Perfect! The place was indeed very close to the beach and completely comfortable. Having a wee store/deli and several great restaurants within steps was a bonus. Thanks to Jim and Lilith for the quick response when we needed a few more towels. We had debated over staying at The Beach House (hotel right by the pier) for more than double the price of Jim's place...everytime we walked by it, we chuckled at our good sense and thought about all the extras we could do with the savings.
We rented bikes and rode to Venice Beach, did tons of walking, soaked in the CA vibes. Lovely weekend getaway from the snow in Minneapolis.