Guidebook for Santa Monica
Sightseeing
A walk to the pier is one of our favorite family activities. We love to walk across the parking lot, stay to the right past the DoubleTree and over to Olympic and head west (toward the big parking structure). We often stop at the Starbucks on Main and Olympic to pick up a coffee, and head either through Tongva park on the right, or straight down Olympic past the shops and restaurants. Once you cross Ocean Ave. you can head straight down Pacific Terrace to the beach, which is just slightly a jog to the right of where Olympic was heading (just next to the Loews Hotel). This is the most direct and easiest route to the beach, and is perfect to turn right at the sand and head up the walking path or bike path to the pier to explore. If you enjoy Pokemon Go, this is one of the hot spots in LA to pick up rare finds and tons of activity.
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聖塔莫尼卡碼頭
200 Santa Monica PierA walk to the pier is one of our favorite family activities. We love to walk across the parking lot, stay to the right past the DoubleTree and over to Olympic and head west (toward the big parking structure). We often stop at the Starbucks on Main and Olympic to pick up a coffee, and head either through Tongva park on the right, or straight down Olympic past the shops and restaurants. Once you cross Ocean Ave. you can head straight down Pacific Terrace to the beach, which is just slightly a jog to the right of where Olympic was heading (just next to the Loews Hotel). This is the most direct and easiest route to the beach, and is perfect to turn right at the sand and head up the walking path or bike path to the pier to explore. If you enjoy Pokemon Go, this is one of the hot spots in LA to pick up rare finds and tons of activity.
This place is amazing. You have seen Venice beach on movies and it is one of the top destinations in the world. There are street performers and artists selling their wares in the summer and on weekends. Really there is not that much to do at Venice beach, but it is a great walk. I would suggest taking a bus or walking, parking is expensive and difficult especially in the summer or nice weather weekends. It is a 2 mile walk if you head down to the beach and then walk up the walking path to Venice beach (which I highly recommend as the way to get there, read my directions to get to the pier, but turn left instead of right when you get to the sand), or a mile and a half if you take the streets. It is about 30 minutes depending on how fast you walk, or you can pick up a rental bike at Tongva park or when you get to the beach and ride down in no time. There are also buses going down main street that will take you right to Venice beach, though I often think it is quicker or about the same time to walk if you don't happen to catch the bus at the perfect time. https://goo.gl/maps/Npyk2L3qZHs
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威尼斯海灘
1900 Ocean Front WalkThis place is amazing. You have seen Venice beach on movies and it is one of the top destinations in the world. There are street performers and artists selling their wares in the summer and on weekends. Really there is not that much to do at Venice beach, but it is a great walk. I would suggest taking a bus or walking, parking is expensive and difficult especially in the summer or nice weather weekends. It is a 2 mile walk if you head down to the beach and then walk up the walking path to Venice beach (which I highly recommend as the way to get there, read my directions to get to the pier, but turn left instead of right when you get to the sand), or a mile and a half if you take the streets. It is about 30 minutes depending on how fast you walk, or you can pick up a rental bike at Tongva park or when you get to the beach and ride down in no time. There are also buses going down main street that will take you right to Venice beach, though I often think it is quicker or about the same time to walk if you don't happen to catch the bus at the perfect time. https://goo.gl/maps/Npyk2L3qZHs
Entertainment & Activities
Third street and the surrounding area of downtown Santa Monica is a must see when you are staying at our place. There are so many restaurants and shops even if you are staying for a week you will probably not be able to even take a quick look at all of them. Just walk North on 4th street 2 blocks past the new metro station and you will see the Santa Monica Place mall on the left which is at the start of the 3rd street promenade. We usually walk through the mall and head out the North side on 3rd street and up the promenade. There are several movie theaters and tons of activity, restaurants, shops and watching the street performers when it is a busy day or night is a great unique treat. We will often just walk the promenade to get out and enjoy the city and not even go anywhere in specific, just watch the people and performers, this place is a destination all to itself.
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Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeThird street and the surrounding area of downtown Santa Monica is a must see when you are staying at our place. There are so many restaurants and shops even if you are staying for a week you will probably not be able to even take a quick look at all of them. Just walk North on 4th street 2 blocks past the new metro station and you will see the Santa Monica Place mall on the left which is at the start of the 3rd street promenade. We usually walk through the mall and head out the North side on 3rd street and up the promenade. There are several movie theaters and tons of activity, restaurants, shops and watching the street performers when it is a busy day or night is a great unique treat. We will often just walk the promenade to get out and enjoy the city and not even go anywhere in specific, just watch the people and performers, this place is a destination all to itself.
