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Today’s post if the first of several posts about my California adventures. Venice Beach definitely stole my heart. It was a complete contrast to other places I stayed in LA, and I was drawn to the colours, unique buildings and non-stop vibrancy. While in Venice Beach I stayed at The Kinney, which turned out to be a really great choice.
Venice Beach Sights to See
The skateboard park in Venice is right on the beach, surrounded by palm trees (which I heart so much) and it is huge! It was packed every time that I went by…day and night.
It is kind of a must to get a photo at the Venice sign! Next time I want to get one at sunset.
I already know I am a total goof, so you don’t need to tell me, but I couldn’t resist. Muscle Beach is an iconic Venice landmark. I picked up some t-shirts from my dad and brother here, which they loved.
The Venice Pier (at Washington Boulevard) is one of many piers you will see in LA. There were a lot of people surfing here, which was fun to watch because it isn’t something that I can see at home. I was here in October and the beach area (which is expansive) was completely deserted. I am told in the summer it is very busy.
All along the beach there are lifeguard stands…which although they say to stay off, I decided it made a great photo opportunity.
The Venice Canals are also another iconic must-see. There are endless options for walking or biking through this area and it makes a great way to spend an afternoon.
The Kinney Hotel
During my visit in Venice Beach I stayed at The Kinney. I can’t begin to explain how adorable and fun this hotel is. First of all the colour everywhere made me swoon. It was like they decorated it for me. 🙂 Even the bed on the pillow is freakin’ cute!
Can we talk about how awesome these rooms are? The telephone!! I wanted to pack it in my bag and take it home with me. The bedside tables were a comic book print. Love!!
So Much Cute at The Kinney!
My room was a Crash Pad Suite, which had a separate bedroom and a living room with a couch, table and chairs and small fridge. It was perfect for me.
The Kinney has these fabulous red bikes with baskets that you can borrow. I rode them several times to the beach along the boardwalk and along Abbott Kinney Boulevard. From Venice Beach it is an easy bike ride to Marina del Rey or north to Santa Monica. I found the perfect mural to take a photo in front of with the bike.
When you stay at The Kinney, breakfast is included. Gotta love that!?! There are waffles, eggs, bacon, and lots of other options. Best of all, the breakfast room has the most amazing colourful wall. You can’t help but be happy in there.
After breakfast, you can use the room to play games or just bring your computer to work.
The lobby is so stinking cute with two record players, with records that you can play. There is also this neon wanderlust sign that is a photo op just waiting to happen. 🙂
The Kinney Hotel Quad
The quad is in the middle area of the hotel. There is a pool and a great area for sunbathing, and relaxing alone or with your group. There is a great bar, which I can see a lot of fun activities happening at. I bet this hotel is a blast for a girls weekend or bachelorette party.
There are many cozy seating options and they are all cute and colourful…imagine that!
If you are super competitive like me, you will want to play a game of ping pong ( or beer pong?).
You might also like my stay at the Beverly Hills & Hollywood | Sofitel Los Angeles, the Georgian Hotel or the Carlyle Inn.
In the evening they have a fire pit and cozy couches for lounging outside. It is the perfect way to end an evening.
Even the do not disturb signs are unique! Love it! I really enjoyed The Kinney and hope to make it back there again one day.
Places to Eat | Abbott Kinney
Lemonade was on my list of places to check out while I was in California, and I am so glad I made it there. I will have to go back many times to try all the food that I wanted to try. Everything looked so good. There is one in Venice on Abbott Kinney Boulevard.
The Butcher’s Daughter is on Abbott Kinney Boulevard and is an adorable juice bar and cafe. I wish there was one close to me…I would be there all the time. It was on my list of places to visit in NYC but I never made it there.
I remembered seeing Leah Bergman (aka Freut Cake) post about going to Sunny Spot on her blog a way back. I made a mental note that it looked like a place I would love and I forgot all about it until I saw it right across the street from my hotel. 🙂 Lucn at the Sunny Spot was so good. I didn’t have my camera with me, so I grabbed this image from Freut Cake’s blog post.
