Looking for the perfect day trip from Los Angeles? Discover the best things to do when you spend a day in Santa Monica, California! Instead, the seaside buzz of Santa Monica delivered a happy medium to ease me into the all-American big city life. Santa Monica is a coastal city all of its own, but still considered part of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Just 15 miles west of Downtown L. Discover the best things to do on your visit, along with some suggestions on the best places to eat in this charming coastal city! Learn more about the history and culture in Santa Monica with a two-hour guided walking tour , from early settlers to Popeye. Lay your head down in a prime beachfront location at Shore Hotel ; or search for your perfect Santa Monica accommodation.
You can also see some good weather here in October and November, before temperatures begin to drop slightly for the winter and early spring months. This is often considered the best time to go as the beach is less busy, but the weather is still usually good enough to enjoy it! Both journeys will take around minutes at quieter times. However, traffic can get busy in the greater LA area so this can take longer β anywhere between minutes at peak times.
Most streets here are well-equipped for pedestrians, with wide-set pavements and regular crossings. You could also use Uber or hail a local taxi to get around. Another great way to explore Santa Monica in one day is by hiring a bike. The Beach Path leads all the way down to Venice Beach, and is well-paved with plenty of space for cyclists. Joining a Beach Bike Tour is a great way to learn more about the city as you pedal along the Pacific oceanfront!
One of the major tourist destinations in Santa Monica is the famous Santa Monica pier, and it was one of my first stop-offs. At the end of the pier, I found a little gift shop and picked up a 99cent magnet as my first souvenir β and also dug an English fiver out of my bag to go on their wall of currencies.
