Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica State Beach is a wide, flat stretch of fine golden sand running along Palisades Beach Road in Santa Monica, California, roughly 15 miles (24 km) west of downtown Los Angeles. The Pacific here is typically a murky blue-green rather than clear, and the sloping shoreline gives gentle to moderate waves that suit wading and casual swimming in summer. The beach is long and fully open to the ocean, with little shelter from afternoon onshore breezes, and the sand is deep enough that even busy weekends leave room to spread out. The dominant atmosphere is a mix of family day out, tourist attraction and active recreation. The Santa Monica Pier anchors the central section, with its amusement rides, an aquarium and restaurants, while a playground, volleyball courts and a gymnastics-style outdoor fitness area line the sand. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, usually called the Strand, runs the full length of the beach and links to Venice to the south. Amenities include lifeguard towers staffed through the day in the warm season, public restrooms, showers and concession stands near the pier; visitors should check the county lifeguard schedule for winter hours. Access is straightforward. The Metro E Line ends in Downtown Santa Monica, from where the beach is about a 10-minute walk via the Colorado Avenue pedestrian approach. Paid beach lots charge roughly $10-20 depending on the day and season and fill by late morning on summer weekends, so many visitors use parking structures downtown and walk down. Rideshare drop-off points are close to the pier. Food ranges from pier stands to sit-down restaurants along Ocean Avenue. Sunsets over the water are a major draw, and the beach is a popular starting point for cycling and skating. Water quality is monitored by Heal the Bay, and visitors may want to check the posted advisory after heavy rain, when bacteria levels near storm drains can rise.