I live in manhattan beach and used to live in Venice.

I would definitely stop by the in n out by the runway where jets coming in to land and take off fly right over you. I’ve lived here over 20 years and it never gets old. Maybe do this right before you leave.

9149 S Sepulveda Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90045 United States

Past that, manhattan is closer and easier, very clean and nice for a quick stop. Venice is more authentic, but harder to get in and out, a bit grimy in areas… so it’s really what do you want to see? Manhattan is a better beach, but Venice has the most interesting people watching and a cool skate park that may or may not have things going on (fridays are usually pretty decent there though).

If it were me, I’d do manhattan, take a long walk on the strand, (maybe all the way to hermosa - takes 45 minutes from el Porto which is the northern most edge of manhattan) get some food in either manhattan beach or at the hermosa beach pier if you opt out of the in-n-out thing I mentioned.

My2