Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

2427 Main St. 90405

Why Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is a charming seaside town located just 8 miles (13 km.) north of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The blend of Santa Monica’s beautiful beachfront setting, award-winning dining, incomparable hotel collection and unique event venues provides participants with a quintessential Southern California experience that is the perfect balance between meet and play. STAY 41 hotels with boutique, luxury and affordable accommodations, many of which are adjacent to, or within walking distance of, the beach. CAR-FREE Once in Santa Monica, there’s no need for a car! A walkable 8.3 sq. mi./21.5 sq. km., it’s easy to go car-free with the Metro Expo Line connecting Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles; an extensive 22-mile bike path; and the on-demand Santa Monica Free Ride electric shuttle. MEET More than 120,000 sq. ft. of creative event space, giving meeting planners and attendees a variety of venue options, from ocean view conference rooms with breezy terraces, poolside cabanas with flat screen televisions, a historic beachfront estate, theatre complexes and art galleries, to airport hangars and the iconic Santa Monica Pier. DINE With over 400 restaurants and one of the best farmers markets in the country, Santa Monica has a flavor for every taste. Participants can enjoy the variety of fresh, innovative cuisines in settings ranging from intimate restaurants and feet-in-the-sand barbeques to group dine-arounds. SHOP Santa Monica’s shopping covers the spectrum from Downtown’s Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place – home to stores such as Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and more – to upscale boutiques along Montana Avenue and the eclectic retail mix on Main Street. PLAY Beaches, surfing, wine excursions, wellness activities, spa treatments, and a 22 mi./35 km. bicycle path offer endless opportunities for team building and group activities, giving your participants a taste of the California lifestyle.

Distance from airport

  • Los Angeles International Airport

    8 mi. from city center


Local Attractions

Annenberg Community Beach House

Recreation
Originally developed and built by William Randolph Hearst as a 100-room mansion for his beloved Marion Davies, this onetime haven for Hollywood A-listers is now a public beach club. The five-acre facility delivers sweeping ocean views that make a perfect backdrop for a special event or meeting. The beach house is so appealing that it was chosen by a panel of event professionals as the 2010 “Best New Venue” in the BizBash L.A. Event Style Awards. Groups can book a room, a building, or the entire site. Capacity varies by room and building.
415 Pacific Coast Hwy
Santa Monica, CA, US 90402

Museum of Flying

Museum
Opening in 2012, the new Museum of Flying will be an ideal venue for a meeting or event with any focus on travel, airplanes, or aviation traditions. Emphasizing the history of Santa Monica’s pioneering Douglas Aircraft and Santa Monica Airport, the museum will feature the actual Douglas World Cruiser New Orleans—one of two aircraft that made the first round-the-world flight in 1924. The museum will also feature a seven-passenger flight simulator with a variety of ride-film experiences, as well as a 40-seat screening room/theater. The famous Donald Douglas Boardroom, with its huge round table, will offer a dramatic venue for meetings, conferences, and retreats. The boardroom can accommodate 20 at the historic table with an additional 20 participants seated along the perimeter of the room. The museum will be able to accommodate 100 to 150 for a sit-down function and about 250 during reception style events.
3100 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, CA, US 90405

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center

Theater
A newcomer on the local scene, it’s already among the crown jewels of Santa Monica’s meeting and event venues. Designed by the award-winning local firm Renzo Zecchetto Architects, the 32,300-sq-ft complex is a spectacular jewel box of glass and limestone exterior walls, with a reflecting pool and fountain at the entry. Its dramatic interior offers numerous event spaces including a theater, a smaller theater space, a rehearsal hall, and an art gallery. With an upstairs space that’s perfect for small events, you can bring in musicians and treat your attendees to what will feel like a private concert just for your group. Seating capacity is 499 in the main theater, and 99 in the Edye Second Space. The Preforming Arts Center offers 27,000-sq-ft interior exhibit area with a capacity for 149 booths, rising to 250 with addition of tents in front of and next to the auditorium. The stage is one of the largest stages in the L.A. area (65' wide with 31' tall proscenium) and offers a capacity for a 720 seated banquet, 2,500 is match seating, 3,000 for stage shows, and 3,500 for festivals.
1310 11th Street
Santa Monica, CA, US 90401

Original Muscle Beach

Recreation
South of the volleyball courts is the Original Muscle Beach. Popularized in the 1950s and featured in many films since then, the network of outdoor workout equipment is where Jack LaLanne and other famous body builders trained. Fully restored and refurbished, Muscle Beach serves gymnasts, acrobats and youth with an extensive gymnastics training area. Other features include chinning bars at various heights, parallel bars, rings, a small jungle gym for children and a padded gymnastics area.
Ocean Front Walk
Santa Moncia, CA 90401

Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories

The Gourmandise School can host your private event with groups up to 24 people for hands on classes, and up to 30 people for cooking demonstrations. Parties include full rental of the space, a private chef for three hours, all recipes, and ingredients. All classes end with a sit-down meal and (when applicable) presentation of celebratory dessert. You are welcome to bring your own wine, or purchase a glass or bottle from our neighbors right next door at Venokado Wine and Gifts or The Curious Palate restaurant. We are happy to suggest menus for your event or help you come up with your own unique menu.
395 Santa Monica Place, #329
Santa Monica, CA, US 90401

Pacific Park

Park
Located on the historic Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park is a two-acre family amusement park with 12 rides (including the Park's signautre Pacfic Wheel, the world's first solar-powered Ferris Wheel) and 20 midway games. The park has hosted corporate events by, among many others, McDonald's, Special Olympics and Microsoft. An all-new, 3,300-sq-ft, covered Seaside Pavilion can accommodate groups from 25 to 300. Intimate areas in the pavilion and seaside cabanas can accommodate groups as small as 20. Larger groups-up to 1,800-can rent the entire amusement park. It's the perfect space to create whatever beach event you imagine.
380 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA, US 90401

M.I's Westside Comedy Theatre

Theater
A comedy theater and training center with a meeting capacity of 75, it features a 2,000-square-foot event space.
1323-A 3rd Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA, US 90401

Pedal or Not

Pedal or Not offers electric bike tours. Choose to pedal or just to coast on one of the multiple guided tours offered each day. Since Santa Monica is only 8.3 miles long this is a great way to get a workout and see our amazing city.
1515 7th Street
Santa Monica, CA, US 90401

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Additional Information

HOW CAN SMTT HELP YOU? Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) is an accredited, non-member destination marketing organization that promotes Santa Monica as a conference, business and leisure travel destination. As a sales and service organization, SMTT is here to be your partner and to help you create the perfect Santa Monica experience. When you work with SMTT, we provide insider access to the heart and soul of Santa Monica for intimate groups of 10 guests to larger groups of 500+. You will have an expert at your side to assist in curating the most memorable experiences - from luxury dine-arounds, shopping excursions, private tours, custom cooking sessions with one of our renowned chefs, to finding locations that include an airport hangar, the iconic Santa Monica Pier and more. Let us connect you to people and places your attendees will be talking about for years to come! Want to entice participants to come? SMTT is delighted to provide destination photos, videos and materials that will excite your participants for fun in the sun (did you know that Santa Monica has 280+ days of sunshine a year)! Santa Monica Travel & Tourism also provides five visitor center locations with friendly, training and knowledgeable travel counselors; Visitors Guides and Maps; foreign language line; and information on attractions, hotels, dining, museums, galleries and entertainment.