The first of the fabled Southern Californian beach towns, Santa Monica entices visitors with its coastline, palm-lined cliffs and small town atmosphere. Just 13km (8 miles) from Los Angeles International Airport, Santa Monica offers a respite from the big city bustle. It has for decades been a favorite hideaway for Hollywood as well, with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks Sr, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford calling it home. Today, Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfeiffer and Ted Danson are just a few of the celebrities who live in Santa Monica. The thriving arts scene and cutting-edge cuisine add an air of European sophistication to this seaside community. A pedestrian-orientated city, Santa Monica’s many attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops are within easy walking distance of one another and the beach. Primary beaches include Santa Monica State Beach and Will Rogers State Beach.
The Santa Monica Museum of Art is a design marvel by famed architect Frank O Gehry. The museum displays the work of contemporary and modern artists. In nearby Malibu, the famed J Paul Getty Museum, an exact replica of a Roman country villa, houses one of the world’s largest and most valued art collections. Shopping is another popular pastime. The city has four different shopping areas, each with its own distinct character. Montana Avenue, Main Street, Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade feature specialty shops, restaurants and exclusive boutiques. In the evening, Third Street Promenade is transformed into a lively entertainment center. Street performers fill the pavements and restaurants push dining tables aside to create dance floors. Home to a lively British population, Santa Monica also sports a dash of Old-World camaraderie with some of the best pubs and tea rooms outside Great Britain. Santa Monica’s most famous landmark is the pier. Having undergone a phased US$45 million restoration, the West Coast’s oldest pleasure pier, built in 1908 during the height of the city’s popularity as a seaside resort, is now home to Pacific Park. The park features a 55ft roller coaster and a giant Ferris wheel as well as many other rides. The old pier’s carousel, with hand-crafted gilt and painted horses, offers rides each day. Additional features here include the newly renovated Boat House, pubs, restaurants, shops and a fresh fish market.
The 61,000-hectare Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, on the city’s northern border, offers camping, hiking, backpacking, horseriding, picnicking and birdwatching. Will Rogers State Historic Park, the 75-hectare ranch of the late humorist, features stables, polo matches at the weekends and tours of the cowboy/ philosopher’s ranch house.