Santa Monica, California
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Santa Monica
Santa Monica Attractions
There are a multitude of attractions and landmarks in Santa Monica. Some of the most popular include Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Beach, and Santa Monica Stairs. The pier is considered the focal point of Santa Monica Beach, and it connects to Pacific Park, which consists of a Ferris wheel, aquarium, carnival games, and other amusement park fun. Meanwhile, Third Street Promenade offers visitors and locals four blocks of popular shops and restaurants from Wilshire Boulevard to Colorado Avenue. For the fitness buffs, Santa Monica Stairs features several stair trails, including the nearly 200-step concrete stairs, the wider 170-step wooden stairs, and the hidden La Mesa steps at Mesa Road. There are also plenty of local delights for out-of-towners, such as the Annenberg Community Beach House, Tongva Park, and Palisades Park.
Santa Monica Restaurants & Nightlife
Santa Monica is not lacking when it comes to quality eateries and bustling nightlife. The city is home to several highly esteemed restaurants, such as The Galley, Via Veneto, Runyon Canyon—simply head towards Main Street. The cuisine is so diverse that no matter what you’re craving, Santa Monica has it all from pizza and burgers to tacos and hand rolls. Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, which takes place several times a week (Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday) is also a popular food destination. More specifically, the Wednesday market regarded as one of the best in the city. From speakeasies to posh clubs, Santa Monica rivals Los Angeles’ very own booming downtown when it comes to nightlife. Local staples include The Bungalow, The Penthouse, and The Victorian.
Santa Monica Culture
Like typical laid-back California style, the atmosphere is very relaxed in Santa Monica. During the day, expect to see many entertainment professionals and creatives, such as photographers, models, or even well-known celebrities. The tourist city also has its fair share of out-of-towners, which increase heading towards the city’s more central areas. Closer to the beach, you can find cyclists, surfers, and local street vendors. At night, expect to see people out and about, either going home from the beach, heading to the bars, or getting a bite to each. Although there are significantly more people around during the weekends, Santa Monica is a city where something is always happening.
Santa Monica Transportation
Traffic isn’t a surprise in Santa Monica, especially since it’s notorious for having some of the nation’s worst congestion. However, the city has been trying to combat its snail-paced traffic by implementing more pedestrian-friendly improvements, such as installing bike lanes, crosswalks, and providing 2-hour free parking lots in crowded areas. Public transportation is also easily accessible, and commuters can take the Metro at Downtown Santa Monica or hop on the bus at WB & 11th or WB & Lincoln to travel to their destination.