Santa Monica Staycation: The Best Places to Eat, Shop, Play and Sleep in this Beach City
by Cindy Ambuehl on January 3, 2012I know we’re all just getting back into the groove of working after the holidays, but for some of us the holidays are just as stressful as a week of work. With relatives coming into town, some people have so much cleaning, planning, organizing, entertaining and just general work to do to keep everyone happy and entertained it hardly feels like a vacation.
As much fun as entertaining is, I like to take a weekend off in January to just hang out with my husband, Don. We typically do a staycation and don’t leave LA. Sometimes we don’t even get in our car.
Here are our favorite places to stay, relax, shop and dine in Santa Monica. The best part is they’re all within walking distance of each other.
1. Hotel: The Shore Hotel is a brand new hotel off Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica that opened in October. This sustainable luxury boutique hotel boasts 160 rooms (including 20 suites) with amazing ocean and city views. The heated outdoor pool, 24 hour gym, personal trainer for guests, and two restaurants make it hard to ever want to leave. Rooms start regularly at $250 a night, but if you log on at the right time you can sometimes find GREAT deals on Groupon and LivingSocial.
2. Spa: Even when I’m not taking a weekend stay-cation, I am a regular at the Burke Williams Spa in Santa Monica! It’s my favorite spa to go to with my friends and family. Just off the Third Street Promenade, Burke Williams offers amazing spa and skincare treatments that always leave me feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
3. Shopping and dining: If you want to hop out of the Shore’s lavish hotel for a shopping excursion and lunch or dinner, I have the perfect places. Fred Segal, an incredibly popular place to shop in Santa Monica, has the best cafe attached called The Comfort Cafe. I definitely recommend walking over and having lunch here. My favorite is the eggplant sandwich. The shopping is amazing too! For dinner, head over to the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica’s famous outdoor shopping center. After you’re done shopping, head over to Trastevere, a great Italian restaurant. Make sure you get a table on the patio and take in the sights and sounds of Third Street.
Now that you know my favorite places to relax and enjoy a staycation in the city, what are yours? Leave a comment below and let me know!
I love the idea of a staycation! I’ve wanted to grab a hotel room somewhere in the city and just veg out for a weekend. I’m going to do this!
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