Next to the pier is Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym established in the 1930s. In the city center, Bergamot Station houses several art galleries.
Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica beach is an iconic example of the famed Southern California beaches.
With few Los Angeles beach options offering both large expanses of beach, bike trails and nearby activities,
Santa Monica Beach has exactly what you’re looking for.
Tourists and visitors come to the Santa Monica State Beach because it:
Is large, at 3.5 miles in length,
Has a maintained, soft sand beach,
Within walking distance to popular hotels, shops and restaurants,
and offers a variety of activities and attractions,
Santa Monica an iconic beach in Southern California.
We also went north to Malibu Beach, Simply Breathtaking.
HEADING NORTH TO MALIBU
MALIBU BEACH
Malibu is a city west of Los Angeles, California. It’s known for its celebrity homes and beaches, including wide and sandy Zuma Beach. To the east is Malibu Lagoon State Beach, known as Surfrider Beach for its waves.
Nearby is the Spanish Revival–style Adamson House, with local history displays in its Malibu Lagoon Museum. Inland, trails weave through canyons, waterfalls and grasslands in the Santa Monica Mountains.
HEADING NORTH TO ZUMA
POINT DUME BEACH
Point Dume has over one mile of ocean frontage with 34 acres of sand. It is surrounded by headlands, cliffs, rocky coves, and vast beach access. Amenities include restrooms, showers, restaurants, 373 parking spaces, and a hiking trail. Popular activities include swimming, diving, surfing, fishing, and scuba diving.
ZUMA BEACH
Zuma Beach is a county beach located at 30000 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California.
One of the largest and most popular beaches in Los Angeles County, California, Zuma is known for its long, wide sands and excellent surf.
NICHOLAS CANYON BEACH
Nicholas Canyon County Beach is a long beach in western Malibu that is run by Los Angeles County. Surfers call this beach Point Zero or Zeros for the waves that break on the boulder-strewn point below the parking lot where San Nicolas Canyon meets the shore.
The sandy beach is north of this point.
DISCOUNTED TOURS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
The most popular time to go to Santa Monica is summer, but the beach can get so crowded on summer weekends that you might have a hard time seeing the sand from all the people standing on it. May and June are also prone to gloomy, foggy days when the sun never shines
During our stay the first week we chilled on Santa Monica Beach and The Santa Monica Pier.
Venice Beach is just a stone’s throw south and a must see experience while in the area.
Venice was just a five minute bike ride south, the side walk shopping was amazing with food stands to many to mention, we were never hungry.
A hurry up and do nothing attitude overwhelmed the entire process, everyone must experience this at least once in their lives.
The beaches were fantastic. Remember Baywatch in the 80s. You are there and can feel it.
The Following week we took a one hour drive that took two hours to San Diego. We didn’t mind, it was a pretty drive.
OUR GOAL WAS TO SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS
WHERE TO SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
So much fun, the kids loved it. San Diego is like being in Dallas with mountains and an ocean. Then Disney…. I used to be a stick in the mud when it came to oversized money pits, but unlike Florida this was quite achievable. By this I mean, you feel like you are not swallowed up by the size. I actually had a great time.
GRUMMAN’S CHINESSE THEATER TICKETS HERE
GRUMMAN’S CHINESSE THEATER TICKETS HERE
Universal Studios Hollywood.
This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 2 January 2020. Universal Studios Hollywood is a film studio and theme park in theSan Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. … It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood film studios still in use.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TICKETS HERE
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TICKETS HERE
La Brea Tar Pits are a group of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed in urban Los Angeles. Natural asphalt has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with dust, leaves, or water. Over many centuries, the tar preserved the bones of trapped animals.
STOP BY BAYWATCH’S FAMOUS TOWER 23
ANOTHER MUST DURING YOU’RE STAY IN SOUTHERN, SUNNY CALIFORNIA, IS A TRIP TO CATALINA… NEXT VISIT IN THE LA AREA WE WILL BE SPENDING 1/2 THE TRIP IN CATALINA.
-THERES NOTHING LIKE IT-
Catalina Island, California
Catalina’s History
In 1542 the Pimungans greeted the Spanish galleon that bore the explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo to their shores. Thus began the start of the Spanish discovery of the island. In 1602, on November 24th, St. Catherine’s Day eve, Spanish explorer, Sebastian Viscaino, sighted the island and gave it her name as we call her today Santa Catalina in honor of Saint Catherine.
Sea Serpents are comply know as Oar Fish they can grow to 50ft long. They live deep in the water and are rarely seen on the surface. This little guy is only 18ft long he was found by a snorkeler off the coast in the waters that separate Long Beach to Catalina on October 16, 2013.
Catalina Today
Catalina Island is a popular vacation spot year ’round. Getting there couldn’t be easier. Its a short 15 minute flight from the mainland or a one hour boat ride from many spots on the coast. There are endless options in Avalon to enjoy and Two Harbors on the back side of the island is a boater paradise and a more relaxed feel, with campsites and access to nature..
