Travel Cheat Sheet to Venice Beach, LA

So I spent a week (6 days to be exact, and if you must know) down in LA airbnbing in Venice Beach and zipping around town on scooters and Ubers from West Hollywood to Santa Monica. Here's my breakdown of the best shops, eats, hangouts, and sites during my quick girls' getaway.

WHERE TO STAY: When you're in Venice, there are two hot-spots: either by the Boardwalk or on Abbot Kinney. You'll literally be next to beayouuuutiful Venice Beach if you're on the Boardwalk (morning surf anyone?) whereas Abbot Kinney is a seemingly endless strip of the hottest restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. Take your pick. No worries though, both are within mere minutes of each other by foot or by wheels (ride shares are everywhere, are you a scooter person or a bicycle person?).

• Heads Up! If you're on a budget and generally not a fussy traveller, plan ahead and make a booking at the Samesun Hostel. It's a reputable hostel chain with locations worldwide, but the best part is it's location: on the beach. BAM. Prime real estate right there for a pretty good deal - especially if you end up scoring a 4-bed dorm. Better yet, bring four friends and maybe you'll all end up sharing the room together (extremely advanced planning required). If you're solo, hostels are also a great way to socialize and meet like-minded adventurers.

WHERE TO EAT: Here's the thing about the food scene in LA: you will rarely ever have a bad meal. The bar has been set pretty high around here so lay off the Yelp app and/or Google Reviews, relax, walk around, explore. People in LA are also particularly into health-conscious, calorie-light dining experiences so going out and getting a delicious and healthy meal is super convenient - pricey, but convenient.

• MTN - farm-to-table Izakaya, incredible ramen (albeit service was meh). Pay attention, there's a 20% auto-gratuity added to each bill! This tip is split between all FOH staff members, something I can actually stand behind as a fellow hospitality worker.

• Abbot's Pizza Company - quick, over-the-counter experience with a diverse range original pizza selections plus the classics.

• The Butcher's Daughter - ironically named vegetarian restaurant, cafe, and juice bar serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner that's always packed (for good reason: stunning space and yummy food) so get there early!

• Kreation - organic cafe with an amazing selection of smoothies, juices, and cold-brew coffees with simple, tasty food. Obsessed with their CBD Cold-Brew (do not chug!) and Destress smoothie.

• Greenleaf - chef-driven, fast-casual dining destination with a full bar and health-oriented menu. They've got a gorgeous backyard patio for max summertime al fresco vibes.

• Katana (West Hollywood) - Japanese Robata. I'd suggest making a reservation here if you've got evening plans at The Comedy Store, which is literally right next door. Great happy hour menu with thirst-quenching cocktails and impeccable service in the most glamorous building.

• Felix - traditional Italian cuisine and handmade pasta. Mmmm. Reso's are a MUST if you want a good seat here on a weekend night. We made the rookie mistake of wandering in here without one on a Friday evening and was told by the host the waitlist was at least 2 hours long! Fun fact for you dedicated foodies: Felix is the latest project by Canadian female restauranteur Janet Zuccarini of Top Chef Canada fame, go women bosses!

• Eggslut - if you love eggs and you know it, this gourmet fast-food joint is for you. What began as a humble LA food truck has now expanded into a multi-location concept across the States and internationally. Luckily, the Venice Beach location is probably the most lax when it comes to long lines. Yay breakfast all day!

WHERE TO BOOZE & SCHMOOZE: Personally, I love the social culture of LA. As a lifelong Vancouverite, it's refreshing to be around people who go out to enjoy other people's company. The whole "make banter" concept seems lost on folks at home. The m.o. in LA is to go out, network, and party while you're at it. Everybody is hustlin' (film, music, art, fashion, tech, you name it!) so chances are you'll make some worthwhile connections. In terms of going out in Venice though, it'd be worthwhile to Uber out to West Hollywood or Downtown LA in the PM for a more diverse nightlife experience. Make use of that Uber Pool option, party people.

• Roosterfish - famous gay bar in Venice, marked by the iconic rainbow crosswalk out front that originally opened for business back in the 80s. Since its reopening, everybody - gay or straight - flock here at night for a lively atmosphere with lotsa booze, pool, and tunes.

• The Comedy Store (West Hollywood) - iconic institution. Do. Not. Miss. Get your tickets beforehand and you'll get to be in the presence of comedy greats like Sarah Silverman, Michael Rapaport, Dave Chapelle, etc. After the show, hang out at the bar and mingle with the comics.

• Bungalow (Santa Monica) - networking hub galore. My gf Ange and I stumbled right into a tech networking event one Thurs evening, the place was bumpin' and once we got our hands on some liquid courage I think we managed to impress some techies with our ruse as "Avi" and "Ray D.," up-and-coming vintage fashion digital entrepreneurs with name tags we swiped off somebody. Tip: They like big words like "algorithm" and "matrix." This retro-style surf-themed spot itself is quite charming, with several different rooms to wander in and out off featuring two bars, billiards, a DJ and patio. A friend who in LA part-time says Bungalow is a fab choice for daydrinking but tends to attract a more "cliquey" crowd come nighttime.

• Poppy (West Hollywood) - fact: where Drake's Dad notoriously frequents. True story. Glitzy, surrealist-themed nightclub if you want a taste of the upscale in a dreamy Alice-in-Wonderland setting.

