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Colors of Santa Monica - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Soda Jerks One of the main distinctive features of the city of Santa Monica is a welcoming and easy atmosphere. The resort is heavily visited by tourists from all over the world. Local residents treat foreign guests rather amiably and welcomingly. Many foreign visitors of the destination note a rather active way of life of local folks. City streets are always filled with local residents absorbed in their business and always hustling somewhere under any weather conditions and at any time of day and night. The scenic city of Santa Monica features its own architectural style being a contrast of charming architectural traditions of foregone centuries and contemporary style.
Cuisine of Santa Monica for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe
Santa Monica, a small beachfront city, offers its guests plenty of marvelous restaurants and cozy cafes which are scattered all over the city and located in every shopping center. In the … Open
Next to impressive modern houses and buildings tourists will observe small houses sinking in greenery. This fusion of styles will turn a trip through the city to an engaging adventure. Santa Monica is of great popularity not only among hiking enthusiasts, but among genuine gourmands as well. Every fall the city hosts one of the most exciting gastronomy events being The Taste of Santa Monica festival which makes local residents and foreign guests acquainted with peculiar features of the ethnic culinary traditions.
An established place for holding the festival is a picturesque park named Santa Monica Pier. During the festival its territory gets equipped with numerous culinary stalls. Each of them offers the festival guests a vast choice of original treats and refreshing drinks. The gastronomy festival engages chefs of all popular restaurants and cafes of the city. Each chef presents the visitors of the festival a signature dish and a special tasting menu. The festival is followed with plenty of exciting entertainments and events being typical for the gastronomy events of that scale. Among entertainments of the festival tourists may enjoy master classes by best chefs of the city, interesting lectures being a perfect chance to learn some chef secrets and recipes. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Excursion over cultural sights of Santa Monica - 'must visit' points of interest
The most touristic and much visited destination of the resort city of Santa Monica is the Promenade accumulating a major part of entertainment establishments, stores, restaurants and bars. … Open
The main peculiar feature of local cuisine is seafood dishes. Not far from the park tourists will find a perfect fish market. Each day fish boats supply excellent fish, clams, squids and shrimps to the loading pier of the market. During festival the market features the richest choice of seafood. Culinary stalls installed in the park work till late night treating the guests with excellent dishes. The guests of the festival are entertained by musicians and street artists. Those tourists tending to a quieter rest in a calmer ambience and private atmosphere are recommended to visit local restaurants and bars enjoying bright entertainment program. The gastronomy festival is still one of the most interesting and engaging events and holidays of the resort city of Santa Monica.
Santa Monica LEED Parking Based on the number of interesting festivals, the city of California does in no way lag behind its neighbor – Los Angeles. Every tourist can find an event to their liking. For example, music lovers will be happy to visit Santa Monica in August, when the picturesque Gandara Park is filled with the sounds of jazz and blues – the wine festival Jazz on the Lawn is to blame. Local and visiting musicians do not get tired of pleasing the audience, who can enjoy other activities such as a gastronomic program, or some outdoor recreation. All of this happens in a family-friendly atmosphere, which everyone would agree is a great addition to a splendid pastime. Attending the festival is also completely free of charge.
Your active city break in Santa Monica. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here
Shopping addicts and night entertainment enthusiasts should pay a visit to the pier area as the Promenade accumulates the brightest and the most remarkable entertainment establishments of … Open
Another interesting festival takes place at the end of May and gathers gourmets in Santa Monica. It is called MAINopoly: Taste of Main Street. It involves a rich gastronomic program created by the restaurants and street cafes of the city for their visitors. They in turn prepare a special menu, aimed at delighting their visitors. The middle of January is also a remarkable time for gourmets: the fact is that at this time, the festival Restaurant Week is held in the city, which is traditionally graced by the best chefs of the country. The New Year’s atmosphere is still in the air, and visitors to the festival also enjoy this setting. During the event, they have a great opportunity to enjoy healthy and tasty dishes.
Museum Entrance Hall, Getty Center The end of June in Santa Monica is a great time to visit Main Street, because at this time you can hear beautiful live music every day. Genres varying from jazz to country rock are rendered. The festival is called Main Street Summer SOULstice. At the end of June, another interesting event takes place – Pier 360 Ocean Sports & Beach Festival. It includes a variety of events: live music, dance shows, beach parties, themed tours (diving, surfing), and the opening of food courts. All of these happen, as can be deduced from the name of the festival, on the most famous sights of the city (Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica State Beach).
Advices to travellers: what you should know while being in Santa Monica
1. Tourists planning to visit local stores, boutiques and shopping centers should have handy carrying bags. Every shop and store of the city packs goods in environmentally safe paper begs … Open
For those who are tired of a routine and want to have a good rest, it is useful to mention such a festival as Picnic on the Promenade. Tourists visiting Santa Monica from the beginning of July to the end of August, have an excellent chance to enjoy the wonderful relaxing atmosphere in restaurants and cafes, which are located in the city center and near the pier. In addition to eating wonderful dishes, visitors can listen to music, play board games (air hockey, table football), and participate in interactive contests. It is worth noting that the festival is very much loved by the locals, so visiting it is also an excellent opportunity to get to know them – and, perhaps, to find a friend for life.
This guide to traditions and festivals in Santa Monica is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Santa Monica and surroundings

Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Santa Monica
♥   Our Lady of Mount Lebanon–St. Peter Cathedral, Los Angeles, 12 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary, Van Nuys, 16.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Co-Cathedral of St. Anne, North Hollywood, 18 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Former Cathedral of St. Vibiana, Los Angeles, 22.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, 23 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Mission San Fernando Rey de España, Los Angeles, 28.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator, Glendale, 28.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Santa Monica
♥   Castle 'Battery of Santa Ana' Almería, 65.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Santa Monica
Detailed Santa Monica maps
Santa Monica photo gallery


Colors of Santa Monica in photos

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Traditions and festivals in cities around Santa Monica

Beverly Hills
Every year, the city hosts a number of important events like the annual Golden Globe Awards. Tourists not keen on celebrity gazing have many other interesting holidays to attend. For example, Chinese New Year and Spring Festival are widely celebrated in Beverly Hills. As a rule, the city hosts a number of cultural events during the festive period. Rodeo Drive usually has a ... Open »
Hollywood, CA
The legendary inscription has nothing to do with cinema; it was built on the initiative of a local real estate company back in 1923. Later, the 15-meter boards will become the main symbol of Hollywood cinema. There are many interesting stories connected with the symbolic sign. Initially, it was planned to be installed for 18 months; it was during this time that the ... Open »
Los Angeles
All local restaurants serve specialty turkey dishes on the festive day. Every local chef has special recipes for its cooking. Even though this is a family holiday, there is still a lot of interesting entertainment on the city streets. Open-air stages are set up on the squares where musicians perform for the audience. Interesting theatrical performances dedicated to the ... Open »
Anaheim
Local people are always ready to help with anything, new acquaintances are important to them, they are not afraid to invite a stranger to the home to become good friends in the future. And, of course, to ask a new acquaintance about everything they're interested in. Local people are very interesting interlocutors - they are always ready to listen and tell an interesting ... Open »
Ontario Town
It would be especially interesting to visit the city during major celebrations. For many years, people of Ontario have been especially attentive to the Christmas holidays. Since 1959, 3D installations depicting scenes from the life of Jesus have been installed on Euclid Avenue. For the period of Christmas, they become the main decoration of the city. Artists and designers ... Open »
Santa Barbara
One of the strangest events held in this American city is the Annual Santa Barbara French Festival. Central city park is an established place for holding of this festival. Main festive and entertaining events take place exactly there. The park is turned into genuine oasis of France during the festival with its territory being equipped with exact copies of French landmarks and ... Open »
Cityguide on traditions, mentality and lifestyle of people in Santa Monica. Learn the best periods to visit Santa Monica to discover its soul - authentic festivals, events and celebrations. We will also reveal the interesting habits, attitude towards the world and to tourists in Santa Monica.
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