The Santa Monica essentials
Classics and more to see in this paradise on the edge of Los Angeles
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Planning a trip to Southern California but don’t want to fight Los Angeles traffic? Or maybe when you hear the word Disneyland you think, “Been there, done that?”
Check out the city of Santa Monica in all its beauty. From a funky old pier surrounded by some of the world’s best beaches, to its upscale shopping district, scores of art galleries, top-rated restaurants and bountiful nightlife, there are enough things to do in this little oasis just 19 kilometres west of downtown L.A. to keep you not only occupied but enthralled.
What’s new
Santa Monica Place: This rather mundane looking shopping mall was transformed in 2010. It’s now a bright, open-air gathering spot of upscale restaurants and stores that connects directly with the city’s pedestrian-friendly Third Street Promenade, forming the heart of Santa Monica’s downtown. The mall not only rivals Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive in offering high-end, celebrity-frequented brand-name outfits like Kitson, Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Barneys, but also provides an abundance of relatively reasonable parking within walking distance of the beach. A new-old addition to that beach is the Annenberg Community Beach House. Built in the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for his companion, actress Marion Davies, it was acquired by Santa Monica and opened to the public in 2009. Tours of the guest house and its art gallery are free.
Classic attractions
Start by making a beeline to Santa Monica Pier, the 99-yearold landmark with an entrance sign proclaiming it as the final stop on Route 66, the highway John Steinbeck declared America’s Mother Road. (Fact check: Route 66 actually ended a block to the north, but the sign still makes for a nice photo op.) Here you’ll find everything from musicians, snake handlers, artists and other street performers, to quiet areas set aside for fishing.
As for the beach, there is five kilometres of it, plenty to go around for surfers, swimmers, sunbathers and the like. You can check it all out by biking, roller skating or walking the boardwalk.
Tips
Santa Monica may give off a small-town vibe, but it still covers more than 21 square kilometres in a part of the country where the automobile is the primary means of transportation, traffic jams are common and road construction projects seemingly never end.
That said, the city’s Big Blue Bus system covers Santa Monica pretty well. Basic one-way fares are $1 with multiple-ride passes available at discounted prices. For full schedule and fare information, visit bigbluebus.com. Several hotels also provide shuttle service to the pier, and bicycle rentals can be a handy alternative.
If you do drive, be warned that street parking is difficult to find in tourist areas and restricted to locals in most residential areas.
Hanging out
On the way into town check out Bergamot Station Art Center. A collection of modest buildings near a maintenance yard in the section of town farthest from the beach, it’s easy to overlook. But inside this 19th- century rail yard, you’ll find a small art museum and more than a dozen contemporary galleries displaying photos, sculptures, paintings and more. There’s also a good, reasonably priced restaurant with an outside dining area. Or ask for directions to Food Truck Alley, a nearby street on the edge of the city’s high-tech district where a dozen or more food trucks congregate every weekday lunch hour.