Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles, the 3.5 mile Santa Monica beach is an iconic example of the famed beautiful beaches of Southern California.
The beach sign below has cutouts for the umbrella and the birds so that the colors change depending upon the shade of the sky in the background.
Santa Monica Beach is popular for beginners all year long. The waves are frequent and it’s easy to get to. Most of the surf comes from groundswells and waves at the beach break both left and right. Here is a lonely surfer captured from the Santa Monica Pier.
A view of Santa Monica (California) and its beach from the Santa Monica Pier
A colorful home stands in quite contrast to the plain one next door at Santa Monica Beach, California
Santa Monica State Beach on the north side of the pier is separated from the city by the palisades (an ocean bluff) and the Pacific Coast Highway. A series of bridges, walkways and stairs provide access to the beach. One doesn’t have to face heavy traffic on Pacific Coast Hwy. 1, but can cross over from Ocean Blvd. to the Santa Monica Pier and beaches via a walking bridge.
From the elevated height of Palisades Park, Santa Monica, California, well protected paths provide vantage views of the Pacific Ocean, beaches, and the Santa Monica Pier.
Santa Monica is a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles, California. Santa Monica Beach is fringed by Palisades Park, with views over the Pacific Ocean. Will be posting images from our recent trip to Santa Monica.
This 18′ high art deco sculpture “Santa Monica” by Eugene Morahan is located on the bluff at the foot of Wilshire Blvd. It is a statue of Saint Monica, for whom the city of Santa Monica was named. Apparently, Spanish explorers were reminded of the tears Saint Monica shed for her errant son while they were drinking from a refreshing spring in West Los Angeles. Because that particular day was St. Monica’s day on the religious calendar, they named the area “Santa Monica.”
The receding tide of the ocean creates nature’s design on a beach utilizing sand and stones, almost like an abstract painting
A camel, buffalo and people are silhouetted against the sun at a beach in India
A striking panorama of the beach, sand, sky, clouds, reflections, and ocean at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
A gorgeous blue sky with clouds meets the ocean casting reflections at the beach in Isle of Palms
Beach chairs are set up by the pier for visitors to enjoy the ocean and activities for the day at Isle of Palms
Early morning sunrise casts a golden glow on the pier as clouds reflect off the beach water at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
A couple with their dogs strolls early in the morning on the beach at Isle of Palms
Bright, colorful homes on the beach at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Beach chairs ready for the day at Isle of Palms
Strolling at sunrise on the beach at Isle of Palms
A dog follows the owner on the beach at sunrise at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Water enthusiasts and a surfer at the beach at Isle of Palms thinking at sunrise about venturing into the ocean
Early risers active at sunrise on the beach at Isle of Palms, South Carolina
