Thousands of people come from all over the world to enjoy the famous 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica and to see what this California beach town has to offer.
With the city recently pouring millions of dollars into renovating its streets, malls, roads, and modern parking structures, 3rd Street has been more jam-packed than ever. After years in the making, the brand new train can now take visitors from Downtown Los Angeles all the way to the beach. Trendy restaurants and stores from Hollywood have been fighting to acquire a local spot to get a piece of the action. In other words, real estate is up, crowds are in high numbers, and the sun is shining. So what do you do when you get to the Promenade? Here are a few of my suggestions.
Shop!
3rd street is known for its wide, carless boulevard filled with stores like Lululemon, Gap, Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, and Apple, just to name a few. The newly built outdoor mall is located at the intersection of 3rd and Broadway. It’s equipped with numerous parking structures, restaurants, and big department stores. You can always find me browsing the aisles of Bloomingdale’s through their endless promotions and sales with a nice Forty Carrots coffee at hand. I also love to go to Lululemon across the street. They moved to a brand new location that is now their main flagship store. There’s only a few high-end shops around like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Barneys, and Burberry, all located in the mall. This is not the place to go for high-end fashion that you will find on Rodeo Drive. So enjoy the sun, drink a coffee, and shop until you drop!
Eat!
Where there is a huge shopping area there are unquestionably many restaurants to follow. There’s definitely something for everyone! My first choice would be True Foods at the Santa Monica Place. It’s truly one of the best organic, modern, “healthy” restaurants around. There’s no reservations required and they have a huge bar for a quick bite if needed! Try out their staple kale salad, spaghetti squash casserole, or a kale-aid juice. The other big favorite is Sugar Fish that’s located right on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and 2nd. There’s always a long wait here so give yourself some time in advance! The staples are the “Trust-Me” and trust me the fish quality is to die for. My third option would be Umami Burger. It’s quick, easy and one of the best burgers in LA! Its location is a bit out of the way on 6th and Broadway, but they conveniently offer free garage parking.
Enjoy the show!
There are many cool acts to see while walking around 3rd street. I have seen countless performers, dancers, singers, and musicians. Some are amazing and some are a little hurtful to my ears! One of the famous recurring performances is the breakdancing team that makes you wait until the end of the show to see their “big finale” act. A little insider tip is that there is no “big finale”. It’s a way for the performers to collect more money, but who can blame them? I also love watching talented musicians play instruments that I’ve never seen, or hearing a familiar song that takes me back to a distant memory. All of these acts are possible here! If you move down to the Pier you will see a lot of animal charmers. Yes, I have on many occasions taken pictures with parrots and snakes. It’s a fun photo op to experience!
Activities!
Besides eating, drinking and shopping I’d recommend to take the Palisades Park on Ocean right to the beach. It’s such a beautiful walk and you can’t miss the amazing Santa Monica sunsets! There’s hundreds of people running, walking, strolling, doing yoga, and playing with their dogs right by the beach. It’s hard to miss out on this picture perfect opportunity. Another cool activity for people who don’t want to walk far, but want to see Santa Monica, is renting a Segway. You can’t take it on the Promenade and the Pier, but you can definitely ride it everywhere else. The third option would be to rent a bike either by the mall or underneath the Pier. It’s fun to ride down the coast and see other beach cities or just stay local and enjoy the town!
See the Pier!
The Pier is a huge staple in Santa Monica and has been the city landmark for over 100 years. You can ride the classic roller coaster in Pacific Park, play in the arcade, fish off the Pier, check out the aquarium, or enjoy a sunset cocktail at one of the iconic restaurants such as “The Lobster”. During summer and early fall there’s live music concerts happening every Thursday night at the beach. People from all over the city grab blankets, food, and drinks to spend a night under the stars, listening to music and catching up with friends. This is one of the busiest times in Santa Monica, so come early due to long traffic times! The main stage is right on the Pier, but mostly everybody gets together at the beach. Lastly, don’t forget to take a swing at the local trapeze school on the Pier. It’s an adventure you won’t want to miss!
Any Questions or Tips to add?