Beach is clean and there's lifeguards. Lots of people walking in the area so be careful of your…read moresurroundings. Parking is right in front and there's plenty of space!

This is my favorite part of the beach between Santa Monica and Venice because it is exactly that:…read morebetween Santa Monica and Venice. For people who are looking to avoid the crowds from Santa Monica pier and from the Venice Muscle beach area and just enjoy some time on the sand with gorgeous ocean views, this is the spot! There are plenty of $10 parking lots and even some parallel parking spots one street up if you're lucky. This part of the beach is very heavily trafficked by bikes and electric scooters going between Santa Monica and Venice, so walk with caution.

A must visit! Yes,…read morethe entirety of the beach has its many opportunities such as the vagrants, the smell, the restrooms, the crowds, etc... But I totally still love this beach every now and then. Parking can be a bear but on this visit, it was super easy and the beach was not crowded at all. The beach itself is kept fairly clean and the shoreline is easy to navigate. There's certainly better beaches in the area, but Venice is just a staple that should be visited at least once by everyone coming to see the area.

Do you want to go to the one of the best species because there's so much happening than people…read morewatch? This is the place to go. I'm here today watching a big drum thing with about 50 drummers and 100 of people. There's always something going on here definitely worth checking out. You can walk the boardwalk for buy stuff in the vendors many places to eat so definitely give this a chance if you're in the California.

Beach of beaches…read more Ginger Rogers Beach named after the late great dancer, singer, actress - classically referenced as dance partner to Fred Astaire is probably my favorite in all of Southern California. A safe space and branch off from/at Will Rogers Beach unofficially officially the LGBTQ+ beach of Los Angeles. Sparking in the 1940s were queer men and women gathered to enjoy all the great comforts of beach time feel good fun. It didn't come without many obstacles from law enforcement, city officials and even locals, but ain't nobody nowhere got time for that. Keep Our Beaches Hate Free :) The bike and walking paths are clear, the sand is amazing, bike rentals available, the volleyball courts volley well... The restrooms are CLEAN - rinse/shower stations work well, some vendors selling snacks and frozen goods on a loop on the beach The views are super clear well and there's a sense of community that echoes in every direction. Maybe even more so since the painting of lifeguard towers 17 and 18 in rainbow flag chic in summer 2023, which were vandalized days after they were painted... But that's not going to put anyone off from enjoying not only the beach like anybody else, but being unafraid to dance it out, skip along the beach, hold a hand, share a kiss and take in a day's worth of summer bliss. We met up with Bears LA for their Summer Beach Day/Birthday Bash for Mr. Bear LA 2023 and his partner who's birthdays were a part of the festivities. They had a great tent next to tower, the bear pride flag and with our group of 40 (more tent covers, chairs, blankets, umbrellas, beverages and shareable snacks grew. I don't know how we got so lucky to also have another group of guys next to us with possibly the best DJ set list of music from the 60s to 2024 super remixed the entire time were were there. The set up with the speakers Donna Summer, Aaliyah, Beyonce, Gaga, Billie Eilish, 90s RnB, Funk, Soul, Rock, Pop, Alternative, ... seriously was this wonderland? Sand was amazing though I will say very very hot to walk on bare at times unless fresh out of the water and much later in the afternoon/evening (earlier was good too before 1PM). If you can shade yourself with a big umbrella like my boyfriend did for us and adjusted as the sun shifted, please do - while the weather was beyond perfect those UV rays are rich in Vitamin D but also intensity. Sunscreen is your friend for sure and when you're in a big group you have extra. It was so fun and so amazing to run into lots of people including allies all day long and friends from as far as Pomona, Whittier, our local bars in the valley (SFV) and further out. Parking is limited as the lots fill up from here to Santa Monica on those perfect beach days like they did today. You'll come across those makeshift lots from small businesses utilizing their space and a few others here and there. Plus there's tunnels that go under PCH to safely cross over to the beach side... One for Ginger Rogers Beach under the parking lot and one more Will Rogers centric on West Channel Road across from where it meets Chautauqua Blvd, it might pop up as the Roosevelt Tunnel and is actually a fun little journey where as the other tunnel is more of a direct shot after you descend the staircase ironically by the colorful Ocean Pacific Coast Stairs. If you're around Entrada Drive a lot of the local residential parking has no restrictions on Sundays only... however everyone might have the same idea to grab that street parking as they do. We found a $20/$25 lot which considering the 5 hours we spent at the beach with our group and each other was more than worth it. The wouldn't even let anyone in the main parking lot after it was super full probably to cut down on a huge parking lot jam. I haven't been here since before 2020, but absolutely hope to get another day in here soon while the heat is hot. Come on down to Ginger Rogers were all are welcome, leave the negative energy and bias elsewhere... Or better yet let it wash away.

