Set along an unbroken twenty-mile strand of clean, white-sand beaches, the small, self-contained communities that line the Santa Monica Bay feature some of the best Los Angeles has to offer, with none of the smog or searing heat that can make the rest of the metropolis unbearable.
The entire area is well served by public transportation, near (but not too near) the airport, and a wide selection of accommodation makes it a good base for seeing the rest of LA.
Santa Monica Mountains rise above Los Angeles, widen to meet the curve of Santa Monica Bay and reach their highest peaks facing the ocean, forming a beautiful and multi-faceted landscape. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a cooperative effort that joins federal, state and local park agencies with private preserves and landowners to protect the natural and cultural resources of this transverse mountain range and seashore.
Located in a Mediterranean ecosystem, the Santa Monica Mountains contain a wide variety of plants and wildlife. The mountains also have an interesting and diverse cultural history which begins with the Chumash and Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and continues today in "L.A.'s backyard."
