Plan an escape to the SoCal coast any time of the year
Whatever the season, there’s nothing more rejuvenating than a seaside getaway: those big blue skies, the smell of salt in the air, the sand under your toes... While taking a weeklong trip to an exotic beach town isn't always possible, there’s one closer-to-home vacation destination that lets you—and your whole gang—enjoy the outdoors 99 percent of the time: Santa Monica, CA.
With 300 days of sunshine per year, this coastal city is more than just a warm weather escape. Whether you’re partaking in the unlimited outdoor activities or dining at sustainable and locally sourced restaurants, Santa Monica combines an urban atmosphere with laidback beachside vibes to help you scratch that wanderlust itch in the most restorative ways. (The city has also been committed to public safety over the past 18 months and has its own Santa Monica Shines COVID-19 program. Many hotels, restaurants, attractions and retailers have received their assurance seals — make sure to check local guidelines for any travel concerns.)
From farmers markets to beach yoga, SaMo is back in business, and these restaurants, bars, and local hotspots can help you make the most of a fun-filled trip that places health and wellness above all.
Three days a week, you can find local vendors, many from small family farms, here selling everything from dairy and meats to nuts, dried fruit, and flowers. The roving market sets up camp on Arizona Avenue every Wednesday and Saturday, and you’ll find Saturday and Sunday markets on Virginia Avenue and Main Street.
This lush seaside park covers 26 acres between Ocean Avenue and the Pacific Ocean itself. A stroll through will take you past the picnic areas, outdoor fitness enthusiasts, pétanque courts, a rose garden, public sculptures, the Camera Obscura Art Lab (which houses one of the few antiquated lenses left in the U.S.), and, of course, incredible views of the sparkling Santa Monica Bay.
Hundreds of bottles — many that are sustainably made — from France, Italy, Portugal, Austria, and more line the walls at this wine bar on 7th Street, which is set in an Art Deco building that dates back to 1937. Sidle up to the wraparound bar if you’re looking for recommendations, but most patrons gravitate towards the cozy patio. Order a charcuterie board or something heartier like the wild boar estofado to help soak up all that vino. (Bonus: Esters is Santa Monica Shines Assured, so you know it’s a safe pick!)
Soak up the sun—which makes an appearance 300 days of the year—on three and half miles of golden shoreline at Santa Monica State Beach. Families should veer north of the pier, where you’ll find the Annenberg Community Beach House and the North Beach Playground; south of the pier, you can watch talented Californians test their acrobatic and weightlifting skills at the original Muscle Beach or face off at the first-come first-served beach volleyball courts. You can also sign up for group and private lessons to learn beach tennis—a combination of volleyball, badminton, and tennis, and one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
Spin class with an oceanside view combines the heart-pounding workout you’re craving with the vistas you’d get from a real cycle adventure. Take a Beach Cycle class on Santa Monica Beach during sunrise or sunset for a rejuvenating moment of sweaty solitude, complete with the sound of the crashing waves and the view of Catalina island in the distance.
Birdie G’s industrial space opens up to a patio that’s bedecked in leafy greens to create an urban oasis in the middle of inland Santa Monica. The menu—from Michelin-starred chef Jeremy Fox—however, is not full of greens, but rather Southwestern-meets-Jewish comfort foods (sourced from locally grown produce, meats, and provisions) like Badger Flame Beets "Charoset" and chicken topped with fermented habanero.
The Santa Monica Bike Center is open for business, renting beach cruisers, city bikes, e-bikes and more to those who want to pedal the 22-mile Strand. This fitness-friendly path starts at Will Rogers State Beach, winds through all of the South Bay beach communities and two harbors (Marina del Rey and King Harbor at Redondo Beach) and ends just past the pier in Torrance.
Just across the street from the Santa Monica Pier, this six-acre park—Named for the indigenous Tongva people who lived in this region for thousands of years—feels both expansive and surprisingly removed from the nearby crowds. The four main sections—Observation Hill, Discovery Hill, Garden Hill, and Gathering Hill—feature beautifully landscaped seasonal foliage. Grab lunch from one of the restaurants on the nearby Third Street Promenade, then stroll over to find your perfect patch of green.
The nautical-themed Chez Jay is a Santa Monica institution, serving locals and celebrities. To celebrate their 60th anniversary last year, the beachside bar debuted an updated back patio experience—AKA The Backyard—outfitted with Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, and string lights, as well as a new food and drink menu.
Live out your Instagram dreams courtesy of the Santa Monica Picnic Company, which furnishes and caters exclusive beachside picnic experiences. Depending on the vibe you’re going for, you can add on delights like wireless speakers, customizable chalkboards, Polaroid cameras, and incense, or activities like Pilates, yoga and surf lessons, volleyball, corn hole and bocci ball.
Find everything you need to perk up in the morning at Third Street Promenade café Cult, which opened in 2021. Chef Kim Vu makes donuts in-house with glazes like vanilla and matcha mint, and the coffee menu will make you laugh as much as it perks you up (the cold brew is described as “smooth like the award winning single of the same name”).
One of the most famous roads in the country technically ends at the junction of Olympic and Lincoln Boulevards. But that’s not as poetic as walking just 200 feet onto the Santa Monica Pier, where you’ll find what local conservationists call the “spiritual end” to what was once known as the Main Street of America. The End of the Trail sign here has become just as iconic to the pier as the nearby solar-powered Ferris Wheel.
Edobox’s patio-only, beach-friendly restaurant was made for Santa Monica’s casual, open-air vibe. Choose from four- six, twelve- or fifteen-compartment bento boxes, then fill them with salads, proteins, dumplings and noodles, and vegetables. The larger sizes are perfect for splitting with two or three friends, especially if you add sushi and sashimi to round things out.
The only thing more relaxing than your standard yoga class is one that takes place with the sun on your skin, sand between your toes, and the sound of the waves in the background. Beach Yoga SoCal offers morning and sunset yoga every day, with flows that are accessible to yogis of all levels.