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Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
Experiences
Things to Do In and Around Santa Monica
When you stay at Viceroy Santa Monica, you live like a local: laidback, easy and fueled by curiosity. What will each day bring — a sunrise walk on the beach? Workout on the Santa Monica stairs? Spin around the Pier? Day trip to the Getty? You have easy access to it all, and there’s more than one way to get around. Jump on our Priority bicycles, available for complimentary rental, and pedal to the shore, Pier or Expo Line that heads straight to downtown LA. We’re a home base from which all good adventures begin.
Destination Experiences
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Art-inspired Getaway
Art & Culture
Explore LA's top arts and culture attractions
Discover Richard Meer’s cutting-edge architecture at the Getty Center, plus works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Rembrandt. Perched high above Los Angeles, it’s one of the world’s largest arts organizations. Take in the splendor of the seasonally changing gardens and, on clear days, breathtaking views of the Los Angeles and Pacific Ocean. Among the best museums in Los Angeles, don’t miss the Hammer Museum’s edgy contemporary art. Round off any trip to Santa Monica with a visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the largest art museum in the west where you can explore cultures from ancient times to the present.
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Santa Monica Scene
Landmarks
Locations and activities to add to your must-see list
Famous Route 66 leads directly to the Santa Monica Pier, one of the city’s most celebrated activities since 1908. It’s impossible to miss the iconic Ferris wheel, vintage carousel, and roller coaster. Don’t miss the free concerts and outdoor movies in the summertime. Along Ocean Avenue, alfresco dining spots and the palm-lined Palisades Park provide enviable beachfront hangouts. And no visit to Santa Monica is complete without a trip to a local farmer’s market. Join more than 900,000 shoppers to enjoy the city’s selection of fresh, seasonal produce year-round.
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Wellness While you Travel
Recreation & Adventure
Enjoy year-round sunbathing, swimming and hiking
There’s no better way to enjoy Southern California than at the beach. Get refreshed and relaxed at Santa Monica Beach where year-round sunbathing and swimming are a given. Or escape the beach for the Pacific Palisades at Temescal Gateway Park, one of the most popular in the Santa Monica mountains. More than 140 acres of oak and sycamore canyons, views, and more await adventurous travelers seeking the “Big Wild” – complete with 20,000 acres of nature trails to explore. At the Self-Realization Center, you can switch off the outside world for a quiet oasis with yoga and meditation.
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Top LA Shopping Destinations
Shopping
Shop at one-of-kind boutiques on 3rd Street Promenade to the famous Rodeo Drive
Carefree and car-free, the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica has the best shopping in town. Grab a bite to eat, explore one of the city’s farmers' markets, or shop for new clothes. Experience the laid-back vibe of nearby Venice on the mile-long Abbot Kinney Boulevard, full of upscale boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. And no trip to LA would be complete without a visit to famous Rodeo Drive, the three-block stretch in Beverly Hills where well-heeled locals shop for Gucci and Dior.
Explore Santa Monica
Local Favorites
Bergamot Station
Get your art fix in this expansive warehouse complex that houses the Santa Monica Museum of Art, independent galleries, shops and a theater. Formerly a railroad station, it’s now mecca for anyone looking for the up-and-coming and the avant garde.
Park to Playa Trail
This 13-mile regional trail connects the beach to a network of trails, parks and open spaces. You can follow it from the Pacific Ocean to the Baldwin Hills Parklands. It’s broken down into six parts — Stocker Corridor, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, Blair Hills - Segment C, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Culver City Park and Ballona Creek Bike Path — and each offer a different way to experience nature, with striking views of the Los Angeles Basin along the way.
Santa Monica Stairs
Two sets of wooden and concrete stairs may sound like no big deal. But these are world-famous — especially for those that want an adrenaline rush. Every day, locals run up and down them, stopping to jump rope, do push-ups and sit-ups, and stretch. If you’re not exercising, it’s entertaining to simply sit back and watch the hardbodies in action. If it’s too crowded, head to the little-known La Mesa stairs next door, between the 404 and 410 entry.
Venice Canals
Venice gets its name for a reason: It features three canal-lined blocks that recall the charming Italian city. Find the canals between Venice Boardwalk (a vibrant one-mile street market) and Abbot Kinney (a posh shopping strip). There are plenty of photo opps on the arching pedestrian bridges. And its beach houses that will inspire real estate envy. While you can’t rent a boat on the canals, you can rent paddleboards for self-guided tours or bring your own non-motorized vessel. Enter via the launch ramp at Venice Boulevard.
Events
Skateboarding & Surfing Lessons
December 12, 2024
Learn to ride a wave or skateboard on the boardwalk with our partners at Coyote Surf & Skateboarding School.
ICE at Santa Monica
December 12, 2024 - January 20, 2025
Experience Ice at Santa Monica, Downtown Santa Monica’s outdoor ice skating rink.
A Festive Cocktail Experience
December 15, 2024
Shake up your sunday with our exclusive cocktail class, where holiday spirits come alive.
The Genesis Invitational
February 13, 2025 - February 16, 2025
Join the world's best golfers at LA's PGA Tour event, the Genesis Invitational, at The Riviera Country Club.
Happy Hour at Sugar Palm
Every day
Join us for daily Happy Hour under the palms at Sugar Palm Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Farmers Markets
Every Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday ...
Experience the flavors of the Santa Monica farmers markets.
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