Santa Monica Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a coastal resort city located on Santa Monica Bay along California's South Coast in Los Angeles County, United States. Completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, it sits adjacent to Pacific Palisades to the north, Venice to the south, and West Los Angeles and Brentwood to the east. Renowned for its hospitality industry, broad beaches, and pleasant climate, the city supports a dynamic economy as home to corporate headquarters for prominent media, technology, and entertainment organizations.

The city features three miles of Pacific coastline on a sloped terrain that descends toward Ocean Avenue and the south. High bluffs elevate the northern side of the city above the shorelines. Santa Monica enjoys a coastal Mediterranean climate with roughly 310 sunny days per year. Ocean breezes keep the air fresh, though late spring and early summer mornings frequently bring coastal fog, locally referred to as "May Gray" or "June Gloom," which usually burns off by noon. Summer temperatures along the beach remain noticeably cooler than inland areas, while winter nights are generally warmer.

Indigenous Tongva people originally inhabited the area, establishing the village of Comicranga. Non-indigenous exploration began in 1769 with Gaspar de Portolá's expedition, eventually leading to the Mexican land grant of Rancho San Vicente y Santa Mónica in 1839. Founded in 1875 by John P. Jones and Robert Baker, the town incorporated as a city in 1886. Rail lines and electric streetcars soon brought visitors from across the region, establishing the area as a popular seaside resort in the early 20th century. Aviation also shaped local history when the Douglas Aircraft Company opened a major facility at Clover Field in 1922, expanding significantly through World War II and giving rise to the RAND Corporation.

Visitors to Santa Monica can explore its coastal waterfront, prominent piers, and historic outdoor spaces such as Palisades Park and the Hotel Casa del Mar. Beach volleyball has deep roots in the city, having been introduced along its sandy coast during the 1920s. Beyond its leisure attractions, Santa Monica is recognized for its comprehensive municipal sustainability programs, utilizing fully renewable energy, advanced urban runoff recycling facilities, zero-waste composting initiatives, and green building standards.