Venice Beach, Ocean Front Walk

We always look forward to a stroll along the Venice Beach promenade. It's alive with people of all ages, with separate pathways for walkers and people on wheels (bikes, skates, skate boards). There are lots of eateries, and shops selling souvenirs, original paintings, t-shirts, hats, sunglasses and jewelry.

Dual pathways on the Venice Beach 'Boardwalk'

A nice surprise is the Small World Books store at 1407 Ocean Front Walk (a few blocks up from the Skate Park). It stocks a wide range of books from major and small presses. If you are looking for books by Californian authors (fiction and non-fiction) you will not be disappointed. It's where I discovered T. Jefferson Parker's "California Girl", Anna Stothard's debut novel "The Pink Hotel" and Joan Didion's "Play It As It Lays". 

Venice Beach Skate Park

Another favourite shop is Native American World at 1207 Ocean Front Walk. Old folks like us can do with a bit of bling to make us sparkle so we always visit this store to add to our growing collection of jewelry. This is where I bought my favourite earrings - little spiders (spiders are symbolic of creative energy due to their stunning web weaving skills).  

Native American Spider Jewelry

It's also the place to find the perfect light-weight, travel-friendly gift for friends and family. I chose a variety of beaded earrings and beaded medicine pouches for my young granddaughters. Here's a sample of them.

Native American beaded turtle jewelry

Native American medicine pouch necklace

When we get hungry we head toward the Venice Ale House on the corner of Ocean Front Walk and Rose Street. The food is nourishing and the people watching is free. 

Venice Ale House, Rose Street Santa Monica

From Rose Street we exit the beachfront promenade and walk along Main Street. First stop is Angel City Books and Records on Pier Avenue (a small side street to the right). This is a treasure trove of rare and hard-to-find books, CDs and vinyl records where it's easy to lose track of time while browsing.

Continuing down Main, Dolcenero Gelato at #2400 is a must for icecream addicts. My choice is the exceptional Ricotta and Fig.

By now we are nearly at Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, and we have one more stop before ubering back to our hotel on the marina. El Texate is a Oaxacan restaurant at 316 Pico blvd - one we return to each time we visit LA because it has the best moles imaginable and two of the best Californian hosts. Here we are, enjoying a beer and sangria. 

 

El Texate Oaxacan Restaurant, 316 Pico Blvd