Beach Cities of LA: Venice & Santa Monica

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

What you will visit:

Santa Monica
A picture-perfect beach town, Santa Monica is a coastal community west of downtown Los Angeles. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica is anchored by the nostalgic Santa Monica Pier, a colorful beachfront boardwalk featuring arcade games, street vendors and amusement rides, including the historic Looff Hippodrome Carousel. Soak up the sunshine with a stroll along the sand or peruse the boutiques along the Third Street Promenade, a fashionable tree-lined outdoor shopping venue with trendy stores and a plethora of outdoor cafes.

Venice
Originally called 'Venice of America,' the sunny community of Venice was founded in 1905 as a beachfront resort town. A cultural mecca, Venice boasts a variety of architecture and a residential center created around a system of canals, just as its namesake in Italy. Offering a vibrant mix of activities and attractions, it was the home to Beat Generation poets and artists and still showcases a thriving artistic community. From its famed boardwalk to its sophisticated galleries and unique shopping options, Venice is a beach town with bohemian flair.

What you will see along the way:

Around every corner, there's something exciting to see when exploring the coastal communities of Los Angeles. Movie buffs will enjoy seeing locations from some of their favorite films, such as the courts where Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson filmed scenes from their comedic basketball movie, the beaches where Jim Morrison likely dreamed up the lyrics that would become classic rock songs for The Doors, the carousel from 1973's The Sting, and the solar-powered Ferris wheel and the very end of the pier from the film Forrest Gump when Tom Hanks reached the West Coast end of his cross-country run.