Santa Monica - A perfect beach in California

Everyone enjoys a relaxing beach day, building sandcastles, and swimming in the sea on a hot day. Well, World Beach Day is the perfect day to relive those memories! So, the next time you’re ready to head out for some Vitamin-Sea, make sure that Southern California’s most famous beache city Santa Monica is on the itinerary.

Popularly called LA’s beachside city, Santa Monica has a distinct vibe of what is called “laidback luxury” that comes alive with all the experiences the city has on offer. . With over 280 days of sunshine, this beach city offers stunning oceanfront setting, friendly residents, a lovely beach city soul and vibrant cultural and dining scene. Its proximity to the greater Los Angeles area makes it the perfect base for vacationers and business travellers alike. Even the 41 hotels in Santa Monica are all located closer to the beach giving that unmatched So-Cal vibe. No wonder then that it attracts families, couples, thrill-seekers, and also those just wanting to unwind.

Whether you arrive on a cloudy day, when there are mostly no people around, or on a busy day, it's always a good to visit Santa Monica Beach. June through October is the ideal time to visit if you want to enjoy some warm-weather activities. If you intend ongoing during the cooler months, pack a light jacket and a wetsuit if you want to catch some big swells.

Considering Santa Monica's beach is so extensive (5.6kms), it is divided it into two sections: north of the pier and south of the pier where the north begins from the Palisades Park area, Santa Monica Pier right at the centre and goes right up to the Original Muscle Beach.

Santa Monica beach is home to Original Muscle Beach (not the weightlifting kind, that’s Venice Beach) featuring gymnastic equipment including parallel bars, rings, swings and ropes are available for kids and adults.

Beach volleyball is also a popular activity at the beach in Santa Monica. Numerous volleyball courts are first-come, first-served courts are situated at various locations north and south of the pier.

The Marvin Braude Beach Trail (known to locals as "The Strand" or South Bay Bicycle Trail) is a 22 mile long, paved trail and biking path that starts in Santa Monica and finishes at the Torrance County Beach. Rent a bicycle and enjoy one of the many biking paths near Santa Monica State Beach.

A sandy beach break, a spread out line-up (the waves are not too crowded) just off of Bay St. and rentals / lessons offer beginners an introduction into Santa Monica surfing in Southern California.

And if the beach is not enough, the city has eight neighborhoods, each distinct in its experience from the other with a range of open-air restaurants, world-class dining, electrifying nightlife, branded and boutique shopping, hotels across every budget and friendly locals that give every visitor a touch of exclusivity while being inclusive with the city’s irresistible vibe.

Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals (a beach rental and local restaurant on the sand with multiple locations) offers a beach butler service with lounge chairs, a small table, an umbrella, a little cooler with 2 bottles of water and a wind guard for $100 per day for two people. It’s also a great spot to grab breakfast or lunch on the beach.

Even during peak visitor periods, Santa Monica offers you ample space to play with given the wide beach area in the city, unlike most other beaches around which makes sitting, playing and sunbathing are popular activities at the beach.