S anta Monica Pier and Venice Beach may sit side by side, but they could not be more different. One is packed with classic ...

Just don't expect the blue skies, white sand, and palm trees of gorgeous, frequently filmed Venice Beach. With rain lashing .

Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel Developed in the early 20th century, Venice Beach is modeled – canals and all – after its namesake city in Italy. Admittedly, the experiment didn't live up ...