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Here on Venice Beach, in Los Angeles, you'll see more skateboarders sailing past than distant yachts. Surrounded by sand just off the boardwalk, the smooth cement structure in our photo is a famous skatepark, which opened in 2009 and attracts locals, tourists and pros alike. The three bowls are usually full of skilled skaters while visitors watch from the railings, hoping to see some tricks. It's an appropriate setting for a world-class skate spot: Southern California beaches like Venice were the birthplace of skateboarding, invented by bored surfers who wanted to cruise the land on days when waves were flat.
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