Year Round Vacation Ideas in Santa Monica

Great weather and great beaches. You can't ask for more and that's what you'll find at Santa Monica's State Beach. Three and a half miles of soft sand, cleaned and raked daily, and panoramic ocean views. Spectacular sights from Palisades Park and who hasn't heard of the world-famous Muscle Beach, home to many of our fitness gurus and body builders dating back to the days of Buster Crabbe, Olympic gold medal swimmer. Still attracting large crowds (3 million a year), plan on visiting the Santa Monica Pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue, a historic landmark recently renovated and open year round. The Pier has long been a backdrop for movie, TV, and magazine shots. Have fun on the vintage wooden carousel and solar-powered ferris wheel as you focus on the magnificent ocean views. When you touch ground again, check out the Pier Aquarium touch tanks. A family fun place complete with shops, plenty of boardwalk foods, and musical entertainment. See more Santa Monica June Vacation Ideas

A fun place to visit for locals as well as tourists is the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only shopping area (cars are prohibited), between Broadway and Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Santa Monica, CA, just minutes away from the sunny beaches that line the Pacific Ocean. Over 200 shops and boutiques to choose from, a twice weekly farmers' market, live theater performances, a variety of street performances from musicians, magicians, clowns, and mimes, book signings from some of your favorite authors, outdoor cafes frequented by many of today's celebrities. Whether you're there for the shopping, dining, sight-seeing, or just out for the exercise, it will be an enjoyable experience. See more Santa Monica September Vacation Ideas

Santa Monica Travel Tips

For an alternative to driving your car in Santa Monica, try the Big Blue Bus. With 13 different routes and over 1,000 stops from the beaches, parks, shops, colleges, businesses, and LAX, you'll find the convenience worthwhile. For more information, call to inquire of their reasonable rates, routes, and services. Busses are wheelchair accessible and also have limited bike racks for your convenience. (310) 451-5444.