22 Apr 2012
Santa Monica: Exploring California's Quintessential Beach City
This city is more than a beach, offering world-class shopping
and dining, an amusement park on the pier, and the nation's
only public beach house
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 22, 2012)— A visit to Los Angeles is never complete without a trip to award-winning Santa Monica Beach, offering amazing views and ocean breezes. Visitors can create their own quintessential beach look while shopping at Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica, featuring designer and eclectic shops, street performers and incredible restaurants. They can have their photo taken beneath the vintage neon sign that marks the entrance to historic Santa Monica Pier, soak in the panoramic views aboard the landmark solar-powered Pacific Ferris Wheel, and try their hand at a classic arcade game. Visitors also can tour the Annenberg Beach House (the nation's only public beach club), take a bike ride along the oceanfront strand, participate in beach yoga and volleyball, or just relax with a good book, people watch and enjoy healthy refreshments and California sunshine—all from the comfort of a beach chair.
It's no surprise that Forbes Magazine recently named Santa Monica one of America's Best Downtowns, with its beautiful beachfront setting, lively mix of people, outdoor shopping and award-winning dining. Raphael Lunetta, chef/owner of JiRaffe restaurant and a local surfer, will join participants, along with Kim Baker, director of marketing for the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Kelly Nagle, the bureau's public relations coordinator. The first stop is Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only street in the center of Santa Monica, two blocks from the beach. Third Street Promenade is lined with popular brand stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Converse, Sephora and French Connection, as well as outdoor cafés, engaging street performers and movie theaters. At the end of the promenade is Santa Monica's newest outdoor shopping haven, Santa Monica Place. Anchored by Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom, Santa Monica Place presents a collection of luxury brands, including Tory Burch, Burberry and Hugo Boss. Fashionistas and foodies alike are delighted by the rooftop Dining Deck, with six chef-driven restaurants and gorgeous views of the City, the mountains and the Pacific.
The Market at Santa Monica Place offers all the pleasures and essentials for a flavorful life. Heirloom coffee, organic meats, local cheeses, fresh-baked breads, sweet confections, fragrant flowers and gourmet cooking classes can all be found here. After shoppers give their credit cards a workout, they can give their bodies a workout at Santa Monica's new Bike Center, the largest of its kind in the nation, located on the first level of Santa Monica Place. Dedicated fashionistas can choose to continue their shopping spree if they like by following Santa Monica's self-guided, vintage shopping "biketinerary."
From Santa Monica Place, the group will walk to the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. Whether for play, dining or just taking in one of the best views in LA, the pier is an iconic California landmark. It's home to Pacific Park, the only West Coast amusement park on a pier, featuring 12 family-fun rides, including the five-story West Coast roller coaster, the nine-story Pacific Plunge tower ride, and the Pacific Wheel, the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel. In addition, there are 20 midway carnival games at Pacific Park, a Playland Arcade a few steps away, street performers, caricature artists and more. Visitors looking for a new, exhilarating experience can take a class at the Trapeze School of New York Los Angeles; and history buffs can take a photo next to the official West Coast end of Route 66 or take a spin on a historic landmark, the 1922 Loof Hippodrome Carousel. To help visitors stay energized for a day of fun, there are a variety of full-service restaurants located on the pier, as well as Pier Burger Route 66 and Soda Jerks, an old-fashioned ice cream and soda fountain.
The only public beach house in the nation is in Santa Monica. Tour participants will visit the Annenberg Community Beach House, which blends its original 1920s historical architecture with modern amenities and offers the public an enriching beach experience. Originally constructed by William Hearst for his beloved Marion Davies in the 1920s, the refurbished original guesthouse offers free, docent-led tours, and the newly built beach house is open to the public. The beach house offers art installations inside for public viewing, as well as various services and amenities, including personal beach butler attendants, a swimming pool, beach volleyball courts, yoga and paddle boarding. Located on Pacific Coast Highway and accessible from the bike path, it's a perfect place to stop and enjoy Santa Monica's glittering coastline.
Contacts:
Third Street Promenade
3rd Street between Arizona Avenue and Santa Monica Place
Downtown Santa Monica
001-310-458-3921
www.thirdstreetpromenade.com
Media contact:
Ashley Walkley
Director of Marketing and Communication
Downtown Santa Monica Inc.
001-310-393-8355
ashley@downtownsm.com
Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
001-310-260-8333
www.santamonicaplace.com
Media contact:
Nicole Flynn
Marketing Manager
001-310-260-8300
nicole.flynn@macerich.com
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier (end of Colorado Avenue)
Santa Monica, CA 90401
001-310-458-8901
www.santamonicapier.org
Media contact:
Jim Harris
Deputy Director
001-310-458-8901
Pacific Park
380 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
001-310-260-8744
www.pacpark.com
Media contact:
Cameron Andrews
Pier Communications
001-562-432-5300
cameron@piercomm.com
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, CA 90402
001-310-458-4904
www.annenbergbeachhouse.com
Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau/Visitor Center
1920 Main Street, Suite B
Santa Monica, CA 90405
001-310-393-7593
Toll-free: 800-544-5319
www.santmonica.com
Media contact:
Kim Baker
Vice President of Marketing
Kelly Nagle
Public Relations Coordinator
001-310-319-6263
Toll-free: 800-771-2322
kbaker@santamonica.com
knagle@santamonica.com
Raphael Lunetta
Raphael Lunetta is known as "the surfing chef," because he often surfs at one of Southern California's many beaches when he is not in the kitchen at his Santa Monica restaurant, JiRaffe. One of Santa Monica's top restaurants, JiRaffe offers rustic American/French cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. The award-winning chef has appeared on BRAVO-TV's "Top Chef" show as a guest judge and has traveled the world as a guest chef at many resorts and on cruise ships.
About The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. Though not part of City government, Los Angeles Tourism is recognized as the City's official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com. Please visit our FaceBook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesFan or follow us on Twitter @discover_LA.
Los Angeles International Pow Wow is supported by the following Premiere Partners; Brand USA, Los Angeles World Airports, and Visit California. The Premiere Event sponsors are Cirque du Soleil, Hollywood & Highland and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Platinum sponsors are The GRAMMY Museum, LA Waterfront, Metro, and Wolfgang Puck Catering.
The Gold sponsors are Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, CityPASS, Coach America, DFS, Downtown Business Improvement District, The Grove, Hollywood Entertainment District, Merlin Entertainments Group, Miles Marketing Destinations, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Original Farmers Market, Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities CVA, Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, Starline Tours & Tour Coach Charters, Temecula Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau. The Silver sponsors are Beverly Center, The Capital Grille, Citadel Outlets, City of Santa Clarita, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Malibu Family Wines, Premium Outlets, and Visit Mendocino County. The Bronze sponsors are da Vinci Villa, El Monte RV, Integrated Transportation Services, and Japanese Assistance Network.
Media contacts:
Carol Martinez Beth Brett
Vice President, Communications Director, Communications
phn: 213/236-2357, fax 213/425-1457 phn:213/236-2397, fax 213/452-1497
cmartinez@LATourism.org bbrett@LATourism.org
For more information on Los Angeles visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com
Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LosAngelesFan
Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/tourism_LA
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(04/12)
