Venice Beach will forever be associated with the 1960s hippie-counterculture that still lives on in the hearts a few of its residents. A walk down the crammed Strand may feel like a freaky flashback—with dreaded hemp-wearing youngsters jamming in drum circles, passing out Greenpeace flyers, or just chilling. Amidst all the free love, vendors hawk T-shirts, knockoff designer sunglasses, and tattoos—so capitalism is not dead.

This upscale neighborhood is located along the Venice canals—actual canals accessible by foot and small boat that cut a watery maze through the city. Abbot Kinney Boulevard is the local center of town. This upscale and eclectic street is home to some of the best dining in Los Angeles, as well as art galleries, exclusive antique dealers, and fashionable boutiques.