Santa Monica, Venice, and Malibu

Top Reasons to Go

Bike Along the Strand. Spend the day on this 22-mile paved path, also known as the South Bay Bike Trail, that stretches from Santa Monica to Rendondo Beach.

Watch the Sun Set Over the Pacific in Malibu. Either cliffside or parked on beach blanket, the view will stay fixed in your mind as a trip highlight.

Spend the Day at Santa Monica Pier. A fun family day or a night out, the pier's appeal is its Ferris wheel, carousel, fair food, and games galore.

Catch the Mellow Vibe in Venice Beach. Stroll along the canals, shop and grab an all-organic lunch on Albert Kinney, or watch tanned locals in tie-dye toting longboards.

Take a Surfing Lesson. The sport is said to have started on Redondo Beach in the early 1900s—learn how to hang 10 from several great schools along the coast.