Santa Monica
Visit California
Is Santa Monica a Different City Than Los Angeles? Your Guide to the Beachside Gem Next Door to LA.
The Short Answer
Yes, Santa Monica is its own independent city, separate from Los Angeles.
While it’s nestled right along the western edge of the City of Los Angeles and shares a border with it, Santa Monica has its own city government, police department, mayor, and local laws. Think of it as LA’s stylish, laid-back neighbor with a zip code of its own (90401–90405) and a fiercely independent spirit.
Why the Confusion?
Many people lump Santa Monica in with Los Angeles because:
- It’s part of Los Angeles County (which includes 88 cities!).
- It’s just 15 miles west of downtown LA.
- Tourists often stay in Santa Monica while visiting LA attractions.
- Pop culture (like TV shows and movies) often blurs the lines, “LA” is used as a catch, all term for the greater metro area.
But make no mistake: if you cross the city line, you’re officially in a different jurisdiction!
Fun Facts About Santa Monica
Birthplace of the Freeway?
The very first controlled, access highway in the Western U.S., the Arroyo Seco Parkway (now part of the 110 Freeway), was built to connect Pasadena to Los Angeles… but Santa Monica later became the western terminus of the famous Route 66, which officially ended at the Santa Monica Pier!
Pier Power
The Santa Monica Pier, opened in 1909, was the first concrete pier on the West Coast. Today, it’s home to the iconic Pacific Park, the only amusement park on a pier in California, with a solar-powered Ferris wheel that lights up the coastline at night.
Eco Pioneer
Santa Monica was one of the first U.S. cities to adopt a Sustainability Plan and aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. It also runs its own municipal water utility and recycles wastewater for non-potable uses, very green for a beach town!
Hollywood’s Backyard
Many famous films and shows were shot here, including Forrest Gump (the pier), Iron Man (Tony Stark’s beach house is actually in nearby Malibu, but the vibe is pure Santa Monica), and The Sting. Even video games like Grand Theft Auto V model parts of the game world after Santa Monica.
Things to Do in Santa Monica
1. Stroll the Promenade
The Third Street Promenade is a vibrant, car-free shopping and dining district with street performers, boutiques, and movie theaters. Perfect for people-watching!
2. Bike the Beach Path
Rent a cruiser and ride the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (aka “The Strand”), a scenic 22-mile path that runs from Will Rogers State Beach all the way down to Torrance.
3. Watch the Sunset at Palisades Park
Perched atop bluffs overlooking the Pacific, this 1.5-mile-long park offers panoramic ocean views, lush gardens, and plenty of benches for sunset contemplation.
4. Explore Tongva Park
Named after the area’s original Indigenous inhabitants, this modern park features undulating hills, native plants, and interactive water features, great for kids and Instagrammers alike.
5. Shop Local at the Farmers Market
Held every Wednesday and Saturday, the Santa Monica Farmers Market is legendary among chefs and foodies. It’s one of the oldest and largest in the country, since 1981!
6. Take a Dip (Safely!)
Santa Monica State Beach offers clean sands and gentle waves. Lifeguards are on duty year-round, and the water quality is regularly monitored.
Quirky & Unexpected Tidbits
- No Skyscrapers Allowed: A city ordinance limits building heights to 45 feet in most areas to preserve ocean views and that classic low-rise beach-town feel. (Downtown LA’s skyscrapers? Not happening here!)
- Airport Drama: The Santa Monica Airport has been a point of contention for decades. Residents complain about noise, while aviation fans fight to keep it open. It’s one of the oldest operating airports in the U.S.—Charles Lindbergh once landed here!
- Dog Paradise: Santa Monica is super dog-friendly. There’s even an off-leash dog beach just south of the pier (technically in L.A. city limits, but locals claim it as their own).
- Celebrity Spotting: From Julia Roberts to Keanu Reeves, many A-listers live or hang out in Santa Monica. You might spot someone grabbing a matcha latte on Montana Avenue!
Travel Tips for Visitors
- Getting There: Fly into LAX (just 8 miles away), then take a rideshare, Big Blue Bus, or even a bike to Santa Monica. Metro’s Expo Line train runs directly from downtown LA to the beach!
- Parking: It’s notoriously hard, and expensive. Consider public transit, biking, or walking once you’re in town.
- Best Time to Visit: May through October offers the warmest weather and calmest ocean conditions. But even in winter, Santa Monica rarely dips below 50°F!
- Stay Local: From chic boutique hotels like Shore Hotel to beachfront hostels, there’s lodging for every budget. Bonus: many hotels offer bike rentals and ocean-view balconies.
Final Thought
Santa Monica may share a county and a cultural vibe with Los Angeles, but it proudly marches to the beat of its own drum, one that sounds like crashing waves, street musicians, and ice cream trucks. Whether you’re rollerblading down the boardwalk or sipping organic wine at a rooftop bar, you’re not just “in LA.” You’re in Santa Monica, and that makes all the difference.
So next time someone says, “I’m going to LA,” ask: “But are you hitting the beach in Santa Monica?”
The beach city of Santa Monica, California, with it's average year round temperature of about 68 degrees Fahrenheit, good air quality, 245 acres of state beach, over 3,800 hotel rooms, numerous restaurants and abundant shopping is not only a destination for millions of Southern California day-trippers, it is also a popular destination for vacationers from all over the United States and the world. The city is also home to the Santa Monica Pier, where you can fish day and night, watch the waves, view the wonders of the undersea world at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, dance under the stars to music from big name bands and musicians.
You can also ride the Ferris wheel, ride a carousel horse or a roller coaster, dine in an ocean view restaurant, entertain yourself at an arcade, watch street performers, jugglers and roller bladers, and shop for souvenirs. For shopping you can go to the Third Street Promenade, an outdoor, pedestrian-only shopping and entertainment destination where you can spend the whole day. There are more shops are on adjacent boulevards and neighboring 2nd and 4th street.
You can also visit Santa Monica Place, a tri-level skylit galleria housing 570,000 square feet with 120 shops and eateries. There is more shopping on Pico Blvd., Montana Ave. and Main Street. There are accomodations in every price range from inexpensive motels like the Travelodge Santa Monica on Pico Boulevard to luxury hotels like the Hotel Oceana Santa Monica, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Le Merigot, Shutters on the Beach and Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.
Dine in an inexpensive coffee shop, have a Fat Burger or some Mexican fast food or dine in more expensive restaurants like Melisse, Valentino, The Lobster, Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi, Josie, Chinois on Main, Rockenwagner Brasserie, Sam's by the Beach, The Beach House, Drago and many more. Check out the male and female weight lifters and body builders at Muscle Beach with it's free weights, rings, parallel bars, balance bar, and other gymnastics apparatus.
Play or watch people play chess at Chess Park with its 14 large tables with 4 chess boards per table and 10 small tables with 1 chess board per table. Go surfing in the Pier, Bay Street and Rose Ave. beach areas. For more information about the city of Santa Monica, California see http://santamonica.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to city of Santa Monica, California guides and directories listing hotels, restaurants, attorneys, information, resources, services, things to do, places to go and more.
Los Angeles County Arboretum And Botanic Garden
Sonoma County Is California Wine Country
Festivals And Events Around The World
Tweet
Follow @Charlesfrize
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave a comment in the box below.