokers do. I could find only one of these items and they wanted a whopping 14.00 for it, as opposed to the few Euros I am used to paying all over the world. As if!

There are still some sidewalk cafes to sit and rest along the Venice Beach strand, but I personally suggest going up the main drag just off the beach for better selections. The best of the restaurants have moved off the beach itself, it seems. Still, there are some good choices in the area if you find yourself hungry and not in the mood for the little kiosk kind of beach food.

The beach itself is still filled with lots and lots of gorgeous sand for sun bathing on a summer day. The waves are still there for the surfer crowd. You can still rent boogie boards and roller skates if you wish... but the eclectic artistic feel is fading, having been replaced by homeless folks and gangs. You are safe during the daylight hours, but make sure you leave by nightfall. Venice Beach turns into a bad Stephen King movie at dusk.

Both sad & funny are the hucksters along the strand selling legal pot. They try to lure you into their make-shift 'doctors' offices with plaster board signs and carnival calls. Apparently they can write prescriptions for medicinal pot there now. I have nothing against pot at all. Hell, I'd rather my kids smoke that than drink... but this business has all but taken over once-glorious Venice Beach. I laughed at first and joked with my bemused son about it, but it depressed me afterwards when I looked back on what Venice used to be about.

Venice Beach was the coolest of the coolest places to hang out back in the day. I even listed them among my Top Five Beaches in the USA. I wish now I could take that back. I mean, it isn't totally horrible during the daytime. I'm not saying that at all. It is still a good place to go sip a cold mocha and watch the antics, it just isn't as good as it once was. We only spent an hour or two here before heading up to the Santa Monica Pier. I left with a feeling of having been let down by the changes. To be fair, our visit was in early March 2010, and I will concede that things may be more hopping in the height of summer... but the shops will likely not return to their former brilliance. Do give Venice Beach a visit, but do it in daylight, and don't expect too much.