Summer in Southern California - there's no better time or place for your customers to enjoy their next post-Covid vacation! Start your planning now that California is almost back to being fully reopened. So much is new in the chic enclave of West Hollywood and the coastal hamlet of Santa Monica - both homes to the stars and to so many exciting activities and elegant accommodations. Find out what's changed in these world-class cities within a city from two destination experts. And learn how with ATI you can easily book Drive America vacation packages that include the very best experiences in these destinations or completely customize the package to your client's needs, all deeply discounted and fully commissionable. Drive America packages can easily generate bookings of $5000 or more, which makes you eligible for ATI's Concierge service that's powered by their Special Groups Department, which can also put together a once-in-a-lifetime group experience, arranging access to hard to get venues, and more. Group travel is back so let ATI assist you with arranging an unforgettable experience for your clients.

  Many of Santa Monica’s finest restaurants from Italian and Indian to Mexican and Vegan are participating including four 2021 Michelin recognized restaurants   The popular and deliciously appealing Dine LA Restaurant Week returns for its savory springtime program from April 1-15, 2022.   A highlight of this year’s Dine LA is the opportunity for guests in Santa Monica to try four Michelin award-winning restaurants with Colapasta recognized on the 2021 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list for California, which is an esteemed rating that recognizes establishments that serve good food at moderate prices – the list features restaurants making their first appearance in 2021 – and three Santa Monica restaurants that received a Michelin Plate award including Chinois on Main, Citrin and Lunetta.   The 15-day Dine LA event showcases the diversity of culinary experiences Los Angeles has to offer with 29 Santa Monica restaurants participating including:     * 2021 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Restaurant ** 2021 Michelin Guide Plate Award Restaurant   Each Santa Monica restaurant has prepared a special Dine LA menu that is available during regular operating hours for lunch and-or dinner on weekdays and weekends; some restaurants may include menu options for takeout.   Tickets or passes are not required for Dine LA Restaurant Week. Simply dine out at a participating restaurant, ask for the Dine LA Restaurant Week menu, and try a new dish or enjoy an old favorite. Due to the popularity of this event, advance reservations and ordering to go are strongly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Dine LA prices and service times vary by restaurant, and exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. Dine LA is presented biannually in the spring and fall by Discover Los Angeles.   “Dine LA is the perfect opportunity for foodies and novices alike to rejoice in the wide-variety of Santa Monica restaurants that are participating in the spring program with some featuring new menus and others offering their most popular items,” said Misti Kerns, President and CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. “Either way, you can’t miss our community’s extraordinary culinary experiences and this season Angelenos and Santa Monicans can also enjoy the fine fare from four Michelin Guide award-winning restaurants.”   For additional details on the 2021 Michelin Guide Awards, please visit 2021 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list for California and 2021 Michelin Guide California   For additional details on the 29 Santa Monica restaurants participating in this year’s Dine LA, please visit https://www.santamonica.com/dinela/.   Santa Monica is one of Los Angeles’ most popular beach cities that offers an abundance of outdoor dining selections with more than 100 sidewalk dining areas citywide. For more information, visit https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2021/06/09/council-extends-outdoor-business-operations-to-continue-advancing-economic-recovery

Santa Monica is a beautiful beachfront city in western Los Angeles, California. It's were Los Angeles residents and visits spend time to unwind, shop, eat, and hang out.  Its superb climate, renowned beach, famous attractions, and proximity to Los Angeles have led to its enduring popularity as a resort town for over a century.   Located under a 10-minute walk from Venice Beach and minutes from famous locations such as Malibu, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, Santa Monica is well positioned for those wanting a base to explore LA and its vibrant neighborhoods. There's even a metro line that runs from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles in 45 minutes.

To learn more, what this Webinar On Demand: How to Plan your Client's Vacation to West Hollywood & Santa Monica with AmericanTours (ATI).

Over seven million tourists visit Santa Monica every year, with National Geographic naming it one of the top 10 beach cities in the world. The beach is 3.5 miles long and averages a glorious 280 days of sunshine a year. It's also well-known for being walking and bicycle-friendly, making it easy to visit attractions such as the famous Santa Monica pier, with its fascinating shops and tasty food outlets, and the amusement rides of Pacific Park.  A great way to spend the day is to ride a bicycle on the ocean bike path through to Redondo Beach (16 miles, 1 ½ hours none stop Google map), visiting Venice Beach, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.   Other must-see and do, is a stroll through Palisades Park, a beautiful 26.4 acre stretch of nature overlooking the Pacific Ocean and nearby mountains. The Third Street Promenade is also a required visit, with an abundance of shops, cinemas, restaurants, bars, and street performers. It's the perfect spot for people-watching. Santa Monica is renowned for its food, but there are a couple of local recommendations. If you fancy fantastic modern Mexican food, the King & Queen Cantina is delicious or an authentic pub, restaurant and local hang-out Ye Olde Kings Head. If you want a bit of history, check out the legendary Chez Jay - a restaurant that has served steaks and seafood to locals and celebrities since 1959.   Santa Monica is the perfect spot to sample the Californian lifestyle. It's safe, family-friendly, and full of world-class hotels for all budgets. And most importantly - there's the incredible beach.  Smokers beware, no smoking is allowed in public areas.

