The Venice Canals are a series of waterways within a residential neighborhood that have extensive scenic walking paths alongside them. The design of the area is remarkably European, featuring an ordered grid layout and well-kept landscaping around the sidewalks by the canals themselves.
Whether you're looking to put a kayak on the water or want to take a romantic stroll, these canals are among the best destinations in the city. You'll find numerous bridges that cross the canals, so it's easy to get to the other side of any given canal. It takes around an hour or so to walk the entire length of the canals' pathways.
Venice Canals in Los Angeles - one of the highlights of 10 Best Free Things to Do in Los Angeles and 11 Best Things to Do for Couples in Los Angeles (Read all about Los Angeles here)
Venice Canals highlights
One of the more interesting aspects of these canals is the collection of bridges. While you'll find these bridges quite frequently throughout the canals, they're never too common to obscure any scenic views.
While they all sport a wooden path protected by white railings, the designs are subtly different from bridge to bridge. One is a complete arch, for example, while another features a sharper ascent before becoming flat and then descending again on the canal's other side. In other instances, you'll find bridges large enough to fit a car and others small enough to only fit single pedestrians.
Good to know when visiting Venice Canals
The most important thing to remember when visiting the Venice Canals is that they're in a private residential neighborhood. The residents know that the sidewalks get a lot of traffic to take in the serene beauty of the area, but you still must be respectful of their homes.
If you're looking to venture into the waters of the canal yourself, you'll need to bring your own nonmotorized boat. You won't find any rentals nearby. Additionally, you'll need to enter the water from the ramp at Venice Boulevard. The docks along the canal's walkways belong to the residents.
Venice Canals in Los Angeles
Location: Venice, CA 90292, USA
Open: 24/7