Shopping!
I walked and rode by bike down Abbott Kinney Boulevard a few times and popped into so many great shops. You could literally make a day of it. They buildings are all unique and colourful, which totally makes me swoon. The Piece Collective with the unique yellow triangle was my favourite.
Venice Beach Murals
You all know that I love murals and well…Venice is the mecca for murals. They are everywhere you look!
All of these were within walking or bike ride distance from my hotel. I could probably write a whole separate post about the Venice Beach murals that I loved.
Don’t forget to bring a camera to grab some great photos!
A super special shout-out to Jenny Megenney for these photos in Venice Beach! I can’t wait to take more soon!
Sunset
My favourite thing each day was always the sunset. Each day I was in California, I tried to get to a great location to capture some sunset photos. This one, which is in Santa Monica, is a favourite. You can ride your bike down the boardwalk to Santa Monica or take a quick Uber ($5) ride from Venice.
Thank you to the The Kinney Venice Beach for hosting me during my visit and allowing me to experience Venice Beach.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Se manifique photo journal. You have a gorgeous smile, never loose it. so free & fun. I would love to visit venice beach especially after see these photos
Wow it all sounds so fun! I really want to go there now! And your pictures… damn girl!! ??
Venice beach sounds and looks absolutely amazing. Loving the murals and the hotel too, everything about it is perfect. I am in Venice, Italy right now and you still made me jealous as it’s colder here right now
Wow, you must have had a tone of fun out there. Venice Beach looks like everything is possible or should I say, paradise on Earth.
looks amazing! I have not been to that area yet, but we are moving to LA next year, so I will absolutely visit the places you mentioned. Blessings!
gorgeous pictures and you look fab!! love the colors and the captures! love the suite!!
Venice beach is awesome! Aside from that, I am also loving your outfits while you were there!
You always have such cute and colourful photos! It looks like traveling with you is a blast! I love all the shots you got inside the hotel. It looks like a super fun place to stay!
Nina
aworldofdresses.com
Wow! Looks like such a fun trip! I’ll be visiting California next year and can’t wait to explore Venice Beach. I loved the decor of The Kinney hotel. Also, loved all your outfits and you’ve nailed it!
Your photos radiate pure joy !! I visited Vencie Beach three years ago on a short break but I loved how colorful and young the place was.
I am ready to visit Venice Beach for a few days. I definitely need to book a stay at the Kinney hotel. It looks fabulous.
These pictures are gorgeous!! You are a beauty and so talented!!
xoxo,
Angelle
http://www.dashingdarlin.com
I have always wanted to visit California. Such a pretty place. Great photos.
I’m dying over these photos and that hotel! You always take the best photos, they radiate happiness and positivity!
Kayla | kaylablogs.com
The photos are so bright and colorful – they make me happy. Much needed today on a stressful election day! xo
Wow such a beautiful place. I would love hop onto one of those red bikes and explore the amazing city and the colorful murals
I would love to go to California. Your picture look amazing I love how vivid everything is.
There’s nothing like a trip to California! Visiting all the iconic destinations is something that will stick with you forever.
Venice is absolutely one of my favourite places in the whole world! It’s the atmosphere, relaxed feeling, ocean, food… I just love it! So beautiful pictures!
So fun! As a SoCal native, I always loved going to Venice Beach when I was younger. Your photos make LA look so nice ha and colorful! I would love to stay at the Kinney, I had never heard of it but it looks great! Thank you for sharing your fun adventure in Venice!
Venice Beach is iconic, and what wonderfully, colourful photographs.
Such a beautiful photos, place is just so stunning xoxo
http://www.theninebyivana.blogspot.com
Venice Beach stole my heart too! Can’t wait to visit this place again! <3
Love Venice Beach, so fun and funky. Enjoyed your youthful insight and photos. Will have the check out the Kinney Hotel next time we’re in Venice.
These photos really capture the essence of Venice Beach. Such a fun and funky place. Love it!
I love all your photos! You are right the lifeguard stand made the perfect picture. The hotel looks like so much fun! I am glad you enjoyed your trip!
