The US city with more than 280 sunny days a year
Monday, 26 January 2026
It was pure Santa Monica.
Lying on the beach beneath a setting sun, Camilla Greenberg’s sound bath was helping me rest and reset.
Nearby, a wedding proposal was underway. We knew that because a two-and-a-half-metre tall illuminated love heart had been erected, a crowd of well-dressed family and friends had gathered. And there was a videographer.
A little further away there was the glowing solar-powered Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier, rich with history ranging from the origin story of Popeye, a Marilyn Monroe mystery and a famous scene from Forrest Gump.
By the sounds of celebration, the wedding proposal was successful and so was the sound bath. Greenberg’s sound bowls, gongs, ocean drums, chimes, and soothing music helped others in the group find calm, safety and love. I found sleep, which is a good result in my books.
Greenberg has a laugh at herself when describing her two-hour morning ritual of journalling and yoga, then the farmer’s market shopping and retreats. But the SoulSpace founder is deadly serious about helping her clients feel better.
Worldwide wellness trends have been born in Santa Monica, base of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, and it's promoted as the ultimate destination for self-care and self-discovery. Important parts of beach culture have been born in Santa Monica and it’s where actors and other celebrities live and play.
It’s also the end of Route 66 - the 3940km highway affectionately known as ‘’The Mother Road’’ that starts in Chicago. It celebrates its centenary in 2026, a milestone that will be marked in Santa Monica by a series of events, including a song contest that’s open to Kiwis as well as locals and other nationalities.
Santa Monica is where the city meets the sea, between LAX and Malibu. The city of 97,000 is wealthy with some of the most expensive real estate in Los Angeles and an independent spirit. The city tourist authority sign on the pier proclaims that all races, religions, countries of origin and all genders are welcome.
It has 5.5km of coastline, and more than 280 sunny days a year. With almost 200km of dedicated bike lanes, a great way to see the city is on two wheels.
Erik Hines from Bikes and Hikes LA says Santa Monica is known as the most bike-friendly city in the US and took our group the length of the coast path.
He’s been running tours for seven years and they cost US$95 (NZ$165) for a 90-minute ride.
“It’s a bit like Beverley Hills but its by the beach - but it’s got a different vibe,” says Hines.
He points out where the Hearst dynasty started the mansion building boom on the sand but the site is now a community beach club where anyone can go for a nominal fee. Nearby is the site of what was known as the ‘Western White House,’ a venue for John F Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe to meet up. It was on the beach that Monroe later did her last photo shoot.
On the path, a sharp-eyed member of our group spotted Ocean’s trilogy actor Don Cheadle. Hines says he recently sighted Owen Wilson.
There are scores of beach volleyball courts, many well used early on a weekday morning. Hines says beach volleyball originated in the area, so Depression-hit LA didn't have to spend on indoor courts for the 1932 Olympics.
You can hire a bike for US$30 a day at a number of outlets. There are surf breaks along the beach (not so much around the pier) and board and wetsuit hire is around $75 a day.
Santa Monica is an international dining destination and reputed birthplace of California and fusion cuisine. There are four farmers markets a week. The Wednesday morning one is aimed at chefs who do their shopping.
Josiah Citrin founded a Michelin-starred restaurant that takes his surname and he showed us around the market. He’s got celebrity status there and we tried giant heirloom tomatoes, juicy dates as big as golf balls and bread made from stone ground flour.
Food at his restaurant and others such as Rustic Canyon and La Monique is high end (with prices to match) but beautifully crafted and the places have ambience and wait staff to match. For DIY food, a private cooking class at The Gourmandise School is a great experience under chef-instructor Maya Aldy-Fletcher where you make a delicious lunch and come away with some skills for life. It costs about US$140.
A Santa Monica Pier tour is recommended. Our guide, Jeff Wynn takes us on a tour that starts with the voice of the late actor Robert Redford, a true local boy who spent hours on the pier. Redford describes the ‘magical elixir,’ of the place. About 500m long, it has an eclectic collection of buildings, with some in better shape than others. It’s touristy with its main sign one of the top Instagram stops in the US, alongside a few optimistic fishers at the end of it and there are street food and burgers that won’t break the bank.
Wynn explains that Santa Monica Beach was where many modern lifeguard practices were developed - giant paddle boards, rescue tubes and telephone-linked lifeguard towers. The original Muscle Beach started next to the pier, as a place to keep occupied and entertained during the Depression.
It’s a great place to take the kids, Pacific Park has 12 rides, including the West Coaster, a Route 66-themed rollercoaster and the world’s first solar powered Ferris wheel. Unlimited rides for kids are US$30 and they’re $50 for adults.
Don't miss the beautiful, 103-year-old Looff Hippodrome Carousel where you can ride for just $3.
Wynn tells the story of a young woman who regularly used to turn up disguised with a veil to share in the joy of the kids riding the carousel. When a staffer saw her lift the veil, he recognised her as Marilyn Monroe.
Fact file:
Getting there: Qantas flies to Los Angeles from Auckland via Brisbane. See: qantas.com
Carbon footprint: Flying generates carbon emissions. To reduce your impact, consider other ways of travelling, amalgamate your trips, and when you need to fly, consider offsetting emissions.
The writer was hosted by Santa Monica Travel and Tourism and Qantas.