appear to be primordial. Their canopies spread out to keep the street permanently shaded, and in the summer, the sidewalks become littered with their fallen fruit. Perhaps the most fascinating feature of the Moreton Bay fig is its roots, which on some trees reach chest-high. It’s almost impossible to resist hopping up and walking along them, balance beam–style, following their meandering path around the base of the tree, so have a little fun and go for it. While arboreal enthusiasts will likely be too caught up by the trees to notice, architecture buffs will appreciate the range in styles of the uniformly enormous homes on this street: Tudor, Spanish, modern, French château, Cape Cod, Tuscan villa—really quite a mix.
About halfway down the block, keep your eyes peeled in front of the home at 2209 La Mesa; you’ll notice a whimsical etching of a castle and a mountain in the sidewalk.
Cross 24th Street and then keep right at the split in the road to follow La Mesa Way.
You’ll pass under the thick branch of one last Moreton Bay fig before turning right on 26th Street.
Cross San Vicente Boulevard and then cross again to the east side of the street, turning right to continue south on 26th.
You will presently come to the
After you’ve explored the Country Mart, continue south on 26th Street until you come to Georgina Avenue, where you’ll turn right and leave the busy commercial street behind to return to bucolic residential surroundings—bucolic, that is, apart from the seemingly ongoing construction that seems to occur in upscale neighborhoods like this one.
Turn left on 23rd Street, enjoying the pleasing variety of foliage and interesting amalgams of residential architecture. The home at 624 23rd St. is particularly notable, its curved roof reminiscent of the inverted hull of a boat.
Turn right on Alta Avenue, enjoying the alpine scent of the pine trees lining the sidewalk.
Turn left on 17th Street to return to your starting point just north of Montana Avenue.
Northeast Santa Monica and Brentwood
Points of Interest
4 Venice Beach
Venice canals
BOUNDARIES: Abbot Kinney Blvd., Pacific Ave., Washington Blvd.
DISTANCE: About 2.25 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy
PARKING: Free street parking is available on Ocean Avenue
Venice Beach may be the most distinctive beach town in all of Southern California thanks to its charming canals, which were built by real estate magnate Abbot Kinney in 1904 as an homage to the Venice in Italy. Unlike some other Westside neighborhoods, Venice Beach is more funky than fussy. That’s not to say that the people who live here, particularly in the areas that line the canals and the oceanfront, aren’t affluent, but it’s more affordable than Santa Monica next door, and one might argue that it has a good deal more personality as well. All that said, the neighborhood is just as susceptible to gentrification as any other: home prices have soared in recent years, and high-priced retailers have moved into the shopping districts. Nonetheless, the boho vibe is still very much alive and well.
Note: This walk can be particularly fun for both you and your pooch, provided it doesn’t get overexcited at the sight of ducks. If you do bring a dog, resist the temptation to remove its leash during the canal portion of the walk. Toward the end of the route, you’ll come to the Westminster Off-Leash Dog Park, where Rover can get footloose and fancy-free with his canine pals.
Walk Description
This excursion begins in the South Venice neighborhood, at the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Ocean Avenue. Begin by walking south on Ocean Avenue toward Linnie Avenue. Notice that the homes along this stretch of Ocean are all relatively modest in size and style, although one can’t help but wonder how long until these small dwellings are torn down and replaced with boxy mini-mansions, as seems to be happening in so many other Westside neighborhoods.
Turn right on Linnie Avenue.
Cross the bridge arching over the Eastern Canal, pausing on top to admire the interesting mix of homes lining the waterway. The houses here are decidedly grander than those on Ocean Avenue, ranging in architectural style from American Colonial Revival to modern to Tudor Revival.
On the other side of the bridge, make an immediate left to follow the sidewalk along the canal.
Follow the sidewalk as it turns right, taking you along Howland Canal. Ducks are everywhere, quackily going about their business, and small boats and canoes are docked in front of some houses. The homes along this waterway are all beautifully maintained, and each is distinct. Notable architectural styles here include Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival, Cape Cod, and modern stucco beach homes with huge picture windows.
Cross Dell Avenue and then pause in the shade of a giant pine tree adorned with hanging glass lanterns to bask in the tranquil, salt-tinged air of this remarkable neighborhood. It’s an interesting mélange, this blend of old-world Italy and funky SoCal beach-culture lifestyle.
Follow the sidewalk as it turns right at the corner of Grand Canal.
Turn right to follow the sidewalk alongside Linnie Canal.
Shortly after turning the corner, cross the pedestrian bridge on your left to the other side of the waterway, and then turn right to continue walking next to Linnie Canal. After crossing Dell Avenue, on your left you’ll see Linnie Canal Park, a small playground complete with a dedicated duck habitat. Residents manage to do quite a lot with their relatively small amount of lot space. You’ll see edible gardens, majestic shade trees, and notable sculptures adorning front yards along this stretch.
At the end of Linnie Canal, turn left to follow the sidewalk and you’ll notice two unusually large residences on your left, one on each side of the alley. These matching structures look like something out of an Austrian village and appear to be the largest homes on the canals.
Turn left to follow
