The surf's probably better in Malibu, the beach volleyball's more competitive in Santa Monica and the sand might be a little whiter in the South Bay, but when it comes to pure, unobstructed, what-in-the-world-is-that people watching, few places in L.A. beat Venice Beach, even for a local who only thinks he or she has seen it all. Buskers, hippies, burnouts and other attention-grabbing folks like Harry Perry, the turbaned roller-skating guitar player; bodybuilders; pickup basketball players (the seaside court was featured in "White Men Can't Jump"); dozens of vendors and the ever-present Santa Monica Bay vie for your attention. Beware — it can get crowded on weekends, but that's pretty much the point, isn't it?

What the tour books might not tell you: In addition to its beaches and lively boardwalk scene, Venice is also known for its century-old canals (most have since been filled in, but a few remain and are worth exploring) and vibrant art scene, which in part is celebrated by festivals that take place on Venice's Abbot Kinney Boulevard the first Friday of every month (aka Abbot Kinney First Fridays). The monthly event has picked up more cultural significance by attracting many of the best-known food trucks in town and the hundreds of culinary devotees who follow them.