The Hobbit's House is just a cute house to see if you are in the area. It is not a must stop. The…read morehouse actually has an owner and there is an apartment there. It was built by a former artist for Disney Studios and the builder, Lawrence Joseph worked on all of it for decades. There are adorable cottages and a view from the street is super. I think some of it may be occupied, I am not sure, so I did not venture far, just the front and back yard and stopped when I saw what looked like an apartment building. It is an LA Historical Landmark and just so cute. It is near Sony pictures. It almost looks like you are walking into a movie set. There is a great garden and a pond and it really does look like a Hobbit house. We were not there long, maybe 15 minutes and did not need to be. So, if you have 15 minutes and want to see a super cool house go take a peek.

When in LA on a rainy bank holiday (dramatically less traffic) do what Angelenos do! See the…read moresights!! These are people's homes aka the Lawrence and Martha Joseph Residence and Apartments, commonly known as the "Hobbit Houses," located in Culver City, California. The structures were designed and built by Lawrence Joseph, a former artist for Walt Disney Studios, starting in the 1940s and continuing construction for decades. Now surrounded by high rises it is difficult to land a parking spot but worth it to get a closer look. For a moment imagine yourself on a walk through emerald green grass & fields of wildflowers. And then look up & see these enchanting cottages.

This is definitely not my favorite Frank Gehry building, but it's still architecturally interesting…read moreand famous. And if you're in Venice, absolutely drive down Main street and see this. It's stunning. As it is now a Google building, if you're taking pictures of this wonder of architecture, security WILL come out to question you. Because, you know, Google cares about privacy. Theirs.

Do you like spotting the "world's largest" types? e.g. world's largest ball of yarn, world's…read morelargest picnic basket, typically strewn out around rural parts of Kansas or Idaho, places you'll likely never need to visit? If the answer is yes, then boy, this spot is for you! Although not officially named the "world's largest pair or binoculars," it probably could be! Good for pulling over, snapping a photo, and then moving along.

Recently: February 23, 2026 | Venice Beach | The Venice Canals are dreamy, peaceful & filled with…read moregorgeous scenery at every turn or over every bridge taken! It's always fun walking around and exploring the wonderful creativity, as well as vibrant nature simply existing, all around! Fragrant Flowers | Each time I wander around the Venice Canals, I always seem to discover a colorful, new flower, often times quite fragrant, which catches my eye! The Birds of Paradise always makes my day, as it's one of my favorites, standing proudly, in its exotic glory! Connected | It's always fun, walking over the different bridges and taking in the scenery & sights along the way! You may spot people going for a walk, others walking their dogs, some taking photos and are simply enjoying the moment while walking! Personality Plus | It's exciting seeing a variety of colorful homes, with each having a personality of their own! Whether big or small, the details seems to tell a different story, reflective of the owner/renter and how they naturally stand out on their own! Sightings | While out & about, I often see cute little dogs walking around alongside their friendly owners! On some occasions, it makes my day to spot a stroller and the excitement of seeing that there are actually dogs inside! Haha! You may see ducks walking around together along the walkways, or swimming around, peacefully! While the walkways are for pedestrians only, you might even see cars driving over the vehicular bridges! Festive | The Venice Canals definitely know how to ring in the holidays! I'm grateful to experience the festivities inside of some of the homes with friends, as well as attending fun holiday boat parades(open to the public!), and events on the canals! Holiday cheer and neighborly camaraderie seems to flow with good vibes from beginning to end! Flutter By | It always makes my day whenever I see a pretty colorful butterfly flying by during my walk! Note | I usually walk through the canals during the morning/daytime and if at night, during a celebration where there are many people out and about! Overall | I absolutely love walking through Canals! I'm in incredibly grateful that they are nearby, walking distance, and a hop, skip & a jump away! I highly recommend and of course, be respectful of the people living there! Good vibes throughout as well as beautiful scenery keeps me coming back for more!

I returned to the canals after a very long time, well over a decade. It had been so long that I…read moreforgot what it looked like. I was also curious about what Venice is looking like lately after huge companies like Google have moved into the area with presumably a lot of of their staff. I also thought that during the holidays there would be a lot of cute holiday decorations. It was actually refreshing to see that the place had not changed much at all. It was very low-key and homiey. In fact, it looked like time had not changed at all. It is a very peaceful spot to enjoy a little walk, and there are quite a few runners and bikers that are doing the same thing.

Abbott Kinney is only a mile long but there's so much to see. Whenever I'm in Venice, I never miss…read morecoming in here and strolling around the neighborhood. So many things to see in here such as checking the small businesses , view the colorful murals and attending pop up events. Also love dining here as there's so many different options as well. I love hanging out the stores which has either front and back patios. I really like the vibes and atmosphere here.