To learn more, what this Webinar On Demand: How to Plan your Client's Vacation to West Hollywood & Santa Monica with AmericanTours (ATI).

 

Sunny Southern California is calling for your next post-Covid vacation. The Golden State has reopened and its business as usual. Invitingly close to downtown LA, the chic coastal city of Santa Monica offers unique alternatives to explore with numerous activities and elegant accommodations,. Find out what this citiy has to offer and where to stay with destination experts. You will also learrn about what's hot  and what to do and see in glamorous West Hollywood. Learn how with ATI you can easily book Drive America vacation packages, which are fully customizable to your client's needs.  They are fully commissionable too. Suggested DRIVE AMERICA: Discover SoCal's Splendors in West Hollywood & Santa Monica: 7 day / 6night itinerary   Register here to view the on-demand webinar

Webinar Today: How to Plan your Client's Vacation to West Hollywood & Santa Monica with AmericanTours (ATI) Monday, June 28, 2021 1PM Pacific • 2PM Mountain • 3PM Central • 4PM Eastern (Available on Demand afterwards)

Located directly on the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by mountains, at the end of Route 66, Santa Monica enjoys an average of 310 days of sunshine each year. With average temperatures in the mid to upper seventies year-round, this beachside city's weather is one of its most attractive assets and being outdoors is a part of the city's lifestyle.

But there is more to discover in Santa Monica than great weather, and visitors to the Los Angeles area miss out if they don't spend a bit of time in this eclectic community.

Many of the attractions that make the beach-front city special have found residence in our collective conscience, and you may find yourself surprised at your osmotic familiarity with some of the key points of interest in Santa Monica.

Palisades Park

The 26 acres that make up the park are encompassed in a thin 1.6-mile section of Ocean Avenue from which you can see not only the ocean but the mountains surrounding the city as well. The park's boundaries stretch from the Santa Monica Pier at its southern tip and run north to Adelaide Drive. Palisades Park includes terrific public art and a rose garden, picnic areas, and more than 30 species of plants and trees. The park is a favorite spot to engage in people-watching, with a continual presence of joggers and strollers taking advantage of the air and the scenery.

Santa Monica Famers' Market

One of the largest and highest-rated Farmer' Markets in the entire country, the Santa Monica Famers' Market consists of several different venues that pop up on different days of the week. The produce is primarily locally grown and consist of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, dairy, a variety of meats and fish, as well as flowers and processed farm products like jams, juices, pickles, and salsa.

Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park

Running the length of Santa Monica itself, Santa Monica State Beach is, as you might expect, one of the most popular local divertissements and is well attended by the local population. The world-renowned Santa Monica Pier is the beach's man-made focal point and is home to a plethora of attractions and recognizable landmarks like the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel, which happens to be the only solar-powered Ferris Wheel in the world. The Pier has been the setting for scenes in many movies and television shows, from an early Charlie Chaplin film in 1914, as well as Forrest Gump and Iron Man, among many others. The Heal the Bay Aquarium is underneath the Pier, as well as a vast array of arcade games, carnival rides, and food booths at the Pier's Pacific Park.

Muscle Beach

Extroverted Muscle Beach Venice has an older relative. Santa Monica's exercise jungle gym for adults is the Original Muscle Beach stretching back to the 1930s. A Works Progress Administration (WPA) project installed exercise equipment in a city park, and it quickly caught on with those willing to sport their physical, gymnastic, and acrobatic prowess on the swings, parallel bars, and other fitness apparatus available to the public.

Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade

Shopping in Santa Monica is way too easily accomplished, and the variety is huge, from unique boutiques to familiar chain stores. The two most prominent shopping areas are Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade. Santa Monica Place has many high-end retailers as well as dozens of dining and wine shops. Third Street Promenade is the most popular shopping venue with easy access to restaurants and the Wednesday Farmers' Market. Street performers provide plenty of impromptu entertainment and a pedestrian-friendly experience at this open-air shopping setting.

There are many excellent hotels  and be sure to take advantage of other outdoor opportunities like bike rides, Tongva Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.