Windward Ave, Venice

As much as it's hyped up, the area around Venice beach isn't really my favorite in the neighborhood, but I can't really complain about Pacific Ave. It runs from Marina del Rey into Santa Monica, and is a good place to look for restaurants and nightlife. As it's right by the beach, parking is hard and the food can be overpriced, but it's also relatively easy to find free parking and cheap food if you look in the right places. As it runs into Santa Monica, you encounter the Santa Monica Pier, and during large portions of the street you get a good view of the ocean. A lot of Pacific is also residential. Houses around here sometimes run for cheaper than ones in parts of Venice, so although it isn't the most upscale neighborhood in the area, it's a pretty good one if you want to be right near the beach.