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NARRATOR: We're going coast to coast to get wet and wild
at the hottest shoreline playgrounds in the country.
[ Screaming ]
NARRATOR: First up, Venice Beach, California.
The scene here is defined by its culture of creative cool...
[ Cheers and applause ]
...with zany street performers...
inventive skateboard mayhem...
and funky, fresh art everywhere.
Venice has such a mix of people.
It's so creative.
NARRATOR: This is the most artistic summer hot spot of them all.
Then off to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
This place is the nation's summer capital.
It's got all-pro skimboarding...
Summertime.
...mighty microbrews...
...and red-hot American lifeguards.
[ Both cheering ]
Come and enjoy the bikinis and boardwalks.
-- Captions by VITAC --
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Come spend the day at Venice Beach,
the most artistic beach scene of them all.
[ All cheering ]
Venice Beach is, like, a vibrant, happy place.
Like, everyone in it is just always buzzing.
[ All cheer ]
You can find this hot stretch of artistic bliss
west of Hollywood,
down the Sunset Strip on the California coast.
Venice is aptly named.
The promenade dates back to 1905
when a creative visionary named Abbot Kinney
dreamed of building the Venice, Italy, of America.
Abbot Kinney was a developer.
He spoke five languages, and he traveled the world.
He was more than an innovator.
He is the founder of Venice.
NARRATOR: Kinney wanted to make sure
his oceanfront oasis was more magnificent than any other.
He connected the wooden boardwalk
to an intricate system of canals --
the original works of art of this artistic paradise.
GREENLAND: Venice started as a resort area.
You could rent a gondola.
Gondolier would sing to you, row you around.
You could have dinner on your gondola.
NARRATOR: Today, the gondolas are no more,
and the canals are lined with multimillion-dollar homes.
In Venice, the promenade is called an ocean walk.
Instead of wooden boards, it's made of concrete.
Intricate murals from local artists
cover much of the surrounding architecture.
And the beach boasts two legal graffiti walls,
where tag crews can bum without fear of the 5-0.
The combination turns this beach scene
into the ultimate bohemian artist's haven.
That local artistic community is joined
by the 16 million visitors that find inspiration
in this vibrant, hipster paradise every year.
By 9:00 a.m., muscle beach is open for business.
These Venice Beach artists have come to sculpt their bodies.
They're pumping iron under the sun
like many famous men before them.
Has anybody heard of Arnold Schwarzenegger?
He's the governor -- used to be the governor of California.
NARRATOR: Muscle beach is the outdoor beachfront gym
where the megastar first flexed his pecs.
It's one of the only places in the country
where you can train and tan at the same time.
By 10:00 a.m., the skate kids of Venice have hit the beach.
They are the physical artists
of this southern California locale --
moving, living works of art.
Venice has been known to locals as Dogtown since the 1970s.
That's when a group of young Venice surfers
revolutionized the sport of skateboarding.
The Zephyr Competition Skate Team,
or Z-Boys as they were known,
invented the artistic aerial and sliding moves
that are the basis for the sport today.
There's such a big skating scene here,
and, like, the Dogtown Z-Boys,
this is, like, where they grew up.
This is their stomping grounds.
Like, you can still feel that energy.
NARRATOR: Now a gnarly skate park, itself a work of art,
pays tribute to these legends.
If you have the balls to take on concrete,
you have the balls to take on anything.
So this manual gives you confidence, strength, and power.
NARRATOR: The present-day lords of Dogtown continue the Z-Boy tradition,
carving masterpieces on their boards all day every day.
Adding to the scenery are the beautiful California blondes,
true works of art that populate this bikini-heavy beach,
Like these California cuties
on their way to the Arbor skate shop --
a Venice original.
This beach babe is in the market for a longboard skate deck,
Or as it's known around here, a Venice cruiser.
Thank you.
Arbor's been hand-crafting environmentally sustainable,
high-performance surf, skate, and snowboards since 1995.
Grip tape is made from recycled glass.
All my wheels are condensed sugar.
Their green mentality fits perfectly
with the bohemian Venice culture.
What did, like, the Dogtown Z-Boys used to ride?
