The quality of life in Santa Monica ranks high, making it one of the most desired places to live in California. Not only does living in Santa Monica provide you with the perfect beach life, but you’ll be enjoying a relaxed, tranquil lifestyle, while still being able to take advantage of all of the first-class amenities scattered around town. Santa Monica has also been ranked as one of the most sustainable cities in the country, due to the fact that all building must comply with green building codes, city buses run on natural gas, there are bike paths aplenty around the city, and overall the community is one of the healthiest in the nation. There are infinite reasons why you should move to Santa Monica, but we’ve gathered 7 dealbreakers that will help you make the decision.
1. The unique neighborhood feel
Living in Santa Monica might seem hectic, as it offers everything you could possibly need and more. In reality, life in Santa Monica can feel suburban, especially with some neighborhoods that are specifically designed to provide you with a secluded lifestyle while still being in the center of every possible happening and surrounded with world-class amenities. If you’re worried about the noise or bustle you might endure in your day-to-day living in Santa Monica, fret no more. Santa Monica boasts some of the best neighborhoods in California, that will provide you with peace and quiet, and offer the perfect opportunities for a family friendly life, while being just minutes away from all the craziness you could possibly crave.
2. The infinite amenities
Santa Monica offers its residents an abundance of casual neighborhood restaurants, weekly farmers markets with fresh, organic produce, and a variety of outdoor activities to choose from. Most residents tend to maintain an active lifestyle, and the surroundings make it quite easy to do so. One of the more obvious recreational options is the beach, which offers not only spectacular views, but a wide array of outdoor activities that you could never get bored of. If you search a little more, you can find quite a few walking and biking paths, along with small parks scattered around the area with unique activities and things to do. The four weekly farmers market in Santa Monica, Pico Farmers Market, Ocean Park Sunday Market, and Downtown Santa Monica’s Wednesday and Saturday markets have received high rankings when it comes to fresh, organic produce and are considered to be one of the best in the country.
3. The amazing parks
Santa Monica is home to some of the most beautiful parks in the country, and if you’re a fan of the outdoor lifestyle, you’ll find more than enough opportunities here. The Santa Monica State Beach has a paved path for biking and running and a gorgeous beach for surfing, volleyball and picnics at the beach. Palisades Park is another green space that locals love visiting to jog, do yoga or simply enjoy the breathtaking sunsets. Among the community favorites, Clover Park boasts a baseball field, basketball court, tennis courts and two playgrounds, and is the perfect space to visit for a picnic with your family or enjoy a BBQ. You can enjoy bowling and tennis at Douglas Park, and if you’re looking for a green space that caters to children as well, check out Tongva Park, which boasts multiple climbing structures and splashpads for kids and offers amazing views of the beach.
4. The shopping and dining scene
Third Street Promenade has been the main shopping district in the city for over a hundred years. Strolling through this lively shopping center in the open, you will find yourself surrounded by every brand you could possibly thing of, from local boutiques to high-end brands everyone has heard of. Lining the pathway, you’ll find charming cafés, restaurants, coffee shops and cute bakeries that have unique interiors. Santa Monica’s Main Street also offers a myriad of boutiques and restaurants, as well as high-class luxury hotels that offer amazing beachside dining experiences. Montana Avenue is home to a large number of popular brands and unique restaurants, while Bergamot Station offers the community with more than 40 art galleries to enjoy daily.
5. Entertainment galore
Not only is the Santa Monica Pier one of the biggest tourist attractions nationwide, but it is also popular among the locals, especially when hosting its annual Twilight Concert Series and regular open-air movie nights that bring the community together regularly to the downtown area. The Pier also features the Pacific Park, a colorfully-lit, solar-powered Ferris wheel, which is one of the most popular parts of the pier and can be seen from a large distance at night. Music lovers will love visiting the oldest music venue in the country, Harvell’s Santa Monica, and enjoy its weekly burlesque performances alongside their regular blues and jazz shows.
If you’re looking for the perfect live theater experience, The Santa Monica Playhouse is just around the corner. It boasts a packed calendar of events, from musicals to holiday specials.
6. Education
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District operates the public schools in the city is recognized for its educational excellence and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report. It serves over 11,000 students, and covers a lot of ground, including the entirety of Malibu. To further prove the excellence of this school district, three schools have managed to earn National Blue-Ribbon Schools honors. The residents of Santa Monica also have the luxury of choosing any one of eleven local private schools to send their children to. Santa Monica is also home to one public junior college, Santa Monica College, that serves more than 30.000 students and offers classes in 90 academic fields.
7. Weather
If you enjoy sunny weather, and fun in the sun year-round, moving to Santa Monica might be the perfect choice for you. Santa Monica gets an average of 300 sunny days per year, which is far above the national average. The average temperature in Santa Monica only ever goes as low as 49 degrees, with average daily highs in the mid 70’s during the summer. Plus, Santa Monica gets less than average rainfall, and almost no snow. This provides you with the perfect beach weather year-round, ensuring that you can spend your time outdoors and engage in recreational and outdoor activities during the whole year. Everyone dreams about this weather, let’s be real.