Great little street! Change keeps happening restaurants keep opening so please do your due…read morediligence as a local to support your local businesses and those who have established themselves to create longevity within the area. I love how open the area is to street vendors as well as people that come on the weekends in their vans and sell clothing and homemade coffee etc. I've never once had a bad experience on Abbott Kenney. If you've never been a simple stroll from start to finish you will definitely find a great place to shop if not dine.

I visited the Santa Monica Pier and Boardwalk with my boyfriend and had a really fun time. It is…read moredefinitely a classic tourist spot, but the ocean views are beautiful and the pier has over a century of history. There is a lot to do, especially for families and kids. The Ferris wheel is iconic and gives great views of the coastline, and there are plenty of fun shops and snack spots to explore. The whole area has that classic Southern California beach vibe. We enjoyed walking around, taking in the ocean breeze, and people watching. The only downside for me was seeing the large homeless population in the area. It made me a little sad because you can tell some people are really struggling. It did not ruin the visit, but it is something you notice. Overall, I would still recommend visiting if you are in Santa Monica. It is a fun place to spend a couple of hours and enjoy the beach atmosphere.

My husband and I decided to go to the Santa Monica Boardwalk while in California. We took a Waymo…read morethere so we didn't have to worry about parking. When we got there we walked around and saw so many different things. There was an amusement park with rides, shops, restaurants, and people performing. It was really crowded. It can be overstimulating with all of the sounds and smells but the view of the ocean and beach is nice. Overall it was a positive experience. I loved the view of the water and being immersed in this lively place.

Third Street Promenade is an open-air, car-free mall that is home to more than 80 retailers. It is…read morethree blocks long. This mall opened in the 1960s and has been renovated many times since then. This is a nice place to go for a stroll and wander in and out of stores. Up and down the street are topiary sculptures called "The Dinosaurs of Santa Monica". Some of these dinosaur topiaries shoot streams of water from their mouths. At the south end of Third Street Promenade is a enclosed shopping center called Santa Monica Place. I used to visit Third Street Promenade a lot back in my younger days. We would grab a bite to eat and then hit a few stores after a long day at the beach. I was here recently and there was hardly anyone here. The vibe just wasn't the same. The Jacaranda Trees are pretty when they are blooming. I like coming here in the evenings when the lights are on. Some popular stores here at Third Street Promenade are Patagonia, Lululemon, Anthropologie, H&M and Urban Outfitters. On occasional evenings, you can catch live music and street performers. Third Street Promenade has a farmers market every Wednesday and Saturday from 8am to 1pm.

It's shocking how this place turned from being everyone's shopping destination into a literal ghost…read moretown. All businesses which used to flourish back in the day are now closed. There's nothing here anymore aside from occasional popup events. That's the only reason why I still come here. It's sad but it's the reality these days. People prefer shopping online for things they need instead of going out to physically be in a store. I wonder what this place would become. Another condo/apartment buildings? Who knows?

Another awesome public art mural in Santa Monica. It is colorful and awesome to see. Definitely…read moremake this a stop on your visit.

Some of my friends love to do this ride and they talked me into going. I'm glad I did but it was…read morenot any easy sell for my friends. Ride a bike on the streets of LA/Santa Monica; (no offense to Santa Monica but unless you see a sign how do you really know what city you are in?). Were they nuts? I imagined us being road, kill done in by distracted, cell phone toten, soccer moms & finished off by yuppies hurrying to happy hour; (they do, do it on a Friday afternoon, prime happy hour time). Actually, it turns out there is safety in numbers and the most folks on the road just seemed bemused by the temporary flood of urban bikers. Where did we go? I don't know for sure, I was having such a good time I just followed the crowd and my friends. Afterwards we went to a well deserved but belated happy hour. But that's another story. If you have never been it's one of those greater Los Angeles moments that you should experience. Oh, and you don't have to be a hard core biker to enjoy the ride. I certinly wasn't.

If you live any where in or near the west side and you own a bike you need to be coming to Santa…read moreMonica Critical Mass. Why? Because it's the most fun you'll have on the first friday of EVERY month. Because it is the most inclusive/diverse group of people all out to have a good time. Because it's free. Meet at the Santa Monica Pier at 6:30 on the first Friday of every month and join hundreds of fellow cyclists in a casual ride through the streets of Santa Monica and West LA. The ride is usually accompanied by several patrons blasting classic tracks such as MJ's "Billy Jean," Hall & Oates "Man Eater," Tupac's "2 Live & Die in LA" and many more. A really fun/free thing to do on the West side that ends with drinks and dining for those so inclined. You need to come out, for sure.

Great place for a quick bite. It's been busy here but worth the wait…read more I'd recommend going here for food with friends and family.