Southern California’s car culture may embrace the personal vehicle, but sun-kissed Santa Monica is different. This compact seaside community welcomes car-free visitors with a healthy cycling community, robust public transportation options and pedestrian-only shopping streets. Here’s our guide to new ways to have fun in the sun, no car needed.
The Must-Do Experiences
Miles of designated bike paths, near-perfect weather and a new bike share program make Santa Monica ideal for a pedal-perfect getaway. Sign up for Breeze Bike Share and away you’ll go on a shiny cruiser in a festive shade of green. Cycle the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, aka The Strand and soak in 22 palm-fringed miles of coastal scenery.
The beachside Annenberg Community Beach House is a beautiful spot offering loads of recreational possibilities. In summer, enjoy a refreshing (and free) dip in the pool. Yoga classes, a kid’s playground and a full menu of cultural offering are on the year-round schedule.
Sweet
Leave your diet at home; two irresistible new gourmet doughnut shops are keeping Santa Monica’s personal trainers working overtime, presenting the doughnut smackdown of a lifetime.
Sidecar’s bevy of flavors are freshly fried and served temptingly warm. Devour a traditional butter & salt or savor a sassy huckleberry glazed.
Cross the border into neighboring Venice and head to hipster-haven Abbott Kinney Blvd. where you’ll find Blue Star. Each cloudlike confection starts with brioche dough brimming with luxurious European-style butter and sustainable ingredients. Admire the edible jewel-box display before selecting a homespun flavor like buttermilk or a more avant-garde orange-scented mimosa, infused with a kick of zesty sparkling wine.
Shop
The Third Street Promenade offers an alfresco shopping experience in the heart of downtown. Stores are heavy on national chains. If you’re looking for independently owned boutiques and forward-thinking design stores, head to hip Main Street.
If you prefer to shop for edible delights, there are numerous Farmers’ Markets overflowing with colorful produce. Each Wednesday, chefs from all over Los Angeles converge at the market on Arizona Avenue. 75 growers ensure a vast selection of ultra-fresh goodies from the fertile fields just a few hours from town.
Families flock to the Sunday morning market on Main Street, with live music, face painting and a funky food truck scene.
Drink
If you’ve got a passion for cheese, don’t miss Fig. This casually elegant spot inside the Fairmont Miramar Hotel is where cheese connoisseur Eric Brezal spins dairy-infused magic. He curates a selection of several dozen world-class cheeses including stinky, blue-veined and goat’s milk. He elevates the flavor profile by pairing each with the perfect accouterment (think pickled veggies or fresh fig conserve) and artisanal breads. Sit at the classic pewter bar and watch this master at work as you sip a glass of wine or a craft cocktail with mucho mojo.
The Digs
The LEED Gold certified Shore Hotel is a new addition to the coastline, offering luxurious eco-friendly accommodations with Pacific Ocean views.
Get Here
The FlyAway shuttle whisks you from LAX to Santa Monica in minutes for a mere $8. Once you’ve arrived, getting around town is no problem, thanks to the Big Blue Bus. It takes you all over the Westside and beyond for only $1.25. 2016 announced the opening of the highly anticipated light rail, linking Santa Monica to an even wider swath of the City of Angeles.
For more information visit www.SantaMonica.com and www.Discoverlosangeles.com
Photo credits: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Fig, Herringbone, Blue Star
