These past few months have been wild.
We’ve transitioned from baby parents to toddler parents. Jude is walking, talking (sort of), and has endless amounts of energy. It’s one of the best seasons of being a parent so far, but quite possibly the most exhausting. He is, and thus we are, always on the go. Since Jude easily gets bored of his toys and being inside, we were recently craving a change of scenery. Our ideal spot is an easy drive, has a nice air-conditioned hotel (we don’t have that at home), good food options, and plenty to do within walking distance of where we stay. At just over an hour from home, Santa Monica checks all the boxes! So we packed up and got on our way.
For those of you unfamiliar with the area, Santa Monica is a coastal city just west of downtown Los Angeles. It boasts 4 miles of beaches and you’ll discover it’s the perfect combination of a vibrant urban scene and a laid back coastal beach town. With amazing hotels, restaurants, and shopping, it’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway with the whole family (or just mom & dad!)
Opting for luxury in a prime location, we stayed at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. It’s directly across the street from the beach, so every room has a view. We had a Premier Ocean View Room on the top floor, which looked down on the pool and out over the coastline. We started and ended most of our days on the balcony, either with coffee or a cocktail in hand. (Sometimes both!) The sunsets specifically were INCREDIBLE! We felt like we were in Hawaii!
One of our favorite reasons to visit Santa Monica is that we can park our car and not get back in until we’re heading home. Everything is so walkable!. And there is so much good food that we appreciate being able to walk off some of the calories.
For breakfast, our favorite spots were Jinky’s Cafe and Huckleberry Bakery. Jinky’s is a small neighborhood cafe where we’d recommend the Huevos Rancheros and/or the pancakes. Huckleberry has the most insane fresh pastries, and Bobby was obsessed with the breakfast sandwich.
For lunch on the sand (literally), Back on the Bay Beach Cafe is a MUST. You can’t beat the ocean-front location, and the food is all really good. Alli’s still raving about their tuna sandwich! Another must-visit spot is The Albright on the Santa Monica Pier, where they serve up some drool-worthy seafood, sandwiches, and more! We shared the fish tacos, oysters, and a quesadilla (for Jude) and it was all amazing!
For a hearty, authentic (and surprisingly affordable) Italian dinner, look no further than Fritto Misto! There’s a reason this place has become a Santa Monica staple—and with one bite of their homemade pasta with pink sauce you’ll understand why! We’d drive back to Santa Monica just for that! Art’s Table is also a local favorite, with to-die-for specialties like their Cuban Style Charred Corn (don’t ask, just trust) and their perfectly chopped Art’s Chopped Salad. I’ve since tried to perfect it and I can’t even come close!
Our last night in Santa Monica was spent at Fig Santa Monica, located inside the Fairmont. It was heavenly. The stunning ambiance, specialty cocktails, fresh halibut, cacio e pepe pasta… Everything was perfect, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. It was one of those meals where we didn’t want it to end. (But then our toddler started screaming.) Next time we’re bringing a babysitter.
While we loved our quick visit to Santa Monica, we definitely could have stayed another day or two. There is SO MUCH TO DO! We’d recommend going a little slower than we did (toddler life = always moving), but doing any (and all!) of the following activities:
Third Street Promenade: World-class shopping, street performers, and great food. What more do you need? Jude was on overload with so many things to look at.
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier: It doesn’t matter if you’re a solo adult or traveling with a toddler, Pacific Park has something for you. Jude loved the Kid’s Cove area where there are rides for little ones, and we all enjoyed the ferris wheel together!
The Beach: this is a no-brainer. Miles of sand are a short walk from any of the Santa Monica hotels. Why wouldn’t you spend your afternoon there.
Annenberg Community Beach House and Splash Pad: Speaking of the beach… if you have a small child (like us) who isn’t ready for the ocean, the Annenberg Community Beach House is right on the sand and has a giant splash pads for kids to play in. Jude had so much fun for a few minutes, but then he got a little intimidated by the water (he’s 1- we’ll try again at 2).
Pool at the Fairmont: For us, pool time is solo time. Jude naps and one of us stays in the room, and the other has poolside cocktails. Whether you’re alone, with your person, or have the whole family, this place is paradise.
Heal the Bay Aquarium: Did you know there is an aquarium under the Santa Monica pier?! We didn’t! Mind blown! You can get up close with over 100 species of local marine life, and you’ll learn so much! The staff is so knowledgeable, and they have a variety of touch tanks where you can touch many of the sea creatures. A must do!
Farmer’s Market: Since we were there on a Saturday, we were able to enjoy Santa Monica’s Farmer’s Market. With all kinds of fresh produce, flowers, nuts, jams, and more, it’s one of our favorite ways to spend a Saturday morning. The market typically runs Wednesday and Saturday, but check the website for updates.
As the Traveling Newlyweds, it’s not uncommon for us to hop in the car and drive 7,000 miles to the most random parts of the country. This visit to Santa Monica reminded us that there are so many epic destinations right in our backyard, and that we have to take advantage of them more. For SoCal residents, Santa Monica is easy to get to and has the setting to instantly put you in vacation mode. So if you’re in need of a tan, a delicious meal, or need to be pampered at a hotel like the Fairmont, you should definitely indulge yourself. And thank us later.