You won’t find another location anywhere in the US as artistically vibrant as our No. 2 pick, famed Venice Beach, CA. Street performers, theaters, art galleries, eclectic shopping and much more give Venice Beach a unique flair.

Venice Beach’s rich cultural history includes the Beat generation poets and artists, the birth of modern skateboarding and where Arnold Schwarzenegger first started his acting career. And still today, this rich history adds layers to your California vacation. The Boardwalk is a prime place to get a feel for the area – you’ll see street performers and artists and incredible views of the ocean and beach. Make sure to see famed Muscle Beach, a fitness-inspired area with outdoor weightlifting machines and body building contests. Watching street basketball pick-up games offers the next best thing to a pro basketball game – in fact, many players from the NBA have been picked up from Venice. For acclaimed surfing, look no further than The Venice Breakwater.

This varied and vibrant boardwalk culture is combined with vintage shopping, elevated dining and elegant inn-style accommodations.