Santa Monica Pier
Restaurants, retail establishments, and an amusement park await visitors heading to this leading recreational center situated on a national historic landmark: The Pier. Learn about local history or snuggle up at the cinema. The area is a real hive of activity, with enough on offer to keep you coming back for days on end.
Santa Monica State Beach
This is the original Baywatch beach, so don your red swimsuit and get jogging. A California State Park, four miles of green space, awesome playgrounds and world-class beach combine to provide you with everything you need for a perfect Californian day. Activities range from volleyball to paddle boarding and surfing. A hop skip and a jump south is the International Chess Park where you can challenge other chess players in stunning surroundings.
Palisades Park
Palm and eucalyptus trees glimmer in the sunlight on this breathtaking coastal stretch of park, which runs for almost two miles down the coast. Play petanque or breathe in the scented rose garden while gazing at a bust of Arcadia Bandini, situated in alignment with the setting sun at the winter solstice.
Muscle Beach
Santa Monica was one of the first places in the world to be hit with the fitness boom that has since reached the rest of the world. Predominantly gymnastics-related activities dominate the south side of the pier.
Angels Attic
A curious museum of antique doll houses, miniatures, toys and dolls is sponsored by the Angels for Autistic Children. Through four hundred years of doll collecting, we can trace the changing styles in architecture and interior design, fashions, and the growth of the toy industry.
