Guide Note

Santa Monica, California is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, California, located between the beach and Los Angeles proper. Home to nearly 100,000 people, Santa Monica has a culture that is similar to that of Los Angeles, but is unique because of its coastal location. The city offers numerous beach activities and has one of the most popular piers on the California coast. The city is also home to Mahalo's headquarters.

Fast Facts

1. Country: USA
2. State: California
3. Mayor: Herb Katz
4. Population: 96,500
5. Incorporated: November 30, 1886
6. Time Zone: PST
7. Total land area: 8.3 sq mi

Santa Monica offers a variety of entertainment options, from outdoor watersports activities to fine restaurants and bars. The city's "3rd Street Promenade," located blocks away from the beach, has many such options on one street. Patrons can shop, catch a movie, or dine or enjoy cocktails while visiting the street.

Santa Monica has been listed as one of America's greenest cities, boasting a fleet of alternative-fuel buses for public transportation and a number of bicycle lanes. The city has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10% in 15 years and continues to invest in environmental causes, such as cleaning up the bay.