Coastal Vote: A Beach-Lover's Guide to Santa Monica, California
Spot marine life during a beachside yoga session and swim in a historic pool frequented by the stars in this smart Pacific-spying city.
The Southern California city of Santa Monica – with its scenic 25mi (41km) coastline, 100mi (160km) bike-trail network, 20 urban parks and sunny year-round weather – has long been an antidote to the bustle and busyness of neighboring Los Angeles. The iconic Santa Monica Pier marks the end of the famous Route 66, making it a great post-road trip pit stop, and the city’s high number of historic beachfront hotels bear witness to Santa Monica’s reputation as a place to escape. Here’s how to explore the coast in style.
1. Casa del Mar
Hotel
2. Shore Hotel
Eco Hotel
Just steps from world-famous Santa Monica Pier – with its iconic Ferris wheel circling and illuminated at night – the Shore Hotel’s ocean theme is reinforced with coastal California style touches throughout. Not only are the rooms bright and airy, but guests have unobstructed ocean views of the Pacific from private balconies or patios.
4. Beach Yoga SoCal
Fitness Studio
Catch sight of marine wildlife while in dolphin pose or recover from downward-facing dog to the sound of crashing waves. Let the sand be your mat and the ocean be your soundtrack at Beach Yoga SoCal’s yoga sessions on Santa Monica Beach. Meet where Ocean Park Blvd. meets the Pacific; classes range from vinyasa-style flows to sunset sessions, reiki and sound baths.
5. Poseidon Paddle and Surf
Store
The goal in stand-up paddleboarding is to get your quadriceps, shoulders, arms and knees working in sync so you can propel yourself forward. But concentration might not be easy when your classroom is the beautiful Santa Monica Beach. You’ll be briefed on how to safely enter and exit the water, the proper paddling technique, maneuvering your board, reading ocean conditions and other topics. You’ll not only get attuned to your body – but Santa Monica’s surroundings as well.
6. The Bike Center Segway Tours
Natural Feature
Whiz past iconic landmarks such as Venice Skate Park and Muscle Beach on a two-wheeled motorized personal vehicle that you navigate by distributing your weight. In other words, by leaning backward or forward. The Bike Center offers a two-hour Segway ride that allows you to zoom around Santa Monica and Venice Beach. No experience necessary. Training provided.
7. Palisades Park
Park
8. Annenberg Community Beach House
Swimming Pool
The public pool at the Annenberg Community Beach House is on the site of the former oceanfront estate built in the 1920s by media mogul William Randolph Hearst for the actress Marion Davies and then frequented by Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and other stars of the day. The pool (one of the first heated pools created a century ago) is trimmed with tile work and hugged by a marble deck. The second floor of the Pool House offers spectacular views of the Pacific, and adult-only sunset swims are offered from 6pm-9pm.
9. Shutters on the Beach
Hotel
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.