Santa Monica in 24 hours

Santa Monica is a pretty beach town in Southern California. If you’re doing a California road trip, Santa Monica is very close to LAX airport, so either stop here either before depart or after you land.

Watch the sunset at Santa Monica Beach.

Then wake up early the next morning to see the sunrise at Santa Monica pier.

Check out the amusement park built onto a pier, surrounded by the ocean.

The Santa Monica Pier is bustling at night, so it’s really cool to experience it early and have it all to yourself.

Rent bikes and ride them along the paved path, parallel to the ocean, from Venice Beach and all the way to Will Rogers Beach

There are runners, roller-bladers and walkers all along the path.

If you have a car, drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. Point Dune is a popular sunset spot - get there early enough that you can get a parking spot in the small lot.

The beach below Point Dune has a much larger parking lot. I know this because we weren’t able to get a space up at Point Dune, so came down to the beach instead.

If you’re looking for a unique insta background, the Kelsey Montague wings are outside a Barry’s Boot Camp.

Stroll around downtown Santa Monica.

Demitasse has a special technique for making iced coffee, one drop at a time. The shop has a cute patio and seasonal coffee options.

Finally, stop for caffeine at a local shop. Demitasse has pastries, plants, and take their iced coffee very seriously. It’s a few blocks off Ocean Avenue.

Stop by the Bloomingdale’s for a street mural that looks like a postcard.