Bumming in Venice Beach - The Perfect Itinerary

Time truly is a construct in Venice Beach, California. Nothing makes sense, schedules can’t be bothered with, and deadlines and obligations don’t exist. There’s something perverse yet vindicating about the energy. I no longer hold myself to normal routine, and I easily (or lazily) fall into a pattern without a pattern. It’s one of the reasons I love visiting so much, because there truly are no expectations other than to exist.

My best friend, a three-year Venice resident, will argue this point and probably take offense. Every time I visit, he goes above and beyond to create an obscene, action-packed itinerary for us. He conveniently forgets my social battery has limits. Inevitably, I’ll request a day of solitude for myself, to which he obliges, and I do whatever I want. Sometimes nothing at all. On my most recent trip, I documented my favorite spots to lounge in case you’d like to adopt this lifestyle. I highly encourage this non-itinerary itinerary!

And if the west coast isn’t your vibe, check out my bookish New York City itinerary here!

“…a simple little kind of free. I’m perfectly lonely.” – John Mayer

Start Your Morning Right

First, when staying in Venice Beach, I highly recommend using an Airbnb. There aren’t many hotels to choose from, and not it’s worth venturing to Santa Monica or Marina del Rey. If you’re staying in Venice, bungalows are definitely the vibe. Look for someone’s guest house that you can come and go from without disrupting them or feeling like you’re in the way while still getting the Venice experience. The listing name for my visit is below!

a picture of a bed with white bedding, a blue wall, and wall art.

Get Your Steps In & See The Sights

a picture of the famous Venice Beach sign in California

You can’t spell Venice without NICE! Which is why your next move is to head over to the corner of Pacific Ave and Windward Ave to see the neighborhood staple. Now, I would never send you somewhere just to look at a street sign, which is why you’ll check out any of the vintage shops or cafes on this corner. I also highly recommend getting sandwiches from Ggiata, the perfect east coast Italian deli. Order the arancini, add balsamic glaze to every single sandwich, and thank me later!

Find the Perfect Picnic Spot

At this point in the day, you’ve been hustling to get your steps in, so feel free to take a break in the shade of a palm tree near the Venice Skate Park. It’s the perfect spot to journal, stretch, meditate. I highly recommend eating one of those Ggiata sandwiches. Once you find a moment of reprieve, you can watch the local talent (or lack thereof).

Ggiata Delicatessen

palm trees and grass near the Venice skatepark.

Caffeine? Always!

a laptop computer, a peach, headphones, and an iced latte on a desk

Are you sluggish? Because I sure am! It’s time for caffeine and a work break, so we’re grabbing strawberry milk lattes from Little Lunch. They have a great selection of drinks, but their seasonal specials really stuck out to me. There are a lot of tables Also, their merch is ADORABLE.

Little Lunch Venice

Obviously Need a Read

Ok. We’re caffeinated, thus refreshed. It’s time to get back out there and explore! Our next stop is Small World Books, located right on the Venice Boardwalk. Taken directly from SWB’s website: “Small World Books was founded by Mildred Gates and Mary Goodfader in the old Boys Shopping Center in 1969. When the lease was dropped in 1976, Mary’s husband Bob discovered a lovely old warehouse on Ocean Front Walk, sporting graffiti that read “stop bombing in Cambodia”. Envisioning its potential, Bob wondered if it wouldn’t be a good location for the bookstore and perhaps a small restaurant next door. Life on the Venice Boardwalk at Small World Books became a wonderful adventure.”

Small World Books

the inside of a bookstore in Venice beach. it shows books on shelves.

Fin.

sunset over the Pacific Ocean at Venice Beach

By this point, we’ve put in a full day, so it’s time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. We’ve accomplished a ton today. We saw an entire neighborhood, worked and snacked and took care of ourselves along the way. I can’t think of a better ending than cracking open that latest book purchase, catching sunset, and expressing some gratitude.

Here is a collection of all the listings and addresses in Venice Beach for the locations mentioned in this article: