Beyond the Obvious in Santa Monica: Beach paths and neighborhood favorites
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Santa Monica? If you like the idea of biking along the beachfront, getting artsy sketching by the pier, and jumping to a post-work ocean swim, Santa Monica may be your natural habitat! This list of fun things to do will take you from sunrise surf to starlit rooftops and give you a sunlit sampling of Santa Monica's signature coastal energy and culture.
Jessica, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Jessica is a born and raised Angeleno who has spent 30 years bouncing between East LA, the Westside, and the Valley, usually with a trunk full of boxes and a strong opinion about neighborhoods. She moved eight times between 2013 and 2023 and genuinely loves it, especially the decluttering part and the chance to reinvent herself with each new move. A former teacher of eight years, she has taught everyone from pre K kids learning their ABCs to high schoolers stressing over college essays. She loves California for the beaches, sunshine, hidden lakes, and hikes that feel like they belong in another state entirely. Her guilty pleasure is the Custard Front Drive donut from Donut Friend, she road trips whenever possible, and she is slowly working through a bucket list of every national park. She lives with two bonded cats, Marty the black cat and Jelly the tabby. At Snappy Scout, Jessica edits California guides with deep local instincts built over decades of real CA living.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Will You Do in Santa Monica?
From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.
On a Saturday with perfect weather
cruising the Strand to Venice, sunscreen and smug coastal breeze.
When the gals come to town for the weekend
rosé at The Bungalow, rooftop sunset at Proper, repeat.
Dude hangout
Big Dean's burgers, beach volleyball bragging, sand still everywhere.
Rainy dreary day
Aero Theatre double feature, then steamy ramen on Wilshire.
Intellectually stimulating
docent tour at Marion Davies Guest House, gossip of Golden Age.
Artsy
Bergamot Station gallery crawl, pretending you always loved abstract rust.
Something inside and free
Santa Monica Public Library lounge, eavesdrop on screenplay edits.
Outdoorsy
sunrise at Palisades Park, fog-clearing hikes above the shoreline.
Fitness oriented
lap the Santa Monica Stairs, quads politely filing complaint.
If you're a shopaholic
Third Street Promenade to Montana Avenue, bags multiplying like gremlins.
With your dog
Airport Park dog run, puppuccino on Main Street patio circuit.
Family-friendly
carousel on the pier, touch tanks at Heal the Bay
My Favorite Local Spot in Santa Monica
I love, love, love Thai Vegan! The food is so flavorful and indulgent that most meat eaters can’t tell it’s plant-based. My go-to is the Pad See Ew. Tell me those thick, sauce coated noodles and bites of broccoli aren’t worth it!
— Jessica Montes
California Local Expert
Ready to See If Santa Monica Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Santa Monica guide for the bigger picture.