Venice Beach is the popular beach in Venice that is frequented by swimmers and surfers of the LA region. The Venice Breakwater on the north side of the beach is a popular surf spot with breaks that are difficult to navigate with their varying intensities, tides and swells.[1] The beach itself is lined with shops renting and selling every kind of beach item imaginable, from surf boards, to beach towels, to sunglasses, to sunscreen.

Generally, Venice Beach is understood to include Venice’s famous promenade, the Venice Boardwalk, which is a wide pathway that runs alongside the beach for miles and crowded by rollerbladers, skateboarders, and strolling tourists. It is also understood to encompass Muscle Beach, the outdoor weightlifting centre packed with bulging bodybuilders and home to the annual Bench Press Championships. Around the beach area are several public facilities including tennis and volleyball courts, bike trails, and food stands for the hungry and thirsty.[2]

References:
Dickey, Jeff. Los Angeles, 3rd Edition. Rough Guides, 2003. ISBN: 1843530589.

“Venice, Los Angeles, California.” < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice%2C_Los_Angeles%2C_California>

[1] Venice
[2] Dickey, 138