Looking for a Hip Vacation? Try Santa Monica

If you're looking cool factor in his next trip to California, it would be difficult to beat Santa Monica, a playground for LA TV and movie people that is perfectly all tablets in 8.3 miles strategically surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains, on the one hand and the Pacific Ocean in the other.There are 400 restaurants around here, many of them considered "fashionable" or "hip.." Throw in a few art galleries, some luxury hotels and - oh yes - celebrities, and you have the ingredients of an eye-popping diversion from everyday life hometown.Our his recent visit to Santa Monica, reminded us why who moved to California. The climate is one of those clear-as-a-day LA bell that do come around more often than you might think, the haze had been removed efficiently by some winds and humidity on the day before our arrival. It is recalled from a trip years ago, we took the soggy Pacific Northwest of Los Angeles that presents us with the brilliant sunlight question. We could not wait to return and eventually moved to Southern California to get our regular dose of California sun.Such shows the climate of Santa Monica, and is meant to be. The views of Palisades Park are impressive and not only in the expansive beaches, but distant features such as Malibu in the north and even Catalina Island to the southwest. Not surprisingly, half of LA seems to be here jogging or walking. From wide, wooded and well-landscaped Ocean Avenue runs along the coast on the bid as a nice middle of the street as you'll see it is considering all modern office buildings and not mansions.The historic Santa Monica Pier is the dominant feature in the waters edge - and also on water - and is a favorite for families. We lingered with our five years of age and children Cove, part of Pier Park Pacific that has kiddie rides and entertainment, when all was said and done, our daughter said her time in the dock "the best day ever! "But Santa Monica Pier can also be very adult. During our visit a local anti-war organization has placed more than 2000 white crosses on the beach to help people visualize the number of victims of war in Iraq. While most crossings have no names, many of them did and it is evident that the bereaved families had brought flowers and photos to create makeshift memorials in the beach.Just up to the pier are blocks and blocks in the popular shopping centre the Third Street Promenade, an area where the city fathers have had a street and turned it into a pedestrian mall. There are fascinating shops and an unusual number of cinemas along this road that seems to attract people from all walks of life - young and old, rich to the homeless. On weekends there is always a wide variety of musicians and artists willing to do almost anything to get a tip and the hospitality of applause.Many round of the city's restaurants are located on Third Street downtown area, although many others are scattered about in various parts of the city. Our choice dinner, Thai dishes, actually is about 20 blocks from the beach in mid-city area and proved a surprisingly affordable spot to enjoy a wide selection of experts prepared Thai innings. It is not official, but is good.If you're looking for fashion - oh, there is no word yet again - the place in Santa Monica to see is Montana Avenue. There is a 10-block section of this street that has become the center of the universe for celebrity-watchers, because this is where we are told to leave the famous and semi-real people. Companies throughout this kind are an eclectic collection of specialty shops and cafes and tranquility little more nail salons per square mile than any place west of New York City.It 's impossible to walk up and down without asking Montana if the young 30-something "dressed down with jeans and a sweatshirt jersey is actually taking a break some star in the film between outbreaks. Writer Irene Ricasio contained several local celebrity haunts in a recent article for the New York Post. "If it takes more than 24 hours to see a star in Santa Monica" the article said, "you're not looking." The closest we came was seeing an obvious paparazzi stalking Montana with his camera and two feet long telephoto. There is no doubt that someone was leaning over a "sighting". The cool factor also comes from Santa Monica art world, where the rich and famous, while buying stiffs average working time and want to see who could buy. According to the Santa Monica Tourist Office, the area is "exploding" with avant-garde galleries, museums and public art. In fact, the city averages more than 10 galleries per square mile and has a total of 38 public works of art.The words "fashionable" and "hip" can also be used to describe many of the lodgings in Santa Monica -- Especially small out-of-the-way hotel where we stayed last time. The newest hotel in Santa Monica, Ambrose is only 77 rooms and is located a mile and a half from the beach in a quiet residential area of Santa Monica. The hotel is the idea of Deirdre Wallace, aged 31, who has designed a hotel as she would have liked during the year was travelling and working in the film industry. The result is an impeccably decorated, completely updated hotel that pays special attention to detail.For example, continental breakfast - including in his room - served by Rockenwagner, one of the premises Celebrity chef restaurants. The rooms are done in dark brown and soft gray-green tones and furnished with furniture, tables and chairs. The beds have sufficient strength and are decorated with custom created Italian Matteo bed sheets and quilts. Each room has been designed with Feng shui in mind that, in our case, was placed fourth floor of scenic view of Santa Monica and Pacific Ocean.The Ambrose could well be a withdrawal of health. No candy and chips to this honor bar - more healthy fruits and nuts, vegetables, chips and other elements are presented for between-meal snacks. Instead of soda, is vitamin water. Another product partly in your room is honey organic sugar Glow for your skin, or perhaps you want to try the elixir Tonic.There Power Plant is also a gym in property including a Stairmaster, elliptical machines, pilates mats, balance Ball, a ballet bar and a library of fitness. If you want to read about something other than fitness, Ambrose also has a cozy fireplace, library reading with a variety of material.The Ambrose is the only right choice "fashionable" Santa Monica - a lot of experience and beyond everyday life most of us lead and a big topic of conversation Monday morning, when you're back in the office.AT GLANCEWHERE A: Santa Monica is just west of Los Angeles and on the south coast of Malibu. It's easy to reach by taking Interstate 405 or Interestate 5 to Interstate 10 and driving west.WHAT: Santa Monica's spectacular in the ocean has become one of the most popular beach getaways for people from the Los Angeles area and beyond. A combination of trendy shops, galleries and restaurants make this a favorite for celebrities and ordinary people. Curiously, the beach city of Santa Monica is actually near the mountains also. The Santa Monica Mountains are just a few minutes drive from the glamour and brilliance of the city and offer a wide selection of trails and nature hikes in the 150000-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaWHEN: Time in Santa Monica is sunny most of the year - about 343 days of sunshine annually to be exact - so there's no bad weather for visit.WHY: The landscape of the great, but there is also a power that comes with a break so close celebrity and entertainment business.HOW: For more information about Santa Monica, the phone Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-544-5319 or visit www.santamonica.com. For more information about the Ambrose Hotel, phone 877-Ambrose or visit www.ambrosehotel.com.
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