Simply 12 miles north of Los Angeles Global Airport (LAX), there’s a waterfront enclave that may be a long-beloved bliss hotspot that appeals to glamorous jetsetters and touring households homogeneous: Southern California’s Santa Monica. And it just lately beat out powerhouse seashore locales like Maui, Palm Seaside, and Cape Cod to be named North America’s leading beach destination in the 2024 World Travel Awards.
With a sandy, boardwalk-flanked seaside on one aspect and a lush mountain length at the alternative, the 8.5-square-mile Santa Monica is just like the poster kid for that idyllic Southern California vacation. Because the westernmost level of Direction 66, you’ll solely consider what number of roadtrippers have poised their points of interest on Santa Monica over the a long time. The expansion and building of luxurious way of life venues — from five-star resorts to Michelin-starred eating places — over the closing couple of years have solely made it extra fascinating.
When visiting Santa Monica, the three.5 miles of beach, the boardwalk, and the light are foolproof calling playing cards. The enduring Ferris Wheel alongside the pier, the admirable perspectives from Palisades Ground, and the here-and-only-here fitness-obsessed vibes you get on Muscle Seaside all deal a novel sense of playground. However there’s extra to this town of just about 90,000 citizens than that.
With its location at the west aspect of greater Los Angeles, Santa Monica definitely advantages from its proximity to the likes of West Hollywood, Malibu, and Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). Just like the remains of the patch, Santa Monica has superior buying groceries, award-winning eating (trendy French eating place Mélisse has two Michelin stars, for example), and incredible artwork establishments just like the Bergamot Station Arts Center.
Staying in Santa Monica has additionally by no means been more uncomplicated because of a spate of blue-chip resort openings. From Santa Monica Proper Hotel to Regent Santa Monica Beach, lots of the buzziest houses have selected Santa Monica for stimulating untouched places. And from what we’re visual, there’s extra within the pipeline.
So who is aware of? Santa Monica would possibly reserve onto the identify of North The usa’s seaside vacation spot for lots of extra future years.