Situated between the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles, Santa Monica, California offers the ultimate Southern California experience. Besides its beautiful beach and year-round warm weather, its proximity to the greater Los Angeles area makes Santa Monica the ideal base for vacationers and business travellers alike.

Some of the reasons why Canadians visit Santa Monica are:

• A walkable 8.3 square miles (21.5 square km)
• 3.5 mi (5.6 km) stretch of coastline
• Ove 280 sunny days each year
• Just 8 mi (13 km) north of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Numerous non-stop flights from various Canadian getaways via Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat
• Easy to go car free with the Metro Expo Line, extensive bike paths and the Santa Monica Circuit shuttle
• International leader at the forefront of health and wellness
• Eight neighbourhoods offering a diverse mix of shopping, dining, recreation and entertainment

Stay

Santa Monica is made up of 41 hotels with most adjacent to or in walking distance of the beach. The Santa Monica hotel collection offers a wide variety of accommodations – from budget friendly to boutique – and a central location in greater Los Angeles – near LAX, Venice, Beverly Hills and Hollywood.

Dine

With over 400 restaurants in 8.3 square mi (21.5 square km), including Michelin-starred restaurants Pasjoli, Rustic Canyon, and Melisse, Santa Monica has a flavour of every taste. Visitors (and locals) come to Santa Monica to dine because of the variety of fresh, innovative cuisine – often locally sourced from Santa Monica’s own farmers markets – the relaxed, beachside atmosphere and some of the best undiscovered restaurants and nightlife spots in Greater Los Angeles.

Shop

Santa Monica shopping covers the spectrum from downtown’s Third Street Promanade and Santa Monica Place – home to stores such ad Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and more – to upscale boutiques along Montana Avenue and the electric retails mix on Main Street. Each of the city’s eight neighbourhoods offers a distinct character all its own.

Play

Fill your days in Santa Monica with museum-hopping and world-class shopping, or relax on the beach and watch the world go by. Beaches, surfing, paddle boarding, running trails, the Original Muscle Beach, and a 22 mi (35km) bicycle path offer endless opportunities to experience the California lifestyle.

For itineraries and recommendations on the top things to see, do and eat in Santa Monica, visit santamonica.com/trade.