"Boardwalk" may be something of a misnomer – it's really a five-block section of paved walkway – but this L.A. mainstay delivers year-round action. Bicyclists zip along and bikini-clad Rollerbladers attract crowds as they put on impromptu demonstrations, vying for attention with magicians, fortune-tellers, a chain-saw juggler, and sand mermaids. At the adjacent Muscle Beach, bulging bodybuilders with an exhibitionist streak pump iron at an outdoor gym. Pick up some cheap sunglasses, grab a hot dog, and enjoy the boardwalk's show. You can rent in-line skates, roller skates, and bicycles (some with baby seats) at the south end of the boardwalk (officially known as Ocean Front Walk), along Washington Street near the Venice Pier.
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