Honey Don't Worry... Keep Peddling It'll Just Be a Little Longer and We'll Be out of Here”
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“Honey don't worry... keep peddling it'll just be a little longer and we'll be out of here” A collection of reviews for Venice Beach and boardwalk submitted to Trip Advisor and Yelp! Includes the collection of articles on “How the tent city ruined night time beach access for everyone.” Compiled by Derek Harbaugh January 6th, 2015 1 “Fun, but watch out at night” Reviewed January 6, 2015 NEW The boardwalk has lots of colourful shops and cafes - we had a great lunch at the Venice Ale House (ordered a coconut water which came in a real coconut, lovely surprise!) We stayed in Marina del Rey and walked through Venice to get to Santa Monica - it was a fairly long walk (around 4 miles) but we really enjoyed taking in the scenery on foot. However, after the sun set we didn't feel safe and witnessed quite a few fights and confrontations going on. Beware! Visited September 2014 “Mixed feelings” Reviewed January 5, 2015 NEW I was saying at a hotel close to venice beach. The boardwalk has some nice shops and eateries , along with many street vendors. It can has performers, tattoo artists, street artists vying for your attention and that can be fun. Although there are druggies and beggars too so need to a bit careful with your belonging. its a colorful place :). Visited August 2014 Pretty much a tourist trap and very gritty. As I walked the esplanade we witnessed several drug deals and passed multiple people and groups smoking drugs. Not very family friendly. Lots of touristy shops and nice looking cafes. Very mixed crowd from trendy looking café to homeless and also lots of skater teens smoking drugs. Would not hurry to visit here again. Visited December 2014 Los Angeles still tries to promote Venice but the place is an embarrassment. They try to pull off the Portland Weird vibe along with mini San Francisco but the place is a dump and most locals no to stay away. I dare you to hang out in Venice after dark. Hopefully enough tourist will avoid this place and LA will catch on to clean it up. You will be asked for $ constantly by the aggressive homeless. Street performers will aggressively try to get $ out of anyone who stops to watch. The beaches in Los Angeles are depressing...they really are. If you want a better beach experience that involves the pure spirit of surfing and peace try Huntington Beach in Orange County. Bolsa Chica State Beach is attached with excellent bird watching. Or go to Balboa Island Boardwalk/Newport Beach...beautiful peaceful vibe. “Wow! The Tiajuana of California beaches!!” Reviewed December 7, 2014 2 And with that title I would have to give the nod to TJ. Went on a Saturday afternoon and walk the length of the boardwalk freak show. My wife and I's consensus was "don't want our kids around here!" And our kids are 21-29. From the homeless, to the pot smokers and "carny" types this place literally stinks. The weather was great, so I can't imagine coming here in the summer when it's hot and more people are there.....the smell would really be awesome. California has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and this area is a 'scab' on that beauty. We thought we would see some interesting artist and vendors but it was more along the lines of the worst carnival carnies and bums you can imagine! I counted 4 Pot prescription booths, head shops(which I thought where illegal?). There where no real artist there.......just some whit guy trying to rap and another group trying to get old whit guys to walk like pimps. Kind of felt dirty when we left. I guess it takes all kinds and if you want to see a bunch of dregs and freaks then this is the place for you. I would not recommend going and keep your kids away! Just a short drive up the coast to Santa Monica Pier or south to Manhattan beach is where you can enjoy California beaches not ruined by this blight. Visited December 2014 Don't be there as the suns starts to set but be there before that.” Reviewed December 3, 2014 I've been here a few time but wanted to take my wife and little boy to see the famous boardwalk. We took the bus from our Airport hotel and the bus ride was inexpensive and interesting. We arrived a bit late in the afternoon and settled in for a great meal at one of the any cafe's and then walked along the boardwalk passing the man on the Blades, a guy laying on broke glass, young me playing 4 on 4 basketball and of course Muscle Beach where a few muscled up boys were trying to charge for a photo. I told them to get out of my shot as they were spoiling the equipment. It still has pzazz but getting on dark it begins to take on that sinister side. It is an area known for drugs and that is their time. Easy. Get the early, enjoy the atmosphere and get going. “Checked off bucket list & wouldn't go back” Reviewed December 3, 2014 Prior to our California trip, we watched shows, read books, and listened to advice of the places we absolutely shouldn't miss seeing. So on day 1, we headed to the Venice Beach Boardwalk. WOW. Eye opening is an understatement. We had a bad/scary adventure with parking but that's probably our fault for not researching ahead of time and obviously having a big tourist stamp on our heads! Luckily our rental car wasn't destroyed and none of our belongings were stolen. Just beware of leaving your keys with someone who will park/squeeze your car into a little lot. I'm still amazed that none of the homeless people have figured out that the guys who park the cars leave the driver's windows down and the keys over the visor. That's really safe! Yikes! The boardwalk is filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, artists, and street performers. It is a 3 very busy atmosphere with all different types of people. Warning: the locals set up stands and sell homemade crafts but they do NOT want you to take pictures. They will become confrontational if you do and they have signs saying how much they charge to take pictures. So be careful! Another warning: I knew the boardwalk would be filled with street performers and I knew they'd probably have buckets for tips. But what I didn't know is this....if you stand there and watch a performance, they will throw out a specific dollar amount that you owe when the show is finished ($20 PER PERSON). One show we watched even went as far as to say that having no cash isn't an excuse cause you can use your credit card and get cash out of the ATM right behind them. Also, there wasn't a tip bucket. Instead, they literally walked from one person to the next collection money. Not a good or safe atmosphere! There was a freak show on the boardwalk that you could go into for an admission fee. No joke. They had midgets and a bearded lady sitting outside trying to attract tourists to pay to come inside. We didn't take the bait. We looked at several of the little boardwalk food places and even the biggest restaurants, but none really grabbed our attention (at least not both of us were craving the same type of food). Overall, we spent several hours here walking the boardwalk and while I'm glad we can mark it off the bucket list, it will NOT be on the list of places I'd like to ever visit again. “Getting dirty” Reviewed November 29, 2014 I come to Venice since 40 years and it was never so dirty and full with apparently happy homeless people. They might have found the plant to make all horror disappear, otherwise it is incomprehensive why they stay in droves. If you want to see the sea go to Santa Monica instead. Visited November 2014 “Interesting but depressing” Reviewed November 15, 2014 I would certainly not want to take children here. It felt very dirty no maybe where you are on the broadwalk. I was depressed when leaving just to know so many people are in dire straights even if it is by choice or illness. Knew things were a little different when there were police ever few steps along the broadwalk. Visited November 2014 “Still a hippie boardwalk” Reviewed November 8, 2014 Doesn't look like much gas changes over the past 40-50 years. Still looks like something from the 1960-70's. I would not want to go there after dark - scary enough during the day. I would NOT recommend, unless you like that sort of life. Definitely better beach boardwalks 4 “the sights, the sounds and the smells---” Reviewed October 31, 2014 10.30.2014 -- seedy, shabby but fascinating if you can stomach the smell of marijuana whafting out of the numerous Marijuana clinics. But the most major troubling social aspect is the sheer number of homeless people about, amongst their possessions -- some even with multiple pet dogs in tow. Many of the street artists seemed to be living in squalor too on the streets. So sad and so humbling to see. “Lots of Homeless People” Reviewed October 27, 2014 It was a beautiful beach, lots of rentals, great restaurants, very congested and lots of homeless people though.