An Insider's Idea For A Day In Los Angeles
by Calix Reneau



Visitors to Los Angeles usually think of Hollywood and movie stars, but for my money nothing beats a day visiting the beaches of nearby Santa Monica Bay.

Parking in the Los Angeles area is always a concern, but there are lots of options. You can park on the Santa Monica Pier or use beachfront parking. Or drive through the alleys next to the ocean at Venice Beach, where you'll find plenty of private lots in the $5-$20 range, depending on the season. Better still, a half-dozen parking structures surround the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. There's a three-hour limit on most of the meters, but the top floors of several of the decks have 12-hour parking. Best of all, if you're just planning on making an afternoon of it, the parking deck on Colorado at the Santa Monica Place Mall is free for three hours until 6 p.m. Once you park, tour the Promenade, a three-block stretch of shops and restaurants, then head southwest to the Santa Monica Pier -- that is, walk to the Santa Monica Place Mall and turn right toward the ocean!

Ah, the Santa Monica Pier. Recently expanded, the pier now features a full-out, full-time carnival complete with a roller coaster out over the water. There's lots of folk fishing, too, as well as an amusement arcade, patio restaurants, street vendors and coin-operated telescopes for checking out the beach volleyball on one side, swimmers on the other, and possibly catching a glimpse of those life guards made famous by Baywatch.

After you ride the rides and see the sights of the pier, walk south along the beach and in a couple of minutes you'll find yourself on world-famous Venice Beach. Like Westwood in the '80s, Venice has recently acquired a reputation for being unsafe because of a couple of high-profile crimes several years ago. But what this actually means is that the police, ever mindful of public image, have stepped up their efforts, so now the Venice Boardwalk is easily one of the safest public places in Los Angeles. And they've managed this without significantly changing the quirkiness that has become the hallmark of this beachfront town.

The character of Los Angeles really shines through during the afternoon. For a mile or so, you'll find street vendors and performers, all the sights you've seen in movies and on TV. Muscle Beach, a weightlifting pit often populated by amazing bodybuilders coming over from the celebrity-studded Gold's Gym, the basketball courts made famous in White Men Can't Jump, where the action is as exciting as anything you'll find at the Forum, the spontaneous public art of the Graffiti Pit, the bicycle path with all the rollerbladers, more beach volleyball, hopefully more lifeguards ... and street performers from the guy who juggles chain saws to the roller-skater who makes up songs for you on the spot.

Oh, yeah, don't forget this little diversion we like to call the Pacific Ocean. Even in the dead of winter, when it's a frosty 60 degrees, a walk on the sand can be fun, and in the summer the beaches in Los Angeles are legendary. There are plenty of playgrounds for the children, and even one for adults, with rings, bars, and other climbing things big enough for us overgrown kids to play on. And of course there are the two most important beach pursuits: looking really good while you're working on your tan and watching other people looking really good while they work on theirs.

If you feel like walking, wander over to Venice's main street for a little shopping, two or three blocks inland from the boardwalk. There are dozens of interesting shops, and not just because of the merchandise. You'll find an eclectic blend of architecture here, including the infamous "ballerina clown" and the Frank Gehry-designed office with the two-story binoculars framing the entrance.

At dusk, head back to the Pier to take in the always beautiful sunsets across the water -- I got extraordinarily lucky once and watched the sun disappear into the ocean from atop the Ferris wheel -- then walk back up the hill to the Promenade. Venice Beach is best in the afternoon, and the Santa Monica Promenade is perfect at night. Pick a restaurant for dinner; most have outdoor patios to watch the action. Stock up on dollar bills to tip the performers, because you'll see the most amazing live theater, acrobatics, and comedy.

The best part of this trio of interesting places is the price. While there are plenty of opportunities to spend lots of money, you can essentially spend a very entertaining afternoon for free.