Venice Beach's Best Photo Spots

Muralist Rip Cronk painted this giant mural of the Doors' singer. Jim Morrison, who is a more fable than reality due to his untimely death, is captured perfectly on this alley wall, down to his slouchy come-hither pose, soul-searching gaze, and svelt abs and pecs.

Get your fortune told for $5, peruse handicrafts made by street artisans, finally commit to that tattoo you've been talking about, glimpse the dudes pumping iron at Muscle Beach, people watch to your heart's content. It's all in a day's fun at the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

Painted in six colors bands of bright colors this lifeguard tower is easily spotted on the ecru sands of Venice Beach. It was originally meant as a very temporary makeover as the tower was scheduled to be painted back to its sky-blue color to match the other lifeguard towers along the beach. However, petitions and community support helped to keep this rainbow in place. 

This handful of short canals are what remain of a much grander system of canals once part of the "Venice of America" tourist resort built by Abbot Kinney in 1905. Still, the canals and walkways offer a lovely spot for random wandering, house-ogling, and photo-snapping.

The colorful sign in big, block, capital letters hangs across Pacific and Windward Avenues in the midst of this busy beach town. Lots of visitors like to take selfies with the sign "suspended" over their heads and the golden California sunset in the background. While you're here you can stroll down the boardwalk. It's kind of hard to find parking but if you don't mind walking a bit, you can sometimes squ...

Love it or hate it, artist Jonathan Borofsky's Ballerina Clown scupture has become an iconic fixture in Venice. Some locals find this crazy (and creepy) study in contrast to be a perfect representation of the neighborhood. What do you think?

Over sixteen years in the making, Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran's Mosaic Tile House in Venice is a multicolored, multi-media folk art masterpiece. Apart from ceramic and glass tiles, all manner of found objects including tire rims, pot lids, and metal pipes have been used to adorn this magnificent abode.

A tribute to Abbot Kinney--the visionary who made good on his dream of bringing the glory of Venice to the California coast.

Though the original Muscle Beach is in Santa Monica, Venice Muscle Beach has been a world-renowned bodybuilding mecca since 1951. Hardbody admirers, don't be ashamed to steal a glimpse at the hunks pumping iron in the outdoor weight pen. We suspect that they don't mind the attention.

This Austrian-born bodybuilder needs no introduction, but many young'uns might not recognize his visage. The realistic full-body portrait of "The Governator" by artist Jonas Never is taken from his winning pose at the 1975 Mr. Olympia international contest. This is the event that changed his path from bodybuilder to movie star; it predates even "Conan the Barbarian." The most famous muscle-man in the wor...

It's only fitting that the birthplace of modern skateboarding should have a kickass skate park--and indeed it does. A full 16,000 sq feet, this park's got two bowls, a snake run, plus a street section with steps, rails, and platforms. (Submitted by Bobby Chan)

An inspired idea in urban planning, Venice's three, parallel walk streets are quiet, pedestrian-only public walkways (in a residential area) that run Southwest-Northeast from Shell Ave. to Lincoln Blvd. Take an auto-free stroll up these pretty footpaths. We hear that the residents are happy to greet any respectful passersby through their charming 'hood.

What was once a junkie slum house is now a magnificent artists' den inhabited by all manner of creative types. Sculptures of gargoyles, pagan deities, and the like grace the exterior in order keep the bad juju at bay.

One might say it's a shame that Frank Gehry's original design has been overshadowed by the whimsical, massive binoculars added later to serve as the façade for the building's parking entrance. But if you're the sort who cares less about architectural purity and more about badass oversized stuff, we invite you to drive out and enjoy the view.