Explore Santa Monica like a local!
While other parts of the world may experience brutal winters and hot humid summers, the Santa Monica community is fortunate to enjoy bright blue skies, stunning sunsets and cool ocean breezes year-round. Here are a few suggestions on how to live like the lucky Santa Monica locals.
Buy fresh: Santa Monica's Farmers Market has had a tremendous impact on the Los Angeles dining scene over the past 34 years and was named one of the best markets in the United States by Travel + Leisure. There are four weekly farmers markets in Santa Monica, where you can rub shoulders with yoga students, businessmen, celebrities, celebrity chefs, families and pick up the country's most unique and beautiful produce, flowers, meats, cheeses, nuts, fish and more.
Sunset happy hours: Over 60 restaurants offer happy hour in Santa Monica, giving you the perfect opportunity to sample Santa Monica's award-winning dining at a fraction of the cost, watch a beautiful sunset and meet our friendly Santa Monica residents.
Free concerts: One of the most popular summertime activities in Santa Monica is the annual Twilight Concert Series at the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. Free open-air concert series features top jazz, pop and iconic music performances that are ideal for all ages, Thursday evenings during the summer. The concerts draw families, couples and friends, who gather both on the pier and on the beach below to picnic and enjoy live music next to the Pacific Ocean.
Get around via bike: At just 8.3 square miles, Santa Monica is a bicyclist paradise. Now that Santa Monica is home to Santa Monica Bike Centre, the nation's largest full-service bike centre, visitors can live like locals by embracing the eco-friendly lifestyle of this active and progressive community. With bike-friendly streets that have well marked bike lanes and route, biking has become one of the most scenic and economical ways to navigate the city.
Buy local: Santa Monica is home to eight different neighbourhoods for shopping, all with their own vibe and flavour coming from the many locals who own small clothing stores, art galleries, restaurants and more. Support these locals by stepping into their businesses, meeting them and buying locally.
Local art culture: An urban outpost for cutting-edge arts and culture, Santa Monica is home to more than 120 museums, art galleries, live theatres and public art displays. Drop by Bergamot Station, Southern California's largest art complex and cultural centre and check out works by local artists, designers and photographers. If performing arts is more your style, check out the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at Santa Monica College or one of the many local performing arts venues.
Beach and bay: The Santa Monica community cares deeply about preserving the beach and its surrounding bay. The locals work hard to keep it clean and safe, and regularly work in conjunction with the Heal the Bay organisation to do so.