• Townhouse - Back on Venice Beach, this historical dimly-lit two-level venue dates back to 1915 and was a legit speakeasy (oxymoron, haha!) back in the day. Nowadays, it's a buzzy live-music/performance hangout. Casual, laidback night-out option.

• Heads Up! Last call in LA is at generally at 2AM. Yes, that's an entire hour earlier than the 3AM cut-off for most bars and nightclubs back in Van. That means if you like to take your sweet ass time to get ready plus pre, you better start an hour ahead of schedule so you don't miss out on the action. The other thing: alcohol is easy come and easy go in America. Operators can get booze for dirt cheap (darn you Canadian duties and taxes!) so bar staff is allowed to free pour... which means you're at the mercy of the bartender. Want a stiff drink? That might be 4oz of alcohol in that highball or like... 6oz. Want a shot? Keep an eye on that pour. Your options range from an ounce to whatever the bartender feels like, basically.

WHERE TO SHOP: To Californian shoppers, thrifting, vintage, and up-cycling are like the holy trinity. It says something about the impact of this shopping/fashion trend when prices at the flea market can equal the price tags on newly-made, never-worn merch. Regardless, it's an awesome eco-friendly, sustainable movement that I'm praying catches a bigger wave up north soon!

• Abbot Kinney - As mentioned previously, it's hard to think of a trendier shopping destination than Abbot. The strip goes on and on, with an eclectic mix of independently-run boutiques to higher-end brand name stores. Guaranteed that you'll be beat if you actually make it up and down the whole street. Keep yourself fuelled on-the-go by visiting the various food trucks parked on the boulevard and snapping cute selfies with the graphic wall murals - it's almost like a scavenger hunt. Take a peak in Principessa and ASA Kaftans for great, chic finds across a wider price range than most other boutiques.

• Melrose Trading Post - epic, open-air flea market that happens every Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of Fairfax Highschool. What I love about this weekly market is that it helps fund the community's arts programs through the $5 entrance fee and provides a platform for emerging artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. Consider yourself warned: parking is an absolute nightmare during the flea market!!! Click on over here to check out some of my fave finds from the day franzzz :D

• Melrose Avenue - less hipster than Abbot, more mainstream, but still huuuge on the trendy. This is where popular e-retailers, Revolve & Dolls Kill have opened their own flagship stores alongside the likes of Reformation, Bape, and Fred Segal. Oh yeah, and don't forget the food. The bars. The coffees. Foodies and fashionistas, unite!

Paul Smith's insta-famous pink mural on Melrose

WHERE TO PLAY:

• Universal Studios (Hollywood) - unleash your inner child. J.K. Rowling's Hogwarts has taken over with an impressive evening light show and a sick rollercoaster ride. Pro tip: Always go in the Single Riders lineup! And don't feel too guilty about hopping into the VIP queue - if you can get away with it, do it. Don't bother with The Simpsons, Despicable Me, and outdoors Harry Potter "rides." Prepare to get soaked with the Jurassic World ride. The Mummy = A++, an oldie but a real terrifying goodie. Alternate options: Disneyland. If you're a hardcore rollercoaster junkie who happens to have a Costco membership (or knows someone who does), best bet is to go to Six Flags where your Costco card can get you a discount on tix.

• LACMA (West Hollywood) - the Urban Light are almost as iconic as the Hollywood sign at this point, I reckon. What makes it better though is that it's absolutely free to view and also no hiking is required to get a picture with it up close and personal. If you're actually interested in art at the LACMA museum though, take pride in visiting the largest art museum in western United States.

• Venice Beach Boardwalk & Skate Park - the boardwalk goes on forever. Tons of vendors, food stalls, and buskers keep a lively energy on the walk throughout the day. Don't miss the cool graffiti wall on the beach, venture out for the views on the Pier, and go cheer on the cool skaters at the skate park honing their tricks. The only annoying thing is that your scooter/bike-share won't work on the boardwalk so you'll either have to walk or switch to renting from a vendor instead. The beach itself is a dream to get your sun, swim, or surf on (waves are learner-friendly too).

Skaters - pros and amateurs alike - always putting on a show under the Californian sun.

• Santa Monica Pier - Another iconic beach/pier in LA and it doesn't get more Californian than an amusement park on the pier. The rides are tame, but you're here mainly for that ferris wheel anyway (#views). While the beach is nice, frankly, you can skip it considering all the nicer, more laidback beaches all over Cali. I found it ridiculously over-commercialized with peddlers walking up and down, yelling and hawking unwarranted goods to tourists with the worst part being the amount of litter left on the beach. My favourite part turned out to be the Boardwalk where we got a stunning sunrise on our last day in town. It was definitely a nice change of pace from the go-go-go frenzy of the last week.

P.S. No doubt, people in LA are social creatures. Everyone is out here building their network and flaunting their unique style. Not to mention, there are so many vibrant sub-cultures coexisting in this bustling city: skaters, surfers, musicians, comics, artists, actors, designers with great insight and POV into the city. Take a risk and strike up a conversation, people here are so much fun to banter back and forth with. Often times, they'll be your connection to getting into the club or show or Hills house party. Going out is an adventure, don't plan too much and just go with the flow!