Hotel at a Glance: Cadillac Hotel

When it was built in 1914, the Cadillac Hotel was the summer residence of Charlie Chaplin. A century later, the pink-and-turquoise Art Deco hotel is still going strong. It occupies a scenic spot overlooking the Venice Beach Boardwalk just steps from the Pacific Ocean.

• Where you’ll stay: Guest rooms come bathed in soothing, pastel colors. Your accommodations feature 32-inch flat-screen TVs and smart-phone charging stations.
• Famous guests: Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison
• Head to Muscle Beach to see bodybuilders pumping iron at an outdoor gym known as “The Pit.”
• Distance from Hollywood Walk of Fame: 16 miles

Venice Beach, Los Angeles: Colorful Boardwalk and Wide Beaches

In the late 1890s, tobacco magnate Abbot Kinney set out to create a resort town–theme park hybrid that was reminiscent of Venice, Italy. He chose a marshy area of Los Angeles near the beach and hired construction crews to dig out canals so that gondolas could carry tourists to and fro. Kinney brought on architects to design hotels and stores with a distinctly Italian feel. He also added Kinney Pier, with attractions including a dance hall, auditorium, and aquarium. By the 1950s, the area had fallen into disrepair, but Venice was revitalized after an influx of hippies and artists moved in during the 1970s. Today, the Ocean Front Walk remains a prime spot for people-watching—it’s a bustling blend of musicians, artists, street vendors, skateboarders, and only-in-LA eccentrics.

If you get tired of lounging on the sands of Venice Beach, you can hop on the 26-mile bike path to ride up the coast to sunny Santa Monica. This beachfront locale is best known for its namesake pier, which juts into the Pacific Ocean and hums with lively amusement park attractions, including a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and a carousel from the 1920s.

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