L'amour et la Ville: Santa Monica

Sorry for the lack of updates these past couple of days -- I've had family visiting from Australia so I've pretty much been spending all my time with them. I have family all over the world and I absolutely love when they come and visit, not only because I love spending time with them but also because I kind of get to see SoCal through their eyes, if only for a little bit, which is always fun. Cities and attractions that feel so familiar to me are so interesting to tourists. Every time I go to a foreign country, I marvel at the fact that the locals seem almost immune to the beauty around them; some look out to a view of the Eiffel Tower every morning, while others pass by the Colosseum daily on their way to school. It never occurred to me that the same may be said about Californians with certain famous landmarks and cities. It may not be nearly as beautiful or interesting (in my opinion) as other parts of the world, but it is definitely worth a visit. So while shopping in Santa Monica over the weekend, I decided it would be perfect for me to feature a local city for my next guide on here. Because, even if it's not really new to me, it's a fun place to visit for locals AND for tourists.

1. Third Street Promenade: Much, much better than being stuck in an indoors mall. Small shops, cafes and restaurants line the strip, where you'll find something for everyone -- Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters, surf shops... you get the picture. As you walk along the street, you'll hear live music, watch quirky street performances, and see so many different kinds of people. For lunch (or dinner) there's such a wide variety... everything from loud bars to nice sit down restaurants, and even a food court full of fast food options for those on the go. It's definitely a fun and lively place to be, and it definitely doesn't hurt that the shopping is good too!

2. The Pier: Possibly the most famous part of Santa Monica, with its beautiful big ferris wheel that lights up every night. Grab ice cream from the old fashioned Soda Fountain and feel like a kid again... play the arcade games, ride the rollercoaster or the historic carousel, visit the aquarium, all with a perfect view of the ocean. Everything you might picture when you think of a typical California beach is right here on the pier. If you're looking for something even more adventurous, take lessons at the trapeze school.

3. The beach: And of course, there's the beach. Lay out with a good book or magazine and tan, go surfing or swimming in the ocean, or play some beach volleyball. Visit the famous muscle beach, where you can work out with the ocean in the backdrop, or go biking along the South Bay bicycle trail. No matter where you're coming from, California beaches are a must... they may not be the most beautiful in the world by any means, but they are definitely part of that SoCal vibe that you can really only experience here.

There you have it, lovelies. Hopefully now you'll add Santa Monica to your list of things to do on your next trip to California! Local readers, feel free to leave comments with more suggestions that I may have forgotten!

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image via amoeba.com