Fish Tacos, Malibu, the PCH, Venice, Santa Monica, the Pacific Ocean, Downtown, Food from a truck.  That was our first day in LA.  Here’s a quick recap.

Quick tips on making this the best picnic possible: The Reel Inn has parking, valet, and cost three bucks.  (And trust us, that’s the best three bucks you’ll spend.  You can try to park on the street- but this will take quite some time on the weekend as everyone is at the beach.)  They take cash or cards.  Once you get the tacos, you can walk across the street to the beach or walk a few blocks to find a perfect spot.  Make sure to get napkins and silverware from the Inn and bring a blanket or towels to sit on at the beach.  *insiders note: eat the tacos pretty quickly after getting them or they’ll get soggy.

Driving down the PCH towards Venice

This drive can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour! So, buckle up and enjoy the views.  When you arrive in Venice, you can pay to park- upwards of 12 bucks- or find street parking.  Totally possible, just read all streets signs as there are rules of when you can park on certain sides, at certain times.  We parked on Ocean at Venice

As Rob pointed out, “It’s just like Venice, except in Southern California and nothing like Venice!”  But it is awesome!  Walk around and over the little bridges that connect all the walkways.  You can take this almost all the way to the beach- and a much better view (and safer) than walking on street.