Santa Monica

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Santa Monica

Area: Along the coast on the west side

Overview: Ask a local angeleno where they would want to live. Venice might pop up or even Hollywood, Miracle Mile or Brentwood. Most, however, would probably choose Santa Monica. The southern boarder of Santa Monica is Pico Blvd; the north is Montana Ave and the east border is Centinela Ave. To the west is the Pacific Ocean.

Perhaps the most visited area in Los Angeles, Santa Monica has a caché and likability among locals and tourists that Beverly Hills wishes it had. For the most part, is un-stuffy, safe, visually appealing and a truly wonderful place for all walks of life across the board. As for the neighborhood, take a walk, wheel or even drive around Santa Monica through the residential areas, especially north of Santa Monica Blvd. In these neighborhoods are magnificent multimillion dollar homes – both old and new – and condos. The streets are wide, the pavement always seems to be new and the greenery is lush. The colorful beachfront properties off the Santa Monica Beach Bike Path are something else. Some can be considered historic landmarks and some, ultra modern.

Santa Monica has some of the most popular sites in Los Angeles to boot. The main points of interest in Santa Monica that locals and tourists flock are Main Street (shopping, dining, bars), Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade and Montana Ave. Main Street, which runs north and south and parallel with the beach, is about a block and a half east of the beach. From Pico Blvd to Marine, Main Street boasts upscale and off-the-beaten-path and brand name retail shops, extremely popular restaurants like the Omelette Parlor, Dhaba Cuisine of India, and Finn McCool’s Irish Pub and Restaurant and the trendy Urth Cafe. On Sunday mornings, the local Farmers Market has live music, fresh food and clothes and trinkets made locally. You can’t beat a Sunday Morning on Main Street in Santa Monica.

Just a block and a half away from Main Street, the beautiful Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Pier draw a diverse crowd. A quick stroll from Main Street to the beach will take you to the Santa Monica Bike Path and the Pier, which is off Colorado Ave. Click on the links for Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Pier. Yes, they deserve their own pages!

Within walking distance from the beach, maybe a three blocks, spreads out the most popular outdoor, pedestrian only mall in Los Angeles known as the Third Street Promenade. The Promenade extends from Colorado Ave up to Wilshire Blvd. Along the Promenade, you’ll find street performers, an inordinate amount of retail shops and great restaurants. A half a block east of Third Street on Wilshire Blvd is Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, a great, very reasonably priced Mexican restaurant with very generous servings and a favorite among locals, including me.

Often overlooked in Santa Monica by visitors, however, is Montana Avenue. A few blocks north of Wilshire Blvd between 10th and 16th streets are quaint shops and restaurants. The area is beautiful and located in an upscale part of town. Be prepared to open your wallets.

Santa Monica also offers a great nightlife. Dance and sweat at the swank Zanzibar on 5th and Arizona Ave or the Temple Bar on Wilshire Blvd and 10th. Or, have a drink at the popular Cock and Bull on Lincoln Blvd, Busby’s on Santa Monica Blvd or The Gaslite on Wilshire Blvd. See the nightlife pages for a lot more options.

Santa Monica, California is gorgeous. You’ll love it.

Accessibility: All in Santa Monica is wheelchair accessible. Sidewalks are paved nicely, signs and signals are large and ramps are prevalent.

Getting There: www.bigbluebus.com, www.metro.net, http://www.culvercity.org/bus/bus.asp