Stopped by to watch the USA game for the World Cup. They were hosting a street party that was…read moreshowing the game so it was going to be packed. And of course it was. We walked down but noticed that there was a massive line forming trying to get in. They had Pine Street blocked off where everything was happening. Honestly, the line was too crazy to wait so we wended up finding a bar that was also showing the game. A lot of the other people did the same thing as well instead of waiting in the line. Downtown has changed so much since I grew up here. Tons of new high rise living. The library moved to a new location which was just around the corner but now has a major upgrade. Then you have the pike area which used to be just a massive parking lot but now it's shops and dining. You have the Convention Center, the Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village and so on. Pine Street still has the restaurant and bar scene. They too have changed but some classic places are still there. Parking tends to be at the lots which are all pretty much nearby. It's constantly changing as things are being built and places are being renovated. Just like everywhere, there's the nice part and the sketchy part. Just be aware of your surroundings. Regardless, downtown is still nice to check out. It's walking distance to the other spots.

There are a lot of beautiful buildings and restaurants in dtlb. Spectacular views and architecture…read moreare also high points. The downside is parking can be difficult. There are public parking structures though. Just as with dtla and every other metropolitan area, homeless people are the major issue. I feel safe eating at restaurants for the most part. But, walking the area doesn't feel safe unfortunately.

If you're in Santa Monica and don't take a ride down the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, you're missing…read morehalf the fun. Honestly, one of the first things I wanted to do was grab a scooter and hit the trail. Best decision of the day. We cruised a couple of miles down the beach, laughing the whole way, then turned around and took the trail back. It was one of those simple moments that ends up being your favorite memory. The path is wide, clean, and well-marked, with plenty of room for walkers, runners, bikes, scooters, and people like me who occasionally forget they're not training for the Olympics. Along the way you've got beautiful ocean views, lifeguard towers, beach access points, restrooms, little docks and overlooks, and enough postcard-worthy scenery to fill up your phone storage. What I loved most is how this trail ties everything together. The beach, the pier, the parks, the people-watching, the ocean breeze it's all right there. You can go as hard or as easy as you want. Fair warning: what starts as "Let's just go for a quick ride" can quickly turn into two hours of cruising around with a giant grin on your face. This trail isn't just a path. It's part of the Santa Monica experience. Grab a scooter, grab a bike, grab a friend, and go make some memories. Your legs might be tired afterward, but your smile won't be.

Since COVID began, this meandering trail has been my balm. I'm often on it before daylight and…read moreride a 40-mile back-and-forth. Initially, I thought I would get bored and look for other trails but this one always delights. From the sunrise to the surprisingly ever-changing coastal weather to the new people to be seen, every ride is different and gratifyingly curious. We all have our various shades of 2020 horror stories. Has the year been good for you in some way? Hopefully, all the negatives will fade from memory. Renewing my bicycling habit and riding this trail religiously will be what I remember most.

The regional park is located near the Hermosa Beach Pier, which offers outdoor recreation and…read morenature preservation. It has public space open to the general public, and picnic area on the lawn.

This park is a cute dog park. Perfect to bring your pooch. It's not great for resting or picnics or…read moregatherings by the beach. Smells 100 % like doggies doing their business.

The Baseline: For a beach area it needs to be clean, safe, and beautiful…read more Beautiful beach area with restrooms and volleyball available. Gorgeous sunsets! Looked pretty clean when I visited.

My favorite Lookout spot look at the ocean from above Temescal Canyon. This is an awesome place to…read morereally watch the coast and understand the Bay of Santa Monica.