Santa Monica Pier, home to Pacific Park, with its one-of-a-kind solar-panelled Ferris wheel. Photo / Supplied
Santa Monica Pier, home to Pacific Park, with its one-of-a-kind solar-panelled Ferris wheel. Photo / Supplied
A friendly year-round climate makes Santa Monica a hit with locals as well as tourists, writes Tess Nichol.
The living's easy in Santa Monica: there's year-round sun, beachside activities abound, the buses run on renewable energy and the food is fresh and locally grown.
The hippie vibes California is known for are perfectly encapsulated in this seaside town, and it's a great base for exploring the Los Angeles area.
Santa Monica is packed with great food, attractions and shopping districts; the biggest challenge for travellers is figuring out which activities are essential during their stay.
Here is Travel's list of the best Santa Monica has to offer:
1. The Santa Monica Pier Arguably the heart of the city, the pier is a 100-year-old landmark and a must-see attraction. It hosts Pacific Park, a family amusement park with a one-of-a-kind solar-panelled Ferris wheel. During the summer, the pier hosts weekly outdoor concerts, movies and other family-friendly events. Route 66 officially ends its nearly 4000km journey in Santa Monica and you'll find a sign commemorating it - and a photo opportunity - at the end of the pier.
2. Santa Monica Beach The beach is lined with white sand and shady palm trees. It attracts cyclists, rollerbladers, surfers and sunbathers most of the year round. High temperatures and ocean breezes make the beach an ideal place to relax and read a book. The beach also offers beautiful views of the sunset, a lovely way to end the day.
3. Biking on the Strand Biking along the beachfront is a pleasing and inexpensive way to spend a sunny afternoon. The bike path runs through South Bay beach's communities and through two harbours, offering lots of sightseeing opportunities for fit travellers.
The bike path along the beach in Santa Monica. Photo / Supplied
4. Surfing and stand-up paddle boarding The waves in Santa Monica attract surfers from all over the world, but you don't have to be a pro to give surfing a go here. Beginners have many instructors to choose from if they want to learn, and a quick search online will show who has a good reputation in the area. Stand-up paddle boarding is also growing in popularity and boards can be rented along the beach.
5. Farmers' markets The farmers' markets, established in 1981, are a big part of the city's way of life. Local food and sustainable farming practices are encouraged in Southern California and many locals shop at the markets; they're not a tourist trap. The main markets are Downtown, open Wednesdays and Saturdays on Arizona Ave; the Virginia Ave markets on Saturdays and the Main St markets on Sundays. As well as fresh produce, music and services like face painting are available - the markets are a community hub.
6. Shopping Santa Monica Place, Third St Promenade and Montana Ave are the city's main shopping areas. Santa Monica Place is a large indoor/outdoor mall and Third St carries mainly international chain labels; they are two of the most popular places to shop. Montana Ave is slightly more expensive but carries many smaller, local brands with a boutique vibe.
7. Fishing Those keen on catching their dinner themselves can fish off the end of the Santa Monica pier. Locals cast between the pilings below the pier in the hopes of snagging a mackerel or halibut and as no license is needed to cast off from the pier, tourists can easily join them. A bait-and-tackle shop at the end of the pier provides fishing gear and information can be found from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazards about which fish are safe to eat.
CHECKLIST
Getting there: Air New Zealand flies direct daily from Auckland to Los Angeles. Santa Monica can be reached by a regular 30-minute shuttle service.
