Aerial view of the Venice Skatepark in Venice Beach, Los Angeles

Sand, sun, and sk8ers

Walk the busy boardwalk of Venice Beach, in Los Angeles, and you'll see more sailing past than distant yachts—like an endless stream of skateboarders whizzing by within inches, always seeming to dodge you and your snow cone at the last second. Wanna bet they're headed to this world-famous skatepark right on the beach?

First poured in 2009 and serving locals, tourists, and pros alike ever since, Venice Skatepark's three bowls are usually brimming with skilled skaters—and visitors crowding the railings hoping to spy sick tricks. It's an appropriate setting for a top-notch skate spot: Bustling SoCal beaches like Venice were the birthplace of skateboarding, invented by bored surfers who wanted to cruise the land on days when waves were weak.