The travel editor’s tips: Santa Monica
LA has many vibes and faces, from the peaceful mansions of Bel Air and the frenzied high of West Hollywood, to the edgy-arty cool of the newly regenerated Downtown. But if you are here for a vacation, perhaps with family in tow, a laid-back beach town is what you’ll want, and Santa Monica is one of the best. By CATHERINE FAIRWEATHER
The chic sleep
The 5-star Shutters on the Beach is old-school, fantasyland America: white clapboard façade, picket fences and verandas facing the surf, framed by towering palms and whirling seagulls to put you instantly in the vacation mood. There are many welcoming touches, including complimentary yoga sessions on the beach in the mornings, free use of bicycles and a Hemingway novel on every sun-drenched bedside table. A relaxed and friendly vibe makes it a perfect escape for families, especially those with dogs – the hotel is pet-friendly and pooches get their own water bowls in the main saloon.
INSIDER TIP: Watch out for Proper Hotel opening in 2019, a block or so away from the beach, billed as the next millennial playground and office away from home.
Must do
Considering the bags of patience required to sit out the constant traffic jams on the highways that connect the many districts of LA, you would be forgiven for thinking that it’s not a cyclist-friendly city, but you’d be wrong: there are over 100 miles of cycle paths in Santa Monica, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Activity specialists Bikes and Hikes LA offer a guided, two-hour-long cycling and walking adventure along the ocean cycle paths, canals and backstreets of Santa Monica and Venice. Or go for their signature ‘Explore LA in Day’, which takes you across 35 miles through Bel Air, Beverly Hills and Hollywood – past all of the most notable celebrity homes, of course.
Eat
Santa Monica has a food culture that’s very health-orientated, so juice bars, protein-shake bars and vegan restaurants with produce from daily farmers’ markets pop up all over the neighborhood. The green, feel-good ethos here extends to having bottle-filling stations on Third Street Promenade to reduce the need to buy plastic, plus there’s a 20ft smoke-free-zone from any building entrance. Get a sense of the fresh, farm-to-table passion of the place in the halcyon courtyard at Gjelina or the newer brunch hangout of Gjusta on Sunset Avenue in Venice. Flower Child, which specializes in vegetarian and vegan fare, is a favorite with the burgeoning Silicon Valley set.
For more information on unique experiences in Santa Monica, visit santamonica.com.