Stretching two miles and connecting the Santa Monica Boardwalk with Marina del Rey, this massive paved area (beloved by joggers, runners, cyclists, and outdoor lovers in general) is a true staple of the city. It’s a piece of L.A. that’s almost as recognizable as the Hollywood Sign or the Walk of Fame.
This simple yet legendary stretch along the blue Pacific attracts between 28,000 and 30,000 visitors every single day, adding up to roughly 10 million per year. These numbers only confirm what many already knew: it’s a fan favorite, as backed by a new USA Today 10Best poll.
In its latest edition, the poll asked thousands of readers to vote for their favorite boardwalks in the country, and, to no one’s surprise, Venice Beach made the list. The boardwalk is the second-largest tourist attraction in Southern California after Disneyland, and it’s famous for being home to the legendary Muscle Beach Venice, the Venice Beach Skatepark, and the Venice Art Walls.
But beyond that, it’s a filming location for countless movies, including Barbie, Nightcrawler, and the ’80s classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, and the perfect shopping center for those looking for pretty much every beach-vibey related item: from surfboards, boogie boards, wetsuits, and swimsuits to sunscreen, flip-flops, jewelry, and incense.