We love Westside Comedy club. You can often get a coupon from people handing them out on 3rd street, but even if you don't get a coupon this place is a great value for a show in Santa Monica. Easy walking distance from our place, you enter this spot from the alley just East of the 3rd Street promenade. Most shows are about $10 per person, it is great fun for a night out at the comedy club (if you happen to find someone with a coupon it can be $5!).
http://westsidecomedy.com/
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Westside Comedy Theater
1323-A 3rd StWe love Westside Comedy club. You can often get a coupon from people handing them out on 3rd street, but even if you don't get a coupon this place is a great value for a show in Santa Monica. Easy walking distance from our place, you enter this spot from the alley just East of the 3rd Street promenade. Most shows are about $10 per person, it is great fun for a night out at the comedy club (if you happen to find someone with a coupon it can be $5!).
http://westsidecomedy.com/
Drinks & Nightlife
This place is great fun with live music and is a very short walk (which can be handy if you plan on not driving after a long night out). This is a blues venue that has been in Santa Monica since 1931 and we have seen some great music here over the years. This is a 21+ bar/nightclub, so don't bring the kids, and this is a real soul and blues venue, not a typical tourist attraction. Even though this is right in the middle of downtown, this place is the real deal. Check their website to see what act is playing and head over. http://santamonica.harvelles.com/
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Harvelle's Blues Club
1432 4th StThis place is great fun with live music and is a very short walk (which can be handy if you plan on not driving after a long night out). This is a blues venue that has been in Santa Monica since 1931 and we have seen some great music here over the years. This is a 21+ bar/nightclub, so don't bring the kids, and this is a real soul and blues venue, not a typical tourist attraction. Even though this is right in the middle of downtown, this place is the real deal. Check their website to see what act is playing and head over. http://santamonica.harvelles.com/
Food Scene
There are Starbucks everywhere (we will let you decide if this is a good or bad thing). There is literally 6 or 7 Starbucks withing a few blocks of our place, but this is the one we like to walk to. There is one closer, which is inside the hotel (not a full service Startbucks but they have coffee), but that is inside the hotel which though it is nice, is not as nice as Tongva park and the beach. You can pick up a morning coffee here, and head West to the Beach, North to Tongva park the mall and 3rd street, or South down main street to everything main street has to offer and even Venice beach if you are ready for a nice 30 minute or so walk (we usually walk on the walking path along the beach when going to Venice, so head west first then North). This is often the spot we hit on the way to many of the great things around our place.
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Starbucks
12100 Santa Monica BlvdThere are Starbucks everywhere (we will let you decide if this is a good or bad thing). There is literally 6 or 7 Starbucks withing a few blocks of our place, but this is the one we like to walk to. There is one closer, which is inside the hotel (not a full service Startbucks but they have coffee), but that is inside the hotel which though it is nice, is not as nice as Tongva park and the beach. You can pick up a morning coffee here, and head West to the Beach, North to Tongva park the mall and 3rd street, or South down main street to everything main street has to offer and even Venice beach if you are ready for a nice 30 minute or so walk (we usually walk on the walking path along the beach when going to Venice, so head west first then North). This is often the spot we hit on the way to many of the great things around our place.
DTC is a real locals coffee spot. Just another block away, and heading toward main street this place also serves sandwiches and breakfast. This is especially handy if you are walking to Venice or Main Street and want to grab breakfast. The food is not outstanding or really cheap, but it is good and relatively quick so we often will grab something here. I don't usually eat the food I buy here, instead take it to go, as there are small coffee house tables it is not really a restaurant.
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Dogtown Coffee
2003 Main StDTC is a real locals coffee spot. Just another block away, and heading toward main street this place also serves sandwiches and breakfast. This is especially handy if you are walking to Venice or Main Street and want to grab breakfast. The food is not outstanding or really cheap, but it is good and relatively quick so we often will grab something here. I don't usually eat the food I buy here, instead take it to go, as there are small coffee house tables it is not really a restaurant.
This place is not walking distance, so you will need a car or take a bus up Pico (the #7 blue bus heads right up here). It is an iconic 50s style restaurant that was not just created to look like the 50s but has been here the whole time. It has been used in a bunch of movies, there will be a line on the weekends and you just stand in it (not the kind of place that takes your name). They have great breakfast here, and it is really inexpensive and good, I have been eating here regularly since I was a kid, and my Dad ate there since he was a kid. This place is not fancy, but is one of the best values in good breakfast in all of LA.
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Rae's Restaurant
2901 Pico BlvdThis place is not walking distance, so you will need a car or take a bus up Pico (the #7 blue bus heads right up here). It is an iconic 50s style restaurant that was not just created to look like the 50s but has been here the whole time. It has been used in a bunch of movies, there will be a line on the weekends and you just stand in it (not the kind of place that takes your name). They have great breakfast here, and it is really inexpensive and good, I have been eating here regularly since I was a kid, and my Dad ate there since he was a kid. This place is not fancy, but is one of the best values in good breakfast in all of LA.
