Santa Monica Fact Sheet
Contact: Kim Baker, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau
(800) 771-2322 or email kbaker@santamonica.com
Monica Ballin, The Pollack PR Marketing Group
(310) 450-7320 or email mballin@ppmgcorp.com
www.santamonicanewsroom.com
FACT SHEET
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
LOCATION:
Perched on the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica is situated at the crossroads of Pacific
Coast Highway and California Interstate Highway 10. Bordered by Malibu and Venice,
Santa Monica is easily accessible from Los Angeles International Airport (8 mi./13 km),
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (30 mi./49 km) and Los Angeles Amtrak (13 mi./20
km); major nearby attractions include Disneyland (45 mi./73 km south), the Getty Center
(10 mi./17 km), Universal Studios Hollywood (18 mi./29 km north), Beverly Hills (8 mi./
13km), and West Hollywood (11 mi./19km).
SIZE:
8.3 square miles (22 sq. km); 94,000 populations.
CLIMATE:
The city enjoys a year-round mild, balmy, humidity-free climate with refreshing ocean
breezes and mostly sunny skies. Winter temperatures average between 53°F (13°C)
and 67°F (19.5°C). January highs often climb to 70°F (21°C). Average annual days of
sunshine: 343.
COASTLINE:
Broad, glistening beaches stretch for 26 miles (42 km) along scenic Santa Monica Bay
with three miles (5 km) of coastline within Santa Monica proper. Primary beaches
include Santa Monica State Beach and Will Rogers State Beach. Both are excellent for
swimming, surfing and volleyball. An extensive beachfront renovation was completed in
1999, including new public walkways, artistic sea walls, landscaping, and restoration of
International Chess Park and return of original Muscle Beach.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Santa Monica offers 37 hotels with more than 3,500 hotel rooms, ranging from deluxe to
budget class. Many properties offer ocean views and are within walking distance of the
beach, Pier, shopping and leisure activities. Low-season rates are available from
October through March when accommodations can drop as much as 25 percent.
MEETING FACILITIES:
An excellent venue for beachfront meetings, Santa Monica boasts over 187,000 sq. ft.
of function space along the Pacific shoreline (over 54,000 sq. ft in hotels). The cityʼs
variety of full-service conference and convention facilities range in size from 400 sq. ft.,
to 41,000 sq. ft. Santa Monica is noted for its unique meeting venues, including Hotel
Casa Del Marʼs Colonnade Ballroom, Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Loews Santa Monica
Beach Hotel, Bergamot Station, Barker Hangar, Gotham Hall and the Carousel at the
Santa Monica Pier, just to name a few.
AIRPORTS:
Los Angeles International Airport is located 8 mi. (13 km) from Santa Monica via the 405
and 10 freeways.
Santa Monica Municipal Airport, 3223 Donald Douglas Loop South, is one of the major
general aviation airports in the nation with a mile-long runway (310) 458-8591.
Charters and sightseeing services are offered by Trans Executive Air Service, jet prop
and jet planes are available at Santa Monica Airport (310) 397-3455.
POINTS OF INTEREST:
Farmers Markets: Bustling European-style markets feature organic and exotic produce,
flowers and herbs: Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m./Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at
Third Street Promenade; Main Street at Heritage Square, Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.;
Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Virginia Park.
South Bay Bicycle Trail: A 22-mile (35 km) paved beachside stretch with cafes, bicycle
and rollerblade rental concessions.
Palisades Park: A cliff-top 26-acre (11 ha) greenbelt perched over the Pacific with miles
of lush greenery and shady palms for walking, resting, jogging, picnicking and bicycling.
Public Art: Outdoor art is everywhere in Santa Monica, from a variety of murals to eye-
popping beachfront sculpture, sea walls and statuary. More than 30 pieces of art dot
the city. See the Art Trek Map for locations and details.
Santa Monica Pier: Oldest pleasure Pier on the West coast, opened in 1909. Pacific
Park amusement ride center houses the worldʼs first solar-powered Ferris wheel. The
Pier also features Heal the Bayʼs Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, historic Hippodrome and
hand-crafted carousel (circa 1922) with 44 hand-painted wooden horses (adults 50
cents/children 25 cents), dining, amusement games, and shops. Year-round
entertainment is offered, including the summer Twilight Dance Series
(www.twilightdance.org) and the Santa Monica Drive-in at the Pier Series every fall.
DINING:
Voted best neighborhood dining in Southern California by the Zagat Survey in 2007 and
2008, Santa Monica offers an array of dining experiences, from the upscale to the
economical. Nearly 400 restaurants, cafes and pubs are packed into 8.3 square miles
(22 sq. km). Much of Santa Monicaʼs cuisine is inspired by the fresh, seasonal offerings
of the cityʼs famous farmersʼ markets.
SHOPPING:
Distinct shopping areas are located within a small radius, each with its own character.
Most stores are open seven days a week.
Downtown/Third Street Promenade: Sprawling, open-air pedestrian boulevard
particularly noted for its density of movie theaters, live “street” entertainment, retail
shops and two bustling weekly farmers markets.
Main Street: Two blocks from the ocean, an eclectic mix of vintage clothing shops,
designer studios, art galleries and restaurants.
Montana Avenue: European-style boutiques, designer showrooms and upscale
restaurants dot this fashionable shopping strand.
Pico Boulevard: Stretching from the beach to Santa Monicaʼs eastern border, Pico
Boulevard features an array of hotels, restaurants, and unique shops.
ART GALLERIES/MUSEUMS/PUBLIC ART:
Santa Monica offers some of the most prestigious and avant-garde art in Southern
California. The city boasts more than 90 museums and galleries.
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION:
Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a non-profit organization designed
to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues and local employment opportunities
through the promotion of Santa Monica as a travel destination. For travel and
accommodation information or a free copy of the Official Visitors Guide, the public can
write to the Santa Monica Visitor Center, 1920 Main Street Suite B, Santa Monica, CA
90405; call (800) 544-5319 or (310) 393-7593; visit www.santamonica.com; or email
info@santamonica.com
# # #
