A Guide To Santa Monica Beach

Santa Monica Beach
Nicole
Nicole 
Updated
| 4 min read

Whenever you’re in California, you shouldn’t miss experiencing one of its most beautiful cities, Los Angeles. Known as a tourist hotspot and home to celebrities, Los Angeles has some of the best gems in the state. One perfect destination to spend a day or two is the quaint town of Santa Monica. Home to the famous Santa Monica Beach, there are lots of activities and sights to see that await your arrival. Whether you’re after a beautiful tan, choice waves, or the best dining experience, you can never go wrong in choosing Santa Monica Beach. For a great traveling experience, check out our guide to Santa Monica Beach.

Things to do

Santa Monica Pier Amusement Ferris
Source: Pixabay

Upon arriving at the beach, you’ll already witness the variety of activities you can indulge in while having your vacation. To give you ideas of some of the highlights of Santa Monica Beach, continue reading down below.

Water sports

Well, of course, it’s only natural that you will want to indulge in some water activities, it’s the beach you visited after all. For thrill-seekers, you might love riding the big waves of Santa Monica Beach to the dawn. If you want a safer activity, you can enjoy kayaking.

Santa Monica Pier

Your visit to Santa Monica Beach will not be complete without trying all the amusements Santa Monica Pier has to offer–from thrilling rides to watching the sunsets on a Ferris wheel.

Marvin Braude Bike Trail

Catch some fresh air and feel the sea breeze while biking along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. It’s one of the activities you shouldn’t miss especially if you want to take a breather. Biking along this trail is refreshing and can make all your worries go away.

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What to eat

Mariasol Restaurant, Santa Monica Pier-15229084575
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Marika Bortolami used under CC BY 2.0

After a long day at the beach, it’s only natural to feel hungry. But you don’t have to worry. We know just the right places to dine. Continue scrolling down below for some dining recommendations we have for you.

Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals

Situated along the South Bay Bicycle Trail, Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals serves homemade pizzas, omelets, and fish n chips. It’s the perfect spot for beachgoers who are after a quick bite.

Nékter Juice Bar

If you want some cold smoothies while getting your tan, you can always head to Nékter Juice Bar for takeout without bothering to change your swimwear. It has a wide selection of cold drinks and sweet shakes to keep you refreshed.

Cora’s Coffee Shoppe

Serving organic food, Cora’s Coffee Shoppe offers guests the best dining experience with healthy food in a cozy environment. You can visit for brunch or late lunch and try its famous jidori chicken breast.

BOA Steakhouse

Dine at one of the celebrities’ favorite dining restaurants in Santa Monica Beach, the BOA Steakhouse. Famous for its juicy steaks, this restaurant is one of the hotspots for both locals and tourists alike. It is not only for well-loved its meat dishes and warm environment–its caesar salad is heavenly and a regulars’ favorite.

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Things to buy

Santa Monica Pier
Source: Pexels

With all the souvenir shops all over Santa Monica Beach, it will be waste not to buy some to bring home as tokens that will remind you of your pleasant visit. While you’re exploring the stores, we have some suggestions below on some things to buy.

New sets of swimwear

Well, when at the beach, the first thing we worry about is the swimwear we’re going to put on. Is it cute enough? Does it make your eyes pop? All those thoughts when picking the perfect pair of swimsuit to wear. But don’t worry, Santa Monica Beach has a lot of shopping spots where you’ll have a lot of choices when it comes to beach outfits.

Keychains

Let’s not forget about the keychains. Whenever we’re traveling to a new place, keychains are always on top of the list of things to buy for various reasons. Keychains are lightweight and pocket-friendly. You will also not regret buying some while in Santa Monica Beach because these keychains are all cute and lovely.

Jewelry

There is one specific store near the beach, LIMONAIA, that sells uniquely hand-made jewelry pieces. Bracelets and anklets are perfect to go with the beach vibes at Santa Monica.

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Travelers tips

more sunshine 2
Source: Photo by user Maria Rantanen used under CC BY-SA 2.0
When to visit

California stays warm all-year-round so it won’t matter which season you decide to visit. But if you don’t like big crowds, better avoid visiting during the peak of summer season. During this time, tourists from different states visit the beach which makes parking and having little privacy a little harder. You can always choose to visit during the off-peak season, including fall, spring, and winter.

Take advantage of the crystal water

With all the activities you can indulge when you’re in Santa Monica Beach, including biking, walking, dining and more, you might forget why you came in the first place - the crystal water and the white sandy beach. Although getting tan the whole day is nice and all, don’t forget to enjoy the water.

Bring sunblock with you

If you’re one of those people who have sensitive skin and easily get a sunburn, make sure to bring your sunblock with you whenever going out. Make sure that your sunblock has the maximum SPF level of 50.

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How to get there

Big Blue Bus 3871
Source: Photo by user Sam P 98 used under CC BY-SA 4.0
Traveling from LAX

If you’re coming from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you can easily arrive at Santa Monica Beach by riding the Big Blue Bus which will take you to your desired destination. The ride will not take too long since the airport is only 8 miles (12.8 kilometers) from the beach.

By driving

Driving your car is always a great choice, especially when bringing small kids with you. It’s less of a hassle and has more room for the children to be more comfortable during the ride. There are a lot of routes that will take you straight to Santa Monica Beach. There are routes from downtown, from Santa Monica Boulevard, from Pacific Coast Highway, and Lincoln Boulevard.

Hailing a taxi

Since Santa Monica Beach is a popular destination, a lot of taxis in California en route there to bring tourists. If you’re not used to traveling through a Metrobus nor driving a car, the perfect solution is to hail a taxi from the street.

By walking or biking

If you’re someone who already lives around the area, you can easily bike or walk to get to Santa Monica Beach. It can be an even more fun to travel as it allows you to feel the sea breeze.

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Santa Monica Beach

Santa monica state beach
Source: Photo by user Pedro Szekely used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Santa Monica Beach

Address: Los Angeles County, California

Website: Santa Monica Beach

Department of tourism: Visit California

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Nicole, a writer and traveler, also identifies herself as a free spirit with a wild heart. She is dedicated to telling authentic stories in a relatable manner. Nicole also enjoys exploring new,...Read more

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