The beach itself is wide (100 meters) clean sand, with excellent swimming and surfing. (Surfboards available with exchange). Also nearby are numerous body building gyms (Venice is a world center for the art; Arnold Schwarzennegger came here to build up, and still has offices nearby), and tennis and paddle tennis courts.

Located in the North Beach neighborhood, immediately adjacent to Santa Monica's Main Street shopping and restaurant district, two dozen star-rated restaurants are within easy walking distance. Extremely unusual for Los Angeles, it is possible to walk to dinner, shopping and other destinations. Also immediately adjacent are a bicycle paths (bikes included with exchange) and bus connections to all westside and downtown destinations.

But you'll want a car: the house has parking for your rented vehicle, off the alley behind the house, giving you easy access to all of Los Angeles' cultural attractions. All museums, theaters, and attractions are freeway close.

He's a writer and editor who works at a university, she's a Jacques Pepin/Julia Child trained chef and interior designer. They have three children. We like to travel.

METROPOLITAN AREA: Los Angeles, California.

Venice, California was built by Abbott Kinney, who had made a fortune in cigarettes, and wanted to recreate the atmosphere of Italy's canal city on marshes west of Los Angele. The marshes were transformed into canals, dotted with vacation cottages, leading to amusements and arcades along the beach. Following his death, the canals were filled in, except for one section, and the area became a bohemian enclave frequented by beats -- Kerouac, Ginsberg, and others. It is now noted for architecture and art.

Venice Beach has served as a location for numerous films. A few examples are the opening shot of Orson Welles' classic "Touch of Evil;" the post-noir thriller "Cisco Pike," the remake of La Femme Nikita "Point of No Return," the comedy "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" and many, many more -- check out:
http://www.westland.net/venicehistory/articles/movies.htm

PREFERRED DESTINATIONS: London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Rome, New York, San Francisco, Greece, Barcelona, Paris.

HOME EXCHANGE AVAILABILITY: December 22, 2007 to January 2, 2008. July-Aug dates TBD 2008.

RENTAL AVAILABILITY: see above

RENTAL RATE: prefer not to rent

FEATURES:
Modern Kitchen & Bath
Television
VCR/DVD
Computer
Fireplace
Auto Exchange Considered
Bicycles Available
Golf Nearby
Tennis Nearby
Hiking Nearby
Dining & Shopping Nearby
Public Transportation Available
Gallery & Museums Nearby

LINKS OF INTEREST