If Santa Monica State Beach is the all-American athlete of LA beaches, Venice is the brooding hippie little brother.

Those seeking a relaxing hideaway should lay their towels elsewhere. Venice Beach is loud, crowded and, with the boardwalk freak show factored in, kind of like a three-ring circus. Surfers, swimmers, families, visitors and locals vie for patches of the long stretch of beach between Santa Monica and Marina del Rey. Fishermen line the pier; bicyclists, in-line skaters, skateboarders, joggers and walkers zip through the South Bay Bike Trail; bronzed bodies show off at the volleyball nets, basketball and handball courts, and in the famed Muscle Beach weightlifting area. On weekend nights, a drum circle forms that can be heard from blocks away. There are picnic areas, restrooms and showers; food ranges from pizza to hot dogs to Mexican fare on the boardwalk. Bike and skate rentals are in abundance along the bike path. Especially during summertime, parking and traffic can be a nightmare. Several lots jut up to the sand, but we recommend taking advantage of the public lots (and 25-cent shuttles) that dot the neighborhood.—Lesley Balla