Venice Beach Boardwalk
Rating
Price
Free
Duration
2-4 hours
Best Ages
Best for ages 4-16
About
Venice Beach Boardwalk (officially Ocean Front Walk) is the most famous pedestrian promenade in Los Angeles and one of the most colorful public spaces in America. Stretching along the beachfront for approximately 1.5 miles, it combines beach access, street performance, outdoor fitness culture, art vendors, and people-watching into a free, immersive experience that no other beach in LA can match.
The street performers are the main attraction for families. On any given weekend, the boardwalk hosts breakdancers who flip and spin inches from the crowd, musicians playing everything from steel drums to electric violin, spray-paint artists who create vivid space landscapes in under two minutes, and variety acts ranging from comedy to contortion. Performers work for tips, so bring small bills.
Kids are often invited to participate -- being pulled into a dance circle or holding a prop during a magic trick creates memories that outlast any theme park visit.
The Venice Skate Park, located right on the beach, is a 16,000-square-foot concrete facility featuring bowls, rails, and a snake run. It attracts serious skaters, and the skill level on display is impressive. Bleachers let families watch comfortably.
Kids who skate can use the park (helmets required under 18). Even for non-skaters, watching experienced riders launch 6-foot aerials from the deep bowl is compelling.
The beach itself offers wide sandy expanses with gentle waves suitable for swimming (lifeguards on duty). Beach volleyball courts, Muscle Beach (the legendary outdoor weight training area), and the gymnastics rings area add to the visual spectacle. The bike path connecting Venice to Santa Monica (1.5 miles north) is excellent for family rides.
A hidden gem within walking distance is the Venice Canals, located 10 minutes south of the boardwalk. Developer Abbot Kinney built these canals in 1905 to recreate Venice, Italy, and the surviving channels lined with eclectic homes and crossed by arched bridges create a peaceful, photogenic walk that feels nothing like the frenetic boardwalk.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
Not Available
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Outdoor
Rainy Day
Not ideal
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekend mornings (9-11 AM) for street performers and vendors without peak crowds. Weekday mornings are quieter but with fewer performers. The skate park is most active weekend afternoons. Avoid after dark with young children. Summer afternoons are the peak scene.
Wait Times
No waits for the boardwalk or beach. Bike rental: 5 min. Street performer shows: gather and watch freely. Parking: can take 15-30 min to find a spot on summer weekends.
Nearby Food
Boardwalk food is tourist-priced. Walk to Abbot Kinney Blvd (2 blocks east) for better options: Gjusta (bakery/deli), Salt & Straw (ice cream), Gjelina Take Away (pizza/salads). Rose Ave has Great White (Australian brunch). For cheap eats, Taco Zone trucks appear on Rose Ave at night.
Why Kids Love It
The Venice Beach Boardwalk is a circus without a tent. Street performers -- from breakdancers to chainsaw jugglers to spray-paint artists creating landscapes in 60 seconds -- line the walkway and perform for tips. Kids stand wide-eyed watching a contortionist fold into a box or a musician play drums on overturned buckets with virtuosic skill.
The spontaneity and variety mean every visit is different.
The Venice Skate Park is a world-class concrete bowl right on the beach, and watching skilled skaters launch aerial tricks is mesmerizing for kids. The skaters range from sponsored professionals filming clips to 8-year-olds learning their first drops. Kids who skate can bring their boards and ride (helmets required for under-18).
Muscle Beach -- the outdoor weight lifting area where bodybuilders train in the open air -- has fascinated visitors since the 1930s. Kids find the spectacle of massive humans lifting enormous weights outdoors equal parts impressive and hilarious. The adjacent gymnastics area sometimes has acrobats performing on the rings and bars.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Walk south from the boardwalk to the Venice Canals (10 min) for a completely different, peaceful experience with charming bridges and waterfront homes
- Rent bikes at shops on Washington Blvd rather than boardwalk stands for lower prices and ride the bike path to Santa Monica Pier (1.5 miles)
- Keep valuables secure and stay aware -- the boardwalk is safe but crowded and petty theft can occur
- The skate park bleachers are the best free show on the boardwalk -- weekend afternoons attract the most skilled skaters
- Abbot Kinney Blvd (2 blocks inland) has the best restaurants in Venice -- skip overpriced boardwalk food and walk over
What to Bring
- sunscreen
- water bottles
- small bills for tipping street performers
- camera
- skateboard and helmet if your kids skate
Cost Info
Free Admission
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$20-$60 (boardwalk and beach are free; bike rental $10-15/hr per bike; street vendor snacks $5-10; parking $5-20 depending on lot/meter; bring food to save)
Tips to Save
- Walking the boardwalk, watching performers, and hitting the beach costs nothing.
- Rent bikes on Washington Blvd (slightly cheaper than boardwalk stands).
- Park on residential streets east of Pacific Ave for free (check signs).
- Pack lunch.
- The Venice Canals (10 min walk south) are completely free and less crowded.
Hours & Contact
Hours
- Friday
- Open 24 hours
- Monday
- Open 24 hours
- Sunday
- Open 24 hours
- Tuesday
- Open 24 hours
- Saturday
- Open 24 hours
- Thursday
- Open 24 hours
- Wednesday
- Open 24 hours
