5 nights in Santa Monica need some ideas please...

Hi, have a trip organised for November, staying at Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica (got a good deal for 3 sharing) hope the hotel is as good as it sounds!! Looking for some tips on places to visit, eat out etc.. Need to cater for people in early 40s and a 16 year old. Also read something disturbing about avoiding going into water on beach in Santa Monica because of sewerage is this true!! Any help would be appreciated, oh and also best way to get around, don%26#39;t really want to drive. Thanks Lisa

5 nights in Santa Monica need some ideas please...

Hi Lisa,

The 3rd Street Promenade, a big outdoor mall, is very close to your hotel. Here and on the adjacent streets you%26#39;ll find plent of shopping and restaraunts. Also, the Santa Monica Pier and boardwalk are quite close by.

Don%26#39;t worry about going in the water. The county checks the water quality daily. If its unsafe, they close the beach. Otherwise, no worries.

5 nights in Santa Monica need some ideas please...

The water quality along santa monica beach is not the cleanest but hundred if not thousends of people go in there each and every day and are perfectly fine, so i would not worry about it to much

You have the promenade within a block from your hotel, which i am sure you will like a lot

2/3 blocks from your hotel is Montana Ave which has a more european flair with little restaurants, boutiques and shops

A little further(5 min taxi or carride) is Main Street Santa Monica, full of great restaurants and shops.

Along Ocean Ave you can find some great restaurants(more high end) aswell

Venice Beach is next to Santa Monica which i am sure your 16 year old will love

We really like the Fairmont Hotel, you should be happy there.

Here is the map for the weekly water quality in Santa Monica Bay. Usually to the right of the SM pier gets an ';F'; grade, as you can see, but all the beaches south of there get an ';A';

http://www.healthebay.org/brc/grademap.asp

You can all rent bikes, and ride south on the bike path for up to 26 miles.

Here is the portion to Venice Beach.

http://www.labikepaths.com/SantaMon.html

If you are in Santa Monica on a wednesday, make sure to visit the farmers market on arizona and 3rd street promenade. It is great for people watching and you might spot a celeb or two and of course you can grab some outstanding food there aswell

Dont miss the Farmers Market on Saturday, either. Your hotel has details. Also Abbot Kinney and Main Street, take the 25cent shuttle, hotel has details.

Thanks guys for all your info, much appreciated, can%26#39;t wait for November to come around now. Hope you can answer another question, my daughter would love to go to a restaurant where she may spot a celeb or two, but i imagine we would have to go somewhere that was mega bucks!!!! any suggestions

Thanks Lisa

You could go to the Ivy for lunch or Foxtail in West Hollywood. Katsuya or Kress in Hollywood to see some celebs. You will encounter more though probably at the Farmers Market on either wed or sat morning

Thanks for info, I just tried looking at map for Farmers market, but couldn%26#39;t work out how far away it is from where we are staying in Santa Monica, what would the best mode of transport be bearing in mind we don%26#39;t have car (am not brave enough to drive over there!!)and how long roughly would it take

The Farmers Market is 2 blocks from your hotel on 3rd street and arizona.Easy walk

Thats great, thanks Alex, will definately visit on the Saturday. Appreciate all the info you have given

Lisa