Just 12 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), there is a waterfront enclave that is a long-beloved vacation hotspot that appeals to glamorous jetsetters and traveling families alike: Southern California’s Santa Monica. And it recently beat out powerhouse seaside locales like Maui, Palm Beach, and Cape Cod to be named North America’s leading beach destination in the 2024 World Travel Awards.
With a sandy, boardwalk-flanked beach on one side and a lush mountain range on the other, the 8.5-square-mile Santa Monica is like the poster child for that idyllic Southern California vacation. As the westernmost point of Route 66, you can only imagine how many roadtrippers have set their sights on Santa Monica over the decades. The growth and development of luxury lifestyle venues — from five-star hotels to Michelin-starred restaurants — over the last couple of years have only made it more desirable.
When visiting Santa Monica, the 3.5 miles of coastline, the boardwalk, and the sunshine are foolproof calling cards. The iconic Ferris Wheel along the pier, the stunning views from Palisades Park, and the here-and-only-here fitness-obsessed vibes you get on Muscle Beach all offer a unique sense of place. But there’s more to this city of nearly 90,000 residents than that.
With its location on the west side of greater Los Angeles, Santa Monica certainly benefits from its proximity to the likes of West Hollywood, Malibu, and Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). Like the rest of the region, Santa Monica has great shopping, award-winning dining (modern French restaurant Mélisse has two Michelin stars, for instance), and fantastic art institutions like the Bergamot Station Arts Center.
Staying in Santa Monica has also never been easier thanks to a spate of blue-chip hotel openings. From Santa Monica Proper Hotel to Regent Santa Monica Beach, many of the buzziest properties have chosen Santa Monica for exciting new locations. And from what we’re seeing, there’s more in the pipeline.
So who knows? Santa Monica may hold onto the title of North America’s leading beach destination for many more years to come.
