One full day in Santa Monica. What will we do where will we have dinner?
 

After arriving into LAX at 5pm Thurs' 15 Oct we will be staying at the Chanel Road Inn, S/Monica, departing on the morning of Saturday 17th. That gives us all day on the Friday in Santa Monica. What would be a nice way to spend the day, avoiding tacky tourist shops :-) and would love a great suggestion for a casual but nice place for dinner?

We have been to LA before, so no real interest in the mad race around to see Hollywood etc. We are hoping to 'score' tickets to a taping of a show we both like on the night of the 16th (which I imagine will change our dinner plans), but don't hold out too much hope of getting them.

Thanks in advance, AD

I assume you will have a car..... ? I was going to suggest Rodeo Drive and that area, but if you have been before, then you have probably already been there. What about driving up the Pacific Coast highway and just enjoying the scenery. There are eating places along the road. You can also drive along roads like Sunset, which are very scenic.

Santa Monica has shopping. There is a mall and a street that is foot traffic only. Or at least there was the last time I was there, a couple of years ago.

LA County Art Museum? I have not been there in years!

Enjoy your trip, AD.
Carol

Santa Monica has a pier, but it's pretty touristy.

Should have mentioned, yes we will be picking up a car at LAX and starting our West Coast driving adventure on the 17th, heading to San Francisco and beyond. We may just 'go for a drive into LA' for the heck of it. (I know that traffic can be an 'issue' in LA, but we can always 'get out' if we need to)

We've spent the last day before the long flight home at the stunning Malibu Getty Roman Villa. It is free, but you must book parking on line, long before the day you want to go, and pay parking when you get there. Am assuming you have been to the Getty on the top of the hill - that's even better.

Just a warning - we parked another time, with all the gear in the car ready for the flight, but out of sight, near Santa Monica Pier, and went for a short walk. Came back just in time to see a stranger removing our cases from the car. This was an opportunistic thief, who had parked in front of us, forced the lock, and was removing our luggage one at a time into his own car, with driver. They got away with one bag, another was left standing on the footpath. But had we been a minute longer, they would have taken it all. We missed the flight - had to replace tickets, passports, medicines, hire car and hotel vouchers etc. Just keep it in mind - crooks are around!

woh thats horrible. Will be very mindfull of leaving things in the car.

Carrabella has given you a couple of excellent suggestions.

Depending on when you are coming, if you choose the Getty Villa, then I'd suggest combining that with a visit to the LA County Museum of Art which currently has an exhibit on Pompeii and the Roman Villa running through October 4, 2009.

http://www.lacma.org/art/ExhibPompeii.aspx

You will see the original as it was dug up in Pompeii or Herculaneum and then the copy situated in Getty's rebuilt model Roman villa.

The LACMA exhibit and the Getty Villa make for a marvellous combo.


If you are coming after October 4, then combine the Getty Villa with a visit to the Getty Museum in Santa Monica.

As for where to eat, there are plenty of wonderful restaurants on the Third Street Promenade.

http://www.thirdstreetpromenade.org/visitors/index.html

Enjoy!