Love these photos! You look amazing, always! I always bring my kids to LA about once a month.
Absolutely love your photos in this set! Seriously, your blog and instagram are amazing. Maybe we’ll cross paths sometime!
OMG, your photos are absolutely breathtaking, seriously. It looks like you’ve had a wonderful time! I’ve not visited Venice Beach before, but I would LOVE to go someday. Those murals are so much fun!! Thanks for sharing <3
That hotel is just adorable! I’ve never been to Venice Beach before but it’s on my list.
Oh my goodness I love it!!! Every single one of your pictures were so colorful and fun 🙂 makes me want to go there!!!
Get photos. You really seemed to capture the essence of Venice beach. It looks like a great place to hang out.
Gorgeous photos and so many cute outfits! Your little getaway looked like it was SO much fun!
This is a cute outfit for visiting Venice Beach!! This looks like a great place to go to relax!
This post is SO SO SO cute. I love all of your pics. That hotel looks amazing. The red bike picture is my favorite.
Sara
http://www.thelegallybrunette.com
Seriously, could you be any cuter? I’m so jealous! lol
Oh Bella, I love everything about this post! Venice Beach is amazing! Your pics are stunning…I got to go a few months ago and each pic brought back super fun memories! What a fun trip!
Looks and sounds like the perfect vacation. I love your photos. I would really love to visit there myself one day.
How adorable is The Kinney? I agree, the room looks like it was customized just for you 🙂 And what about those red bikes?? So cute. Your post really makes me want to go to Venice Beach now!
I haven’t been to Cali in ages and these photos are making me miss it. I want to stay at The Kinney now!
Love the beach shots, especially the pier shot and that sunset one at the end. The Venice sign is a classic shot and I’m glad you did a flexing one, too! lol So cute. 🙂
xoxo, erin | sandsunandmessybuns.com
Love, love, love these bright and happy photos! You’ve obviously had a great time based on these amazing pics. Thanks for sharing!
XO
Lee Anne
http://www.lifebylee.com
Everything is so bright and colorful. I would love to visit some day. The canals looks like a lovely place to visit. So many scenes from movies and television. You have lovely photos
Wow! This looks amazing. The Kinney is such a stunning hotel, I have never seen such a glorious kaleidoscope of colours in a room before and your hair looks fabulous plaited by the way.
Venice Beach looks like so much fun and I love your pictures. Really captures all the city has to offer and makes me want to be there.
WOW so many cool opportunities to take photos there! I’ve never been but should visit – my friend lives in Redando Beach
Never been to Venice Beach but you look like you had a blast! 🙂
Omg I’m speechless!!! You visited some of the most incredible places! The walls in that hotel?!?! I can’t even handle it! This is like a magazine re-cap!!
Love all the colorful pictures! They look like you’re having so much fun! I love this post!
One Awesome Momma
I want super fun photos like this when I go tomorrow!
Rachel | The Confused Millennial
Have a super fun trip!!
I cannot get over how colorful and beautiful the hotel is and all of your photos are stunning. Your outfits are awesome and I LOVE the mustard colored top with the poms. The photographer did an amazing job capturing all of the fun you had on your adventure.
Why are you so perfect!!!! These photos are SO much fun.
Oh my goodness what an amazing looking place to visit – I love all the colours, beautiful photographs. x
All of the photos here are catalog-worthy. They seems so candid and really depicts the fun state you had. The place looks really refreshing.
I LOVE Cali (I’m actually heading back to L.A. next week). Isn’t Venice Beach great? I adore The Kinney. It’s such a cute and colorful hotel.
I am in love with your VSX outfit and the romper, Bella! I seriously need to visit Venice Beach!
I officially follow your posts now! This was such a fun session with you. You are a gem Bella!
Looks like such a great time! Venice Beach is definitely added to my travel bucket list!
Bryn || The Wine Chronicles
I am so jealous! I can see you had a blast. That hotel is just fun and unique. I would love to have photo op there too lol! Great post Bella. xx
https://www.prettyweirdbombshell.com/big-voluminous-pony-irresistible/