Santa Monica
by Dan Sandoval
Overlooking the ocean at sunset, a glowing Ferris wheel turns upon a long pier, welcoming visitors to our coast. As the boardwalk darkens, visitors and locals alike leave the picturesque beach to wander down a promenade lined with shops and dining destinations, as street performers entertain with a variety of talent, from classical piano to breakdancing. A banner hangs above the heads of the bustling evening crowd. It reads, “Welcome to Santa Monica.”
The city of Santa Monica has long been an attraction to tourists visiting the Los Angeles area. From its legendary beaches to its high-end shops, the city offers a variety of distractions for any visitor to enjoy.
Oceanfront
One of Santa Monica’s most notable features is its beautiful beaches. With over three hundred forty average days of sunshine per year and three and one-half miles of sand, Santa Monica beaches manage to bring a hint of the tropics to our coastline. While at the beach, there are a wide variety of activities to pursue.
The world renowned Santa Monica Pier (www.santamonicapier.org) is a landmark that must be seen to be appreciated. Wandering down the pier, the historic merry-go-round built in 1922 offers visitors a hint of nostalgia for days gone by. The Pacific Park greets visitors, further down the pier, with roller coasters, arcades, a ride atop the Ferris wheel, and food stands that waft the smells of sticky cotton candy and funnel cake. Continue towards the end of the pier, and you’ve reached the ideal spot to sit and relax—also the best seats to watch a fiery Los Angeles sunset. Here, at the end of the pier, overlooking the vast Pacific waters, a sense of peace and serenity accompanies the dip of the sun below the end of the world. Just remember to bring a jacket, as the wind usually picks up as the sun sets.
If you’re looking to do a bit of fishing while at the pier, Santa Monica Pier Bait and Tackle Co. is an invaluable resource. Sitting at the very end of the pier, the shop offers fishing pole rentals for $4 and bait for another $4. Never fished before? The friendly staff is happy to help you get started.
If a breezy cruise down the beach is more your style, you’ll want to head over to Sea Mist Rentals. Established thirty-one years ago, and open three hundred sixty-five days a year, Sea Mist Rentals was the first business to open on the Santa Monica boardwalk, and now offers bicycle, boogie board, and rollerblade rentals. With the Pacific Coast Bicentennial Bike Route running alongside the Santa Monica Beach, and rates as low as $6 an hour or $15 a day, a romantic bike ride is a great way to enjoy the sand and sun.
After a long day seaside, ease into the evening at the Lobster, rated one of the seventy-five best restaurants in Los Angeles, and one of the top seven landmark restaurants in Southern California. Offering American-style, gourmet seafood cuisine, and a beautiful oceanfront vista, the restaurant is a local favorite. Reservations are recommended, especially at sunset.
Third Street Promenade
The Third Street Promenade (www.thirdstreetpromenade.org), just a few minutes walk from the beach, features a unique collection of shops and eateries. Unlike your typical shopping area, the Third Street Promenade does away with the elevator music and formal shopping environment, and instead immerses visitors in a variety of street acts, ranging from comical to elegant, but always family-friendly. The pedestrian-only Promenade tends to feature such trendy stores as Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, and Urban Outfitters, but also houses a slew of unique shops and spots to dine.
For those wishing to feel like a kid again, Magicopolis, located on the Promenade, is the place to feed your fantasy. With classic illusions such as sawing a woman in half, disappearing and reappearing assistants, and floating ladies, Magicopolis’ two-hour magic shows will bring back your childlike wonder, as you watch physics and reason inexplicably defied again and again. Of all the things that distinguish Magicopolis, the standout is this spot’s accessibility for everyone, regardless of age or attire. It is a traditional theatre, so visitors don’t have to worry about paying for a costly meal to see the show, although there is a concession stand and bar (staffed by performing magicians) for those hoping to grab a snack or drink before the show. Tickets are $22 for the 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday and Sunday, and $27 to view the 8 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday. It is recommended that you make reservations and show up at least fifteen minutes early.
Getting hungry? Time and time again, we’ve been warned about the hazards of eating foods with too many chemicals or artificial ingredients. Santa Monica restaurant Planet RAW has taken this sentiment one step further, and has chosen to do with its food exactly what its name states: serve it raw. Employing the idea that the body’s immune system treats cooked food as a disease, and raw, living food as an ally, Planet RAW has managed to create a menu that exists entirely of fruits, roots, nuts, leaves, and seeds, without sacrificing variety. With entrees that range from simple salads to a vegan alternative to the American must-have cheeseburger, Planet RAW provides a healthy alternative to gourmet cuisine.
Montana Avenue
Just north of downtown Santa Monica, you will find one of the finest places in Los Angeles for chic shopping. Considered by some to be the new Rodeo Drive, Montana Avenue (www.montanaave.com) offers over one hundred fifty shops, including antiques, upscale home furnishings, boutiques, unique beauty retailers, and more. This shoppers’ paradise also features spas, salons, and even yoga classes to help you relax after a long day of hefting those shopping bags. The area also has a large variety of restaurants and cafés to refuel and refresh.
Considered to have the best burger in Los Angeles, Father’s Office is a classic neighborhood bar that specializes in craft beer—that and pairing said brews with food. Arriving early is the way to go here, as it is not uncommon to see a line waiting to get in; and although the burger is legendary, it is still a bar, so don’t arrive and expect to be seated.
Bergamot Station
Bergamot Station (www.bergamotstation.com) is the historical name for Santa Monica’s gallery complex. Originally a trolley station, Bergamot Station officially opened as an arts complex in 1994. It is currently Southern California’s biggest art gallery complex and cultural center, home to the Santa Monica Museum of Art in addition to thirty-three other art galleries and one café.
The Santa Monica Museum of Art is a non-collecting museum; the galleries are ever-changing since it has no permanent collection. The museum usually features three exhibits a year in its main gallery, but also has two smaller galleries that feature rotating exhibits. With a strong focus on lesser-known artists and well-known artists attempting to branch out in new directions, this contemporary art museum is a must for art enthusiasts. Admission is free, with a $5 suggested donation.
Santa Monica Resources
Santa Monica Pier Bait and Tackle Co., Santa Monica Pier, (310) 576-2014, www.santamonicapier.org
Sea Mist Rentals, 1619 Ocean Front Walk, (310) 395-7076
The Lobster, 1602 Ocean Ave., (310) 458-9294, www.thelobster.com
Magicopolis Theater, 1418 4th St., (310) 451-2241, www.magicopolis.com
Planet RAW, 609 Broadway Ave., (310) 587-1552, www.planetraw.com
Father’s Office, 1018 Montana Ave., (310) 393-2337, www.fathersoffice.com
Santa Monica Museum of Art, 2525 Michigan Ave., (310) 586-6488, www.smmoa.org |