All the Z-Boys used to ride smaller boards like this.
Makes it really easy to maneuver.
NARRATOR: This Venice skater has got her mind set
to cruise out of the shop
and add some splash to the colorful ocean-walk scene.
I like that,
but I want it to be, like, a little bit longer.
Finally, she makes her decision.
I'm pretty -- Yeah, this is the one.
Yeah.
You got the one.
You stoked?
Yeah, we're gonna skate down the boardwalk right now.
So it'll be perfect.
New board in hand, she's ready to paint the town red.
I got a new skateboard.
Perfect for hills, for cruising the boardwalk,
just, like, super-big longboard.
I'm stoked on it. [ Laughs ]
NARRATOR: The four skate the ocean walk in true Venice fashion...
and hit up the Venice Ale House at the end of Rose Avenue
for a bouquet of food and drink.
The ladies grab a table on the outdoor patio.
It's the perfect spot for taking in the crazy circus
of artists, street performers, and vendors
who are turning the ocean walk into a living theater.
That's our new discovery.
Hi, guys. How are you?
The skater girls are ready to enjoy the *** Thai coconut.
It's a young, all-natural, shaved coconut,
and the Venice Ale House is the only place around here
that serves these edible works of art.
These look really good.
This one's really fresh, yeah.
First you drink the milk.
Then you eat the fruit.
Cheers.
Cheers with a coconut.
A splash of coconut is delicious,
but for a stronger palate, the Ale House is known for its brew.
I heard you guys serve, like, beer in a skateboard.
It's our sampler.
You can do it four or six.
Comes out on a skateboard 'cause you're in Venice.
And it's literally on a skateboard
with wheels and trucks and everything?
Don't worry. The wheels are locked.
[ Laughter ]
Okay, it's a longboard for you.
NARRATOR: Here, they get creative
with their menu items and serving plates.
A modified longboard is used as the sampler tray
and called a skate.
Oh!
They've got 28 beers on tap, all from the west coast.
The longboard, Napa Smith organic...
The Ale House focuses on breweries
with environmentally sustainable practices...
MAN: Salute.
NARRATOR: ...making the world a better place one beer at a time.
WOMAN: Yummy.
And what's the grub that follows these luscious libations?
Organic, sustainable local foods the Venice way.
The fish-taco plate looks so good, it belongs in a museum.
Fish tacos on the beach -- can't beat that.
NARRATOR: It's 4:00 p.m.,
and the art, style, and Venice culture of creative cool
are in full swing.
Here we go! Bam!
NARRATOR: An eclectic crowd has gathered
around a group of street dancers performing on the ocean walk.
This off-the-hook street team combines break dancing
and precision acrobatics in their performance.
MAN: Make some noise!
[ Cheers and applause ]
Ladies and gentlemen, this is our grand finale.
MAN: Yes, our grand finale!
We have reached the point of our show
where it's gonna get dangerous.
Here we go.
NARRATOR: Next, a death-defying climax.
NARRATOR: Sitting on the sun-drenched California coast,
Venice Beach is the most creative beach locale
of them all.
At 4:00 p.m., this dance crew has taken center stage
on the ocean-walk promenade.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Here comes the grand finale.
These guys are living art.
They're just another example
of how Venice is the ultimate creative summertime experience.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Woman laughs ]
At 5:00 p.m., it's dinnertime in Venice Beach.
Hungry bohemian beachcombers head to the Hinano Cafe,
just a block off the beach on Washington Boulevard.
[ Sizzling ]
The Hinano burger is a favorite
with locals and vacationers alike.
Wow, that is the best burger I've ever had.
Anything west of Boston for burgers...
Mm-hmm.
...Hinano's. You're there.
I agree.
[ Sizzling ]
Juicy meat, a special aioli,
and melted cheddar cheese all packed into a bun.
SCHELICH: Yeah, we're known for our hamburgers here --
a little bit of special seasoning
and 50 years of practice.
If I'm going anywhere to get a burger,
Hinano Cafe, hands down.
Best burger in the west.
NARRATOR: These hand-crafted artisan burgers
will satisfy any palate on Venice Beach.
Looking for something sweeter?