This is our spot if we have a few hours to spend going to breakfast on the weekend. This is in the heart of Downtown LA, and one of the reasons we were so excited about the metro station coming to Santa Monica is it makes this place a quick train ride away for breakfast (not that quick, it is an hour trip if you take the train, or 20 minutes drive if there is no traffic, don't even try to make this trip on a weekday morning before 10am or so for breakfast by car, weekend only because of traffic). There is a long line for breakfast on the weekends, expect this to be an experience not a place to grab a quick bite. It is one of the oldest places in LA, and I would recommend the pancakes... Oh man I am making myself hungry. This place is really Los Angeles for me. We often will grab breakfast here and then wander around downtown shopping or going to museums. Staples Center and LA Live are right down the street.
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The Original Pantry Cafe
877 S Figueroa StThis is our spot if we have a few hours to spend going to breakfast on the weekend. This is in the heart of Downtown LA, and one of the reasons we were so excited about the metro station coming to Santa Monica is it makes this place a quick train ride away for breakfast (not that quick, it is an hour trip if you take the train, or 20 minutes drive if there is no traffic, don't even try to make this trip on a weekday morning before 10am or so for breakfast by car, weekend only because of traffic). There is a long line for breakfast on the weekends, expect this to be an experience not a place to grab a quick bite. It is one of the oldest places in LA, and I would recommend the pancakes... Oh man I am making myself hungry. This place is really Los Angeles for me. We often will grab breakfast here and then wander around downtown shopping or going to museums. Staples Center and LA Live are right down the street.
Chez Jay is a great bar/restaurant, you can bring the kids. It is very famous in LA and this is a good chance to make a celebrity sighting while enjoying an amazing meal. Check out http://www.chezjays.com/ the steaks and seafood are amazing and this place is only a couple minute walk from our place, we go here for dinner but they are open for other meals as well. We don't usually need reservations, but it might be worth calling ahead and making sure.
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Chez Jay
1657 Ocean AveChez Jay is a great bar/restaurant, you can bring the kids. It is very famous in LA and this is a good chance to make a celebrity sighting while enjoying an amazing meal. Check out http://www.chezjays.com/ the steaks and seafood are amazing and this place is only a couple minute walk from our place, we go here for dinner but they are open for other meals as well. We don't usually need reservations, but it might be worth calling ahead and making sure.
The galley restaurant on main street is a great place to grab a meal. The reason I am putting here in the guidebook is we go to the happy hour here and get an amazing value meal "fish and chips" for $5. This is the best deal anywhere, show up between 5pm-7pm 7 days a week and eat in the bar for this amazing deal. Feel free to get whatever you like, but the fish and chips is the best deal you will find anywhere! http://thegalleyrestaurant.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=123
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The Galley
2442 Main StThe galley restaurant on main street is a great place to grab a meal. The reason I am putting here in the guidebook is we go to the happy hour here and get an amazing value meal "fish and chips" for $5. This is the best deal anywhere, show up between 5pm-7pm 7 days a week and eat in the bar for this amazing deal. Feel free to get whatever you like, but the fish and chips is the best deal you will find anywhere! http://thegalleyrestaurant.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=123
Parks & Nature
A walk along palisades park is another family favorite. There are bluffs with stunning views of the beach, pier and ocean. You can walk the whole length of Santa Monica in this park, the neighborhoods get nicer and nicer the farther North you go. It starts right at the ramp that leads down to the pier, this park is almost 2 miles long, and every bit of it has amazing views.
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帕利塞德斯公園
Ocean AvenueA walk along palisades park is another family favorite. There are bluffs with stunning views of the beach, pier and ocean. You can walk the whole length of Santa Monica in this park, the neighborhoods get nicer and nicer the farther North you go. It starts right at the ramp that leads down to the pier, this park is almost 2 miles long, and every bit of it has amazing views.
Essentials
This is where we get groceries. If you have to carry much you probably want to get an uber or have a car, but it is the closest full service grocery store to us. It is half a mile away, but can be tricky to get to and back in traffic in a car because of many one way streets etc. In a car I would head up Olympic and turn left on Lincoln then turn left on Broadway and turn left into the parking lot to get there, on the way back, come down Lincoln all the way to Pico and turn right on Pico, head to 4th street and turn right, and then come back to Olympic and make a right (or head through the hotel to get to the back).
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Vons
4030 S Centinela AveThis is where we get groceries. If you have to carry much you probably want to get an uber or have a car, but it is the closest full service grocery store to us. It is half a mile away, but can be tricky to get to and back in traffic in a car because of many one way streets etc. In a car I would head up Olympic and turn left on Lincoln then turn left on Broadway and turn left into the parking lot to get there, on the way back, come down Lincoln all the way to Pico and turn right on Pico, head to 4th street and turn right, and then come back to Olympic and make a right (or head through the hotel to get to the back).
If we need to do laundry we go to Clean People. They also will pick up and drop off and do your laundry if you want. We have had great experiences with them.
https://www.cplaundry.com
Clean People Coinless Laundry
2608 Pico BlvdIf we need to do laundry we go to Clean People. They also will pick up and drop off and do your laundry if you want. We have had great experiences with them.
https://www.cplaundry.com