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![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) |
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![]() the life | ![]() the lifeVenice (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) |
![]() the life | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) |
![]() FullSizeRender-19 | ![]() the lifeHotchkiss Park, right around the corner. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifePalisades Park (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) |
![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) |
![]() the lifeSanta Monica beach - only a few hundred steps away. (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) | ![]() the lifeSanta Monica pier (I took all these photos... mostly with an iPhone. It's just that pretty here :) |

There are SO MANY THINGS to do here :)
We'll keep it mostly within 1 mile. Some things listed are deeper into Santa Monica, Venice and Los Angeles.
Pick up the free Santa Monica Daily Press newspaper at stands on Main Street (there is one in front of Ben & Jerry's, and Surf Liquor has them too) to see what is happening in the neighborhood during your stay.
Here is our list:
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FOOD / DRINK / COFFEE
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Urth Cafe (next door)
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Peet's Coffee (next door)
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Amelia's (hands down the best little cafe)
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Starbucks (in every direction)
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Perry's Beach Cafe (just straight down to the sand)
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Shoop's (next door, I eat here at least once a week)
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Thai Vegan (next door, addicting)
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The Galley (my Cheer's)
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Brick + Mortar (I can see it from my front door)
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Finn McCool's (fav place for Sunday games and live Irish music)
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Lula's (be careful, the margaritas are insane and sneak up on you)
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That Italian place Mike works at (I'll think of it in minute)
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Ashland Hill (Hipster heaven, best wine and beer list)
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The Pink Elephant (dance. love it)
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Coffee Bean (outdoor fireplace)
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Holy Guacamole (eat tacos all day)
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Circle Bar (it lives up to its seedy reputation)
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Rick's (burgers and beer, sometimes that's is all one needs)
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Library Ale House (Piny on TAP... come on!)
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Enterprise Fish Co. (always eat at the bar. it's great)
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La Vecchia (this is where Mike works. Excellent - best happy hour menu)
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Sunny Blue (go here. Eat Japanese hand rolls. Be happy)
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Ben & Jerry's (across the street. I can smell them baking brownies)
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The Victorian (Bar, Taco Trucks on Tues and Farmers Market on Sundays)
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The Bird Cage (perfect gay bar)
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The Basement (perfect speakeasy)
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Chinois On Main (Super fancy. Fun to see who is sitting in the windows)
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Bareburger (pretty much sums it up)
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Hinterland (Newest hipster heaven)
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Sam's Bagels (So. Damn. Good.)
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Tsukji Sushi (Waiters wear t-shirts that say "eat my roll" - no joke)
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Manchego (Great date spot)
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Aussie Pie (a wholes days worth of calories in one meal)
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Dhaba (homestyle Indian food)
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M Street Kitchen (great local restaurant - get their english muffins to go)
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Stella Barra (pizza that is awesome)
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Jinya (ramen bar, because, yes)
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OK - this is all in 4 blocks. And just Main Street. We'll stop there. There is so much more in Santa Monica and Venice. It will take a year to explore all of it!
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LAUNDRY
If you need to wash something, there is a great little laundromat, Bubble Beach, 1 block down Main Street. There are coin operated machines, or you can drop off your laundry for pick up the next day.
Bubble Beach | 2633 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
bubblebeachlaundry.com | (310) 392-1717 | Open 7AM–9PM
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DRY CLEAN
There is dry cleaning across from the bungalow on Main Street.
Aaron Cleaners | 2400 Main St # B3, Santa Monica, CA 90405
aaroncleaners.com | (310) 392-1843 | Open: 7:30AM–7PM
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FITNESS
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Famous beach boardwalk, bike path and muscle beach areas. All free.
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Crossfit Santa Monica (across the street. Go here. Say hi to Kaj and Carter. Thank me later)
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Yoga Works (classic)
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Y.A.S. (Yoga and spinning. Sign up for Julie's class. Tell her you live in my place. She will love you dearly.
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Equinox (downtown Santa Monica)
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Gold's Gym (You will see Arnold Schwarzenegger pass the house each morning after his work out. Say hi. He is super friendly for a Terminator.
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24 Hour Fitness (but this one is only open like 18 hours)
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There are a TON more places... everything you can think of. Very fitness oriented area for sure.
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SHOP
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Main Street (Boutique shops)
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Abbot Kinney (SoHo has landed in LA)
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Santa Monica Place (Bloomy's, Nordstrom, Tiffany, Louis, etc)
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Venice Boardwalk (Anything you want)
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3rd Street Promenade (Mall of America)
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Montana Ave (shop with the stars. No, really.)
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Santa Monica Pier (Ferris Wheel is kinda awesome)
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Venice Beach Boardwalk (always entertaining)
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3rd Street Promenade (Touristy, but built for it)
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The Beach (nothing better than sand between the toes, surfing, swimming, tanning, people watching, picnicking, volleyball-ing, bike riding. Endless fun :)
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FESTIVALS
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Summer Concert Series on the Pier (HUGE. Fun. Thursdays all summer)
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Main Street Parades (so many! They put up lots of flyers to advertise them)
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Main Street Summer Soulstice (annual music festival)
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ART
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Galleries are everywhere.... (just stoll and pop in)
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Getty Villa (Go here.)
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The Getty Center (And here.)
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Street art in Venice is amazing. (DM @Venice_life600 on IG and get a low-cost personal tour. Tell him I sent you, he will give you the better tour :) Bring a camera and be amazed. )
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Art Walk / Art Crawl / Art Fests (held weekly / monthly / annually)
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LACMA (Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art. In Mid-Wilshire.
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The Broad - Downtown Los Angeles
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MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) - Downtown Los Angeles
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The Hammer Museum - Westwood
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The Huntington - Pasadena
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MOVIES
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Archlight Santa Monica (on top of Bloomingdale's)
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Laemmle Monica Film Center (best indie house in LA)
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AMC 4 (One of two)
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AMC 7 (The other one, a block from the other)
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American Cinematheque at Areo (great programs, Q&A's with filmmakers)
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Laemmle Royal (all foreign films, all the time. Magical)
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Landmark NuArt (Rocky Horror is a staple here)
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The Landmark (a favorite spot. great theaters and great films)
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TRANSPORTATION
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Big Blue Bus - Lines 1 and 8 stop at Main and Hollister - and can get you to most areas in Santa Monica / West LA
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Metro Bus 733 - stops on Main. Can take you deep into Los Angeles
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Metro Train, Expo Line - Runs from Santa Monica to Downtown LA / Union Station / Little Tokyo / Alvarado Street / DTLA Arts District / Disney Concert Hall / Broadway / and connects with all trains. You can use this to get to Hollywood (transfer to Red Line at 7th/Metro stop) or to Universal Studios or to Pasadena (transfer to Red / Purple Line to Union Station, transfer to Gold Line)
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Uber and Lyft are very popular in Santa Monica
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Breeze Bikes Stands (with the Hulu signs on them) all over the place. Download the App and sign up at: http://socialbicycles.com/
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Sole Bikes on Main Street - rent by the hour or day.
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If there is something you are looking for, ping us. :)