These three Europeans are relaxing right next door
at the Mercedes Grill.
Here, they craft a mix
of Cuban, Caribbean, and Californian flavored cuisine.
[ Blender whirring ]
The specialty of the house --
a classic Cuban cocktail with a creative twist.
I'm here making our signature banana-mint mojitos.
Fresh mint.
A little well rum right here.
Fresh whole banana right here.
[ Blender whirring ]
All right, here we are --
delicious signature banana-mint mojitos.
Cheers!
Salute.
ALL: Prost.
[ Chuckles ]
NARRATOR: And after the aperitif,
fresh, sweet, and succulent salmon.
Lemon caper sauce, sautéed mushrooms, spinach,
and our amazing sweet plantains to top it off.
Another meal as pretty to look at it is tasty to eat.
Fed, relaxed, and in a California state of mind,
the ladies snap some artistic shots of Venice Beach.
WOMAN: I love it over here.
NARRATOR: They scope the surf and cruise the ocean walk,
enjoying the last hour of the west-coast sunshine.
As the sexiest sunset in California
begins to paint shades of color into the sky,
just 200 feet off the beach,
the Erwin Hotel is the perfect place to enjoy the view.
I got to say -- this terrace up here,
the view, everything, though -- it's crazy.
See all the way to Malibu, all the way to the Hollywood sign.
No place like Venice Beach -- one of a kind.
NARRATOR: The fifth-floor open-air lounge opens
just before sunset every night of the week.
One of their fresh, tropical drinks
is the perfect way to end the day at Venice Beach.
Venice is just amazing.
It's this little paradise.
It has all of the Hollywood spark to it,
but it's so laid-back 'cause it's right on the beach.
So, honestly, it's amazing.
NARRATOR: It's a super-cool, west L.A. spot
to chill, mingle, and enjoy the view.
Switching coasts, there's another boardwalk
that provides the ultimate summertime getaway.
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is the nation's summer capital.
This is where red-hot American girls and guys come
to chill out and enjoy their summer.
So, kick free on a skimboard...
...free your mind with some mighty microbrews...
Summertime.
...and indulge in the all-mighty blue crab.
McGANN: This crab cake might be the best one I have ever had.
[ Bell ringing ]
NARRATOR: In Rehoboth Beach,
it's all about living it up like a bigwig -- summer style.
We are the closest beach resort to the nation's capital,
Washington, D.C.
NARRATOR: Only 120 miles from Washington, D.C.,
Rehoboth Beach is the great summer escape
for the entire mid-Atlantic region.
Back in 1903, the first beach concessions were built,
along with the 150-foot Horn's Pier.
The city many years ago adopted the name
of the nation's summer capital
because so many people came from Washington and vacationed here.
NARRATOR: Then in 1962,
this summertime getaway was nearly lost when it was hit
by one of the most destructive storms of the 20th century.
There was a massive northeaster here in early March of 1962.
It completely destroyed the boardwalk
and most of the buildings along the boardwalk.
NARRATOR: Despite huge losses,
Rehoboth came back strong, becoming what it is today --
the ultimate power players' summer hot spot.
Whoo!
Every summer,
the population of Rehoboth explodes to 25 times normal.
The additional thousands of beachcombers
swarming the shores -- metropolitans and politicos
from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
escaping their daily grind.
WOMAN: Come to Rehoboth Beach!
It's the best beach ever!
All the time, it's the best!
It's 9:00 a.m., and what better way to live it up in Rehoboth
than with some east-coast board sports?
Here, you can indulge in paddle boarding...
kite surfing...
and skimboarding, Rehoboth's ultimate beach activity.
Next, red-hot American lifeguards.
NARRATOR: Sporting beach babes in bikinis,
Rehoboth is the summer capital of America.
And the ultimate sport of choice on this beach...
skimboarding.
Skimboarders use a small board without fins
and glide across the beach where the sand and water meet.
Unlike surfing, the skimboard is dropped onto the thin wash
at the end of waves in extremely shallow water.
It's as American as apple pie.
Skimboarding is a way of life.
NARRATOR: Skimboarding was born
on the shores of California's Laguna Beach in 1929
when lifeguards first skidded homemade wooden boards
into the surf.
