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Aaa, Venice, Beach California. The odd smells in the air, the homeless on the beach, the artists lined up and down the boardwalk, the roller bladers, roller skaters, bikers, runners, skateboarders, unicyclists and street performers all around… I really don't think any coast in Cali gets more interesting than this. Yea.. nope.

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The weekend started with Drew's Saturday morning roller hockey game played on Santa Monica's beachfront parking lot. I usually join him and either run, bike or swim while he plays, so this weekend I decided to take my camera on a biking adventure to capture some of the best of the aforementioned oddities offered only in Venice!

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My journey started along the Santa Monica/ Venice Beach bike path, one of my favorites in all of California. It stretches for 22 miles on the Golden Coast and even lets you ride under the Santa Monica Pier!

Stop 1: Muscle Beach. Pretty sure I saw someone's grandma with muscles bigger than Arnold's.

Stop 2: The Venice Beach Freak Show. We've never actually gone in because usually the people outside are just as interesting… see below.

Stop 3: The artists up and down the boardwalk who make everything from Truffula trees to dream catchers, and awesome paintings and souvenirs so unique that you would never find them in the stores. It's safe to just that about everything in Venice is one of a kind.

The Mona Lisa? Another rare Venice find..

Even the homes in Venice are pure art!

After a morning of capturing the sites along the beach, that afternoon Drew and I decided to keep the momentum going with a city adventure. So, we headed out to take photos of the random awesomeness offered along Fairfax and Melrose Avenue in Hollywood!

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Everyone needs a mini Leaning Tower of Pisa in their home, right?:

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Or a ginormous heart from tini (www.thisisnotikea.com):

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How about a Ferrari in your driveway that matches your very own niche designer boutique, like the owner of Pink Dolphin:

In honor of the timeless 90's classic Clueless, we/ I just had to stop in Fred Segal and catch a glimpse of their latest threads, this location even has a yoga studio!:

And of course the LA street art always impresses:

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And just when we thought things couldn't get any better…

Who knew blue and pink walls could be so much fun!

Moral of the story: You don't have to go to another state, country or even city to find an adventure. Sometimes those in our own backyard are better than anything else.

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