Where LA meets the sea, you’ll find this charming beach community of Santa Monica. Year-round warm weather, proximity to LA, picturesque beachside setting, friendly locals, lively cultural scene, Santa Monica is a coastal paradise. Not convinced yet? Here are 10 reasons why Santa Monica must be in your bucket list the next time you are in the area.

1. More than 300 days of sunshine a year
Does cold and gloomy weather have you singing the blues? These long chilly winter months are the ideal time to plan an escape to sunny Santa Monica. Santa Monica averages more than 300 days of warm, soul-healing sunshine a year and offers some of the best sunsets on the West Coast. Temperatures rarely dip below 60°F/16°C, providing the ideal climate for getting physically active, shopping or dining al fresco.

2. Location, location, location
Less than an hour from Hollywood and even closer from downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica is an excellent base from which you can enjoy the rest of California including Malibu, Santa Barbara, and San Diego.