It was called skid boarding then.
When the new board sport hit the east coast,
Rehoboth Beach jumped on it --
so much, it's now the east-coast capital of skimboarding.
MAHONEY: Because we've had the east-coast championship here
for the last 30 years,
and so, basically, you have generations
of people who have skimboarded.
And, you know, it's just taken off like a snowball
throughout the years,
and it's been a really big part of it.
NARRATOR: Amateurs and skimboard champions alike flee their home beaches
to seek out Rehoboth's presidential wave patterns.
MAHONEY: Because the waves break so close to shore,
it's ideal for skimboarding.
NARRATOR: Boarders use their momentum
to break free from the shallow surf
out to cresting waves.
It's liberating, but this sport takes an intense mix
of balance, precision, and skill.
We see people mostly just sand sliding on wooden boards,
where we're actually skimming on fiberglass boards
and actually going out to waves and catching them
and riding them like 20, 30 yards down the beach.
NARRATOR: You'll feel as free as the good old USA itself.
If you do wipe out, don't worry.
The Rehoboth lifeguard patrol is on duty.
Careful today. We have a lot of people coming in.
It's height of the summer.
We're constantly moving, constantly working.
NARRATOR: These lifesavers have been saving the day since 1921.
You got to be on your toes at all times, got to be ready.
Some days, the surf can get really big,
so got to be ready for anything.
NARRATOR: In 2011 alone, this 55-member team
was responsible for over 400 rescues.
If your extreme summer thrills push it to the limit,
these guys and gals are the difference
between life and death.
NARRATOR: When the heat swelters in D.C.
and it's sticky hot in nearby cities,
everybody flocks to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
It's the nation's summer capital.
So, dance atop the sick surf
and don't miss the bikinis along the way.
And if you go too far,
the patriotic Rehoboth Beach lifeguards
will come to your rescue.
They're the best of the best, and they love what they do.
PENDLETON: Being a Rehoboth lifeguard in the summers,
it's a really physically demanding job.
There's a lot of physical conditioning,
and it's really rigorous.
Nothing but the best lifeguards here in Rehoboth.
While the hottest lifeguards in the country
keep watch over the beach, it's 1:30 and time for lunch.
What else to lose yourself in
than Rehoboth's gourmet delicacy,
Delaware blue crab cakes?
The Latin name for the blue crab is callinectes sapidus.
It means "beautiful, savory swimmer."
You'll be swimming in delight after a taste
of the savory crab cakes at ***'s on Coast Highway 1.
The trick is not to break it up.
Leave it as big and as full as you can.
And let it cook for about 12 minutes, and...
when they come out, they look like that.
NARRATOR: Their perfect recipe for a juicy, 6-ounce crab cake
satisfies appetites on both sides of the aisle.
Mmm.
This crab cake might be the best one I have ever had,
and that's saying something since we're from Maryland,
and we're crab-cake snobs, so...
[ Girl laughs ]
Really good.
NARRATOR: Thumbs up from these satisfied foodies
on Rehoboth Beach, the USA summer capital.
By 4:00 p.m., it's happy hour,
and there's no better way to wash down those crab cakes
than with the free-flowing brews of the Dogfish Head Brewery.
Here you go. Enjoy.
They've put the east coast on the map
of exceptional American craft brewers.
They brew 30 different beers every year
right here in Rehoboth Beach, USA.
In 2011, they sold 142,000 barrels of beer.
That's almost 35 million pints
enjoyed by a lot of thirsty Congressmen.
POTTS: This is Dogfish Head Craft Brewings & Eats,
but it also functions as our experimental brewery
for batches that'll get scaled up and put out in bottles
and distributed around the country.
This is the ultimate carefree chill zone.
[ Laughter ]
So join the party, down a brewski,
and watch your worries melt away.
Cheers to Rehoboth. Summertime.
Summertime.
Cheers.
We love Dogfish!
[ Both shout ]
NARRATOR: With surf, sand, and drink,
this is the nation's ultimate summer getaway.
California's Venice Beach is the definition of creative cool.
Extreme thrills like this can mean only one thing.
It's going to be one hot summer.