Santa Monica/Beach Cities: Los Angeles

Santa Monica and the adjoining beach communities, like Venice and Marina Del Rey, offer visitors a glimpse of the quintessential California lifestyle. Built in 1909, the Santa Monica Pier is the last of the remaining amusement park piers. Santa Monica saw a huge growth in 1966 after the completion of the Santa Monica Freeway, or I-10.

Just south of Santa Monica, Venice Beach boasts world-famous Muscle Beach, a popular Skatepark, and eccentric street musicians and performers. Today, Third Street Promenade and Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier are popular destinations for locals and visitors. After major renovations, Santa Monica Place open-air shopping center provides an upscale experience with celeb-friendly stores like Kitson, Betsey Johnson, and Burberry. While shopping and dining, visitors will often see surfers and movie moguls intermingling with relative ease.

Take a tour of the unique Venice canals or rent a bike or skates and travel the Boardwalk from Santa Monica through Venice to Marina Del Rey. Rest well at night at top Santa Monica luxury hotels like Shutters on the Beach, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, or Fairmont Miramar Hotel. © NileGuide