The Walk Streets of Venice

You’ve heard about the canals, the boardwalk, and Abbot Kinney. But Venice still has some secret gems to explore. There are only four of them, and you could easily walk right by if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

Venice was founded in the early 1900’s by a tobacco millionaire, Abbot Kinney. The area was originally a beach resort set on two miles of ocean front property. It was an independent city until 1926 when it merged with Los Angeles. The Venice Walk Streets are a set of pedestrian only inland walkways dating back to the 1900s, originally part of Abbot Kinney’s vision to create a city in Southern California modeled after its’ Italian namesake. When the walk streets were first developed, mostly entertainers and people who worked at the Venice Pier lived there. Today, the streets are lined with some of the most expensive real estate in Los Angeles.

California Home & Design, Nils Timm for Halton Pardee

Despite the influx of affluent residents, the walk streets have managed to maintain their magical appeal. Elaborate gardens, gateways and kitschy artifacts adorn each property as passers-by try to discreetly take a peek. Old growth trees create a canopy that keeps the walkways mostly shaded, making it one of best places to go for a stroll during the summer months. Not only is there a rich mix of architectural styles, but also a unique character within each street and a sense of sanctuary from the traffic noise from nearby major streets.

The culture is hip and hyperlocal, and there is a vibrancy and effortlessness to this urban quintessential Southern Californian enclave.