Santa Monica/Beach Cities Attractions in Los Angeles

The ocean, the climate, the upscale hotels and the European vibe all make Santa Monica is a huge destination for tourists. This list of top destinations in Santa Monica (and the neighboring beach cities) covers both the essentials and some less well-known attractions.

Top Santa Monica sites include the Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade. The Pier features a wide spectrum of kid-friendly activities, including an arcade, amusement park rides, and an aquarium. The Promenade is both a shopping center and pedestrian friendly space featuring street performers; adjacent Santa Monica Place mall is recently re-opened as an open-air shopping center. Also nearby is Fred Segal, basically a collection of many small boutique vendors.

The Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk is a quintessential Southern California experience, giving you some of the flavor of the traditionally counter-culture Venice scene. The Abbot Kinney Boulevard restaurant and shopping district is another Venice staple, showcasing the newer affluent side of this famous beach community.

More offbeat sites are included on this list as well: the Camera Obscura and the Lake Shrine are prime examples of quirky (and free!) destinations in the area. The Eames House is a famous modern Case Study House that was an important location in the California Design movement; the grounds are open to the public (but be sure to park a little but away from the house itself!).

A little farther inland, Bergamot Station is a renovated train station that features a host of art galleries and is home to the Santa Monica Art Museum.

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