Los Angeles Waterfront

Venice of America Canals: A Reclaimed Italian Vision in LA

Los Angeles, California, United States

By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published Fri, Aug 28, 2026

Why it’s cool

These historic waterways survived decades of neglect and the rise of the automobile to become a lush, hidden residential sanctuary modeled after Italy.

West Coast Waterfront

Small boats float along a narrow canal lined with houses, palm trees, and walking paths in the Venice Canals.

Abbot Kinney looked at the marshy coastline of Southern California and saw something far more grand than a swamp. In 1905, the tobacco millionaire launched his ambitious Venice in America project.

He intended to build a luxury seaside resort that captured the romantic spirit of Italy. His creation featured miles of man-made waterways where gondoliers navigated past banks overflowing with flowers.

For a brief period, these canals were the centerpiece of a thriving destination.

Why It Stands Out

The romance of the canals was short-lived as the automobile took over American life. In the eyes of urban planners, the waterways were an obstacle to progress and traffic.

Most of the channels were filled in with dirt and paved over to create streets. The few blocks that were spared soon fell into deep neglect.

For nearly half a century, the area was a site of political gridlock and environmental concern. The water grew stagnant and the bridges crumbled.

It took forty years of debate before a massive restoration project finally brought the district back to life. Today, the surviving six canals represent a quiet, decadent pocket of Los Angeles history.

The neighborhood is a study in architectural contrast. Another site preserving the city's architectural evolution is the Heritage Square Museum.

Ultra-modern glass residences sit beside funky, artistic cottages. Dense, multi-layered landscaping hangs over the water, creating a green tunnel for those walking the pedestrian paths.

If you visit during the spring or summer, you might see families of ducks navigating the shallow water. It is a slow-paced sanctuary that feels worlds away from the nearby beach crowds.

The Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine offers a similar sense of quiet reflection nearby.

Before You Go

The canals are located in a residential neighborhood, so visitors should remain respectful of the people living there. The paths are narrow and intended for walking.

While the area is public, there are no commercial shops or restaurants within the canal grid itself. You can reach the entrance by walking north from the Venice Fishing Pier along Speedway Street.

After turning right on 27th Avenue, you will need to cross Pacific Avenue to find the footpaths.

Questions worth answering

How do we find the entrance to the waterways?

Start at the Venice Fishing Pier and head north along Speedway Street. Turn right on 27th Avenue and cross Pacific Avenue to reach the footpaths.

Can we grab a coffee or lunch while we walk the paths?

You won't find any shops or restaurants inside the residential grid. It's a quiet area meant for walking past homes and gardens.

What kind of architecture should we expect to see?

The neighborhood is a mix of styles. High-tech glass houses stand right next to small, artistic cottages from different eras.

Is the area still as large as it was in 1905?

Most of the original channels were filled with dirt for cars. Only six canals remain today after decades of neglect and a major restoration.

Visit Snapshot

To find the canals from the Venice Fishing Pier, walk north along Speedway Street and turn right onto 27th Avenue. Cross Pacific Avenue at the end of the block.

Look for the path near the large modern house with expansive windows. This leads to the first of the six remaining canals.

Location

Los Angeles, California

Know before you go

From the Venice Fishing Pier, walk north on Speedway Street and turn right on 27th Avenue. At the end of the block, carefully jaywalk across Pacific Avenue.

Follow the path on the other side of the street past the very large, very modern, high tech house with big windows for a few yards until you reach the first of six canals.

Editorial source

Venice of America Canals

Tobacco millionaire Abbot Kinney had a grandiose vision when he looked out at the marshland he had purchased on the southern Californian coast. He called it “Venice in America,” and set to work in 1905 to create a luxurious seaside resort that mirrored the famous gondola-navigated canals of Venice, Italy.

Its purpose was twofold: to recreate the famous and unique Italian city, and to add his own American resort flair to the locale. For a while, his man-made canals were all the rage, with serene flower-lined shores and gondolas sailing under graceful, beautifully lit bridges–but alas, it wasn't meant to last, and the spell was broken by the sudden influx of automobiles.

Considered outdated and taking up precious road space, all but a few blocks of the canals were filled in and the remainder subsequently fell into disrepair. Eventually, they became perennial hotbeds for debate and discussion of much-needed urban renewal plans.

Finally, after more than 40 years of being bogged down by political red tape, unsavory residents, and environmental concerns, the canals were finally resurrected to their previous quiet decadence, and are now once again a haven for those who can afford to live there. The canals provide a pleasant space, perfect for serene walks through dense, multi-layered landscapes, unusual and sometimes funky architecture, and during the right time of year, gaggles of baby ducks dutifully following their mothers through the shallow water of “The Other Venice.”