Santa Monica is one of the top beaches and best places to live in the world. The most walkable and cyclist district with great shopping, glamorous beachfront hotels, sophisticated restaurants and alluring boutiques. It is surrounded by mountains on one side and the other side is the beach.
Here are the best things to do in Santa Monica, California:
1. Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier – the most noticeable landmark in the city and worth visiting the pier because of the different attractions. You can hop on rides with a roller coaster towering 55 feet above the Pacific Ocean and Ferris Wheel in Pacific Park, ride the historic Merry-Go-Round, many fairground games, classic carousel housed in the historic Looff Hippodrome, the Heal the Bay Aquarium, and watch the
street performers. It was constructed in 1909 and it was the first concrete pier on the West Coast. It is located in Santa Monica State Beach. It is also the home to many species of fish like sea bass and
black croaker.
2. Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Monica State Beach – is the main example of the famous Southern California state beaches which is located just west of downtown Los Angeles. It has huge expanses of beaches with different activities like biking along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, the original Muscle Beach, beach volleyball, swimming, and beach cycling. It has 3.5 miles of shoreline, soft sand, perfect weather, and bunch of attractions. You can dine and shop for souvenirs with traditional facilities like a pool, a splash pad, a playground, and beach courts. You will find a suitable wooden-plank walkway along the beach allowing visitors with wheelchairs to enjoy all its offerings.
3. Palisades Park
Palisades Park – is a fine strip of land that extends for a mile and a half with wide-ranging views and magnificent scenery to preserve. You will notice the trees that have so many varying shapes and sizes that give many postcard-worthy vistas. It is located within walking distance of central sites like the Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade. A 26.4-acre park with different amenities that will help you relax while soaking up some sun. The park has picnic tables, benches, a Totem Pole, a Santa Monica concrete sculpture, a Visitors Center Kiosk, restrooms, a rose garden, public art, and a space that hosts monthly art classes. You will see kinds of drought-resilient species like agave plants,palm trees, and a paved pathway where you can bike, skate, or run along.
4. Annenberg Community Beach House
Annenberg Community Beach House – a 5-acre opulent oceanfront site with 100 room mansion, recreation room for board games like ping pong and classes together with a swimming pool, sports facilities, courtyard with tables, chairs and umbrellas, a viewing deck, splash pad. a cafe, a playground, beach volleyball courts, beach soccer courts, gallery, free-wifi, tennis courts, canopies and paddle board rentals that was built by William Randolph Hearst in 1920s. Visitors or travelers can pay to take classes in yoga, standup paddle boards, and swim in the pool.
5. Third Street Promenade
5. Third Street Promenade – is a popular shopping destinations for travelers or tourists with an electric vibe. It is an amiable but usual parade of mostly familiar names. It is a four-block pedestrianized stretch that runs down Third Street from Wilshire Boulevard to Colorado Avenue. It is an open-air shopping mall packed with major stores like Urban Outfitters and Tiffany and Company. It has also
outdoor dining and many of them are using local ingredients.
6. Pacific Park
Pacific Park – is located on the world-famed Santa Monica Pier featuring 12 fascinating rides like the West Coaster, swing back-and-forth on a sea dragon-themed ship, and Pacific Wheel which is the first solar-powered Ferris Wheel. It is one of the leading entertainment destinations for tourists or travelers in Southern California you will enjoy all the games, and rides and will like a fun-filled over-the-ocean picnic with unlimited family rides, energizing games with cool prizes and mouth-watering BBQ all mixed with ocean breeze, sun, and the astonishing view of the historic Santa Monica Pier. The park can accommodate 1,200 people. You can buy a souvenir from a gift shop and eat from one of their food stalls. The park is open daily but the operating hours may vary depending on the season and weather.
7. Santa Monica's Farmer Market
7. Santa Monica’s Farmer Market – is a good place to pick up produce, flowers, and pastries and one of the largest farmer markets in the country. It creates successful, vigorous communities that are equitable, connected, and diverse by promoting the prosperity of California farmers and small businesses, the preservation of the agricultural arts, and justifiable food systems. There are four weekly markets on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, bringing the farmers to Downtown, Main Street, and Pico neighborhood from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.
8. Marvin Braude Bike Trail
Marvin Braude Bike Trail – is also known as “The Strand” has a 22-mile route that stretches along the coast from Pacific Palisades to Torrance in which you will see the picturesque brief look of Southern California cities. Visitors and tourists are overwhelming in citing its phenomenal ocean vistas and well-maintained paths when you go biking. You can rent a bike and explore the trail on your own if you want a less crowded experience. You will discover scenic thoroughfares like Main Street and San Vicente Boulevard which is a bike-friendly. The city sits just south of Santa Monica Mountains where affixed trails are available for mountain biking. An electric bicycle tour with pedal can be arranged and suggested to book it.
9. Tongva Park
Tongva Park – a 6-acre refuge which is named after the region’s Indigenous Tongva Indian Tribe in which you will find a mix of nature and plants spread throughout four areas, Discovery Hill, Observation Hill, Garden Hill, and Gathering Hill. The Observation Hill, gestures to those who are looking at phenomenal ocean vistas while the Discovery Hill is a family with kids amenities with splash pad, play area, and a shaded picnic facility. Garden Hill, impresses nature lovers with magnificent flora and the Gathering Hill draws culture canines incisive on attending free concerts at the amphitheater. It has basic amenities like restrooms, free WI-FI, and walking paths. The park is open everyday from 6 am to 11 pm.
10. Getty Villa
10. Getty Villa – is a museum displaying Greek and Roman art from the Middle Ages with the rotating special exhibitions. It has a huge reflecting pool, outdoor theater and meticulous gardens with sculptures, fountains and diversity of landscaping. If you want to enjoy a Garden Tea with finger sandwiches, desserts and tea, you need to have a reservation for a special afternoon. You can bring your own food or dine at the Cafe and Coffee Kiosk. It stretches 6 miles north of Santa Monica in the Pacific Palisades using a car. The villa is open from Wednesday to Monday from 10 am to 5 pm.