Santa Monica, California is a beautiful seaside city with a wide variety of activities for the visiting traveler. It offers convenient access to Los Angeles International Airport at a distance of only eight miles. Upon arriving in Santa Monica, it's apparent that the city has evolved into a unique community offering distinct neighborhoods that represent the definitive characteristics of the city: the downtown and Third Street promenade, Santa Monica Pier and Ocean Avenue, Mid-city, Main Street, Montana Avenue, Pico Boulevard, Ocean Park, and Santa Monica Airport.The city is named after the Spanish Saint Monica of Hippo. Before the 1870s, northern Santa Monica was part of the Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica and Rancho Boca de Santa Monica. Thirty-eight thousand acres of San Vincente y Santa Monica were sold to Colonel Baker who also purchased a half interest in Rancho Boca de Santa Monica. He sold half of his half to Senator John Jones and both Jones and Baker subdivided their interest and created Santa Monica. After the city was formed, it was bounded to the west by Santa Monica Bay and surrounded by Los Angeles County to the north, east, and south. Santa Monica incorporated in 1886, has an area of 8.3 square miles and a population of around 88,000.
Present day Santa Monica consists of the downtown area which is home to the some of the city's largest retailers. Third Street is a pedestrian only promenade where everyday street performers offer shows, while pedestrians peruse the bookstores, movie theaters, restaurants, and shops. Santa Monica Pier hosts an over the water amusement park and a carousel on the beach while Ocean Avenue offers ocean views from its many restaurants and hotels. The Santa Monica, CA business directory will place hundreds of major television, film, and music companies are in the Mid-city area and Main Street continues the creative trend by offering a home to design stores, and art galleries. If searching for Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, Chinois in the Santa Monica, CA yellow pages, it will be located on Main Street. Montana Avenue is a tree-lined ultra-wide boulevard that's both residential and offers excellent dining and shopping. Pico Boulevard and Main Street host weekly farmers' markets. Ocean Park adds an artsy flair with its unique galleries and stores. Santa Monica's private airport also serves as an event space, outdoor market, and is home to many restaurants.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