The Two Harbors -On the Back Side of the Island-
Avalon
Catalina’s weather is amazing “perfect climate.” year round.. 75 degree average in the summer. and on average 65 degrees in the winter. They have 12 inches of rain per year with roughly 300 days of sunshine. If you would like to visit both locations while you are there you can take the island bus that makes two trips daily, take one of the many water transports or a simple taxi ride through the jungle.
How to get to Catalina
As you can see on the map above there are many ferry options from the mainland. My youngest son and I took the Catalina Express out of Long Island. Here are a few images of what to expect along the way.
How to Fly to Catalina
Take a Helicopter to Catalina Island
This is a great option for those of us that may get a little sea sick on boat rides. Not only is it quicker the views you will get from the mainland and approaching Catalina are absolutely breath taking. For the luckiest of us we may even get to enjoy some sea life, dolphins, seals snd an occasional whale or two
Island Express has service from Long Beach and San Pedro departing from thier own heliports. and Demand Charter Service I can be contracted from John Wayne Airport in Orange County and Bob Hope Airport in Burbank.
Get More Information or Reserve Boat Seats or Helicopter Here
Where to stay in Catalina
Here are some established safe bets Fir Hotel Bookings
Things to do On Catalina Island
Zip Line Tours
Get Tickets Now. This Event sell Out Fast
Glass Bottom Boat Tours Tickets Here
Another Actiivitiey You May want To Get Advanced Tickets. Here
Flying Fish Tour. Speed Boat
Fills Up Fast But Not Urgent For Advanced Ticket Purchase
Stay dry with a Hummer or Jeep tour, Camping at one of the island’s numerous campgrounds
Hummer and Jeep Tours
Make Reservations, Secure dates, Get tickets
Camping Reservations Secure Dates
Everything is within walking distance or a short cab ride The list of things to do is plentiful so easy to book
Did you bring the Family
Adiious Theme Parks Say Hello to Catalina, Amazing and out of the ordinary. When it comes to family entertainment, Catalina Island has the right blend of authentic activities and beautiful scenery to satisfy kids, kids-at-heart and anyone in between.
Beaches
Spa Get Info. Make Reservation
Watch a movie in the Catalina Casino
Not a gambling hall—rather, it’s a palatial special-events venue complete with a beautiful art-deco movie theater.
Catalina Island Day Trip from Los Angeles with Avalon Tour
If you are staying on the island or perhaps vacationing on one of the beautiful Souther California Beaches, or perhaps you have friends on the mainland that wish to come visit while you are in town. may we suggest a day trip to Catalina
Stroll around the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens
A beautiful ode to the island’s famous founding father.It’s about a 30-minute moderate hike from the beach (you can also get up to it by renting a bike, or via golf cart—more on that in a bit), and once you’re there you’ll be immersed in a 37-acre botanical garden focused on plants endemic to California and the Channel Islands, and a tower overlook built from quarried rocks culled from the island itself.
A classic burger-and-drinks shack—with the best fries you’ll ever have.Just one trip to Luau Larry’s explains why all of them look so ecstatic: It’s because they’ve all gotten their Wiki Wacked by ordering a heavily-alcoholic drink of the same name.
Rent A Golf Cart. Most Visitors Keep Them the Entire Stay!
The best way to see a large percentage of Avalon—and get a great view.In about two hours you can get up and over the top of town for beautiful views, check out some of the historical structures on the island
Celebrate the Island’s Centennial at the Catalina Island Museum
A well-curated museum that explores the island’s intriguing history.Catalina Island Museum dives deep into a fascinating history that touches on Natalie Wood’s suspicious death and Wrigley’s vision for a vacation utopia.An outdoors person’s prime reason to visit.
The last few days we just kicked back at the Wyndham Santa Monica, Pier and Beach.
There are many Hotels in the Santa Monica and the Venice Beach area. The locals complain when the temperature rises above 85 degrees. We visited from June 6th 2019 to June 13th, not one day over 76 degrees. Great weather! Yes! But our brains were in the mindset of swimming, running around half dressed and trying to stay cool. It was 96 in Dallas when we got on the plane.
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
HOTELS IN SANTA MONICA
VRBO VACATION RENTALS SANTA MONICA
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TICKETS HERE
GRUMMAN’S CHINESSE THEATER TICKETS HERE
WHERE TO SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CATALINA, CALIFORNIA
Catalina Island Day Trip from Los Angeles with Avalon Tour
CATALINA, CALIFORNIA VACATION RENTALS
Rent A Golf Cart. Most Visitors Keep Them the Entire Stay!
DISCOUNTED TOURS AND ACTIVITIES CATALINA ISLE CA
Happy Travels!
Chris