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The Jewish Chronicle

Santa Monica: Welcome to the playground

Santa Monica has gone from a dull suburb to a California tourist mecca.

January 22, 2009 09:52
Standing proud: the Santa Monica skyline from above the Pacific Highway

By

Anthea Gerrie,

Anthea Gerrie

5 min read

Just 40 years ago it was a rather dull suburb of Los Angeles where the main attractions were the beach, a British pub and a shop selling Marmite to homesick expats.

But as LA’s creative types began moving in, in the 1970s — to join the Brits who always knew they were on to a good thing — Santa Monica’s shopping, dining and entertainment offerings improved dramatically.

Now this pleasingly heimishe beach town is a fully-fledged tourist destination in its own right, especially when enjoyed in tandem with the surrounding neighbourhoods of Malibu, Venice and Westwood.

Santa Monica’s sandy beaches and clean ocean air are a major draw in a city blighted by smog and traffic, as is the strong walking culture — contrary to myth about nobody walking in LA, the pavements of Santa Monica, Westwood and Venice positively teem with pedestrians.