Are you looking for a place that offers the visitor a beach that stretches for more than 5 kilometres and is just a little more than 30 minutes drive from Disneyland, #California? #SantaMonica, California is a beach with lots of extras. The focal point of reference is always the beach and most people who travel to here have one thing in mind – relaxation, play and lots of fun in the sun. It has a lot of extras, namely the Santa Monica Pier, which has seen lots of changes in the last 100 years, it is an iconic landmark in Santa Monica and attracts many visitors who come to enjoy the many eateries and amusements on offer. On the shore end of the pier there is the Looff Hippodrome building which houses a restored carousel, with the traditional horses that take you round and round, an iconic symbol of the piers history. In Pacific Park which is on the pier, there is a Ferris wheel and lots of other rides and amusements including a roller coaster that almost covers the park, it is a great place for the whole family. At the far end of the beach lies the Santa Monica mountains. It is possible to visit this natural landscape and participate in many outdoor activities. Palisades Park has a cliff side location with a view to the Pacific Ocean. You can reach this park from the Santa Monica Pier, it is laid out with elegant trees and lots of benches to sit on and just take time out. On the beach itself there is The Muscle Beach, where body-builders come from all over to train on the gym equipment that is set out on an area of the beach. Large, muscle bound men and women enjoy the relaxed atmosphere outdoors and it gives them an opportunity to put their bodies on display. Often there are competitions being held. This is a great place to come and be entertained. There are specially created paths for people to jog or ride a bike along the stretch of beach. You can hire bikes from various places throughout the length of the route. You can walk to or from Santa Monica city, along the walkway, enjoying the views - along the light, golden sands, that stretches for miles. The sea laps in and out hypnotically, suiting the swimmer or the boogie boarder. Santa Monica city, houses many art galleries and public art. One famous public art piece being the “cradle”, where a large wall of a car park has been painted white, and large silver coloured balls are suspended on metal ropes to create a basket or cradle shaped structure. The installation hangs high above the passer by, dwarfing them below. These types of public pieces detracts from the mundane, making Santa Monica a place where modern artists collect. In Downtown Santa Monica you find the 3rd Street Promenade, where shopping and fine dining is not hampered by cars as this is a pedestrian only area, skates are allowed though so that´s worth a try? Santa Monica is ideally located for travelling to Disneyland in California, being only just over 30 minutes away by car. Disneyland is a fantastic place for all the family, there is no doubt that the short drive would be worth it. You may prefer to stay within Santa Monica and explore a little more? If you have had enough of the fast pace of the amusement parks and bustling shops and beaches then head into the Santa Monica Topanga State Park, this is a recreation area within the Santa Monica Mountains. There are many hiking trails, where you can enjoy breathtaking scenery. From deep green paths of trees, almost like rainforest to rugged open cliff tops where the views of the mountains just stretch as far as the eye can see. It is definitely a complete contrast from the other face of Santa Monica. You might want to go deeper into the city to see what life is like for the local workers in Santa Monica, here you will come across a water garden, named simply the Santa Monica Water Garden, where fountains and trees are laid out with plenty of seating and there is duck ponds to sit by. It is used by the many workers who overlook this park from their workplaces and offices on the site. There are many healthy places to eat here, especially carry out salads to enjoy for a lunch. There is a very relaxed flow here and it most certainly is a number one place to work in Santa Monica. Santa Monica is a city full of life, and with over 300 days of sunshine in one year, it is a sun-worshippers delight. Created by Margaret Tully
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 08:31:04 +0000
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