Santa Monica, Coastal city in Los Angeles County, United States
Santa Monica stretches along three kilometers of Pacific Ocean shoreline, offering beaches, a wooden pier and a pedestrian shopping district. The city sits west of downtown Los Angeles, directly bordering Venice Beach to the south and reaching toward Malibu to the north.
The Tongva people first lived along this coastline, using sacred springs until Spanish explorers arrived in 1769 and named the area Santa Monica. By the late 1800s, the settlement grew into a seaside resort, and the wooden pier was built in the early 1900s to serve fishermen and visitors.
Street performers regularly entertain crowds on Third Street Promenade, where locals and visitors stroll among shops, restaurants and cinemas. A farmers market draws regional growers each week, bringing produce directly to residents and guests who gather to shop and socialize.
The Metro E Line connects downtown Los Angeles to the coast, while the Big Blue Bus network provides local routes throughout the city. Bicycles and pedestrian paths run along the waterfront, making it easier to move between beach, pier and shopping areas.
The Ferris wheel at Pacific Park runs entirely on solar power, marking the western end of the old Route 66 highway. Camera Obscura, an optical device dating to 1898, still operates in Palisades Park, projecting a live image of the coastline into a darkened room for visitors.
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