Walking from Venice Beach, along the boardwalk, leads to Santa Monica beach where you can feel the difference in the vibe.
This is a much more upmarket area than Venice, and there are definitely no hippies here! There is a pier with the usual stuff, ferris wheel etc, but no arcades with slot machines..
Santa Monica pier
Santa Monica beach
The beach is great very clean but not overcrowded.
Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach
And Forest Gump and Lieutenant Dan are making a great living here!
Bubba Gump on Santa Monica pier